Summernats to Host USA’s Biggest Name In Custom Car Building

Summernats Car Festival, Australia’s Biggest Horsepower Party, has today announced that recently named ‘Car Builder of the Year’ in the USA, Troy Trepanier will make a special appearance at Summernats 22 which kicks off on January 2nd 2009 at Exhibition Park in Canberra.

Trepanier, who is recognised as the automotive industry’s premier custom car designer/builder/racer, will spend all three days at the event conducting promotional, judging and media commitments.

The Illinois-based custom car whiz exploded on the car scene 15 years ago when he debuted his grandfather's 1966 Chevelle in a spectacular Porsche raspberry red, and powered by a supercharged 383ci V8. The car set new standards for the Pro-street crowd, and introduced the "monochromatic" theme to street machiners and hot rodders that carried through for a number of years.

In 1995, Trepanier launched his business ‘Rad Rides by Troy’ and today it is one of the most well known and respected names, not only in the US, but worldwide. In addition, he builds cars for many of the top car enthusiasts and collectors, including sports heroes and Hollywood celebrities. Troy has worked closely with Ford, GM, Chrysler, Toyota and is now developing an environmentally friendly ethanol system that is the only EPA certified e85 kit available in the US.

Troy is the owner and genius behind legendary magazine feature cars like the '39 Chevy "Predator," the '54 Viper-powered Plymouth "Sniper" and, most recently, the 1,180hp twin-turbo '62 Chevy "Chicayne" (picture attached) which Hot Rodding Magazine (US) called the ‘finest hot rod of all time’.

To Troy, it’s critical that the car performs as well as it looks – ‘My Grandfather taught me that there’s only one way to do things, the right way”. “It’s important to have a competitive spirit, a passion for excellence and a ‘nothing’s impossible’ attitude,” Trepanier added.

Trepanier doesn’t just build high performance trophy cars, he races them too. Recently, he led the Blowfish Racing Team to a record run at the Bonneville Salt Flats during the Bonneville Speedweeks in the USA. The team’s driver smashed the existing record of 262 mph with a staggering 284 mph in a stunning champagne gold, race-prepped, turbocharged 8 cylinder, 1969 Plymouth Barracuda, running on ethanol. For full details on the race, visit www.radrides.com.au.

This is Troy’s first time to Australia and his visit to the Summernats 22 will be the only opportunity for Aussie car enthusiasts to meet one of the greats. “I can’t wait to get Down-under to Summernats, I’ve heard so much about what a great event it is. I intent to be available throughout the Summernats weekend and there will also be a promotion called ‘Time with Troy’ whereby the winner will get to spend some time with me,” Trepanier concluded.

Competition details are available on the Summernats website; www.summernats.com.au. Details on Trepanier’s creations are available at www.radrides.com.

In addition to Troy’s visit, the highlights of Summernats 22 will be bigger than 21. The Saturday night entertainment promises to be spectacular; featuring jet cars, four stunt bikes and a lot of flaming action! This will be followed by the ‘Masters of Rock’ tribute band and the return of the beautiful Bombshells.

For burnout fans; the Castrol Edge Burnout Masters are now being held on Saturday afternoon, which means tyre-smokin’ action every day.

The 22nd Street Machine Summernats will be held at Exhibition Park in Canberra from the 1st – 4th January 2009. For more information visit the website at www.summernats.com.au The Summernats is proudly supported by Rare Spares.

Why would you want to be anywhere else?