For the second year in a row, Justin Pawlak took first place at the Long Beach opening round.

Falken Tire Achieves Three-Peat at Long Beach Formula Drift Opener
Team Falken started the 2012 Formula Drift season the way it finished last year, with one of its factory drivers on top of the podium. For the second year in a row, Justin Pawlak took first place at the Long Beach opening round, making it a three-peat for Falken at Long Beach—one of the tire brand’s two home tracks. Formula Drift defending champion and Team Falken teammate Daijiro (“Dai”) Yoshihara was second.
 


Before a capacity crowd and 61 entrants competing for round one, Pawlak took the victory on board his redesigned ’13 Ford Mustang running Falken’s designated drift tire—the Azenis RT615K. Pawlak qualified fourth, while Yoshihara was sixth among the top 32. Third Falken teammate Vaughn Gittin, Jr., the 2010 Formula D champion, driving the Monster Energy/Falken Tire Ford Mustang, was third in qualification, but was defeated during the Top 32 round, as was fourth Falken teammate Darren McNamara. Both Pawlak and Dai advanced to the final when Pawlak defeated the Formula D current champion, earning his second Long Beach trophy.

Ken Block Partners With Vehicle Care Products Manufacturer Shining Monkey Corp.
Ken Block and the Monster World Rally Team have partnered with Shining Monkey Corp.—a manufacturer of premium vehicle care products. The newly designed Shining Monkey logo is featured on the 43 Ford Fiesta and Ken Block’s DC Shoes apparel line.

	For the second year in a row, Justin Pawlak took first place at the Long Beach opening round.

Falken Tire Achieves Three-Peat at Long Beach Formula Drift Opener
Team Falken started the 2012 Formula Drift season the way it finished last year, with one of its factory drivers on top of the podium. For the second year in a row, Justin Pawlak took first place at the Long Beach opening round, making it a three-peat for Falken at Long Beach—one of the tire brand’s two home tracks. Formula Drift defending champion and Team Falken teammate Daijiro (“Dai”) Yoshihara was second.
 


Before a capacity crowd and 61 entrants competing for round one, Pawlak took the victory on board his redesigned ’13 Ford Mustang running Falken’s designated drift tire—the Azenis RT615K. Pawlak qualified fourth, while Yoshihara was sixth among the top 32. Third Falken teammate Vaughn Gittin, Jr., the 2010 Formula D champion, driving the Monster Energy/Falken Tire Ford Mustang, was third in qualification, but was defeated during the Top 32 round, as was fourth Falken teammate Darren McNamara. Both Pawlak and Dai advanced to the final when Pawlak defeated the Formula D current champion, earning his second Long Beach trophy.

Ken Block Partners With Vehicle Care Products Manufacturer Shining Monkey Corp.
Ken Block and the Monster World Rally Team have partnered with Shining Monkey Corp.—a manufacturer of premium vehicle care products. The newly designed Shining Monkey logo is featured on the 43 Ford Fiesta and Ken Block’s DC Shoes apparel line.

SEMA manufacturing members are invited for a hands-on preview of the 2013 Audi allroad Quattro during an upcoming measuring session featuring the vehicle at Audi of America in Ontario, California.

SEMA manufacturing members are invited for a hands-on preview of the 2013 Audi allroad Quattro during an upcoming measuring session featuring the vehicle at Audi of America in Ontario, California.

Thousands of photos of the 2011 SEMA Show are available for download at www.semaphotos.com. The site features photos of the cars, celebrities, products and companies that help make the annual SEMA Show the premier automotive aftermarket trade show in the world.

A new collection of vehicles on display at the 2011 SEMA Show is highlighted each week in SEMA eNews. This week's selection features Honda vehicles with the specialty-equipment industry's touch.

Thousands of photos of the 2011 SEMA Show are available for download at www.semaphotos.com. The site features photos of the cars, celebrities, products and companies that help make the annual SEMA Show the premier automotive aftermarket trade show in the world.

A new collection of vehicles on display at the 2011 SEMA Show is highlighted each week in SEMA eNews. This week's selection features Honda vehicles with the specialty-equipment industry's touch.

While it has been teased "officially" by Audi, say the shooters at Brenda Priddy & Co., here is the updated Audi R8 spotted out in the open. It will make its official debut at the Paris Motor Show later this year.

The exterior modification will be limited to new LED headlights, a slightly revised grille and new taillights with different positions of the LEDs. The R8 will continue to be powered by the V8 and V10 engines; however, the sequential gearbox will be replaced by the DSG unit.

Photo: Copyright Brenda Priddy & Co. 

While it has been teased "officially" by Audi, say the shooters at Brenda Priddy & Co., here is the updated Audi R8 spotted out in the open. It will make its official debut at the Paris Motor Show later this year.

The exterior modification will be limited to new LED headlights, a slightly revised grille and new taillights with different positions of the LEDs. The R8 will continue to be powered by the V8 and V10 engines; however, the sequential gearbox will be replaced by the DSG unit.

Photo: Copyright Brenda Priddy & Co. 

2011 SEMA Person of the Year John Menzler gets ready to open the gates at last year's Pinewood Drag Races, presented by eBay Motors.

Held in conjunction with the annual SEMA Installation Banquet & Gala Fundraiser, the SEMA Cares Pinewood Drag Races, presented by eBay Motors, will take place at 12:00 p.m., Friday, July 27, 2012, at the Sheraton Fairplex Hotel & Convention Center in Pomona, California. There is no better location for the Pinewood Drag Races than Pomona—home of the Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum and Auto Club Raceway.

Proceeds from the races benefit the Childhelp and Victory Junction Camp charities. Childhelp assists abused and neglected children by providing counseling and programs in a safe and secure living environment. Victory Junction Camps provide the camp experience for children with chronic medical conditions or serious illnesses who otherwise would not be able to go to camp.

Sponsoring a SEMA Cares Pinewood Drag Race car is easy and rewarding. Please help a child in need today.

2011 SEMA Person of the Year John Menzler gets ready to open the gates at last year's Pinewood Drag Races, presented by eBay Motors.

Held in conjunction with the annual SEMA Installation Banquet & Gala Fundraiser, the SEMA Cares Pinewood Drag Races, presented by eBay Motors, will take place at 12:00 p.m., Friday, July 27, 2012, at the Sheraton Fairplex Hotel & Convention Center in Pomona, California. There is no better location for the Pinewood Drag Races than Pomona—home of the Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum and Auto Club Raceway.

Proceeds from the races benefit the Childhelp and Victory Junction Camp charities. Childhelp assists abused and neglected children by providing counseling and programs in a safe and secure living environment. Victory Junction Camps provide the camp experience for children with chronic medical conditions or serious illnesses who otherwise would not be able to go to camp.

Sponsoring a SEMA Cares Pinewood Drag Race car is easy and rewarding. Please help a child in need today.