AMP Research at SEMA
Check out AMP Research products and a great lifted truck at SEMA. We love what they do.
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DC Shoes at Anaheim Supercross
The DC Moto x Toyota truck made an appearance on the track during the tough block challenge at the recent AMA Supercross event in Anaheim, CA. The 2012 Supercross series made its way back to Anaheim, CA this past Saturday for the highly anticipated A2 race. DC Shoes had a great time in the pits and watching the races and couldn’t have asked for better weather. You have to love that Southern California, as usual, had sunny skies and temperatures in the low 80’s the first weekend in February. Just like A1 last month, the pits were packed and the race was sold out.
The crowds made for another great DC team autograph signing with the lines wrapping far out around the DC booth. Athletes Jeremy McGrath, Nate Adams, Hunter Hewitt, Josh Hill, Malcolm Stewart, Tommy Searle, and Adam Cianciarulo all came by to meet race fans and sign autographs. While the race wasn’t officially a Breast Cancer Awareness race this year, many fans riders and fans still sported pink to show their support. The DC Shoes booth gave a few touches to show their support for the cause and the Keep A Breast Foundation.
For more photos of the event, click here. It’s great to see DC Shoes out rocking the suburbs.
New Kenwood Speaker Models for eXcelon Dealers
Kenwood USA Corporation announced the introduction of new speakers and subwoofers developed exclusively for the Kenwood Excelon specialty retailer network. The new subwoofer line includes the KFC-XW12 a 12” model with a dual-ventilation system that forces hot air away from the voice coil over the top of the motor structure as well as through the middle of the back plate. This geometry provides proper voice coil ventilation even if the woofer is installed in a very shallow enclosure. A polypropylene woofer cone with ribbed “square array” pattern strengthens the cone surface and helps to enhance low frequency performance. The heavy duty rubber surround provides extended life to the woofer even in very harsh environments. The KFC-XW12 is rated at 1,200 watts peak power (400 watts RMS power into 4 ohms). A 10” version of this subwoofer is the KFC-XW10 and is rated at 1,000 watts peak power (300 watts RMS power into 4 ohms).
A new factory-replacement component speaker system in the Kenwood Excelon lineup is the KFC-XP184C. This model is designed to fit into factory speaker locations ranging from 6 ½ -inch up to 6×9-inch through the use of a multi-application mounting adaptor. This allows the KFC-XP184C to replace lesser-performing factory speakers in Chevrolet, GM, Toyota, Dodge, Chrysler and many other vehicle brands. The KFC-XP184C is a 180mm (approximately 7.1-inch) two-way speaker system with a 1-inch soft-dome tweeter and diamond-array pattern woofer cone. The sound quality and power handling performance of the KFC-XP184C is dramatically better than factory-installed speakers due to the larger, circular woofer and the higher-quality soft-dome tweeter which is suitable for installation in factory “A” pillar door locations or surface mounted as needed. Power handling capability of the KFC-XP184C is 280 watts peak power (80 watts RMS power into 4 ohms).
The KFC-XW12, KFC-XW10 and KFC-XP184C come with a two-year manufacturer’s limited warranty and are available only through authorized Kenwood Excelon retailers.
Model Availability
KFC-XW12 January, 2012
KFC-XW10 January, 2012
KFC-XP184C January, 2012
Magnaflow Driver Jeremy McGrath
Jeremy “Showtime” McGrath is the most famous motocross racer in the history of the sport. He dominated the sport for over a decade like no other rider before him. McGrath rewrote the history books by winning 102 races; including seventy-two 250cc Supercross wins, thirteen 125cc Supercross wins, five Ultracross Wins, and ten additional AMA sanction wins. His riding tricks while leaping the big jumps of Supercross, the most famous of which is the Nac Nac, helped spawn freestyle motocross. A seven-time AMA Supercross and AMA 250 National Motocross champion, McGrath’s popularity transcended motor cycling.
He’s starred in national television ads, appeared on network television shows such as NBC’s Tonight Show with Jay Leno, and was featured in countless newspaper and magazine articles during his reign as the “King of Supercross.”
McGrath made the transition to 4-wheel off-road racing in 2008 when he was offered a Pro-2 ride by Baldwin Motorsports, to race select races in CORR. He immediately took to the sport, and raced the next season under the guidance of Johnny Greaves finishing his first year 4th in points. Jeremy now races as part of StrongHold Motorsports.
For more info on Magnaflow, check out Magnaflow.com
volant f 150 cool air intake
Other intake systems are limited in filter size, due to the factory one-piece air box and overflow tank. But Volant’s intake system replaces the tank, allowing it to be mounted several inches back towards the firewall. This gives Volant’s sealed air filter box greater air volume, and the ability to use an optional air scoop to further increase power and highway fuel economy.
Volant’s CAI kit, PN-19850, comes with a five-layer Pro-5 cotton gauze reusable filter. It’s also available with a Volant filter using Donaldson PowerCore® Filtration Technology, PN-198506, that provides up to 99.97 percent filtration efficiency, no maintenance, and lasts up to 100,000 miles. The Volant coolant tank utilizes the factory fittings, cap and hoses, and is included in the kit. The system also comes with high-flow molded air inlet ducts, silicone sleeves, stainless steel clamps, and all the necessary hardware for easy installation. Volant also includes its new black, stainless steel lid with a filter window so you can see the condition of your air filter.
The optional ram-air scoop (PN-39850) mounts to the factory bumper and routes air to the filter box. Tests have shown adding the scoop increases highway fuel economy by as much as 1.5-2 MPG. The intake kit is available for all 2011 and up Ford F-150 pickups equipped with a V8, V6 or EcoBoost engine. All of Volant’s Cold Air Intake systems are manufactured in the U.S.A. For more information, contact Volant,10285 Indiana Ct., Rancho Cucamonga, California 91730, (909) 481-3888. Or visit them on the web at www.volant.com.
All info provided by Volant.
Dodge Ram Takes Truck Shows to a New Level
The Chicago Auto Show, the nation’s largest auto show, features all the major automotive brands. The show, going on for another 7 days, will feature something new for truck enthusiasts. Dodge is allowing attendees to ride in the Ram truck as it navigates a closed-course with obstacles. It’s one thing to talk about what your truck can do, it’s another thing to allow the potential buyer to get in and see it perform.
Okay, this isn’t totally new as Jeep has been doing this for a while, but it’s a step in the right direction for Dodge. Anything you can do at a show to impress attendees and make your truck stand out is a good thing. Dodge also released the Laramie Limited Package at the show, which includes fog lamps, a chrome grill, and 20″ wheels. We usually prefer that truck owners spend the cash themselves versus upgrading to a manufacturer’s package. But, maybe this one will impress. Either way, it’s great to see Dodge thinking outside the box.
Seascursion
Car shows like SEMA prove that dreams do come true; more so for Robert Linn and Brandy Jackson and their aquatic themed Ford “Seascursion”. SEMA 2011 attracts numerous trucks to display the latest automotive products on the market. Ding Master’s custom Ford Excursion is a fine display of aftermarket components and custom fabrication.
Rob and Brandy own Ding Masters located in Banning, Ca. They offer the usual auto body services such as paint, window tint, and dent removal; hence the name Ding Masters. Running an auto body shop is like running a tattoo parlor; in that, you have the opportunity to get creative with your work. Many consumers like to customize their vehicles and what better way to do so than add a custom paint job.
Ding Masters got pretty creative with this 2000 Ford Excurison. It not only brings a dream to life, but proves that they produce excellent results when it comes to vehicle customization.
Many aftermarket products were used to complete this special build, such as; a K&N air filter, Super Swamper tires, MHT wheels, Fiberine custom fiberglass top, Xenia Pacific custom vehicle wrap, and Conti-tech air bags. The aquatic theme can be found inside and out. The interior can only be described as a luxurious sea adventure. There is a wraparound bench with a cocktail table and plenty of head room for passengers. Riding in the back of the “Seascursion” must be like taking a ride in an underwater limousine.
Charles Young, from Ding Masters, mentioned, “The vehicle mainly sits at the Ding Master collision center for advertising purposes.” This is a great advertising tool. How could you possibly miss this huge aquarium parked on a street corner? I must say, it is quite impressive to see in person.
This truck is a glimpse of what goes on after hours in the Ding Master shop. Long hours were put into building and preparing this rig for SEMA.
K&N Engineering offers air filters, air intake systems, as well as a oil filters for Ford Excursion models. K&N high flow air filters provide great performance for almost every application on the road.
If you are looking are an air filter for your custom ride use the K&N universal search then use the K&N dealer search to find a K&N dealer in your part of the world.
[News Link – The Ding Master’s Aquatic Themed Ford Excursion at SEMA 2011]
All info and pics were provided by K&N.
Good Customer Service is Hard to Find
Good customer service is hard to find. It seems as companies get larger and increase their profits, their customer service declines and the likelihood of actually speaking to a human becomes non-existent. This especially seems to be true when one is dealing with an online company. As most of you know I got hitched in November and as a wedding gift I did what any normal action sport, truck loving guy would do: I bought my wife a new snowboard. A snowboard shouts romance! Upon initial thought most people think snowboards are not romantic, but they fail to focus on the entire snowboarding experience. Most of the time you need a place to stay, you have to take a short road trip, and you have to relax in a hot tub or get a massage after a long day of riding. Road trip, mountainside condo, and a hot tub? I can’t think of a more romantic setting. Boom! Buy your spouse, significant other, etc. a snowboard and let the romance begin.
Sorry, I feel like that was a bit of a digression. Anyhow, I purchased an M3 from an online retailer who obviously sells snowboards at a discount. The board was listed as a blemished board with its only blemish being that the board measures 145cm but the print on it is 140cm. I thought this was something I could easily live with and it wouldn’t affect the board’s function. On the contrary! Two hours into the M3’s maiden voyage the tail began to de-laminate. By the next day the nose had began to de-laminate. Clearly I was upset. We returned home Monday evening and by Tuesday morning I had placed a call to the company. Ironically, no one answered their customer service line, and their mailbox was full. I tried calling the number again and received the same message stating the mailbox was full.
Next I went to see if they had a Facebook page that I could complain on because surely no self-respecting company would want a public message explaining how bad their product and customer service is. Again, no luck! So as a last ditch effort to remedy this situation I sent an email to the company stating my issue and asking how they were going to fix it. I have not yet gotten a reply, but I am patiently awaiting some good news.
It’s hard to sit back and wait, especially today when technology has allowed companies to respond quickly…if they want to. I mentioned snowboarding can be romantic, but it’s only romantic if you have a snowboard you can actually ride! I guess I’ll just keep waiting…
Rize Suspension Customer Ridez
What do you think of this big Ford hitting the dirt? If you think it’s lame, then stop reading. If you think it’s legit, then there’s plenty more where this photo came from. Rize Industries has a great section on their website featuring truck owner’s with Rize suspension lifts. As you may know, SoCalTrucks.com is a big fan of Rize suspension and now you can check out some of their work. Enjoy – RizeInd.com
Chevy Mocks Ford on World’s Biggest Stage
Did you watch the Super Bowl 46 on Sunday? If not, then you missed something that 111 million people saw: Chevy’s commercial that questions Ford durability. The commercial shows the world after the apocolypse and the only survivors are Chevy truck owners. When one of the guys asks what happened to Dave, another guy responds, “He didn’t make it. He drove a Ford.” Wow! If this was a holiday, we would be wishing Ford a Merry Dismiss! Chevy openly questioned Ford’s durability to 111 million people. Dodge ran an ad too during the Super Bowl, but nothing like this. Check out the ad below and then read SoCalTrucks.com opinion below.
SoCal SAYS: Although we’re a little surprised to see Chevy take the gloves off and fight dirty, we also give them respect for calling out their biggest competitor. At the end of the day, there are two major truck companies – Chevy and Ford. Don’t get us wrong, we love Dodge, Toyota, and Nissan trucks, but just don’t sell nearly as many trucks as Ford and Chevy. The American truck owner votes with their wallet and it’s clear who they have chosen. So rather than shy away from competition, Chevy is going after it. It will be interesting to see how Ford responds. Either way, it should be interesting. We’ll keep track of Ford’s response and report back if they choose to step into the ring with Chevy.