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Sundays 8/7c on ABC
In the beginning of January, Racingmetal was contacted by a producer for Extreme Makeover to see if we were interested in participating with an upcoming build in Loris SC. Having watched the show in the past, an no, I did not cry, that was a speck of dust in my eye!!, we jumped at the opportunity to help in any way we could. We were immediately contacted by the Design producer Jowill who let us know what they were looking to do, and if we could help out. Now, I have been doing this since 2001. I can probably take a car apart better than the best of them, but what they wanted was a car built in the room. Basically, I am well versed in tearing things apart , never tried rebuilding them!! As I began searching around for a body and chassis for a car, I spoke with a good buddy Arvis Zimbelmann who works at Earnhardt Ganassi racing. He was equally excited about the whole project and offered up his help as a fabricator as well as his son Travis ( can't thank them enough). With Just 5 days before the items would need to be installed in the new build, we were off and running. With a chassis donated by Earnahrdt Ganassi ( as well as other parts) , a fiberglass body donated by Jeff Gordon racing school, and parts as well as a Dupont crew firesuit donated from Hendirck Motorsports, we were on our way. Over the next 4 days, Friday - Tuesday, we began to build a full size race car which would look as close as possible to the real deal, yet something easily disassembled and rebuilt on location. By the following Wednesday, Racingmetal "tent city" was up on the site of the build, and design producer Jowill " Jomamma" put a team together consisting of an upholsterer to cover the seats, an autobody specialist- Tony Donovan of D&D collision repair of Conway SC to paint the chassis and finish all body work, and finally Alan & Gail Yoho of C.A.R. signs and graphics of Conway SC to install the decal wrap. By that Sunday, we had all worked together to get the car installed and finished.
If any of you ever get the chance to help in an "Extreme build" , I urge you to do so. It is one of the most amazing things you will ever be a part of. The amount of people helping is overwhelming!! To actually see a house go up at that speed right in front of your eyes is unbelievable. I literally went into the room we were putting the car in to take a before pic while it was still bare studded walls. I had forgotten my camera, went to get it, and when I returned it was sheetrocked and painted!! It was one week I will not soon forget.
Below are a bunch of photos from start to finish- please enjoy!!
I want to thank the producers of Extreme Makeover as well as the builder Sterling Homes for allowing us the opportunity to help on the build.
Jowill leano - design producer as well as designer Paige Hemmis - thanks for everything!!
Arvis & Travis- Thanks for everything, it was an experience. I now know how to build rather than destruct!
Thank you to Alan Brown as well as his son Austin who we used to help "size" the drivers compartment, Randy Reinhardt, and Arvis's wife who dealt with all the beating and banging late at night.
Special thanks to :
Tom Sandal of Carolina Race supply who donated quite a bit of parts as well as complete uniform& helmet for Walker to wear.
Hendrick Motorsports
Earnhardt Ganassi racing
Rich Bedner for the Bobby Hamilton seats
scroll thru all pics- click to view- don't miss the descriptions!!
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The girls with Ty
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