“Auto legend Carroll Shelby died Thursday night at Baylor Hospital in Dallas at the age of 89.”

For more information on the life of an Automotive Legend, go to:
http://www.autoweek.com/article/20120511/CARNEWS/120519987

Check out the cool shirt designs and other wearable gear over at http://www.airbagit.com

While you’re there, make sure you take a look at their suspension products and even some of their other products including their air horns which we will be testing here on the SoCalCustoms.com Blog in the near future.

For More Information, check out their Facebook page at:
http://www.facebook.com/RelaxingInSoCal

We are making a list of all of the changes we are planning, additions we would like to make to the website and other ideas. Please take a look around the site and the blog then tell us in the comments what you would like to see, change or any other ideas you might have for SoCalCustoms.com. Now is your chance to have some input on what direction we head towards for the next few years!

Please head over to the SCC Facebook Page and leave your feedback!

http://www.facebook.com/socalcustomsdotcom

The First Annual Lone Star Throwdown will likely be a topic for discussion for many years to come. It was a great turnout for a first-year show and the quality of rides was incredible as well. When arriving to the show, visitors were greeted with some Southern hospitality as well as a host of Trucks, Cars, Sport Utility Vehicles, Hot Rods, Classics, Motorcycles and much more. With a great location in the middle of the country, LST had attendees from many States as well as a few from as far away as Australia. We added over 3,100 miles, a lot of dust and even more dead insects  to the SoCalCustoms.com Suburban driving round trip to the show.

Our show coverage was posted on the website in the middle of the 2-day event and we included photos from all over the show grounds of whatever caught our attention. It took some time to make our way through the show while stopping to check out some of the detailed work that went into each custom vehicle, talk to a few friends that haven’t been seen in years since our last trip to Texas and meet some new people along the way as well.

This show also marked the 20-year Anniversary for Negative Camber. The Club was started in 1992 and recently lost one of their founding members, Courtney Halowell. There was a dinner gathering on Saturday night after the show. The room was packed with club members from all over the United States, the Australian contingent we mentioned earlier and a few “known associates” as well. It was a celebration of two decades as an organization that holds themselves to a higher standard when it comes to custom vehicle quality. They are a family known for building some of the sickest rides to grace the various automotive magazines worldwide as well as a group that really comes together in times of need. They even passed around a collection cup at the party and raised nearly $1,300 to add to the $4,100 that the LST Show raised towards scholarships that Courtney’s Family have created. Congratulations to all Negative Camber Members past and present. Thank you for bringing out some truly noteworthy rides and quality people.

Overall, the show was a huge success and we cannot wait until next year. This is one to definitely mark on your calendars and make sure you are in Conroe, Texas for Lone Star Throwdown 2013!

We would like to Thank Frank & Tammy Peden, Todd Hendrex, Lonnie Ford, Negative Camber, Maggie Halowell, and Ekstensive Metalworks. We appreciate all of your support!

We are here in Texas just north of Houston to bring you a huge weekend of coverage into one of the most anticipated custom vehicle shows of 2012. The city of Conroe is packed with custom vehicles and they have taken over!

Stay tuned for updates throughout the day!

We thought you might enjoy seeing a few of the Automotive Super Bowl Commercials in case you missed them or wanted to see them again.

After nearly 12 years of shows covered, 90+ feature shoots and many other events, I’ve met so many people throughout the world. It’s always difficult to say goodbye to someone especially when they had a real significance in the growth of SoCalCustoms.com

Kendra Kennedy was the first SoCalCustoms.com Feature Model. I had previously done a feature shoot or two and included a model in the article but had never planned to use models for every shoot until the shoot for Steel Flame came along. Kendra was experienced, gracious and had the perfect personality to launch me into a whole new avenue for the website. I had nearly zero experience directing models through shoots but she never made me feel like I was an amateur during that shoot. I was very new to taking pictures of models with vehicles instead of vehicles by themselves. Telling a model where to be, what to do and how you want it to look is not as easy as it sounds. It’s downright awkward at first. Since that day, Kendra and I had kept in touch like I do with many of the dozens of models I have shot with since. Some have become friends and all of them have a place in the SoCalCustoms.com family. Kendra often asked about my family, how they are doing, what I have been up to lately and genuinely just wanted to know what was going on in my life. She even invited me to do a Helicopter Tour through her work in Las Vegas when I was in town for a show last year. I couldn’t go that day but I wish I had just to see her and say hello.

It’s no secret that I have already had my own personal loss from Cancer. My Mother lost her battle in August of 2009. On Saturday, Kendra succumbed to this awful disease as well. She remained upbeat the entire time. From the phone call I received when she found out, all the way until last week when she commented on a photo of my Daughters that I had uploaded to Facebook. She was as strong as someone could be, knowing that there was no cure.

Sean Murphy was the producer of two custom truck DVD’s I Filmed and Directed for distribution in major stores between 2003 – 2005. While they were mildly successful monetarily, the real benefit to me personally from the videos was my long-term relationships with people I met or worked with in the process. I had lost contact with Sean Murphy over recent years after we were done doing the second video but no doubt about it, after being introduced to him through a friend, he gave me an opportunity to do something fun, grow my own website through another avenue and make some much needed money when I realized (due to a back injury) that I’d never be able to work a normal job again.

This photo was taken at my wedding of Sean with (by far) the most influential non-family member in my adult life, Courtney Halowell. I sorted it into a special folder when Courtney passed away in July and that was the last time I tried to track down Sean. I didn’t have any luck at that time and Sean suffered a Heart Attack in November 2011. I was informed by a mutual friend on Saturday just hours before I learned of Kendra’s passing earlier that day.

It was a difficult weekend after that. I have been thinking about it on-and-on since wondering if I had given each of those business relationships the personal attention they deserved as well. It becomes a lose-lose situation to look back like that. The guilt I feel for not seeing either of them in person during recent years cannot be helped now but at one time, they made their mark on my life.

I will remember both of them fondly and I am glad to have known them. Both have left behind Children and my thoughts go out their their family at this difficult time.

Thank You Kendra and Sean,
Bryan Fross
Editor - SoCalCustoms.com

We are here in Las Vegas, Nevada checking out all of the cool new electronics for your ride as well as many other products we believe our readers can use in their daily lives.

Check out nearly 400 photos from Tuesday at: http://www.socalcustoms.com/Shows/2012/CES/index.htm

We are headed back today to see some more products, take in a few press conferences and meet with new companies to bring you product articles throughout 2012!

You can stay updated with some pictures from the show and other information by checking here on the SCC Blog or go like us at:
http://www.facebook.com/socalcustomsdotcom

Smile Venessa!

What types of tech products are you interested in? Leave a comment on this post or email us from this page:

http://www.socalcustoms.com/blog/contact-us/

Are you looking for that perfect gift for a friend, family member or custom automotive enthusiast? We have some ideas here for anyone on your list. Even if you’re shopping is finished, there may be an item or two in our guide for you to get yourself! Check out some of the items we recommend and go into 2012 with some really cool products.

30 Watt: Prank Packs
Fake gift boxes that appear to contain ridiculous products from clueless companies.

• Perfect way to trick your friends and family during that special holiday
• The box of your choice gives the impression that you picked out an absurd gift
• Just fill the box with whatever the real gift is and your prank is ready to go!

Available at: www.prankpack.com Price: $8.00

Husky: 45-Piece Stubby Combination Wrench and Socket SetConvenient set includes all of the most commonly used bits and sockets plus a ratcheting screwdriver that indexes up to 180 degrees

•  45-piece set provides a generous collection of compatible tools for use on the job or at home
• Includes a ratcheting screwdriver that is able to index up to 180 degrees and locks into 9 different positions to help make the job easier
• Ratcheting Screwdriver and Ratchet features a rubber grip handle for comfortable and non-slip grip
• Set includes 1/4 in. and 3/8 in. Ratchet, Stubby Wrench, and Ratcheting Screwdriver, plus 12 SAE sockets and 13 Metric sockets
• Additional pieces include 1/4 x 3/8 adaptor, 15 screwdriver bits and a screwdriver adaptor
• The screwdriver’s ratcheting feature and stubby size help get into tight spots
• Useful set for household repairs and auto work
• Comes in a compact and handy carry case for easy portability and storage
• Backed by Husky’s Forever Guarantee

Available at: www.homedepot.com Price: $14.97

48-in-1 Ratcheting Rotary Socket Wrench
Perfect for any homeowner or professional and makes a great gift.

• Universal tooth design used for 6 different types of bolts will service a wide ranges of uses and applications
• Rotary is easy to use when changing head size, and the wrench has a small switch to change the position of the ratchet
• Backed by Husky’s Forever Guarantee

Ballistic HC for iPhone 4
Premium protective case for your AT&T or Verizon iPhone 4 offers durability with style to fit your everyday life

• Ballistic HC (Hard Core) design comprised of five dependable layers of protection for your mobile device
• Includes an interchangeable outer gel skin layer, front facing inward holster and built in screen protector
• Advanced rugged case engineered to ensure long-term survival against drops and scratches
• Advanced shock absorption material isolated vibrations to protect your device
• Sleek, edgy appearance adds a fashionable and unique appeal

Available in: Black, Red, Pink, White and Yellow at www.goballisticcase.com and AT&T Retail Stores. Price: $49.99

Bracketron: Cradle-iT Dash Mount
Powerful suction mount uses patented technology to secure your mobile device in a safe and convenient position on your dashboard

• Mounts your mobile device in seconds, securing it in a convenient and safe position for viewing GPS navigation applications
• Groundbreaking, adhesive-free Temporbond technology provides ultimate hold without leaving a sticky residue
• Offers 360-degree adjustability and easily pivots and rotates to maximize your viewing angle
• Mounts your mobile device with or without a case
• Can easily be switched between vehicles or even used on your desk and other flat surfaces
• Versatile universal mount is compatible with most handheld smartphones including iPhone 4, iPhone 4S, Android and more

Available at: www.bracketron.com Price: $29.95

Lane’s Car Care Products
Specific products for cleaning and taking care of all aspects of your ride including:

• Exterior/Interior Care
• Detailing Tools
• Wheel & Tire  Care
• Bug & Tar Removal
• Rubbing Compound & Scratch Remover

Please take a look around their site at: www.lanescarproducts.com
    

IMZZ Industries
A full service customization shop. Automotive Parts and Service since 1996!

• Lift Kits
• Lowering Kits
• Air Bag Suspension
• Billet Steering Wheels
• Oakley & Fox Sunglasses
• Gift Certificates

Located at:  1741 E. Lambert Road La Habra, CA 90631 Website: www.imzzind.com
    

AirBagIt.com
Full line Suspension products and much more.

• Air Suspension
• Lowering Kits
• Train Horns
• Spindles
• Coils
• Compressors
• Shipping right to your door!

    

Boston Acoustics: SR60
Boston’s premier high performance 2-way car components 

• 6.5″ copolymer cone woofer with TwinStageT heatsink
• Woofer’s neodymium motor structure offers extraordinary power-to-weight ratio
• VariMountT adaptor rings enable the SR60 woofer to fit into virtually any factory 6-1/2-inch location
• Type-S1 1″ Kortec® dome tweeters
• Quick-fit mounting cup simplifies tweeter installation
• Separable and dockable model-specific crossovers

• T-Shirts
• Many Colors, Sizes and Styles available

Available at: www.carmabrand.com Price: 29.00