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Compact Cars

VALUABLE LESSONS

Building an engine at home is exactly what you make of it—your first experience could be a good one if you choose to do it the right way, or it could be a bad one if you take short cuts along the way. As cheesy as it may sound, with engine building, you determine your own destiny with how you go about the build. Buy the right parts, talk to the right people and you may just have a long-lasting engine that puts a smile on your face every time the loud pedal hits the floor. Buy junk parts and think you know it all from the get-go and you’re looking at a big disappointment when it comes time to fire that bad boy.

NOPI Georgia 2026 Proved the Revival Is Real

The NOPI Regionals NDRA and NOPI Drift event at South Georgia Motorsports Park didn’t just meet expectations — it reinforced exactly why the name still carries weight in the automotive world. What started as a revival effort in 2025 came back stronger this year, with bigger crowds, deeper competition fields, and a noticeably elevated energy across every corner of the venue.

Hot Stuff

When I got a call from Craig Lieberman, marketing director of MagnaFlow Performance Exhaust, to tell me about the company’s new Ti line, I was totally stoked. Not because it had anything to do with titanium, but because I was going to get a firsthand look at what the new stuff looked like and how it performs on the dyno. Although we didn’t expect anything in particular in terms of power, the weight savings alone was worth the install.

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Product Spotlight: Dynamat Xtreme Bulk Pack

If your ride still sounds like a tin can at speed, it’s time to get serious. Dynamat Xtreme isn’t a luxury add-on — it’s a foundational upgrade for builders who want their cars to feel tight, solid, and finished. This is the same material trusted in high-end customs, competition cars, and OE applications for one simple reason: it works.

Our SEMA 2025 Hot List

SEMA always delivers sensory overload — the unveilings, the crowds, the horsepower echoing off every hall. But this year, the real thrill came from the unexpected. Tucked between the headline builds and mega displays were the parts that made us slow down, lean in, and say, “Okay… now that’s something special.”

NOPI Nationals 2025: A Legendary Comeback

After years away, NOPI Motorsports made a triumphant return with the NOPI Nationals 2025, officially the NOPI Nationals Motorsports Supershow. Fans from across the country flocked to the event, experiencing two full days of custom car showcases, high-octane competitions, and festival-style entertainment that reminded everyone why NOPI is a cornerstone of car culture.

NOPI LIVE 2003

NOPI, NOPI, NOPI … that was all I heard in August. Everyone I spoke to was getting ready for the NOPI Nationals in Atlanta. Whether I was talking to a manufacturer, builder or enthusiast, I got the same response: “… getting ready for the NOPI Nats.”

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