Backpressure Relief
September 28, 2022
THE AUTO BUILDER
Featured
MAXIMUM DETAIL
With its immaculate details throughout, this ’06 Mustang GT never fails to grab attention, but we’re sure Frank DeFeo isn’t finished modifying his Ford. An aggressive lower valance, smoked headlights and a billet grille lead the way, and the Torch Red finish is complemented by black stripes, painted by McClure Collision of Charlotte.
SUREFOOTED MUSTANG
As much as it rankles Blue Oval fans, the early Mustangs used the same suspension as the Falcon and the Comet. It brings to mind cars powered by little six-bangers, dubbed “economy cars,” and not meant for the performance-minded-like a ’60s version of a Geo Metro or Yugo. Those who drove them loved and abused them, and quickly determined the limits of the factory suspension—especially with any power under the hood.
Control Your Climate
Witness the transformation of a ’55 Chevy panel truck as it embraces modern comfort with the installation of a Hot Rod Air climate-control system. Designed for convenience, this aftermarket system seamlessly integrates power steering, power brakes, and air conditioning, ensuring a comfortable and enjoyable driving experience. Follow the step-by-step installation process, emphasizing the easy-to-follow instructions and plug-in connections. Discover the potential for personalization with chrome-plated upgrades, billet mounts, and other enhancements offered by Hot Rod Air, allowing enthusiasts to customize their street rods according to their preferences.
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HPX 2025 Award Winners
Innovation Takes the Checkered Flag
The inaugural High Performance Expo (HPX) brought together a powerhouse lineup of vendors, builders, and performance innovators. Amid fierce competition from dozens of standout products, two companies took home the top PerformancePlus HPX honors—showcasing the cutting edge of high-performance innovation.
Author
Jamie Dent
Photography by Scott Killeen
A Showcase of Excellence
With vendors vying for attention, the wins by LABA7 Precision Testing and Kirkey Racing highlight the innovation and dedication driving the high-performance industry forward. These awards aren’t just accolades—they’re a preview of where the future of performance and safety is headed.
Judge’s Choice: Peak Performance Award — LABA7 Precision Testing
LABA7 Precision Testing earned the coveted Judge’s Choice: Peak Performance Award for its revolutionary Electromagnetic Shock Dyno (EMA). This advanced machine pushes shock absorbers to the extreme, testing speeds up to 7,000 mm/s and forces powerful enough to lift a small car, while capturing even the tiniest performance details with unmatched precision.
Designed for everything from mountain bikes to race cars, the EMA runs quietly on standard power outlets (for smaller models) and features intuitive software that generates clear, detailed graphs. This lets teams quickly identify issues like stiff or weak shocks and adjust accordingly. Its versatility extends to testing different shock patterns and temperature effects, giving racers and mechanics a complete picture of shock performance.
The EMA is more than a testing tool—it’s a critical safety device that helps prevent crashes by ensuring shocks maintain vehicle stability. It also boosts performance by allowing fine-tuned suspension setups and saves money by catching problems before they escalate. Trusted by professional motorsport teams and workshops, LABA7’s EMA is driving safer, smoother rides across disciplines.
Judges Mike Galimi (Hot Rod), Robert Kibbe (The Muscle Car Place), and Scott Parker (Power Automedia) recognized LABA7 for its technical excellence, strong presence, and significant impact on the industry.
People’s Choice: Best New Product — Kirkey Racing
The People’s Choice Award for Best New Product went to Kirkey Racing for its innovative 95 Series Full Containment Seat—a lightweight aluminum racing seat designed specifically for Sprint Cars and Northeast Dirt Modifieds.
The seat features a 10° layback angle, SFI 39.2 certification, and a three-piece design allowing up to 4 inches of vertical adjustment—3 inches for torso height, 1 inch for head height—and 2 inches of head restraint positioning. Made from TIG-welded 0.100″ 5052-grade aluminum with additional MIG welds, the 95 Series is both strong and adjustable, eliminating the need for costly custom seats.
Comfort and safety are prioritized with energy-absorbing black cloth padding that reduces vibration and impact, molded rubber grommets to protect seat belts, and a rotating head restraint that enhances visibility and protection. Available in hip widths from 14 to 17 inches, the seat also ensures easy entry and exit while fitting all major head and neck restraint systems.
This combination of safety, adjustability, and durability helps racing teams save money and enhance performance by offering a comfortable, secure fit for multiple drivers. It’s quickly becoming the seat of choice for pros competing in series like Lucas Oil and World of Outlaws, where every advantage counts.
Kirkey Racing’s COO, Kevin Derochie, dedicated the award to “the hardworking men and women in the shop—the ones who build the best and safest racing seats in the industry, day in and day out.”
Looking Ahead: The Future of Performance Innovation
As HPX looks ahead to future expos, innovations like these don’t just win awards—they shape the future of motorsports and high-performance engineering. Breakthroughs like LABA7’s shock dyno and Kirkey’s advanced seating solutions are setting new standards for safety, precision, and performance. With technology advancing at full throttle, HPX remains the place to discover what’s next in the world of high-performance automotive excellence.
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