KEEPSAKE CAMARO
March 18, 2024
THE AUTO BUILDER
Featured
Crossing JORDANS
We met Jeff Jordan at the 2004 Texas Street Machine Nationals, held at Lady Bird Johnson Park outside the city limits of picturesque Fredericksburg, Texas. Jeff and his Torch Red ’56 Chevrolet stepside pickup were attending the event, along with his brother, Rick, who owns a similarly hued Pro Street ’83 Chevrolet Silverado. We quite logically assumed that both Jeff and Rick were from Texas, but the reality was that brother Jeff had towed his ’56 all the way from Gilbert, Arizona, to attend the event and hang out with his brother, who lives in Harlingen, Texas. Not only would both Jeff and Rick’s Chevys win spots on the Texas Nationals Top 10 Truck list, but Jeff’s immaculate ’56 big-window also won the C&C Productions Long Distance award. Now let’s take a look at this beautiful half-ton hauler. “I built this truck with my son, Jeff Jr., as a father-and-son project, and it took 10 years to complete,” says Jeff Sr. Ten years?
THE CHEVELLE’S FINEST HOUR
Many believe that the ’70 Chevelle is the best-looking muscle car ever built. The new bulges on the sides give the car a meaner appearance, and this was the first time that a mid-size car could be ordered with a cowl-induction hood and stripes on the hood and trunk.
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.”
Spotlighter
HPX 2026 Puts Education in the Driver’s Seat of the Automotive Industry
A stacked education lineup built to deliver real-world insight for shops, leaders, & performance professionals.
The High Performance Expo isn’t just coming back in 2026—it’s doubling down on what made the inaugural event hit so hard in the performance aftermarket world. HPX 2026 has officially unveiled a stacked education lineup for this year’s show in Charlotte, North Carolina, bringing together shop owners, racers, manufacturers, builders, executives, and industry disruptors under one roof for three days of high-octane networking and next-level learning.
Author
The Auto Builder Staff
Photos Courtesy of HPX
HPX 2026 Expands Beyond the Trade Show Floor with a Deeper Education Focus
Set for June 2–4, 2026, HPX 2026 continues to solidify its role as a future-forward hub of the automotive aftermarket, pushing well beyond the traditional trade show format. This expanded education program reinforces exactly what sets HPX apart—this isn’t just a showcase of booths and product debuts, it’s a full-scale learning environment built to deliver real-world knowledge, practical strategies, and actionable insight that drives measurable growth.
A Deep Dive Into HPX 2026 Learning Experiences
The 2026 lineup features the return of the fast-paced HPX PowerTalks, the Women’s Em[POWER]ment Summit, and the debut of the new Automotive Leadership Conference, aimed at business owners, executives, and decision-makers focused on scaling smarter and operating more efficiently.
The PowerTalks deliver rapid-fire, real-world insight straight from the people actively shaping the automotive aftermarket. Topics range from identifying profit leaks in shops and preparing for industry shifts to high-level performance strategies, engine technology, and business development. Every session is built for immediate application—not theory.
A Growing Leadership and Education Ecosystem at HPX 2026
HPX continues to invest heavily in leadership development and workforce growth across the automotive industry. The Women’s Em[POWER]ment Summit returns as a dedicated space for connection, collaboration, and career development, bringing together voices from across racing, manufacturing, and the aftermarket to strengthen leadership pathways.
Alongside it, the Automotive Leadership Conference expands the conversation to business owners and executives, focusing on scaling operations, improving leadership structure, and navigating an increasingly competitive industry landscape.
What makes HPX different is how these programs connect. Leadership sessions run in parallel with PowerTalks, creating a layered learning experience that moves from strategic thinking to immediate, real-world application. The addition of the Recruiting Hub powered by Hendrick Motorsports further extends that impact, turning HPX into a pipeline for both knowledge and workforce development.
That connection carries into Cars & Capital, where business networking and performance culture intersect, giving builders, shop owners, and industry leaders a space to exchange ideas and uncover opportunity.
Together, these elements form a unified ecosystem where education, leadership, and business strategy all operate in real time.
The Thinking Behind HPX PowerTalks:
Education That Drives Results
“HPX education is built around one core goal: giving professionals information they can immediately put to work,” said Dr. Jamie Meyer, co-founder of HPX. “Our 2026 lineup reflects the real challenges and opportunities facing this industry, from leadership and profitability to technology, workforce development and the future of performance.
HPX PowerTalks deliver short, high-impact sessions packed with fast-paced insight from industry leaders, innovators, and entrepreneurs shaping the future of the automotive aftermarket. Taking place directly on the show floor, each session is built around practical strategies, real-world experience, and measurable results you can put to work immediately.
A sampling of HPX PowerTalk sessions includes:
- Driven to Win: Lessons from Elite Drivers
- Where Profits Leak in Auto Shops – and How Process Fixes Them
- Built for the Future: Preparing Your Automotive Business for What’s Next
- Marketing that Moves the Needle: Turning Attention Into Real Growth
- Rules of the Road Ahead: Kory Willis’ Story and What Regulations Mean for Your Business
- Fast-Track Your Career: How to Get Hired in Automotive
- The Road Ahead: Where the Industry is Really Headed
- Godzilla Unleashed: Ford’s Engine Build Secrets
- AI in Action: What It Can Actually Do for Your Business (and How to Do It!)
- Designing the Dream: From Concept to Finished Vehicle
Charlotte Becomes the Learning Hub for the Automotive Industry
With Charlotte, North Carolina at the center of American motorsports, HPX 2026 isn’t just another trade show—it’s where performance, racing, and aftermarket education converge into one connected experience.
Don’t Miss HPX 2026 — Plan to Be in Charlotte
HPX 2026 isn’t the kind of event you “maybe” show up to—it’s the one you plan around. If you’re serious about the automotive industry, this is where conversations happen, strategies sharpen, and real decisions take shape.
This is your chance to learn, connect, and walk away with insights you can put to work immediately when you’re back in the shop or office. HPX 2026 isn’t for spectators—it’s for people ready to be part of where the industry is headed next.
CLICK HERE to secure your spot at HPX 2026 —this is where the future of the automotive industry is being built.
Join us June 2–4 in Charlotte, NC for the High Performance Expo (HPX) 2026 — the new hub for racing, aftermarket innovation, and performance culture.
Save with Promo Code: AUTO26
• 50% off All-Access Pit Passes
• 20% off VIP Registration
From builders and racers to shop owners and enthusiasts, HPX brings the industry together with top brands, live builds, new products, and unmatched networking.
Register now and save with Discount Code: AUTO26
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