TOUR DE CENTERFORCE
June 13, 2024
THE AUTO BUILDER
Featured
Vintage Fabrication
For every hot rod shop that has a show on TV, there are countless smaller shops that will never get mainstream TV exposure or clothing lines sold at Wal-Mart. But all across the country, it’s these smaller shops that turn out the majority of the street and super rods that you and I enjoy, and that we see at shows. And even though these little guys may not have big reputations yet, they churn out consistent and excellent work—and, that is precisely how some of these smaller shops will eventually become bigger shops with even more prestige.
Product Spotlight: Proform’s Super-Street GM LS Aluminum Roller Rockers
When you’re chasing horsepower, every ounce of wasted motion is power left on the table. That’s why the Super-Street GM LS Aluminum Roller Rockers are worth a hard look. Proform went back to the drawing board and rebuilt their rocker lineup from the ground up—stronger, smoother, and better-looking than ever.
The Best of the Best
Taking home a win at the Triple Crown of Rodding? That’s a big deal. This event isn’t your run-of-the-mill car show—it’s where the best of the best go head-to-head, and the judging is no joke. You’ve got to bring something truly exceptional, both in design and craftsmanship, to even get a nod here.
Spotlighter
Product Spotlight – Gentleman Joe Schubeck: A Living Legend Tells His Story in Hot Rods, Trains, & Planes
Get Your Autographed Copy and Own a Piece of Drag Racing History
Don “Big Daddy” Garlits, in his “Foreword” says, "People of all ages, especially young people just starting out, should read this book for inspiration"
Author
The Auto Builder Staff
Photos Courtesy of Joe Schubeck
Every now and then, a name comes up that commands the respect of racers, builders, and hot rod historians alike. Gentleman Joe Schubeck is one of those names.
From the early days of drag racing to the boardrooms of motorsports safety, Schubeck has lived a life that spans the full throttle range of American ingenuity. Now, for the first time, he’s opening up the scrapbook and telling it in his own words—with the release of his autobiography, Hot Rods, Trains, & Planes: from the Scrapbook of Gentleman Joe Schubeck Drag Racing Entrepreneur.
This is more than a memoir—it’s a personal archive from one of the sport’s true originals. Even better, every copy available through JoeSchubeck.com is personally autographed by Joe himself.
From Dragstrips to Innovations That Saved Lives
Schubeck’s racing career kicked off in the late 1950s, behind the wheel of a homebuilt dragster that went head-to-head with the Arfons brothers. But it wasn’t just raw horsepower that defined his legacy.
He saw firsthand the danger of catastrophic clutch explosions and decided to do something about it. That something became the Lakewood Scattershield—a bellhousing designed to contain shrapnel and save lives. It worked. It stuck. And it became standard gear for racers across the country.
With the launch of Lakewood Industries, Schubeck didn’t just build parts—he helped shape the future of safety in motorsports.
A Life Larger Than Racing
But Joe’s story doesn’t end with quarter-mile passes and clutch housings. A lifelong fascination with machinery—especially locomotives and aircraft—runs parallel to his time on the strip. In this book, he shares the full scope of his mechanical passions, along with stories that blend engineering, showmanship, and straight-up Americana.
He was the racer in the tuxedo firesuit, the innovator behind a movement, and the man who kept pushing forward long after the race was over.
Endorsed by Icons
The foreword, written by none other than Don “Big Daddy” Garlits, says it best:
“People of all ages, especially young people just starting out, should read this book for inspiration.”
That’s high praise from one of the greatest names the sport has ever known.
Order Your Signed Copy Today
Hot Rods, Trains, & Planes isn’t just a story about one man’s life—it’s a firsthand look at the evolution of American racing, innovation, and style. It’s history told by someone who lived it.
And with autographed copies available exclusively at JoeSchubeck.com, it’s a rare chance to own a piece of that legacy.
Grab your copy and discover the story of a man who raced hard, thought smart, and left a mark on every machine he touched.
👉 Get it now at JoeSchubeck.com
ARTICLE SOURCES
Joe Schubeck
https://joeschubeck.com
