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RODS ON THE RIVER

A look back at the 2006 Strawberry Festival in Dayton, Tennessee, where The Auto Builder hosted the first Rods on the River car show, drawing crowds, classic cars, and community spirit.

The Cars That Defined HPX 2026

HPX 2026 in Charlotte established its identity on the show floor rather than through announcements or spectacle. At the center of that approach was the inaugural HPX Shop Car Challenge, presented by Killer Performance, which brought together five curated shop builds representing some of the most current and capable work in the performance aftermarket. Positioned as a focused, invite-only feature within the High Performance Expo, the display highlighted craftsmanship, execution, and shop identity through the cars themselves rather than presentation alone.

Hydro-Boost Brakes

Nothing is more terrifying than cruising down the street to the fairgrounds when some idiot pulls out in front of you and you have to jump on the binders. Making a panic stop can be difficult when you are trying to stop 800 throbbing horsepower with a set of 9-inch rotors and single-piston calipers. You might even wonder if it will stop as you mash the brake pedal. When it comes to street rods with big motors, one braking concern is vacuum pressure. Is there enough? Many high-performance camshafts add power to the motor but produce low vacuum levels. This is something to consider when selecting your engine components. Of course, if the motor fails, you will have no vacuum, so stopping will be a real problem.

Spotlighter

NO HAND SIGNALS

Add-On Turn-Signal Mirrors Just Like the Luxury Trucks

Rearview mirrors with LED turn-signal indicators are relatively new, but you will be seeing more and more of them, especially on luxury SUVs and pickups. They are already standard equipment on some models, and probably part of an upgrade premium package on others. They are also now available in the aftermarket.

Author

Bob Carpenter

BEFORE: The stock mirror allows you to see what’s behind you, and that’s it.

A backside view of the glass gives you an idea of how it pops onto the factory mirror. All the wiring and hardware is supplied in the kit.

They do make a lot of sense, as drivers behind you and just off to your side will have a much clearer idea of what you are planning, and that is especially true of the “blind” side. The Muth Signal Mirror System, distributed by MITO Corp., enables you to add flashing LED turn signals to your mirrors, and the system is available for a host of GM trucks: Chevy Silverado, Suburban, Tahoe, Avalanche, Cadillac Escalade, GMC Sierra, Yukon and others.

Installation of the Signal Mirrors is not overly complicated, but it does involve just enough disassembly, wiring and nervous moments that we were concerned about damaging the ’01 Tahoe that we used to help illustrate the install. So we turned the job over to a professional. Pierre Hoffmann at Auto Indulgence in Lomita, California, does this work for a living, and he sees this sort of thing all day long. He also has all the tools he needs, he knows the little tricks involved and he has the process down pat. We followed along so that you, too, could see just what is involved in upgrading to such a system. There are other kits available, marketed under other names and for different trucks, so check around and see what fits your needs. We were happy we did. These signals work every bit as well as claimed, and they are a terrific convenience and safety item. And should you ever leave your indicator on, you won’t miss it now!