Las Vegas, NV is no stranger to glitz and glamour, and here at the SEMA Show the Mothers® Shine Award is one of the most coveted achievements within the car builder’s community. For this 12th annual edition of the Shine Award, the crop of contenders comes from, no less than, hundreds of the world’s premier cars on display at the most anticipated aftermarket industry event of the year. An international panel of respected members of the automotive world, including seasoned builders, paint specialists, journalists and previous Shine Award recipients, are tasked with selecting a winner. Judging is based on overall appearance, fit and finish, attention to detail, integration of custom and stock elements, creative vision and execution of concept.
Hosting the ceremony this year, held at the Mothers Polish® booth, were aftermarket industry veterans Joe Sebergandio and Will Handzel.
The 2012 Shine Award was presented to Dave and Karen Leisinger, Sioux Falls, SD for their 1971 Chevrolet Camaro named “ProfeSSor.” This sleek, PPG Porsche Silver Camaro was so named because its 500ci Chevy LSX engine was built by drag racing legen Warren “The Professor” Johnson. The rest of the meticulous drivetrain is hung on an Art Morrison chassis with C5 Corvette front suspension and a Ford nine-inch rear end with a Watts Link. But it is the innumerable body mods that set this ’71 apart such as the widened, wedge cut and leaned forward front end, laid back windshield, chopped roof, extended rockers, widened quarter panels, raised deck and custom taillight panel and rear valance. Roger Burman at Lakeside Rods and Rides in Rockwell City, IA built “ProfeSSor” in sixteen months before putting it on display in the Dakota Digital booth #22875.
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| Left to right: Jim Holloway of Mothers®, Roger Burman and Dennis Holloway of Mothers®. |
In addition to the Shine Award, twelve Mothers® Choice Award trophies were also presented:
Custom “Indy V8 Speedster”
Owner: Bill Lindig, Houston, TX
Builder: SO-CAL Speed Shop, Pomona, CA
Location: Ford Motor Co. Booth #22200
2012 Epic EV Torq Roadster
Owner: Chris Anthony, San Diego, CA
Builder: Epic EV
Location: Dub expo area outside of the South Hall
1933 Ford “Mariani Roadster”
Owner: Dennis and Mark Mariani, Winters, CA
Builder: Troy Trepanier, Rad Rides by Troy, Manteno, IL
Location: Derale Performance Booth #22337
1969 Ford Mustang “Mach Forty”
Owner: David Eckert, Molalla, OR
Builder: Eckert’s Rod & Custom, Inc., Molalla, OR
Location: House of Kolor by Valspar Booth #23513
2005 Chevrolet Silverado “The Heroes Truck”
Owner: Dale Ison, Hillsboro, OH
Builder: Jon Watts, Hillsboro, OH
Location: Outside of the Central Hall
1966 Ford Mustang “Martini T5-R”
Owner: Karl Williams, Longview, TX
Builder: Steve Strope, Pure Vision Design, Simi Valley, CA
Location: ARP Inc. Booth #22549
1937 Ford Tudor Sedan “LAIDBAK”
Owner: John & Nancy Coenen, Puyallup, WA
Builder: Charlie Hutton, Nampa, ID
Location: American Republic Wheels Booth #23589
1956 Chevrolet 210 Pro-Touring
Owner: George Poteet, Memphis, TN
Builder: Dan Kemppainen, Kemp’s Rod and Restoration, Houghton, MI
Location: Outside of the North Hall
1932 Ford Coupe
Owner: Peter Datino, Valhalla, NY
Builder: Craig Naff, Woodstock, VA
Location: DuPont Custom Finishes Booth #22391
1971 Ford Fairlane
Owner: George & Kathy Lange, St. Louis, MO
Builder: Alloway’s Hot Rod Shop, Louisville, TN
Location: HRIA/ARMO Booth #23395
1955 Ford Thunderbird
Owner: Dwayne Peace, Tyler, TX
Builder: Jonathan and Matthew Peace, Torq’d Design Lab, Tyler, TX and Greening Auto Company, Nashville, TN
Location: BASF Booth #21455
2013 Ford Mustang GT
Owner: Jim and Mike Ring
Builder: Ringbrothers, Spring Green, WI
Location: Ford Motor Co. Booth #22200
