IRWINDALE, Calif. — It was an eagerly anticipated day, as Troy Ladd and his Hollywood Hot Rods crew rolled the just-completed, bright red Raybestos ’32 Roadster Pickup off the trailer Monday morning at southern California’s Toyota Speedway at Irwindale. Ladd and his team met the build deadline, in order to shakedown, test and tune the race-inspired hot rod at the racetrack – in front of a film crew from Hot Rod TV, photographers, magazine editors and company executives. 
The build, and Raybestos brand’s national sales promotion surrounding it, have been developed to help engage DIYers, hotrodders, mechanics and race fans in celebrating the racing heritage and performance of Raybestos Brakes and Chassis Parts. The traditionally inspired hot rod combines retro styling with modern technology and know-how. And until Aug. 31, consumers can enter to WIN this one-of-a-kind Raybestos ’32 Roadster Pickup.
“Really, the racetrack was the first and only place we considered to shakedown the Raybestos Roadster Pickup,” said Josh Russell, director, performance and online sales at Affinia Global Brake and Chassis, manufacturer of Raybestos Brakes & Chassis. “Troy and the guys really got excited about the Raybestos legacy in racing, and went absolutely wild demonstrating their talent – basically engineering and building a full-on race machine, cleverly disguised as an early 60s era hot rod.”
“At the shop, we’ve all really kind of fallen in love with this truck,” admitted Ladd, owner of Hollywood Hot Rods in Burbank, Calif. “The screaming-fast, lightweight Ford 5.0L Ti-VCT with the Hilborn stack injection really puts it over the top. To be honest, we wish we didn’t have to give it away!”
For the prospective sweepstakes winner, and interested Raybestos customers and fans, RaybestosGarage.com offers a behind-the-scenes view of the entire build process. Visitors get the inside scoop on everything from design inspiration to frame & suspension fabrication, powerplant selection, brake package design, and the custom paint & finishing work that will prepare the hot rod for its SEMA debut. The website features build progress updates, videos, photos, posts, and other content. Visitors are welcome to comment on the project, ask questions, and even offer advice via Twitter and Facebook. And of course, they can enter online to win the hot rod itself.
DIYers and repair shop customers may also visit any participating Raybestos dealers – either online or in their hometown – for a chance to win the grand prize. With a minimum $25 purchase of Raybestos Professional Grade or Advanced Technology brake pads, rotors or wheel hubs, or Raybestos Professional Grade Chassis products, consumers can redeem a printed promotional form (or tear-off card from the shop’s countercard display) to receive a free RaybestosHollywood Hot Rods t-shirt. Redemption for the t-shirt also serves as an automatic entry into the sweepstakes for the Raybestos ’32 Roadster Pickup.
The Raybestos Roadster Pickup has been called the “ultimate parts hauler and shop truck.” Inspiration for the hot rod’s design is as if it was the Raybestos factory parts truck and show car in 1963, delivering brakes for the Indy roadsters up and down Gasoline Alley – as IndyCars were in fact running Raybestos brake pads at the Indianapolis 500 throughout the 1950s and 1960s. Design cues are pulled from open-wheeled Indy roadsters and Sprint cars of that era. The Raybestos RPU will feature: 
• 1932 Brookville Steel RPU body and custom fabricated box (BrookvilleRoadster.com)
• From Ford Racing, the all new 5.0L Ti-VCT “Coyote” V-8 engine from the upcoming 2011 Ford Mustang – deconstructed and re-dressed with vintage accessories to resemble the iconic 1963 Ford 427ci SOHC race motor (FordRacingParts.com)
• Custom vintage-style stack fuel injection setup from Hilborn (HilbornInjection.com)
• A F.A.S.T. engine management system for modern reliability (FuelAirSpark.com)
• Tremec 5-speed manual gearbox (FordRacingParts.com)
• Speedway quick change rear axle (SpeedwayEng.com)
• Complete Raybestos Brakes package, with 60s Corvette front calipers and ’59 Cadillac rear drums (Raybestos.com)
• Wilwood Engineering racing pedal assembly with balance bar (Wilwood.com)
• Bias ply Firestone Indy roadster period correct tires from Coker Tire (Coker.com)
• One-of-a-kind customized AutoMeter gauge cluster (AutoMeter.com) by Redline Gauge Works (RedlineGaugeWorks.com)
• Custom shifter, linkage, pedals and assembly by Gennie Manufacturing (GennieShifter.com)
• “Lakes” style headers handmade by Hollywood Hot Rods, with oval cones, fabricated from components provided by Megs Exhaust Builders Warehouse (ConeEng.com)
• WIX oil and fuel filters (WixFilters.com)
• Traditional style tuck & roll interior by Elegance Auto Interiors (Upland, Calif.)
• Powder coating, metal coating, and media blasting work by Pacific Coast Powder Coating (PacificCoastPowderCoating.net)
• C&R Racing custom built aluminum radiator (CRracing.com)
• SATA spray equipment (sata.com/USA)
• PPG automotive paints (ppg.com)
• Intro custom-designed aluminum wheels, inspired by late 1950s Halibrand-style magnesium racing wheels (IntroWheels.com)
Check out the Raybestos Roadster Pickup build process, photo galleries, and video updates from builder Troy Ladd at www.RaybestosGarage.com.
Tune into Hot Rod TV on SPEED on Aug. 28 to view the build of the Raybestos ‘32 roadster pickup; from the assembly of the brake and chassis system all the way through to the application of the custom paint job. Check local listings for exact show times in your area.
For more information on the Raybestos Roadster Pickup, the correlating sweepstakes, or for questions on any Raybestos brand brake or chassis product, visit www.raybestos.com or call (800) 323-0354.
