AutoUrge Jan 2019

FREE
JANUARY 2019
MAGAZINE
FOR THE AUTO ENTHUSIAST IN YOU
TM
Also available online at:
www.AutoUrge.com
Full circle
shag
Also Inside:
• Car Care: Winterizing your Daily Driver
• Mobile Electronics: Design Considerations
for your Car’s Interior
• Our Favorite Pics from 2018 ... & more

Contents:
4
Car
Care
Winterizing Your Daily Driver
By Nick Book of A&G Auto Spa
On the Cover: Photo
by Ryan Ledesma
7
12
15
Full Circle Shag
1975 Dodge Custom Van, “Time Machine.”
Through the Lens - 2018
Ryan shares a few of his favorite photos from
2018.
Mobile Electronics
Design Considerations for Your Car’s Interior
By Brandon Green of The Car Audio Shop
JANUARY 2019 Issue #26
AutoUrge Magazine
Published by:
Two Lane Ventures, LLC
Publisher: Ron Tucker
ron@AutoUrge.com
www.AutoUrge.com
Printed in the USA
Advertising:
info@AutoUrge.com
Creative:
Designer: Victoria Braswell-Heskett
design@AutoUrge.com
Copy Editor:
Taylor Tucker
Digital Content Producer:
Adam Tucker
Contributors:
Erik Heitman
Correspondents:
Nick Book, Brandon Green
Photography:
Director of Photography/Head
Photographer: Ryan Ledesma
Contributing Photographers:
Robert Ledesma, Karl Lund
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date with AutoUrge!
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© Copyright Two Lane Ventures, LLC., 2016-2019 All content, copy, layout and
design is property of Two Lane Ventures, LLC and may not be reproduced
without permission.
The Events Calendar will be back in
the Spring. In the meantime, visit
AutoUrge.com for event info.
Submit your upcoming 2019 events here too!
Photo by: Ryan Ledesma | 2018 Easter Show

Car
Care
Winterizing Your Daily Driver
Protecting Your Wheels & Tires
Most people are unaware of how damaging
road salt and frigid winter air can be for your
wheels and tires. Just like your paint, you will
want to apply some sort of protection to keep
them looking their best through winter.
In order to help prevent the buildup of ice and
salt, a sealant such as those mentioned above
can be applied directly to a clean wheel. They
can be used year-round to also help reduce
brake dust build up and increase the ease of
cleaning.
Using an environmentally friendly, non-solvent
based tire shine will also help keep your
tires supple despite the dry winter air. This is
necessary to help prevent cracking from the
cold during the winter months.
W
inter is fast approaching and will be here
before you know it. Now is the perfect
time to get your car protected from the harsh
winter conditions we will all soon encounter.
From road salt to ice storms, these winter
preparations are going to keep your daily
driver looking fresh through winter, while also
increasing safety when driving in the elements.
Protecting Your Paint
Winter in the Midwest can be very harsh on
a vehicle’s finish and it is an absolute must to
apply some sort of paint protection before
winter. I highly recommend using a synthetic
sealant over the traditional carnauba-based
waxes. These sealants are much more resilient
to chemicals and should not need to be
reapplied in the middle of winter. Silica and
polymer-based sealants are going to be the
easiest to apply and offer tremendous results.
CarPro Reload and IGL Premier are great
silica-based spray sealants that can be layered
and used as a drying aid. If you fancy more
traditional paste or liquid wax, HDPoxy is hard
to beat.
To ensure proper bonding of these sealants,
it’s necessary to use a clay bar to remove all
surface contamination. This allows the sealant
to bond with the paint directly and will ensure
maximum durability throughout winter. If you
are unsure what a clay bar is or how to use
it, reach out to a local detailer, most would
be more than happy to talk you through the
process.
Keep in mind, the ultimate in paint protection
comes in the form of ceramic coatings.
Professional level ceramic coatings will keep
paint protected year-round while making the
washing process much easier. While there
are consumer grade coatings available, the
professionally installed coatings hold up much
better and offer the greatest level of protection
for your vehicles paint year-round.
Interior Care
The best way to prevent
salt and grime buildup
in your vehicle’s carpets
is to invest in a set
of all-weather floor
mats. WeatherTech
is an industry leader
and makes custom fit
mats for most makes
and models. They have
raised lips to prevent
melted snow and ice
from getting onto
your carpets making
them an indispensable
investment for the
interior of your car.
For those that prefer fabric mats, spray on
fabric protectants are going to be the only
safeguard from salt stains. Regular cleaning
and reapplication of fabric protectants should
keep your mats looking like new.
Article by Nick Book of A & G Auto Spa.
For more information please visit
www.agautospa.com
Pictures Provided by: A & G Auto Spa
Have a question or topic idea for Car Care?
Email us at submit@AutoUrge.com
4 AutoUrge Jan 2019

Jan 2019 AutoUrge 5

FULL CIRCLE
SHAG
By Ron Tucker |Photos by Ryan Ledesma
1975 DODGE CUSTOM VAN
“TIME MACHINE”
e have had the pleasure of
W
featuring some rare cars in the
past, however, I dare you to
find another 70’s custom van
in the area. Marc Quennoz of
Warren County, MO is the proud owner of this
well preserved 1975 Dodge custom van, lovingly
named the “Time Machine”.
This time machine started life in the St. Louis area having
been built by the Chrysler/Dodge manufacturing plant of Fenton,
MO. The van was then purchased new in Maine as a new 1975 Dodge
Tradesman 100, ½ ton cargo van. Lightly optioned with 318cu v8, PS, PB,
cruise, chrome grill and bumpers, swivel captain chairs and dealer installed, steel chrome
wheels.
Continued on Page 10.
Jan 2019 AutoUrge 7

Photo by

The original owner then had the van customized with a host of
customizations popular at the time such as— custom dash and gauges,
an overhead console, CB and 8 speaker stereo, overhead custom lighting
and a number of custom toggle switches to operate various add-ons.
On the exterior, two sunroofs mounted in the vinyl roof, sun visor, hood
scoop, molded in fender flares and spoiler, side pipes, pop open mirrored
rear door windows, mag wheels, custom paint, side porthole windows
and Marc’s favorite feature….the custom hand-painted murals on both
sides of the van.
However, that’s not all! The owner wanted to use the van for outdoor
adventures such as hunting and fishing too. In fact, the mural on the
driver’s side depicts the area the original owner would have camped. The
custom touches continue with parquet wood flooring, z-brick walls, an
electric heater, ice box, propane 2-burner stove, under seat storage, rear
bench seats and a table that converts to a bed. Additionally, there are
clearance lights, a roof rack, and a rear tire carrier. Oh, and finally, SHAG
carpet throughout.
In 2007, the original owner sold the van to the second owner who
wanted to use the van for tailgating. He updated the stereo and added
a shift kit. This owner gave it the name “Time Machine” as well. Some
years passed and he was unable to complete the necessary repairs the
van needed to keep it road worthy. So, in 2012 he put the van up for sale
on eBay Motors. This is where Marc first saw the van. Marc was living
up north at the time and the van was only 30 minutes from his home.
Upon arriving to see the van in person, Marc knew as soon as he saw
it, he would buy it. Marc, having owned a few early 70’s vans prior, was
immediately taken by this time machine. After the purchase, Marc added
new brakes and tires. Shortly after, Marc was transferred back to his
home state of Missouri. Thus “Full Circle Shag”.
After moving back to Missouri, Marc took the van into Don Flier Motors
of Pacific, MO to have them thoroughly go through the whole van. Marc
than added new headers, radiator, side pipes, various new wiring, custom
steering wheel and some damage to the front fiberglass was repaired.
All was needed to get the van back to being road worthy. Otherwise, the
van is as original as it would have been back in the late ’70s. Now, Marc
wouldn’t be a true/typical car guy if he didn’t want to add more power.
Ironically Marc is looking to add a few power adders sometime down the
road. Other than the future addition of more horsepower, Marc’s goal is
to keep the van as original as possible.
We are thankful Marc found this van and brought it back to both Marc
and the Van’s birthplace — Missouri!
This is definitely one you need to see in person. Especially that custom
bronze paint and murals. Hard to believe they are over 40 years old.
Thankfully, Marc attends various car shows and cruises throughout the
season in our area. You don’t need to look too hard for it at a show, it will
find you.
As Marc would say “Keep on trucking”. ■
We hope you enjoy the photos. For even MORE photos, see the Full
Photo set at AutoUrge.com.
10 AutoUrge Jan 2019

1975 - A Few Fun Facts
- The hit TV Show, Starsky and Hutch, drove a 1975 Ford Gran Torino.
The show used 1974-76 models.
- Vehicles introduced in 1975:
AMC Pacer
BMW 3 Series/E21
Cadillac Seville
Ferrari 308 GTB/GTS
Ford F150 pickup truck
Jaguar XJS
Nissan 200SX Porsche 911 Turbo (930)
- The best selling American Car in 1975? The Oldsmobile Cutlass
- A gallon of gas was .44 cents on average.
- The average cost of a new car: $4,250.00
- Fastest car of 1975? Hard to determine as Lamborghini and Ferrari
were still striving to hit the 200 mph mark. Lamborghini claimed
179mph in 1974. We found data stating that the Ferrari GT4 Berlinetta
Boxer claimed a top speed of 179mph as well. Both manufacturers’
top speed claims seemed to fall short during this time. So, depending
on who tested the car and who you believe at the time would be your
answer.
- Hi-Performance Police car of 1975: The Chevrolet Nova 9C1.
Powered by a 165hp 350ci V8 with the larger brakes from the fullsize
Impala and various parts from the Camaro z/28— this was the
high-performance answer for law enforcement at the time.
- Notable Automotive advertising slogan from 1975: “The ultimate
driving machine”– BMW
Non-automotive fun facts of 1975:
- Movie ticket: $2.00
- People started avoiding beaches due to the film “Jaws”
- Japan develops the VCR
- The average cost of a new house: $39,300.00
- More than a million people bought Pet Rocks as a Christmas Gift in
1975

2018
Through the Lens
twenty Eighteen: Ryan’s Favorite Pics
Another great year is in the books. Thank you for your continued support!
Enjoy a few of our head photographer/Ryan Ledesma’s favorite shots from 2018. See the full-size images at AutoUrge.com.
12 AutoUrge Jan 2019

mobile electronics
Design Considerations
for your car’s interior
I hope everyone had a happy
holiday season! While everyone is
hopefully working hard on their
vehicles and getting them ready
for the upcoming spring, I wanted
to throw out a few design aspects
I like to use when approaching
a vehicle and explain why they
are important. This will hopefully
give everyone something to think
about as you work on your vehicle
over the offseason.
There a million and one products
on the market available to accent
or completely replace pieces
and panels in a vehicle to give
it a unique appearance. Things
such as vinyl wrapping on both
interior and exterior panels,
different paints and textures, and of course leather and material vinyl
can all be used on parts to accent or change your vehicle. For our custom
fabrication, we like to use the aesthetic design cues from the vehicle to
add to it and make it pleasing to the eye and enhance the vehicle. Taking
these design cues from the manufacturer is important in the design and
fabrication process in order for additions or modifications to be part of
the vehicle and not look added on. We like to think
of how the manufacturer would have done it had
they offered that as an option. Different processes
obviously take more time than others, but in order
to create something that flows with the interior of
the vehicle and doesn’t make you gag when you
see it – the extra time and expense is worth it in
the end. Take the time to do some research and
see what others have done and what you like.
The Car Audio Shop
MECP Master Certified Technician
www.thecaraudioshop.co
Have a question or topic idea for
Mobile Electronics?
Email us at submit@AutoUrge.com
As Mark Twain said, “There is no such thing as a new
idea. It is impossible. We simply take a lot of old ideas
and put them into a sort of mental kaleidoscope. We
give them a turn and they make new and curious
combinations. We keep on turning and making new
combinations indefinitely, but they are the same old
pieces of colored glass that have been in use through
all the ages.”
Additionally, spend some time visualizing what
you want, and if you are having someone else
build it for you, get them some pictures and ideas
of what you like, so they have a good direction for
your project.
Enjoy the garage time and I can’t wait to see all
the vehicles out on the roads and at the shows this
spring with what everyone has changed. ■
Thank you for reading,
Brandon Green/ Owner
Jan 2019 AutoUrge 15