RPM Magazine - February 2025

In this issue

FEATURE STORY – WORK HARD, PLAY HARD…then work hard some more. For Kelly and Sue Cooper, life’s rewards are more than just “things…” but make no mistake, having a badass turbo Firebird and world renowned race car body parts business are pretty rewarding, too! We go through life meeting a variety of people, and time, especially as we age, seems to fly by.

LONG HAUL – Stephan Mallais and his Mustang have had some serious fun over the past 34 years! It was the heyday of the Fox Body platform Stand and it seemed like everybody had one. The body style started in 1979 but really took off in 1985 when Ford upped the ante and produced the 5.0L H.O. roller motor boasting 210 horsepower and 270 pounds of torque.

MALIBU DREAM – Las Vegas native Bobby Bridges transofrms a bone stock 1979 Chevrolet Malibu into one of the West Coast’s most notorious grudge cars…”She’s not the prettiest and the quickest car out there, but it runs good. Not bad for a garage build with no professional help.” We often hear the slogan “like father, like son”. This story holds especially true for Las Vegas native Bobby Bridges.

EVENTS – NOTHING VENTURED, NOTHING GAINED – West Coast No-Prep racing goes full throttle for 2025 with No-Prep Syndicate and Barona Drag Strip. Street racing has been a thrilling part of car culture ever since the very second Ford roared onto the scene! Having participated in over 40 drag races – whether promoting or running the show –

RPM HIDDEN GEM
WILD WEST – Dennis “Farrell” West’s 1972 Chevy Nova Street/Strip. Street legal is the only way that Farrell West of Beaumont, Mississippi would have his 1972 Chevy Nova. Of course that doesn’t mean the car can’t mis it up with the best of them in classes like True 10.5 or X275, he just prefers that his own car fit the true intention of “street car”, and be capable both on and off the street.