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AEM Induction Systems Gears Up To Display At 2009 SpoCom Show in Long Beach, California

Are you a sport compact enthusiast living in SoCal? Do you unsuccessfully try to attend the SEMA show year after year? Do you want the chance to meet with reps from the top companies in the automotive aftermarket industry and be entertained all day with the hottest import models and sickest sport compact rides of our scene? If you answered yes to any of three questions just asked then you should be attending the 2009 SpoCom show. Not only is it the closest thing you're going to get to SEMA (you might actually enjoy SpoCom just as much if not more), its open to the public, and the event is centrally located at the Long Beach Convention Center on Sunday, June 14th.
Bisimoto Engineering's All-Motor Honda Insight at the dragstrip
Bisimoto Engineering's All-Motor Honda Insight at the dragstrip

SpoCom trophies designed by Troy Sumitomo of 5-Axis Designs
SpoCom trophies designed by Troy Sumitomo of 5-Axis Designs
The two-time back-to-back Formula Drift champion Tanner Foust's new rear-wheel-drive V8-powered Scion tC
The two-time back-to-back Formula Drift champion Tanner Foust's new rear-wheel-drive V8-powered Scion tC


You may be asking yourself, what makes this event different than your run-of-the-mill car show/meet? Well, SpoCom has taken a fresh approach to sport compact events by hand picking the best aspects of all automotive events, completely doing away with the lame parts and creating an outstanding one-day, once-a-year event. There will be something for everyone at this year's SpoCom show. First and foremost, let's just say… eye candy! You'll see some of the highest-quality builds at this event. The car show brings together jaw-dropping cars from diehard show car builders while over 75 featured manufacturers bring out their over-the-top demo cars and race vehicles. Now do we even need to mention the other form of eye candy, the import models! You know those girls that are featured on all the magazine covers posing next to your favorite cars, yes they will be there. In fact, SpoCom has confirmed that over 100 models are booked for activities such as a bikini contest and of course classy lingerie show.

This year, AEM will be setting up an awesome display with the AEM Racing rig to highlight Papadakis Racing's brand spanking new, rear-wheel-drive, TRD V8-powered, drift Scion tC driven by Tanner Foust. Papadakis Racing is made up of two drivers, Stephan Papadakis and Tanner Foust along with their Head Mechanic, Shawn Hillier and Race Tech, Carlos Rivas. Stephan and Tanner have been on top of their game for the past two seasons in the Formula D drift series, taking home the Champion title twice in a row. In addition to having the two-time Formula Drift team's new car, the record-setting Honda Insight of Bisimoto Engineering will be alongside Tanner Foust's new Scion tC. The Bisimoto Engineering Honda Insight driven and tuned by Bisimoto Founder, Bisi Ezerioha holds the current unibody record of 9.5-seconds at 145.28 MPH in the quarter mile. The car is a gross display of knowledge and science since it performs in a naturally-aspirated state and still lays down scorching numbers on the 1320. Both Tanner Foust's new Scion tC and Bisi's Honda Insight are truly masterpieces and are a "must see" to any real enthusiast.

AEM's display will also include a slew of products on display. On the air induction side, there will be air intake systems from each of AEM's product offerings such as the Cold Air, Short Ram, Dual Chamber and Hybrid intakes for sport compacts. For those that drive SUVs and/or trucks, we'll have the BruteForce and BruteForce HD lines on display as well. Also expect to see demos of AEM's oil-free DRYFLOW air filter. See how easily you can clean the DRYFLOW air filter and how extremely durable it is. Learn about the Bypass valve that helps to deter engine hydro-locking for cold air intakes. On the Electronics side, AEM will have a presentation of the highly-anticipated Series 2 EMS (Engine Management System) with live demos of the completely retooled AEMTuner EMS tuning software. You'll also be able to see the new Analog Wideband Air/Fuel Ratio Gauge in an exhibition of colors as it demonstrates its seven user-selectable color choices. Of course, you'll also be given the chance to grab free AEM catalogs and decals all day long while supplies last.

If you're there to show off your car instead of checking some out, then you're in luck too because SpoCom doesn't dilute the car show competition with a million categories. What this means is the best of the bunch will shine at this show and you'll see it throughout the day as SpoCom delegates the task of judging to an all Import Industry Panel. According to SpoCom's website, "These are the guys who know about cars, work in the industry or attend all the major car shows all over the world. These guys know what it takes to win on the show car circuit." Now, if you're one of the lucky ones that win, you'll take home more than a cheesy plastic trophy. Instead, SpoCom has put together a real treat for car show winners. Not only do you get paid for your win, you take home a trophy designed by Troy Sumitomo of 5-Axis Designs. To top off the notoriety, cash and amazing trophy, this event is covered by leading media outlets of our industry. AutoImportCraze.com, DSport Magazine, EuroTuner, ImportTuner, Jtuned.com, Octane TV, PAS Magazine, SpeedLounge, StreetFire.net, Sub5Zero.com, Super Street Magazine, UrbanRacer.com and many more will be plastering the web with images from the SpoCom event and publishing coverage in print publications to immortalize your involvement forever. What more can you ask for?

Now that you're in the know and since you're still ready, we're assuming somewhat of an interest in the sport compact scene, you need to attend this year's SpoCom show. This is an event you do not want to miss. When you're there, make sure you come by the AEM booth to say hello, grab some freebies, ask any questions you may have and scope out the newest products for 2009. We hope to see you there!

  For more information, go to www.SpoComUSA.com or call (626) 333-1400.

Tanner Foust's Podium Finish At FormulaD Opener



Long Beach, California, Saturday April 11th, 2009— 2007 and 2008 Formula Drift Champion, Tanner Foust won third place and a podium spot at the 2009 Formula Drift Championship season opener on the Long Beach Grand Prix course this weekend. It was a successful debut for the all-new Papadakis Racing built Scion TC that Tanner stepped into for the first time just days earlier.

Foust took third place from Robbie Nishida after being beaten in a hard fought semi-final by eventual winner Ryan Tuerck. Both races with Tuerck and Nishida featured two “one more times” as the competition was so close. Foust ran the Toyota Nascar V8 motored Rockstar Energy Scion TC eighteen times in tandem competition without missing a beat--a phenomenal feat for a car that was developed from scratch in the off-season and testament to the car building skills of Stephan Papadakis and crew.



Foust said, “To walk away from the event with a podium spot on the Rockstar Energy Scion TC's maiden voyage is a huge success. The guys in the shop worked so hard. I'm just glad I could reward their great efforts with a good result. We're all very stoked!”

Team manager and car builder, Stephan Papadakis also commented, “"What an amazing weekend! So many things came together to make this podium finish happen. Tanner drove flawlessly as usual and the Rockstar Scion TC didn't skip a beat thanks to our crew.  There are many people and companies that are helping to make this year a success. Thank you everyone!!

Foust will take his new Scion back into battle at the Formula Drift second round in Atlanta on May 8th and 9th. Foust is back in the driving seat defending his current first place in the Rally America championship at the Olympus Rally outside of Seattle, Washington on April 18th and 19th.



About: Tanner Foust is the 2007 and 2008 Formula Drift Champion. The Rockstar Energy Drink Drift Team is operated by Papadakis Racing. Additional sponsors are Scion Racing, Hankook Tires, AEM, ACT, Eneos, Motegi, Tokico, SPC Performance Alpinestars, Fulmer Helmets and Memphis Car Audio.

Tanner Foust in 2008 Race of Champions on Discovery HD

2008 Race of Champions To Air Domestically On Discovery HD Featuring Team USA’s Tanner Foust and Carl Edwards
2008 Race of Champions To Air Domestically On Discovery HD Featuring Team USA’s Tanner Foust and Carl Edwards

March 31st, 2009— It has just been announced that the 2008 Race of Champions will be aired on Discovery HD beginning Sunday April 5th at 9pm EST.

Rockstar Energy race driver Tanner Foust competed for Team USA along side Nascar super star Carl Edwards. They will be featured in the special version of the event edited for US audiences. The one-hour program is scheduled to air eleven times through May 23rd.

In his first trip to the legendary Race of Champions, 2007 and 2008 Formula Drift champion and this year’s X Games Rally silver medalist, Foust, in front of fifty thousand plus spectators and millions of live TV viewers, beat current Formula One championship leader, Jensen Button, in a tight head-to-head race. Foust moved on to the event’s quarter-finals but was beaten by another F1 star, David Coulthard, while racing KTM X Bows.  Coulthard was the event’s runner up, and was undefeated racing the X Bows even against 2008 ROC Champion Sebastien Loeb.

The Race of Champions annually pits the best race drivers in the world against each other in head-to-head races on a tarmac course inside Wembley Stadium. The drivers race various identical cars including, for this year, KTM X-Bows, Ford Focus WRC cars and Abarth Assetto Corsas. The winner of the Race of Champions is crowned Champion of Champions. The event attracted fifty thousand plus live spectators and millions of TV viewers worldwide. This is the twenty first year of the Race of Champions.

Foust Takes 2nd Place at Sno*Drift Season Opener!


Rockstar Energy Drink Rally driver, Tanner Foust, kicked off the 2009 Rally America series winning second place at the Sno*Drift rally outside of Atlanta in the upper peninsular of Michigan state. Foust, with co-driver Chrissie Beavis, drove a 2003 Hyundai Tiburon prepared by rally legend, John Buffum's Libra Racing to second place behind Subaru Rally Team USA's Travis Pastrana in a factory 2008 Subaru WRX STI. For Foust and his new team, it was a great way to start the season.

The strategy was to drive a safe race while getting used to the car. By the time he was comfortable enough to start pushing Pastrana had a full minute lead and Foust was three minutes up on third-so playing it safe for second on the podium was the way to finish.

"Driving through a snow bound forest with hardly any time in the Hyundai, our goal was to simply complete the rally and accrue points towards the championship. After a few stages I felt comfortable in the Rockstar Tiburon, and we were able to pressure the pace of the factory team on stage times but it was better to sit back and play it safe." Foust commented. However, a one hundred plus mile an hour spin did keep things interesting on the fifth stage.

Foust will be at the wheel of a brand new Buffum-prepared 2009 Mitsubishi Lancer EVO X for the next Rally America round at 100 Acre Wood in Salem, Missouri on February 27th.

2008-2010 Scion tC Cold Air Intake Release



AEM is proud to introduce its new Cold Air Induction System for the 2008, 2009 and 2010 Scion tC (part # 41-1401P with a polished finish and part # 41-1401C with a silver finish). AEM Cold Air intakes are dyno-tested to deliver superior performance.  Each system is tuned on the dyno to focus on maximum torque and horsepower, and monitor OBDII sensors, Mass Airflow sensor (MAF) signal voltage and fuel trims during this process to ensure that all readings are within OEM parameters, minimizing the chance of a throwing a check engine light.

All Cold Air intakes are constructed of CNC, mandrel-bent 6063 aluminum, and feature reinforced, TIG-welded brackets and fittings for maximum durability.  A complete hardware kit and comprehensive installation instructions are included with every AEM Cold Air intake system.

All AEM intakes include AEM's revolutionary DRYFLOW synthetic performance air filter; a cleanable, reusable performance air filter that does not require oiling to filter and trap dirt and contaminants.