August 2009 LXOM: SoCalRT

**DMAG** · 08-03-2009, 03:36 PM

Written by SoCalRT

First, this is a huge honor to be voted as LXOM and I really don’t know what to say other than Thank You very much…

For those that don’t know me I’m Brett Graves and I have been a car guy since an early age. I got away from modding for about 20 years when my family was young and my career was growing, the Magnum changed that for me and I am now back for good. I love modding my ride but I also love making other peoples’ ideas come to life on their rides. The SoCalLX family is a great group of people that really care about each other and I’m proud to be a part of the team…I’ve made many good friends through the LX communities here on the Internet and in the real world too…

My first vehicle was a 1956 Ford F-100 pickup that I got when I was 13 for $100 and I worked on it for about five years, building it for the frame up. I finished it just in time for college and drove it for several years. I still have that truck nearly 37 years later, unfortunately I took it apart for a rebuild 20 years ago and kids and the career took priority. It’s still in the back garage but lately I’ve been thinking about it quite a bit and I think it’s about time to start working on it again. I never really lost my love for cars as I’ve kept my subscription for Hot Rod, Street Rodder and Truckin' active since the mid-seventies…

I knew the moment that I saw the concept Magnum in HOT ROD magazine that if they built it I would get one. So back in June ’04 on premiere night at my local Dodge dealership I got my wish, a ’05 Mineral Grey R/T with every option available at the time, for list price no less. I don’t think I quit smiling for a week, and still love this car 141,000 miles and just over five years later.

Shortly after I got it I started to thinking of mods I wanted to do, but back then there weren’t too many parts available. Fortunately here in my area there are several great companies that were looking for Magnums to develop parts. My car was used to develop the K&N intakes and I also got one of the first Eibach Pro-kits for the Magnum. When looking for a cat-back system I heard Redinorange’s Zoomer’s equipped R/T at a local meet-n-greet and knew that was the sound I was looking for, but Zoomer’s was only doing custom work at the time. They developed the exhaust kit and put the first five kits on my ride to test the fit, I still love that growl…and the mods haven’t stopped yet…

Check out my site www.freewebs.com/socalrt for additional pics and mod details with links to most of the vendors…

Thanks again, Brett

**Mighty Noid** · 08-03-2009, 03:42 PM

Brett...

Congrats again and that is an awesome story!!

**Cam** · 08-03-2009, 04:17 PM

Well this is more than past due. Congradulations Brett!.

For the many of you that don't know this man. He's one of the very few that has completed more one off mods than you could ever imagine. He's the kind of guy that is always willing to jump right in the middle of something with both feet. And if you need a hand, he's the first one to volunteer (maybe I should mention he ain't too bright eater).

Of all the guys I've been around in this group. He's one of only a select few I enjoy wrenching with.

He is what LXOM is all about.

**RheetoricMixes** · 08-03-2009, 05:06 PM

Great story! Congratulations on LXOM!

**cleary524** · 08-03-2009, 05:30 PM

Awesome pics and your story sounds well deserved! Congrats bro! Keep on moddin'

**Junior** · 08-03-2009, 05:31 PM

Congrats Brett!

**DMAG** · 08-03-2009, 06:05 PM

Brett, you got it going on.

Congrats!

**BilletTechnology** · 08-03-2009, 06:17 PM

congrats Brett. Great write up and love the pics.

**Mighty Noid** · 08-03-2009, 06:30 PM

Originally Posted by DMAG

Brett, you got it going on.

Congrats!

To FUNNY!!!!!

**JonW** · 08-03-2009, 06:35 PM

Originally Posted by DMAG

Written by SoCalRT
....... I love modding my ride but I also love making other peoples’ ideas come to life on their rides. ........

This one little sentence might get somewhat overlooked, so I thought I would quote it all by itself. Brett's car has a lot of very classy and well done mods that he has fabricated himself. He is a true artist. However, I think Brett has made more mods for others than he has on his own car, and considering all the things he has done to his car, that really is saying a lot!

Congratulations Brett - this is well deserved! You're a great asset to the SoCalLX family.