J. F. Launier of JF Kustoms in Osyoos, British Columbia, was presented with the 2008 Goodguys Trendsetter award during the Hot Rod Industry Alliance awards reception at the SEMA show in Las Vegas. The Goodguys Trendsetter Award is presented annually at SEMA to rising young talents in the realm of rod & custom car building.
Launier, who's 33 years old, got started early in the custom car scene. He completed his first build, a 1951 Mercury pickup, when he was just 16 years old. His career accelerated during the new millennium with groundbreaking custom builds and six appearances on the hit show "Overhaulin'." Launier's breakout custom came in 2006 when he debuted a 1951 Kaiser two-door named "Kontageous" which won the coveted Chip Foose Design Excellence Award at the 2006 Grand National Roadster show as well as a finalist bid for the 2006 Goodguys Custom Rod of the Year.
Launier and his JF Kustoms crew upped the ante considerably for the 2008 event season, rolling out a jaw dropping 1955 Chrysler phantom station wagon dubbed "R'Evolution." What started as a '55 Chrysler two-door coupe was joined with the roof from a four-door wagon. Launier and his team built the custom wagon based on what could have been Chrysler's sport wagon of the 1950's had they built one. After an immense 14-month, 20-hour per day build, The pearl yellow wagon was received with overwhelming applause from the rod and custom industry being chosen as the Goodguys West Coast Custom of the Year as well as being named a "Great 8" Finalist for the prestigious Ridler award at the Detroit Autorama and was featured in the October 2008 issue of R&C.
JK Kustoms' next project, a '63 Buick Riviera is already taking shape up in British Columbia.
To find out more about JF Kustoms and to see their latest projects visit their website at www.desertspeedshop.com
Past recipients of the Goodguys Trendsetter Award include; Chip Foose, Troy Trepanier, Alan Johnson, Eric Peratt, Tim Strange, Dave Lane, Zane Cullen, Dean Livermore, Jesse Greening and Troy Ladd.