Behind the Build: Our Favorite Custom Rides This Month

Every month, we're blown away by the incredible machines our community creates. From garage warriors to professional builders, here are the custom rides that caught our attention this month – and the stories behind them.

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1. THE "MIDNIGHT RUNNER" - 1967 CAMARO RESTOMOD

Builder: Jake Morrison - Weekend Warrior from Texas
Build Time: 18 months of nights and weekends
POWWA Connection: "This build wouldn't exist without those late-night garage sessions fueled by Cotton Candy POWWA"

THE VISION

Jake wanted to build the perfect balance: classic muscle car looks with modern performance and reliability. His '67 Camaro sat as a shell for 3 years before he finally committed to the build.

THE SPECS

• Engine: LS3 6.2L with custom tune (480hp)
• Transmission: Tremec T56 6-speed manual
• Suspension: Complete coilover conversion
• Brakes: Wilwood 6-piston front, 4-piston rear
• Interior: Full custom with modern amenities
• Paint: Deep metallic black with subtle graphics

THE GRIND

"Working full-time and having a family meant most of my build time was 9 PM to 2 AM. I'd come home, grab a POWWA, and dive into whatever needed doing. Engine assembly, wiring, bodywork – all happened in those focused late-night sessions. POWWA kept me sharp enough to do precision work when I was already exhausted from the day job."

Standout moment: Jake hand-wired the entire EFI harness over 40+ late nights, requiring extreme attention to detail and steady hands.

Final result: A stunning restomod that looks period-correct but drives like a modern supercar.

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2. THE "DESERT STORM" - KTM 690 ENDURO BUILD

Builder: Maria Santos - Professional Adventure Guide
Build Time: 6 months of intensive weekends
POWWA Connection: "Yuzu flavor became my rally fuel – both for building and riding this beast"

THE MISSION

Maria needed a bike that could handle everything from technical single track to high-speed desert runs. The stock KTM 690 was the perfect platform, but needed serious modifications.

THE MODS

• Engine: Full exhaust system and ECU tune (+15hp)
• Suspension: WP XACT front, custom rear shock
• Protection: Full skid plates and crash protection
• Navigation: Custom GPS and communication setup
• Storage: Lightweight rally towers and panniers
• Lighting: LED auxiliary lights for night riding

THE PROCESS

"Building an adventure bike requires different thinking than street builds. Every part has to survive crashes, mud, rocks, and extreme temperatures. I'd spend entire weekends testing different setups, then long nights in the garage making adjustments. POWWA was perfect because I needed sustained energy for both the physical work and the mental focus for getting the ergonomics just right."

Technical challenge: Creating a custom rally tower that could handle navigation equipment while maintaining the bike's balance.

Field test: 2,000 miles through Baja California proved the build's capability.

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3. THE "VOLTAGE" - TESLA MODEL S WIDEBODY TRACK CAR

Builder: Team Apex Motorsports - California Shop
Build Time: 4 months full-time effort
POWWA Connection: "The whole crew runs on Fruit Punch POWWA during crunch time"

THE CONCEPT

Take Tesla's instant torque and build a dedicated track weapon. This wasn't about range or efficiency – pure performance was the goal.

THE TRANSFORMATION

• Body: Full widebody kit with aggressive aero package
• Suspension: Fully adjustable coilovers with track alignment
• Brakes: Racing brake package with cooling ducts
• Interior: Full cage, racing seats, fire suppression
• Cooling: Additional cooling for batteries and motors
• Electronics: Track-focused programming and data logging

THE SHOP GRIND

"This build pushed everyone to their limits. The fabrication work alone was insane – custom mounting everything for a car that was never meant to be a track car. We had guys working 12-14 hour days, and POWWA kept the whole team focused and energized. No crashes, no mistakes, just sustained performance when we needed it most." - Shop Foreman Rick

Breakthrough moment: Solving the battery cooling challenges required 3 weeks of testing and iteration.

Track result: Faster lap times than many purpose-built race cars.

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4. THE "SOUL CRUSHER" - HONDA GROM STREETFIGHTER

Builder: Tyler Kim - College Student and Part-Time Mechanic
Build Time: 8 months of budget building
POWWA Connection: "Lychee Splash kept me going through those all-nighter build sessions"

THE CHALLENGE

Build the most aggressive-looking bike possible on a student budget, using a Honda Grom as the base.

THE BUILD

• Engine: Heavily modified 125cc with turbo kit
• Frame: Custom subframe and tail section
• Styling: Full streetfighter conversion with custom bodywork
• Suspension: Inverted front fork swap, adjustable rear
• Exhaust: One-off titanium system
• Electronics: Custom lighting and minimal gauges

THE STUDENT GRIND

"Being in school meant most of my build time was late nights and weekends. I'd study until midnight, then head to the garage until 4 AM working on the bike. POWWA was clutch because I needed to stay focused for detail work like welding and electrical, even when I was already mentally fried from studying. The clean energy meant I could pull all-nighters without feeling like garbage the next day."

Budget reality: Total build cost under $3,000 through creative sourcing and DIY everything.

Street cred: Tiny bike that sounds like a superbike and turns heads everywhere.

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5. THE "TIME ATTACK MONSTER" - SUBARU WRX STI

Builder: Sarah Chen - Software Engineer by Day, Speed Demon by Night
Build Time: 2 years of methodical upgrades
POWWA Connection: "Guava Berry powered every dyno session and track test"

THE GOAL

Build a street-legal time attack car capable of setting records at local tracks.

THE EVOLUTION

• Engine: Built EJ25 with forged internals (450whp)
• Turbo: GT2860RS with supporting fuel system
• Aero: Full splitter, diffuser, and rear wing package
• Suspension: Full coilover system with corner weighting
• Safety: Roll cage and racing safety equipment
• Data: Complete telemetry and data logging setup

THE ENGINEERING APPROACH

"Every modification was backed by data and testing. I'd spend weekdays designing and planning, then weekends installing and testing. Long dyno sessions required sustained focus to interpret data and make adjustments. POWWA kept me sharp during those critical tuning sessions where one mistake could mean engine damage."

Technical achievement: Extracting maximum performance while maintaining street drivability.

Track success: Current lap record holder at two local circuits.

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WHAT THESE BUILDS TEACH US

COMMON THREADS AMONG ELITE BUILDERS

Obsessive Attention to Detail: Every successful build requires hundreds of hours of focused work where precision matters.

Sustained Energy for Long Sessions: Whether it's a weekend marathon or late-night work, building requires consistent energy.

Mental Clarity for Problem-Solving: Custom builds always present unexpected challenges requiring clear thinking.

Community and Fuel: "It's funny how many builders mention their energy drink of choice. POWWA keeps coming up because serious builders need serious fuel." - Featured in several builder interviews

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BEHIND EVERY BUILD: THE RIGHT FUEL

WHY POWWA KEEPS SHOWING UP IN BUILD STORIES

Long Session Endurance:

• No crashes during critical assembly phases
• Sustained focus for precision work
• Consistent energy for marathon build sessions

Flavor Preferences by Build Type:

• Cotton Candy: Late-night restomod work
• Yuzu: Adventure bike builds (cuts through garage taste)
• Fruit Punch: Shop environments and team builds
• Lychee Splash: All-nighter sessions
• Guava Berry: Dyno tuning and testing

The Builder's Choice: "We've tried everything over the years. Coffee makes us jittery for precision work. Regular energy drinks crash right when we need focus most. POWWA just works – clean energy that lasts as long as we need to work." - Consensus among featured builders

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SUBMIT YOUR BUILD

Got a custom ride you're proud of? We want to feature it! Whether it's a weekend garage build or a professional shop creation, we're always looking for inspiring projects.

What we're looking for:

• Unique vision and execution
• Quality craftsmanship
• Good story behind the build
• Great photos of the finished product

How to submit: Email us your build story, photos, and specs. Don't forget to mention what fueled those long build sessions!

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FUEL YOUR NEXT BUILD

Inspired by these incredible machines? Ready to start your own build? Make sure you've got the right fuel for those long garage sessions.

POWWA Energy – Available in seven flavors perfect for builders who demand sustained focus and energy.

Builder special: Use code POWWA for $5 off your first order.

Coming soon: POWWA Focus – Specifically formulated for maximum concentration during complex builds.

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What will you build next? Whatever it is, make sure you've got the energy to see it through.