"Mini-trucking is really a child of hot-rodding and I look
at what I do as carrying on the tradition of the original hot-rodders,"
Corey Jonasson said of his Airgasm project. Jonasson's belief
that modern truck customizing is a direct descendant of the
hot rod culture may not seem as far off as one may think at
first, especially when you see the similarities up close. With
stunning work, both visually and mechanically, the mini-trucking
customizers take the lessons of their hot rod forefathers and
apply them to their own creations.
"You look at the stuff they do, like the shaving off the
door handles for example, and those are the things you think
would be great on the truck."
Jonasson's Airgasm truck started out as an everyday 1997 GMC
Sonoma. But with the eye of an artist, and the hand of a sculptor,
Jonasson transformed the generic truck into a vehicle that has
won numerous accolades.
The paint alone, a custom combination of stock Volkswagon colours,
has garnered Jonasson acclaim as Airgasm took the prize for
best paint this past summer at both Sport Compact Nights in
Winnipeg and Meltdown 2004 in Edmonton. Still, for all the awards,
Jonasson has remained grounded in his vision for his vehicles
and firm in how he views the praise.
"I'm not in it for the trophies," Jonasson said. "They're
nice, but that's not what I do it for. I've been told that I'm
modest when it comes to things like that."
However, just as with artwork, beauty truly is in the eye of
the beholder, and the Airgasm project has both its supporters
and its critics. Still, Jonasson remains confident and pleased
with his work.
"It doesn't bug me when people don't like what I've done.
Everyone's got their taste, and that's fine, it just isn't necessarily
my taste," Jonasson said, adding that the supporters are
still out there regardless of the critics. "I get a lot
of people staring at me in traffic, and giving me the thumbs
up and things like that. The girl I'm seeing right now isn't
quite used to that yet."
Jonasson expresses himself to the point that even to the casual
observer, he truly does believe that his truck is a work of
art. He added that if he weren't participating in the mini-trucking
movement, he'd be creating artwork nonetheless.
"It's a great way to express my creativity. I've just got
to keep my mind busy and keep going," he said, explaining
that his truck isn't the only canvas for his artwork. "I
just picked up an airbrushing kit, and I do sketching and drawing.
Doing vehicles is just another way to express that creativity,
but if I didn't do that, I'd still be doing something to be
creative."
Jonasson's truck is a prime example of the blend needed between
artist and mechanic to successfully create what he and his fellow
iLLconfomity club colleagues create on a daily basis. Still,
with the modern tools and modern methods being used to bring
their vehicles to the forefront of customizing, Jonasson knows
where his roots are when he creates his masterpieces.
"It's always great when you have one of the older guys
giving you respect," Jonasson said. "Really, they're
the godfathers of cool."
CONTRIBUTORS
ILLconformity Mini Truck Club
Grant Smith - paint
Foy Performance - air ride
Line-x - bed liner
Family & friends
MOD LIST
EXTERIOR
Full custom paint job carried inside and outside the vehicle
as well as in the door jambs and between the cab and box
Shaved door handles, antenna and tailgate handle
2000 GMC Envoy front-end conversion
East Coast Customs Step shaver and roll pan
Street Scene mirrors
TYC Elegante carbon fiber taillights
Trenz upper and lower billet grills
Line-x colour matched bed liner
SUSPENSION
Full air-ride suspension system with custom tubular bridge
and wheel tubs
WHEELS & TIRES
20" Supreme Wire Wheels
Nitto 245/35zr20 Extreme 555 tires
INTERIOR
Handmade fiberglass enclosure
Handmade fiberglass centre console
AirLift Company air gauges
Custom headliner and door panels
EXHAUST
Flowmaster 40 Series exhaust
STEREO
Alpine CDA-7897HU
2 - Alpine MRD-M500 amps
2 - 12" Alpine Type R subs
Alpine SPR-174 6.5" components
Alpine amp remote
6.4" LCD enclosed in dash
Xbox
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