User:Trekphiler/Chapouris

Written on March 30, 2006 "The turnout and the success of the auction speak volumes about how the industry feels about Alex and what he's done for the sport of hot rodding," said current SO-CAL President Pete Chapouris. "For example, Billy Gibbons paid $12,000 for Alex's original pith helmet that he wore when he set the very first land speed records at Bonneville back in 1949. As the guy lucky enough to carry on the SO-CAL Speed Shop brand, that just makes me so proud."

One of the most famous magazine covers in the history of the hot rodding hobby is the "Are Coupes For Chickens?" cover of Rod & Custom's Nov. 1973 issue. The two 1934 three-window coupes on that cover were Pete Chapouris' "California Kid" and Jim Jacobs' "Jake's Coupe". In 1974, Chapouris and Jacobs combined their talent and started Pete and Jake's Hot Rod Repair, which eventually evolved into Pete & Jake's Hot Rod Parts. In 1986, Jerry and Peggy Slover became the new owners of Pete & Jake's. Celebrating 40 years in the street rod business, Pete & Jake's remains a family run company, now including Jerry and Peggy's son, Jason, and his wife, Tina, not to mention the rest of the staff that comprises Pete & Jake's family of hot rod specialists.

Chapouris eventually took over Alex Xydias's So-Cal Speed Shop.