The Loss of an Automotive Legend

It was two years ago at the 28th Street Metro Cruise outside of Grand Rapids, Michigan that I met the man that was one of my biggest inspirations and car idles since I was a small child.  Pete Chapouris, also known as the 'California Kid', was a legend and name I was highly familiar with growing up.

My dad, Ken Cooper (1942-2009), paved the way for my gear head lifestyle, but it was meeting Pete Chapouris in 2015 that to this day takes the cake for highlights in my career as a hot rod builder.

In August of 2015, Chapouris and I were being interviewed by a local Grand Rapids, MI news team before the opening of the Metro Cruise.  I kept catching Chapouris looking over at the featured ride we had taken to represent my hot rod shop.  It was a highly customized 1947 Cadillac and it captured the eye of many attendee, including Chapouris.

I had been a featured guest at the cruise and brought in to represent my shop and help judge a pin up contest.  After a long but exciting day of meeting people from all over the country, I finally got the nerve up to walk over to Chapouris and ask for an autograph.

Maybe that doesn't sound like a big deal to most, but this was the guy I had idolized since I was a small child.  I had watched shows about his work and documentaries with my dad on some of the builds from his speed shop.  And here he was, just feet away from me!  The man that was one of my biggest inspirations.

What do I say when I get up to him?  Do I start blabbering car talk, do I even mention cars?  What does a gear head girl say to the man that has now seen her work in person and that I feel I should bow down before, as my car hands are not worthy of this hot rod guru?!?! Eeeekkk!!!!

In front of my entire hot rod shop team, I nervously introduced myself as I extended my hand out to humbly shake his.

"Hi Pete!  I'm Kandi Bl...", I couldn't finish my last name, because Chapouris jumped up from his seat and interrupted me.

"I know who you are!" Chapouris shouted! "You're Kandi Blaze!"

Before I knew it, Chapouris was not only grabbing my hand to shake it, but grabbed me as well and gave me a huge hug in front of everyone.  I felt like I was in a dream!  I recall looking back at my team to make sure they were actually witnessing this.  I knew later I would ask them repeatedly about the story and experience, just to make sure I wasn't dreaming or had died of exhaustion.

Pete gave me a few words about our 'fantastic build', as he refereed to the Cadillac.  I was in awe at the words rolling off the tongue of one of my largest inspirations as a kid, and also as an adult in this business.  I could see the look in his eye that resembled the gleam in mine.  It hit me that the legend standing in front of me was looking almost as awe struck at me as I was at him.  I didn't really have many words after that.  At least any that I could muster up, so I mostly kept smiling.  It became obvious that we were both beyond honored to meet each other.

I've had the pleasure to meet some amazing drag racers, car builders, manufacturers, and some pretty big names in this industry, but meeting Pete is still the highlight of my career.

He may have left this word, and I for one am incredibly saddened by the loss of an amazing legend. I hope I can one day live up to similar expectations of others, and one day I am someones inspiration and drive to live their dream, just like Chapouris was for me.

Kandi Blaze