Winning and what it takes to be a winner means something different to each of us. For the Falanga’s, winning starts with packing everyone up and going to local car shows to spend some quality time together as a family.
The fact that their beautifully detailed 2011 C6 Corvette Grand Sport brings home trophies is a bonus.
As the family’s patriarch, Chris Falanga, was quick to say, “We want to show our children there are other options besides video games and sports. It seems as though the whole car hobby is lost on the younger generation. A car show is a fun way to spend time together as a family.”
Chris is definitely on to something here. There have been countless studies to prove that spending quality time with your children is the greatest gift you can give them.
Chris and his wife Katie’s passion for car shows is a great way to nurture their children’s interest in a hobby that the family can enjoy together for many years to come.
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Car Show Advice
Please make no mistake, while the family experience is high on his list, Chris competes in car shows to win. Every aspect of his show car was meticulously considered long before he started transforming his Grand Sport.
As a veteran of car shows, we asked Chris what advice he had for those just starting in search of their first trophy. “Don’t go over the top,” he quickly replied. “Sometimes, it’s the subtle additions that catch the judge’s attention.”
“Pay attention to the small touches and work your way up,” he remarked. “Having the foundation of your concept right can sometimes sway a judge more in your favor than a big, outlandish graphic or heavy modification to the car’s body.”
“Remember, sometimes, less is more when separating your car from the crowd,” he said to us.
Chris certainly adheres to his advice. With each addition, he purposefully builds on the last. Each step gets him closer to perfecting his vision.
Trusted Vendors
As Chris points out, every step along the custom car journey builds on the last, so it’s essential to use vendors you trust. Chris has pulled together a solid group of automotive vendor partners that have delivered for him.
When it came time to add some get-up-and-go to the stock 430 horsepower LS3 engine, Chris turned to his friends at Texas Speed for a cam package. He opted for the Texas Speed exhaust system to open up the breathing will Billy Boat axle-back Bullets.
The car has been lowered and outfitted with Varro VD01 wheels from Rancho Cucamonga, CA, to give it a more aggressive stance. The tire choice was Extreme Contact Continentals.
Chris’s vendor choice for the rear spoiler was easy due to the high build quality and ease of installation. He selected Innovative Auto Creations out of Tempe, Az.
The roof panel and the B-pillar have been wrapped in gloss black by Jim Miller from Miller Wraps in Acworth, GA. Some of the interior highlights include an F-1 paddle shift conversion and a custom-lit windscreen from Wind Restrictor in Dallas, Texas.
To make the paint pop, only one local vendor could meet his high expectations, the award-winning Al Bathurst at Shiny Fenders. Al’s stage three paint correction process and ceramic coating brought a mesmerizing depth and gloss to the factory Torch Red paint.
Dad Started It All
As is often the case with Corvette owners, Chris’s love affair with Vettes started early. He was only five years old that day in July of 1988 when his father Ralph brought home the first Corvette.
Talking with Chris about that eventful day, you can still hear the excitement in his voice. His memory vividly recalls the black fourth-generation 1984 with the saddle tan interior and the 4+3 Doug Nash transmission.
“As soon as dad brought it home, I was in love, and I knew right there that I was going to own a Corvette someday,” Chris recalls. Years later, that dream would come true with a 1999 C5 pewter coupe that he modified for autocrossing.
Open Roads Designs
In many ways, it just seemed like a natural evolution for Chris’s wife Katie to use her graphic artist skills to enhance the family’s car show experience. Increasingly we’re seeing Corvette owners at local shows turning to showboards to convey their car’s custom story.
When describing her showboard business, Open Roads Designs, Katie says it best. “We put the same passion, love, and attention to detail in our designs that car enthusiasts put into their cars.
At Open Roads Designs, we share your passion for your car because we are car enthusiasts like you. It’s not just about creating a showboard to impress judges or car show-goers. It’s about putting your dreams and passion on display for the world to see.”
Family Bond
Today’s young families are busy. Their schedules filled with work, school, after-school activities, doctor’s appointments, and more. It can be challenging to find quality family time.
For the Falanga family, showing the family Corvette at car shows provides one of those rare chances to come together and share some fun. A sought-after moment to bond, strengthen, grow as a family and instill values.
Yes, the Falanga family takes home trophies and awards. In the end, this winning family would tell you they take home much more.
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