Luis A. Yanez

Age: 39
Location: El Paso TX.
Company: Wild Rides (Owner)
Web Site: http://www.wild-rides.com/

Occupation: Professional Kit Car Assembly
Hobbies: Custom Cars, Home Theater, Car Audio, Formula 1 fan

Personal: Father of two children, Marisa 4 years old, Alessandro 10 years old.

Occupational: Worked for most of my adult life in some form of Automotive Business. Two years in a Speed Shop Sales, two years in a Body Shop, 1 year in a 4 wheel drive shop, 10 years installing Car Audio and Electronics, and 2 years as Manager Home Theater Installations. Also owned business in 1992 through 1995 Known as Image Exotics which was geared towards Kit Car Assembly. Established Wild Rides in 1997 once again for Kit Cars.

Cars Assembled: 2-Gazelles, MGTD, Jaguar SS-100, 3- 308 replicas, 1-328 replica, 1-F-40 replica Under Image Exotics. 8-355 replicas, 1-F-40, 2- Diablo Roadsters Under Wild Rides.

Custom Cars Built: Dodge D-50 4wd, Custom Handbuilt T-Bucket, 55 Chevy P-up. Many other cars customized but not full builds.

Awards: Dodge D-50 known as Red Red Wine, won over 125 trophies throughout the Southwest Car Shows, with only 1 second in its class and numerous, Best of Show, Best Engine, Best Undercarriage, Best Interior trophies.

Many awards for IASCA Audio Competions on many custom installtions. In kit car shows alone, Directors Choice Award for 308 in 1992, First in class Ferrari 1999 for 355, Directors Choice in 2000 for another 355, First in Manufacturers Class Ferrari 2001 Blue 355, 3rd in Ferrari class 2001 yellow 355. These kit car awards were from Knotts Fun Under The Sun Car Show.

As you can plainly see, I'm a car nut through and through. In my younger days, I raced 3 wheelers and was one of the original 3 starting members of Border Karting Association which continues on today. Now being in business for myself, pretty much takes up most of my time. Although I sold my 355 replica this last year, I plan to build my own Diablo Roadster in 2003.

What little time I have left is often enjoyed with my family, or Watching movies and Sporting Events in my Home Theater. Although It's a pretty modest system compared with some of the installations I did for customers, I still have a good $20,000.00 invested in my main Theater. I'm a pretty simple kind of guy except when it comes to my cars and theater. I hope to continue building dream cars for other people and maybe to one day design my own type of kit car.

On a final note, I am a huge Formula 1 fan. I have attended the Forumla 1 Grands Prix in Phoenix in 91, Mexico City 91 and U.S. Grand Prix in 2001. I did have tickets to the 2000 US Grand Prix, but gave them away to a customer Who's car I had not finished yet. Although I was harassed by Ferrari and its attorneys in 2001, I continue to be a Ferrari Fan. Go SHUMI!!!!!!!