Toyota returned again to the 2013 SEMA Show with its Dream Build Challenge, enlisting four action sports athletes to build their dream ride. Each team would then battle head to head, with the winner being decided by fans voting on the winner of the challenge.
This year, Toyota invited BMX rider Drew Bezanson, who partnered with Skullcandy to create a sporty Corolla called the “Corolla Crusher,” which is equipped to light up his favorite riding spot with an LED lightbar, bust out tunes with its Skullcandy exterior sound system, and haul around his bike for road trips. Skier Simon Dumont partnered with Oakley to create the “Ultimate Dream Ski 4Runner” that could tackle tough snow-covered trails en route to the mountain, while still offering the finer things such as a coffee maker, heated seats and easy access to his skis. NASCAR driver Parker Kligerman partnered with Kyle Busch Motorsports to create a rally-inspired Camry the team called “CamRally,” which has an old-school Toyota paintjob but a mean-sounding engine for drifting around turns. Lastly, Justin Brayton and Josh Grant competed as a pair and partnered with Joe Gibbs Racing MX to build a 2014 Tundra they called “Let’s Go Moto Tundra,” which is really built as the ultimate motorcross vehicle to take the crew, and their tools, bike, vehicle and snacks along for the ride.
“For everyone who has ever imagined designing the perfect vehicle for a favorite hobby or sport, the Toyota Dream Build Challenge makes that dream a reality,” said Ed Laukes, vice president of marketing communications and motorsports for Toyota in a recent press release. “What better place than the SEMA show to push the limits of the imagination and inspire creativity.”
Fan voting over the previous five days determined the winner, with one lucky fan getting the chance to win a dream trip to one of the athlete’s events. After all the votes were tallied, the time came for Toyota to announce the winner of this year’s event. For 2013, it was the 2014 Tundra of Grant and Brayton that came away with the win. Aside from impressive off-road upgrades, such as Fox remote-reservoir shocks, Camburg control arms, skid plate protection and Pro Comp tires fitted on Method Racing Wheels, the rear of the truck is like something out of a NASCAR semi, just geared toward motocross. The bed has a specially made housing for bikes, parts, spare tires and more, while each side of the bed lifts up to reveal tools and supplies for the team to wrench on the bikes. There are also three TV screens on each side of the truck, along with a Monster Energy Drink cooler, video game system and more.
“Ground zero was a piece of paper and a pen. We all got together and talked about how we wanted to do it and what we wanted to make,” Grant told us after earning the win. “The concept of making a test vehicle is obvious because of what we do, and we went to the drawing board and came up with the craziest ideas we could think of, like what would we need to go out to the track.
“It was fun. I had a lot of fun. When the truck came to North Carolina, I actually welded some sheet metal and some of the tubing for it, so just to be a part of it was a cool feeling, but to actually see this once it’s done, it’s crazy.”
Of all the crazy stuff on the Tundra, such as the Xbox 360, TVs, custom bike carrier and storage in the bed, the most important piece isn’t something glitzy or glamorous – it’s something much closer to home.
“My favorite is called the ‘Wyatt seat,’ it’s the bucket seat right in the middle for my little two-year-old, so they made that just for him.”
For more action from the 2013 SEMA Show, check out our coverage of the event here.