Two Penticton car modders are off to one of the premeire automotive shows in North America.
Chelsie Lesnoski and Cole Marten are taking their 2013 Scion FR-S to the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) show in Las Vegas in November. The couple won an online competition through community voting.
"There is really big support from the local community," says Lesnoski. "Especially in the Penticton and Kelowna area. It went world wide as well. I was getting votes from Japan, India and Australia. It was wild."
The dream trip almost didn't happen. Lesnoski says she nearly didn't enter the competition. "The twenty other competitors are all coming from big states," she says. California. Texas. Cities with big populations. It was the last day of the deadline and I thought, I'm just gonna do it. It's still kind of setting in. It's pretty overwhelming!"
Lesnoski and Marten know their way around vehicles. They own Throttle Thrasher Garage in Penticton, and are experts in customization.
On top of winning the online competition, they don't have to pay a dime for the trip. SEMA is picking up the tab to transport their Scion to Las Vegas, along with covering the flight, hotel and meals.
The SEMA show is Tuesday, November 5th to Friday, November 8th.