What’s up friends, this is the first of many “My Story” post where we’ll post stories about builds, racing, etc, told in the words of the people who know most about the cars… their owners. Sometimes it will be a professional driver, sometimes a team owner, and sometimes an enthusiast who just loves his car(s).
So, I got in touch with William through the WMD Facebook. The rally yellow Cobalt SS caught my eye when I noticed it was on Enkei RPF1 Racing Series wheels. Since Enkei does not make a Cobalt ready fitment you don’t see too many so… Turns out William went the extra mile to get these bad boys on the Chevy! I’m so use to typing Honda or Toyota or Subaru… feels a little strange using the word Chevy. But anyway, here is Will’s story in his own words! – Alex
MY STORY COBALT SS STORY by Will, Photos by Will. ————->
Well, the Cobalt SS first came out when i was in high school. I knew i wanted a sport compact, but i wanted something domestic, and at the time, my only option would have been a Ford Focus SVT, or the Dodge Neon SRT4. Neither really appealed to me, since the ford was ugly, and the dodge looked like a rental car with a lift kit in the rear. Then Chevy released the Cobalt SS. I knew instantly i had to have one. Luckily while i was stationed at Ft Bragg NC, I came across the Rally Yellow Cobalt I now own. [read more…]
Photos: 
Matt of NOS Energy.
Nate and crew t-shirts, Enkei Wheels catalogs, What Monsters Do Stickers and NOS Energy drinks. Official. 
Marcus’ Honda Fit with newly bought 
Marcus popped the hood to reveal the Honda Fit motor built by Kustomz Unltd. So serious. 
Geoff dropped by in his Jotech built Nissan 350Z with Volks.
Ulisses’ (
A bunch of the Scion guys came out as well. More XB Scions than I’ve seen in a while… in one place. This one sporting some Axis OG wheels. 
Definately one of my favorite cars at the meet was Chanh’s from Team Just One… Lexus iS350 with Strasse Forge SM8 step lip 20×9 in front and 20×10.5 for rears. So dope!! 
I’m checking to see if the dry sump is properly scavegenging oil out of the dry sump tank. Thank you Joon for your nifty LED light to see in dark areas. Sure beats the traditional flashlight.
Argh!!!!!!!!!!!! Joon on media day went out on track with a guns firing. Unfortunately there was some new tire barriers that were implemented in the left sweeper of the Long Beach track that Joon did not know were there. Our quarter panel obviously met those barriers. Thanks to FD for removing them.
The blessed Mazda flag. To add some pizzaz for media day, Derek our team engineer and mentor implemented this cool flag on the back of the Mazda RX8. Go Mazda!!!!!!!! Zoom Zoom!
As the night rolls on and the work becomes more intense I seem to overheat so the shirt comes flying off as the night progresses. I like to feel somewhat comfortable when I work on the car. As you can see my son Andrew is outback attempting to polish out the tire rubbing accident from media day. That’s my son!!!
That’s our Crew Chief Brian Benson getting a little tired maybe.. He is one of the most die hard crew guys I have ever worked with. He does’nt give up. He is constantly thinking of performance and trying just about everything. It is truly an honor and blessing to have him on our team. That’s Andrew again at the front of the car. I have no idea what he’s doing there. Maybe he’s trying to keep uncle Brian awake???
No matter how much we told Joon to go home and go to sleep he would not listen. He was in the trenches with all of us all night long. He wanted to be there with us and do whatever he could to help. He is just about as crazy as the rest of the team. I must admit our team is compromised full of die hards. “Never say Die!”
That’s me again making sure the dry sump setup is working properly. My brother Ed Bergenholtz is the man behind the laptop. You obviously can see his behind in dockers and white dress shirt. He is a computer geek by day and racecar by night. He came over to the house right after work. He comes up with all the data analysis as well as engine tuning analysis and adjustment. I can’t believe how long Ed and I have been doing motorsports and amazingly enough we have got along quite nicely after 20 years of racing.
Back in the days of our drag racing career, we always made it a rule for the driver to name the motor. It is always named after a woman. A woman can either break you or make you very happy so we asked Joon to name his motor. He obviously named the motor after his long time girlfriend and spotter Amy Song. I for one, hated her all night long. Heheheheheh Just kidding Joon.
We were at it for like 6 hours trying to troubleshoot our dry sump problems. Sometimes, you gotta step back for maybe an hour and just reflect to come up with a proper solution. Looks like Joon is praying for an answer here. Hehehhehehe. Hey Joon, God answered our prayers that morning at 5 am. Argh! God sure puts us to the test.
That’s Mark Manansla. Ernie Manansala, dropped him off to us as an intern to help out and learn. He’s a young buck and learned a lot this weekend. He observed first hand that motorsports aint easy. He witnessed the ultimate sadness as well as happiness that occurs with a race team. He was my right hand from the moment he landed in California all the way to the end when we dropped him off at the airport to go home. Thanks a million Mark for all your help this weekend!
I thought I was living the whole night in that passenger seat. Troubleshooting is both fun and nerve-racking. The guy in the driver’s seat is my cousin Mario Bergenholtz. It’s a family affair at Bergenholtz Racing. All my cousins came over to the house to help out. they did whatever they could to pitch in. It’s always great to have close family and friends in motorsports. They are always there with a helping hand.
Can’t beat those 
No matter how bad the situation is, Joon always seems to crack a smile. I told him we are going to nickname him: “SMILEY”. Despite how challenging and nerve-racking the night was, Joon stayed in high spirits. We are truly blessed to have a driver like Joon. He always says it’s an honor to drive for Bergenholtz Racing but I feel it’s an honor for Bergenholtz Racing to have Joon Maeng. I love you Joon.
Hmmmmm, I don’t know what to say here than, that front suspension was a pain in the ass to build. That’s it.
That’s my cousin Mario Bergenholtz cleaning the Enkei PF01′s. Even though he was on the sidelines in the garage, he would find something to do unless, we called on him to assist us. He kept busy cleaning tools, getting tools, waxing the car etc. Thanks Mario!
I have had that red tool box for over 20 years. My dad gave it to me when we first started wrenching on bicycles in 1986. Ed and I have been doing motorsports in a two car garage for the past 20 years. There is some serious old stickers on that toolbox. The “Club Homeboy Sticker” is at least 25 years old. Time sure flies by.
Brian Benson looking pretty tired especially with his stance in front of the car. We almost gave up a couple of times but I think Joon prayers kept everyone focused in solving the problem.
Again, that tool box is hella old. Believe it or not all the drawers till work to this day. I guess with it being 2010 that tool box is: 25 years old. Older that our crew chief Brian Benson. Hehehhehehe… Almost as old as Joon.
Inevitably, the whole car is ultimately connected to the ground by the Nitto NT05′s and Enkei PF01. The performance and combination of rim and tire combination is crucial to performance. Gotta have a lightweight wheel and grippy tire. Enkei and Nitto rules!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I arrived at Dusty’s shop at about 10:30 PM last night where he was starting to put the motor together. I was actually suppose to be there around 9:30 so things were already on there way when I got there. Some of the first signs of progress I noticed were the roll cage was complete, the lime green 
I always like shooting at least a couple of shots of the tool box, tools, etc. You can tell a lot by the stickers on a person’s tool box.
So organized.
I worked with Dusty earlier in the week to get these special order lime green super lightweight 15×7 
The completed roll cage. 
Roll Cage by Hickam Series.
The purple 
The remainder of the photos are of the motor and transmission being put together and mounted on in the car. They are in chronological order. I’m putting together a video as well! 
And just like that, the motor was in. Next up, turbo. Part 3 coming soon! More pics below. 
A quick pic taken during this weekends 370Z photo shoot. Big shout out to Nick (owner) and Dan from 
Formula DRIFT prepares to begin the eighth professional championship season. Round 1: Streets of Long Beach on April 8-9 to feature world class drifting action, debut of new cars and drivers, vendor midway, driver autographs, open pits, car show and more. 
