The 5th Annual Hood Master is on the move to the Music City!
LKQ FinishMaster and the Collision Repair Education Foundation announce the Fifth Annual Hood Master Event.
Nashville, Tennessee – Join the LKQ FinishMaster Team and the Collision Repair Education Foundation (CREF) to celebrate the 5th anniversary of Hood Master at 5:00 pm CT on Thursday, August 29, 2024 at downtown Nashville’s largest historic event space, The Bell Tower. An industry event you must experience with more winners, more prizes, a bigger fundraiser to support CREF, and more!
It all started in 2020 with one simple goal: to bring the focus back to the artistry within the collision repair industry. Year over year, this industry challenge has grown and exceeded expectations through participation from committed painters, support from strong sponsor partnerships, and industry professionals who share the same passion for the foundation of this challenge. Hood Master has evolved from being an industry painting challenge to a platform for co-hosting PiN Master, a student painting contest facilitated by CREF, a fundraiser to give back to collision repair programs that partner with CREF, and becoming a one-of-a-kind industry community event.
The Hood Master challenge is not just a contest; it’s an exciting platform where painters and refinishers push the boundaries of their creativity and unparalleled talent. Participants create artwork on mini car hoods, which are judged in person by a panel of industry experts, hand selected by Hood Master sponsors. Challengers can win prizes including cash, spray guns, industry-related products, and fun swag. The contest categories have expanded to include airbrush, graphics, pinstripe, wild card, and online crowd favorite. This year’s prizes total up to well over $26,000.
PiN Master, through the advocacy of the Collision Repair Education Foundation, is a challenge for high school and college collision repair students tasked with repairing, designing, and painting retired bowling pins to win industry-related prizes. 1st through 3rd place winners and the Honorable Mention winner receive prizes to help prepare for the start of their careers in the automotive industry. Prizes include items like tools and equipment donated by Hood Master Sponsors and supporters of CREF. Hood Master and PiN Master winners will be announced at the Hood Master event and through social media.
To further support the future of the collision repair industry, LKQ FinishMaster is partnering with CREF to host a fundraiser at Hood Master. To maximize the impact of this fundraiser, all prizes will be prominently showcased at the event, offering attendees a firsthand view of these exceptional pieces. For convenience, these prizes will be accessible for bidding though a seamlessly integrated online auction, ensuring engagement for all participants. Donations for the silent auction include custom-painted pieces from industry artists, non-winning hoods and pins from previous challenges, sporting event tickets, and gifts and promotional items from local organizations to name just a few categories. At the in-person event, attendees can donate directly to CREF and walk away with a prize from the mystery gift table. Are you interested in helping with the fundraiser? Please get involved by making an in-kind donation by contacting us at [email protected].
“It has been incredible to see the growth of this event year over year, not just with the additional hood and pin submissions but also the industry support. Thank you to LKQ FinishMaster for organizing this to help raise additional awareness and funds for the high school and post-secondary collision programs that CREF works to support across the country. We look forward to this year’s event in Nashville and seeing all the artwork on display!” – Brandon Eckenrode, Executive Director | Collision Repair Education Foundation
Through the support of our valued sponsors, the Hood Master event brings the Hood Master and PiN Master challenges and the fundraiser for CREF together in a unique art gallery experience. Anyone who has attended this event quickly realizes that Hood Master is more than just a challenge or a fundraiser; it is truly a community of professionals whose passion for the industry becomes reignited and inspired to do more. Hood Master registration will be open Monday, March 18, 2024 at 12pm ET to Friday, March 29, 2024 at 12pm ET or until 100 registrations have been accepted.
Interested in attending the event, participating as a challenger, or learning more? By going to the link below, you can find buttons to:
- Stay updated on Hood Master communications.
- Fill out the challenger form when registration opens to compete in the 2024 Hood Master Challenge.
- Contact CREF to compete in the student PiN Master Challenge.
- Register to attend the free, in-person Hood Master event with other collision industry professionals.
https://www.lkqcorp.com/hood-master-challenge
Follow @LKQFinishMaster, @LKQcorp, and #HoodMaster2024 to stay updated through social media.
LKQ FinishMaster is the leading national distributor of paint, coatings, and related materials for the automotive and industrial finishing industries. Our mission is to provide quality products, reliable delivery, and a steadfast commitment to our customers and their continued success.
