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And if you think Chalmers will ever abandon his love for chrome, don't bet on it. "If I'm driving when I'm 75, I'll have chrome," he says with a sheepish grin.
JENNIFER BONO
The biz-nas
Peter Raz is a salesman at KC Trends, a wheel and tire dealer in Shawnee. One of the Midwest's premier locations for chrome wheels, KC Trends is a regular stop for both Chiefs and Royals players. However, Raz estimates 20 percent of KC Trends' business is from men 40 and older. Most of that group are "gear heads," guys fixing up muscle cars, he says. There are also wealthy-businessman types simply looking to add some flair to their ride, Raz says.
But Raz knows how to cater to the 40-plus group because he's a part of it. At "49 and holding," Raz scoffs at the question of whether he has chrome. His matter-of-fact answer is "Yes" — stock chrome rims to be exact, on his red 1990 Corvette.
Lawrence's security guru goes chrome
Dave Rueschnhoff's passion for chrome doesn't have the tragic history or duration of Chalmers's, but there's no denying the 55-year-old Lawrence businessman's appreciation for polished metal.
Like Chalmers, Rueschoff has been successful in life. He owns or co-owns several locksmith and security businesses in Lawrence. Exuding a calm confidence, Rueschoff and his car, a white 2004 Mercedes Benz CLK 500, were meant to go together. The Benz has chrome wheels, but Rueschoff hasn't always been attached to chrome.
His earliest venture into chrome was as a prester in Hutchinson. His first car, a 1956 Chevy, came with chrome wheels. After the Chevy, it was a while before Rueschoff could have chrome again. Family needs (chrome wheels wasn't one of them) and affordability prevented the expensive acquisition.
A change of heart took place a few years ago when he purchased a black Chrysler 300M with rims. The look reenergized the self-proclaimed "car buff" and he's been a chrome man since, vowing never to stray again.
But, like Chalmers and just about everyone else that's ever owned chrome, Rueschhoff mentions how the look of a vehicle is enhanced by chrome. Sitting in Custom Highline, a high-end car dealership in Lawrence, 2441 W.6$^{th}$ St., he points to a 2002 Lexus LS430 with matte
s银ier-colored rims (a relatively dull finish) and
silver they'd look much better with chrome.
That reasoning was developed by the fact that Rueschhoffs's Benz didn't come with chrome when he bought it. Of course, when thinking of the resale value — Rueschhoff says he doesn't hold on to a car for too long — and the aesthetic appeal, he knew he had to add the chrome.
To get it, he went through a chrome exchange program at www.oemrims.com. By exchanging his original polished aluminum Mercedes factory rims, Rueschhoff estimates he saved $1,500 by using the exchange program rather than buying brand new custom rims.
After $550 plus shipping costs and a one-month wait, Rueschhoff received a sparkling set of 18-inch chrome rims, each emblazoned with the Mercedes three-star logo in the middle.
It's easy to detect the pride Rueschloff has in his vehicle, which he says is his favorite to date.
Custom 18-inch rims with the Mercedes logo adorn Dave Rueschhoff's Benz. He traded in his original factory rims for the chrome rims through an online chrome exchange program. By exchanging the originals, Rueschoff estimates he saved about $1,500.
JENNIFER BONO
The "guy thing" factor
Chrome appeals to an innate manly instinct, a grunting, bold, flashy instinct that commands fear and attention.
And if there ever was a vehicle that defined what it is to be a man, it would have to be Ray Sawyer's black 2003 Ford Excursion. A vehicle that screams horsepower and testosterone, Sawyer's Excursion is bigger, better and meaner
than just about any other vehicle on the road.
The 51-year-old Sawyer, a native of Boise Valley, Idaho, is an easy-goverguy — a vast departure from the menacing stereotype his Excursion evokes. Sitting on a dazzling set of 20-inch Diablo rims and surrounded by enough rubber to make the Michelin Man blush, the Excursion will leave even the most experienced automobile fan stuttering and stammering at first sight.
Sawyer, owner of an agricultural consulting business, is aware of the
cosmetic appeal of chrome. Like Chalmers and Rueschoff, Sawyer likes the look. But Sawyer spends more time in his vehicle because of his business. Criss-crossing the map at a moment's notice comes with the job description for Sawyer. So it's important to him that what he's sitting in looks nice.
Sawyer believes people are judged by what they drive. It's a notion he doesn't agree with, but that's the way it is, he says. If you judge Ray Sawyer, you end up with the verdict that he's doing just fine.
Examining Sawyer's chrome credentials, you see that he's been a chrome fan since his
"If I'm driving when I'm 75, I'l have chrome." Ronnie Chalmers, Operations Director for the KU Athletic Department
Dave Rueschoff polishes the chrome rims on his 2004 Mercedes Benz CLK 500. Taking care of rims is one of the most enjoyable things about having them, says Ronnie Chalmers, another chrome fan.
partment
metallic blue 1970 Chevellie. Sawyer had the car's stock wheels immediately replaced with
Kraegers (a mainstay on most muscle cars).
These days, Sawyer, who trades in his vehicles every four to five years, remains on the lookout for his next car as he continues to amass mileage on his Excursion.
So far as wonderful, eye-catching and powerful as chrome wheels are, there must be a downside. Upkeep and maintenance seem to be the trade-offs for the flashy trend. The solution? "Easy," Furman says, "if you stay on top of cleaning your chrome, it's easier to keep it looking
nice and extends the life of it."
It's safe to say chrome isn't going anywhere. As long as people want to beautify their vehicles, chrome will be there. And while, for some folks, the need for chrome is predominantly to show off, there remains a group — people like Ronnie Chalmers, Dave Rueschhoff and Ray Sawyer — who have it because owning chrome means something special to them. Something so special, in fact, that you won't see it on TV or in a magazine. Because for guys like these, it's not about why they have the chrome but about how hard they've had to work to get it.
14⇒ JAYPLAY 02.16.2006
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