I have to be honest: I absolutely despise shopping, especially the blatant commercialism that floods the holiday season. I hate the onslaught of promotional emails that scream BUY ME BUY ME! It makes me sick to my stomach.
 
But the truth is, as a small business, I depend on people buying my stuff, so I too have taken part in these email blasts, and yes, I will be coming up with a bunch of special offers to entice you to choose GEARHEAD products when you consider gifts this year. I love coming up with new products, but if you’re not buying them, then I can’t make new stuff, dig? I don’t have the ubiquitous “start up” venture capitalist backing me like so many new businesses these days. Gearhead is run the old-fashioned way—by bootstrapping. You know the phrase “S/he pulled him/herself up by the bootstraps”? Well, that’s what bootstrapping means. As money comes in from fine folks like yourself buying the products I’m selling, that money goes back into manufacturing and paying the bills so I can make new stuff, or restock the stuff that sold out. 

​But part of that money is put aside for causes I believe in. Call it charity or donations or whatever. I call it moral capitol. I believe deeply in giving back to the community I live in and organizations that support those less fortunate. Over the years, I’ve passionately supported non-profits that I myself have personally used: the food bank when I was experiencing extreme food insecurity during my bankruptcy, or the local women’s shelter who helped me when I was trying to get away from my abusive 1st husband many years ago.
 
Ever since I was a little kid, I have been animal crazy, and incredibly sensitive to abuse and neglect that many animals experience. Even now, I can’t watch commercials about abused animals; I burst into tears, literally. And since I’ve become a dog-mom three times over (Dooly, Twix and Luci) I’ve become committed to raising awareness and funds for animals in need. In my spare time, I also volunteer as a Master Gardener, teaching the local community about what plants to use to enhance their homes and gardens. That has led to my deep commitment to also supporting organizations that benefit our rivers and oceans, and the animals that depend on them for survival.

​So what does any of this have to do with hot rods and rock & roll? Gearhead is all about passion, about being engaged, whether it is freaking out about a band or cars or publishing something.
 
And any time you buy something from Gearhead, whether it is a CD, a T Shirt, a magazine or even a sticker, 10 % of Gearhead profits are donated each year to a variety of non-profits I am passionate about
 
Today is Giving Tuesday (#GivingTuesday). It is a movement to celebrate an international day of charitable giving at the beginning of the Christmas and holiday season, and if ever there was a day to share your good fortunes, today is the day. Many non-profits have match or double programs to help increase the amount of donations coming in. This is the day each year I choose to make my donations on behalf of Gearhead, because that money goes so much farther.
 
You may have heard about the horrible fires that have laid waste to Butte County and the tiny town of Paradise in Northern CA. While Gearhead HQ was not in harms way, for several weeks, smoke was so thick it was dangerous to go outside. Many of our friends lost their homes and businesses. And now that the fire is contained, animal shelters are overwhelmed trying to reunite pets with their families, as well as provide medical care for animals injured during the fire. 

​Dooly Twix and Luci’s vet, VCA Elk Grove, is doing a special fundraiser for the animals affected by the Camp Fires of Butte County. Please consider donating directly to them this Giving Tuesday, and make sure to designate your donation "CA WILDFIRES RELIEF" in the instructions area. I will be making a special one-time donation to this fund to help our friends and neighbors get reunited with their lost and injured pets. You can read more about the other non-profits that will be receiving donations from Gearhead right here.
 
Today, please consider buying something from the Gearhead Store after you read this newsletter. World Wide Free Shipping continues until Friday, Dec. 30, (Just enter code THANKS18 at check out) so not only are you getting a great deal (because trust me, shipping in NOT cheap, especially overseas), but you are helping me follow my heart and support worthy vetted non-profits as part of my mission for running GEARHEAD.
 
But remember, wherever your passions lie, share your resources today, Giving Tuesday, and help make this world a better place. 

​Sorry for getting so serious, on you. But thanks for helping Gearhead and me kick off this holiday season on a positive note.
 
Keeping the rubber on the road,
Michelle Haunold Lorenz

Today is the day, rock and roll, hot rods, a raffle to raise funds for the Sacramento SPCA Behavior Dept. Tickets are available at the door for $15. 21+ over inside for the bands, outside is free to all! Culinerdy Cruzer will be dishing up good eats all day, the beer will be flowing courtesy of 805, cool hot rods about and Come meet CJ Ramone, the Guest of Honor! Also on hand, the California Auto Museum and the Sacramento SPCA with demos, information and more! 

Doors open 12 Noon
12:30 Public Eye
1 pm Color TV
2 pm Fur Dixon
3 pm Ms. Gearhead Contest
4 pm The Control Freaks 
5 pm Infamous Swanks 
6 pm Wooly Bandits

For more information, visit the Gearfest Page

A Special thanks to our sponsors for your help and support. This festival couldn't have moved forward with out you! Please support the following businesses, they totally get it! 

Sacramento Tattoo and Piercing
Kustom Koffins Apparel
Elk Grove School of Rock
805 Beer
Valvoline
Fender
Tres Noir Optics

Goombah's Car Club is once again throwing their Cruise For a Cause Car Show and Food Drive. Head to the Willow Glen area of San Jose at 1319 Lincoln Ave, San Jose, CA 95125 Sunday Sept. 9, 2018 from 9 am to 4 pm and check out the over 700 cool cars, vendors, food and activities. And don't forget to bring some canned food and cash for the raffle with all proceeds going to Second Harvest Food Bank. Last year they raised $18K and over a thousand pounds of food! Special guest of honor this year is the legendary builder Gene Winfield. 
​Gearhead will have a pop-up store along with other local businesses so come support a good cause and make sure you stop by and say hello! For more information, head over to their website. 

The Kickstarter Campaign to raise funding to print GEARHEAD #20 has been a tremendously exciting, challenging and interesting project. As of this moment, we are 24 hours from ending and just $150 short of hitting our goal.

Reserve your copy of Gearhead Magazine or a shirt, or get a cool thumb drive with exclusive behind the scenes content. If you’re a band, own a car you wish was featured in one of those glossy car mags, are a member of a car club you think everyone should know about, or are an aspiring artist, consider the Top Fuel level of pledge. You’ll get a chance to tell your story and have it published on the Gearhead website!

I want to extend my heartfelt thanks and gratitude to all of you who have been cheering Gearhead on, and especially those of you who have pledged during this campaign. Because of people like you, I have the courage and support to keep on going. You all are a very special very respected part of this community. Thank you!

See y’all under the checkered flag!
Much love and thanks,
Rev. Michelle

These last few weeks have been anything but normal around GEARHEAD HQ. Final preparations for GEARFEST 2016 have occupied more time than I planned for, but that is normal when you’re putting on a festival that has so many moving parts.
​
Organizing Gearfest has been a labor of love. It feels great to have the passion flowing through my veins again. I feel like a car that just had an oil change and tune up—revved up and ready to go go go!

I am excited, really truly excited to meet, hang out, rock out and just enjoy something social again. Listening to music that fuels my soul, drinking a few brews, checking out cool cars, eating some good food…. this is what running a company like Gearhead is all about.

I’m excited for the Ms. Gearhead Contest as well. Doing something good for the community and recognizing powerful creative women in our scene at the same time is a win-win for everyone. And besides, it’s fun! To sign up, or just learn more about the contest check out the contest page.

Think back on those dark days not so long ago when I wasn’t sure I ever wanted to listen to a record again or pull myself out of my pajamas, get dressed up and go see a band or a car show. Times were pretty rough, and it looked like GEARHEAD was gonna go the way of so many other small creative businesses. But thankfully, with the help, support and enthusiasm of you, my community, things have come 180 degrees around. Its like doing donuts in the dirt; the thrill is back, enjoying doing something really fun, even if it’s kind of risky, makes life worth living.

For those of you who can’t make it, don’t despair. I plan on making Gearfest an annual event, each year a little bigger, a little better and with a lot more warning than I gave you this year. I have no excuse; I am simply learning once again to navigate the trials and tribulations of running a small business and learning to ask for help.
​
Please make sure to introduce yourself if you're coming. I love meeting the people who support Gearhead! For a full schedule, please check out the Gearfest page.
To commemorate the event, a limited run of Gearfest shirts is now available featuring the poster on the back and the Gearhead logo on the front of a white t shirt.

I’m getting better with the social media thing and will hopefully have photos and video up pretty quick after the event. I’m sure other folks will be sharing as well: use #gearfest2016 and #gearheadrocks as the hash tag if you do!

Finally, I want to take a moment to thank the sponsors who helped make GEARFEST 2016 possible: Asphalt Rodeo, Sacramento Tattoo and Piercing, Rolling Rock Beer, Beautiful Disaster Cosmetics, Kustom Koffins Apparel, Tres Noir Optics East SMF, and Dave’s Dawgs. You guys rock!
Now let’s go shake some action!
XoXo Rev. Michelle

(Elk Grove, CA) Inez Whitlow is a tough chick. In fact, she was once a Chick in Crisis, having become pregnant as a teen. Inspired by her experience and wanting to help other chicks navigate the trecherous waters of an unplanned pregnancy, she started Chicks in Crisis to help teens and young women facing the mental, physical and emotional challenges of an unplanned pregnancy. With a goal to keep babies  and young children from entering the foster system, Whitlow created a one-stop shop of sorts for these young women, providing everything from counceling, clothing and cooking classes to facilitating adoptions.

As a tough chick herself, Gearhead owner Michelle Haunold decided to host a fundraiser during the upcoming Gearfest 2016 to help Chicks in Crisis. “They’re right around the corner from my house, “ Haunold says. “I stopped by one day to see what it was all about and was inspired by Inez and her dedication to these girls and babies. She’s making a difference in our community, and I wanted to help.”

The garage-punk hot rod exravaganza Gearfest 2016 will take place at the Blue Lamp, 1400 Alhambra Blvd, Sacramento, CA 95816 Sept. 24, 2016. The underground rock festival will begin at 6:00 pm with a free hot rod show in front of the club followed by a garage-punk rock show for 21+ featuring bands, food and a Ms. Gearhead contest.

What exactly is the Ms. Gearhead Contest you ask? Sponsored by Beautiful Disaster Cosmetics, an El Dorado Hills, CA based brand of hypoallergenic cosmetics, any woman can take part in the contest by donating $20 for a chance to win the title of Ms. Gearhead 2016. All proceeds from the contest will be donated to the non-profit Elk Grove, CA based Chicks in Crisis.

Women don’t need to dress or look a certain way. They just need to be able to speak for three minutes about how they embody the qualities of Ms. Gearhead, which, according to the website is “… strong, independent and above all, true to herself and her inner voice. She is compassionate and kind, and works for the rights of those less fortunate than herself, but she is not a push over. She is a protector and voice for animals and the earth, conscious that being a leader comes with great courage to do what is right and stand up against what is wrong. She is diplomatic and follows a path of peace when facing conflicts.”

After a short deliberation by three independent judges, the winner will be crowned and given the title of Ms. Gearhead 2016. She will win a feature article and photo shoot for the Gearhead website, as well as a basket of goodies valued over $500 including Beautiful Disaster Cosmetics, a Lux DeVille handbag and wallet donated by Kustom Koffins Apparel, sunglasses from Tres Noir Optics and a gift basket from Sacramento based restraunt East SMF.

In addition, raffle tickets will be sold for $1 a piece with half the cash prize going to Chicks in Crisis and the other half to one lucky raffle winner.

Guests can get a $2 discount by buying their tickets early, which Haunold encourages. “Space is pretty limited at this club, so get your tickets in advance to make sure you can get in!” Tickets are $10 at the door, but guests can get a $2 discount by bringing one or more of the folllowing: Diapers Sizes 4, 5 and 6, Clothing: Newborn to Size 5T, Baby Wipes, or Gift cards ($25 or less). All these items are on the Chicks in Crisis wish list.

For more information, please visit the Gearhead website at http://www.gearheadhq.com

Contact Information:                                                                                                          
Michelle Haunold, CEO/President                                                                                    
Phone:916-897-2451                                                                                                                                                                                 
E-Mail: michelle@gearheadhq.com                                                           

                                                                                                                              ###           

Ms. Gearhead is strong, independent and above all, true to herself and her inner voice. She is compassionate and kind, and works for the rights of those less fortunate than herself, but she is not a push over. She is a protector and voice for animals and the earth, conscious that being a leader comes with great courage to do what is right and stand up against what is wrong. She is diplomatic and follows a path of peace when facing conflicts.

She is 100% her own person, not following trends or fashions but her own inner guidance and passions. She feels safe expressing her opinions even if it is not popular. She is honest and forthright, and speaks from her heart. She follows the path less walked by others and enjoys the challenge of finding her way in a sometimes-overwhelming sea of conformity and expectations about what a woman should do and be.

Whether Punk Rock or Pin Ups, Rosie the Riveter or The Rockettes inspires you, please join us in selecting the next Ms. Gearhead during intermission during Gearfest 2016.
​The first 15 women to donate will be entered in the contest.

*All contestants may dress however they feel most inspired, at their best and most powerful.
*Each contestant will have 3 minutes to speak about why she embodies the qualities of Ms. Gearhead.
*After a short deliberation our judges will select Ms. Gearhead 2016 based on how closely she meets the personal qualities of Ms. Gearhead.

The winner will receive a photo-shoot with the pictures to be included with a write up for the Gearhead website, Facebook and other social media sites, and the title of Ms. Gearhead 2016. She will also get to wear the Ms. Gearhead tiara and carry the Gearhead sceptor until the next Ms. Gearhead contest.

The entrance fee is a $20 donation, which includes the price of admission to Gearfest 2016. All proceeds from the Ms. Gearhead contest will be donated to Chicks in Crisis, an Elk Grove, CA based non-profit dedicated to providing support and resources for pregnant women (and their partners) with prenatal care, life skills training, parenting assistance, clothes, emergency food, baby supplies, and legal guidance.

In addition, a raffle will be held during Gearfest 2016 with half the proceeds going to one raffle winner and the other half going to Chicks in Crisis. To further support this charity, every Gearfest 2016 attendee can get a $2 discount at the door by bringing one or more of the following:
• Diapers: Sizes 4, 5 and 6
• Clothing: Newborn to Size 5T
• Baby Wipes
• Maternity Clothes
• Gift cards ($25 or less)

Are you our next Ms. Gearhead? Please join us to find out!

ACE FREHLEY OF KISS AT STEVE RODRIGUEZ (THE DRAGONS)
MEMORIAL LAST SUNDAY AT CASBAH IN SAN DIEGO
Memorial Concert Raised Over $7,000
GoFundMe Campaign Raised Over $8,000
All Contributions Go To College Fund For Son Jesse Rodriguez 

Last Sunday night Ace Frehley (KISS) honored the memory of Steve Rodriguez (1967-2015) by playing with The Dragons (Mario Escovedo, Ken Horne, Jarrod Lucas) at a memorial at the Casbah in San Diego. The bands and the music community raised over $7,000 at the concert and over $8,000 via GoFundMe campaign. All contributions go towards a college fund for Rodriguez's son, Jesse.

In addition to Ace Frehley members of The Bronx and The Zeros joined The Dragons for an incredible night of music and remembrances. Attendees were also treated to performances by Steve Poltz, Uncle Joe's Big Ol' Driver, and Saint Shameless. A video tribute was produced and edited by Maren Parusel featuring a collage of photos depicting Steve Rodriguez's life and emotional video messages from Seiji of Guitar Wolf (Japan), Ginger from The Wildhearts (England), Sami Yaffa from Hanoi Rocks/Mad Juana/Michael Monroe (Finland), and Ronnie Barnett from The Muffs (California). Video can be viewed HERE.

Many others turned out to pay their respect and share stories, including Tony Bee from the Adolescents, John Reiss from Rocket From The Crypt, Lou Carus of Junk Records and countless other musicians, fans and community leaders.

Steve Rodriguez passed away on July 21, 2015. Besides The Dragons his bands included Infantry, Mad Juana, The Zeros, and of late his own band Saint Shameless. He is survived by his wife of many years, Jamie, and their son Jesse.

Publicity requests may be directed to Ilka Erren Pardinas at Fly PR:
T. 323-667-1344
E. flypr@flypr.net

Any other inquiries may be directed to Mario Escovedo at:
http://www.requiemme.com/

PHOTO CREDITS AND CAPTIONS
photo outside Casbah with Ace Frehley/KISS from left to right: Ken Horne, Javier Escovedo, Ace Frehley, Mario Escovedo, Jesse Rodriguez, Jarrod Lucas
By: Maren Parusel

photo on stage from left to right: Hector Penalosa of The Zeros, Ace Frehley, Mario Escovedo, Jarrod Lucas, Matt Caughthran of The Bronx, Javier Escovedo, Ken Horne


Steve Rodriguez portrait by Derek Plank (photo of Jesse by Mario Escovedo)