In a small town where the hum of engines harmonizes with daily life, a trailblazing 16-year-old girl named Bailey McKeska is defying stereotypes and proving that girls can build too! Her passion for Chevy trucks knows no bounds, and together with her dad, and the folks at Air Lift, her remarkable talent will be debuting at SEMA 2023! Bailey is the daughter of accomplished fabricator Mike Mckeska and together, this father-daughter duo are meticulously modifying Bailey’s first ride, a 76’ Chevy C10. From the family run salvage yard in Amanda, Ohio, these two have been hard at work fulfilling a vision that started small and just keeps growing. "We just planned to lower the vehicle, but that meant installing air assist, a new front-end suspension, and it just started to snowball," says Bailey. The snowball now includes a new suspension, major bed and cab modifications, new interior, paint, and more! Of course, Bailey’s journey to SEMA began early like it does for so many folks when cars and trucks are a family affair. “If I had things to do in the shop, I would do them, and I would always have time to hang out with my friends, but if there was a car show that’s where I’d be, says Bailey." “She just took to it early” say her dad, Mike, “especially the welding.” Fast forward to today, and Bailey's dream truck is nearing completion. The deadline looms, and the last year and a half of work seems like a blur. Fortunately, Bailey and her family have an incredible support network. One family friend is acclaimed trimmer, Trent Van Arsden, from Trent’s Trick Upholstery. Trent has shown a vehicle at SEMA for 25 years running and now he is sharing his skills with Bailey. “What’s special about Bailey is that she is hungry to know about all of it. “For us older guys, this is what we need to be doing, sharing these skills with the next round of young talent,” says Trent. Bailey custom built the interior seat structure from salvaged materials. Next, they brought Apex Leather on board for the leather and carpet. Now, she is shadowing Trent, from wrapping and trimming, to stitching, ensuring that every aspect, seen and unseen, meets the highest standards. One of the many things that makes SEMA so exceptional is the lasting connections you make. While Bailey and Mike saw an ever growing snowball, Trent saw something else and suggested Mike reach out to his friends at Air Lift about showing at SEMA. “I have been working with the Air Lift guys forever, they run it like a family operation,” says Trent. Mike liked the idea and not one to cut corners, sent Air Lift a complete physical rendering of the truck. “Yeah, that made a statement,” says Mike with Air Lift. “We just love the story of Bailey and her dad. A lot of us can relate to it.” As Bailey continues to “rev” up the auto industry, her journey serves as an inspiration to all aspiring young auto enthusiasts who dare to dream beyond the ordinary. SEMA is always pushing the boundaries of what’s next, recognizing that the custom automotive world of the future will look different from the past. Her first vehicle isn't just a truck; it's a symbol of a remarkable journey, a special father-daughter bond, and the limitless potential of young women in the automotive industry. In the midst of it all Bailey ponders what the ultimate compliment would be for her truck. "I think the biggest compliment would be showing everyone that I did the work and put the time in. For them to be like, Whoa, a girl did that?" Come see “Lafonda”, (named for a character in Bailey’s favorite movie, Napoleon Dynamite) at the Air Lift Booth in Central Hall. Bailey and her dad will be there and are excited to share all the details of this very special build!