PPG automotive refinish product devotees Jerry Covington and Dermie Close were recently honored for their respective outstanding achievements in the world of custom motorcycles and cars. Covington was inducted into the Motorcycle Hall of Fame in Sturgis, South Dakota, and Close’s PPG-painted 1948 Chevrolet Pickup took the Grand Champion award in the Summit Racing Show-n-Shine competition in Reno, Nevada.

With a career spanning 40 years, Covington is recognized as one of the most talented and innovative custom motorcycle builders in the industry. His dedication to promoting and advancing the sport and culture of motorcycling earned him the Motorcycle Hall of Fame induction. At Covington’s Customs, his shop located in Woodward, Oklahoma, Covington and painter Bruce Mullins use DELTRON®, GLOBAL REFINISH SYSTEM™ and VIBRANCE COLLECTION® products by PPG to turn out motorcycles and cars with exceptional award-winning finishes. During the recent Hall of Fame induction weekend, one of Covington’s bikes won seven major awards in prestigious competitions such as Best Use of Paint (Perewitz Custom Show) and Best in Show (Baddest Bagger Show).

Close’s Summit Racing Show-n-Shine competition Grand Champion award—first place—for the 1948 Chevrolet Pickup was part of the annual six-day Hot August Nights event, and it was his first competitive victory. The immaculate pickup, named “Dream Truck,” was a 20-year personal project Close worked on in his spare time at his home garage in Henderson, Nevada. He did all the body and mechanical work, and when it was time to finish the truck, he was assisted by painter Joseph Torres. Close and Torres used a number of PPG Global Refinish System products to give the truck its glossy Desert Sage paint job. Products used included BC Basecoat (code 911396), D8001 2K® A-Chromatic Primer Surfacer, D897 Hardener and D894 Clearcoat.