Derek Shiekhi

Derek Shiekhi's father raised him on cars. As a boy, Derek accompanied his dad as he bought classics such as post-WWII GM trucks and early Ford Mustang convertibles.

After loving cars for years and getting a bachelor's degree in Business Management, Derek decided to get an associate degree in journalism. His networking put him in contact with the editor of the Austin-American Statesman newspaper, who hired him to write freelance about automotive culture and events in Austin, Texas in 2013. One particular story led to him getting a certificate for learning the foundations of road racing.

While watching TV with his parents one fateful evening, he saw a commercial that changed his life. In it, Jeep touted the Wrangler as the Texas Auto Writers Association's "SUV of Texas." Derek knew he had to join the organization if he was going to advance as an automotive writer. He joined the Texas Auto Writers Association (TAWA) in 2014 and was fortunate to meet several nice people who connected him to the representatives of several automakers and the people who could give him access to press vehicles (the first one he ever got the keys to was a Lexus LX 570). He's now a regular at TAWA's two main events: the Texas Auto Roundup in the spring and the Texas Truck Rodeo in the fall.

Over the past several years, Derek has learned how to drive off-road in various four-wheel-drive SUVs (he even camped out for two nights in a Land Rover), and driven around various tracks in hot hatches, muscle cars, and exotics. Several of his pieces, including his article about the 2015 Ford F-150 being crowned TAWA's 2014 "Truck of Texas" and his review of the Alfa Romeo 4C Spider, have won awards in TAWA's annual Excellence in Craft Competition. Last year, his JK Forum profile of Wagonmaster, a business that restores Jeep Wagoneers, won prizes in TAWA’s signature writing contest and its pickup- and SUV-focused Texas Truck Invitational.

In addition to writing for a variety of Internet Brands sites, including JK Forum, H-D Forums, The Mustang Source, Mustang Forums, LS1Tech, HondaTech, Jaguar Forums, YotaTech, and Ford Truck Enthusiasts. Derek also started There Will Be Cars on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube.

The Callaway Camaro SC652 aka the Supercharged Z/28.

I know Callaway has been tuning Corvettes and other General Motors vehicles for a long time, but I think they’ve branched out into mind reading. They answered the question I’ve had in my head for years: “What would happen if someone supercharged the giant LS7 V8?” Six hundred fifty-two horsepower and 620 lb-ft of torque, […] More »

By: Derek Shiekhi | March 27, 2014

The Camaro Z/28 Gets Flogged by Autoblog

There are certain cars that just shouldn’t be road-tested. Some of them need to be taken to the track, immediately. The 2014 Chevrolet Camaro Z/28 is one of those cars. Autoblog’s West Coast editor, Michael Harley, took it to the right kind of place: Barber Motorsports Park in Birmingham, Alabama. There, he was able to […] More »

By: Derek Shiekhi | March 26, 2014

Drag Race: Stock ZR1 vs. a Modded Roush Stage 3 Mustang

I’m just going to put this down to weight and gearing. I have to because, if the numbers on the screen are accurate, there’s not much else aside from driver ability, that explains why a stock Corvette ZR1 with 540 wheel horsepower absolutely runs away from a 2012 Roush Stage 3 Mustang with 608 whp […] More »

By: Derek Shiekhi | March 24, 2014

You Red It Here First: The Cadillac ATS Crimson Sport Edition

If you’re an automaker and you want your newest model to get attention, paint it red. That’s exactly what Cadillac did, but it used an understated shade of the color for its ATS Crimson Sport Edition. Inside, the baby Caddy can be dressed in one of four color combinations: Morello Red with Jet Black accents, […] More »

By: Derek Shiekhi | March 24, 2014

This British Brute is in LS7th Heaven

I might regret typing this, but I’m going to do it anyway: You don’t even have to watch the video below. Just click play, sit in a comfortable chair, grab your favorite drink and enjoy it slowly as the sound of a 7.0-liter Chevrolet V8 fills your ears. Oh, you’re back? Well, before you close […] More »

By: Derek Shiekhi | March 21, 2014

The “Original” Lexus IS F – Powered by Chevy

When a human being gets a heart transplant, they get the life-saving organ from another human being. Before you watch the video below, picture someone receiving a heart from a T. rex (just go with it, OK?), then having to snort Scarface-sized piles of cocaine to keep their body from rejecting the new ticker. Yeah…you’re […] More »

By: Derek Shiekhi | March 20, 2014

Chevrolet is Serious About Handling Potholes

Spring will bring warmer weather and Easter candy, but it will also bring potholes. You can blame our crazy winter weather for those. The moisture in the cracks in the pavement goes from frozen to thawed multiple times, causing the road surface to expand and contract. Driving over it causes it to weaken even more […] More »

By: Derek Shiekhi | March 17, 2014