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 and Ford Truck Enthusiasts, Derek also contributes to other outlets. He started There Will Be Cars on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube to get even more automotive content out to fellow enthusiasts.

He can be reached at autoeditors@internetbrands.com.

All-New King Ranch Wows the Lone Star State

All-New King Ranch Wows the Lone Star State

Pickups, hard work, and rock-and-roll go well together. After you get in your truck at the end of a long day of busting your ass at the office or job site, you just want to crank up some Zeppelin, hang your left arm out the window and cruise. Ford seems to be keenly aware of […] More »

By: | October 1, 2014


Weekend On the Edge is Coming Up On Sept. 20

Weekend On the Edge is Coming Up On Sept. 20

Obviously, big trucks are made for hard work, such as hauling heavy loads and getting to job sites through all kinds of rough weather and roads. They’re also made for fun and games. On Saturday, Sept. 20, you can push those good times to the limit at Weekend on the Edge in Ogden, Utah. You […] More »

By: | September 18, 2014


Tailgate-Up-or-Down Question Answered

Tailgate-Up-or-Down Question Answered

There’s a certain comfort in absolutes. Chocolate makes everything better. Never walk quickly through your living room in the dark without shoes on. One question to which several people want an absolute, definitive, all-time answer is: “Is it more fuel-efficient to drive with my tailgate up or down?” Autoblog finally has it – courtesy of […] More »

By: | August 28, 2014



Some F-150s Not Ready Until February 2015

Some F-150s Not Ready Until February 2015

If you just have to have your 2015 Ford F-150 a certain way, you’ll have to pay a price for it – not in only in terms of money, but in terms of time, as well. According to Automotive News, an Aug. 20 letter from Ford to its sales network stated that 3,000 U.S. dealers […] More »

By: | August 25, 2014


F150Online Reviews: The 2014 Ford F-150 FX2 Tremor

F150Online Reviews: The 2014 Ford F-150 FX2 Tremor

We’ve all had that moment in our lives in which we’ve decided that we’re going to try a new, edgier look. Perhaps it’s in the form of a new haircut or flashier clothes. If you haven’t reached that point yet, just know that changing things up can leave the people you know feeling a little […] More »

By: | June 9, 2014


Truck Yeah! Went Autocrossing… In an F-150 Tremor

Truck Yeah! Went Autocrossing… In an F-150 Tremor

In Texas, my home state, pickups are as common as enchiladas and hot weather. However, if I were to see one at an autocross course, I would do a double-take. That must have been what everyone at the Nassau Coliseum in New York did when Truck Yeah’s Andrew P. Collins rolled up to a Sports […] More »

By: | June 2, 2014


Investigation into EcoBoost F-150s Closed

Investigation into EcoBoost F-150s Closed

Ford is on a roll lately. They’re about to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Mustang and they’re getting ready to release the 2015 F-150 later this year. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recently closed its investigation into nearly 360,000 2011-13 F-150s with the 3.5L EcoBoost engine, too. The agency started looking into the trucks […] More »

By: | April 16, 2014



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