Richmond Machinist's Giant RC Buggy Wins Grand Prize in Metal Supermarkets' Annual Metal My Way Contest

Local resident Kevin Berera awarded Grand Prize in premier metal supplier's international metalworking competition

TORONTO, Nov. 12, 2026 /CNW/ -- Metal Supermarkets, the world's largest supplier of small-quantity metals, has announced Kevin Berera of Richmond, British Columbia, as the Grand Prize winner of its annual Metal My Way competition. Showcasing the versatility and craftsmanship of metalworking, fabricating and design, Metal My Way is an international photo and video contest that invites entrants to submit projects where they have transformed ordinary metal into inventive creations, innovative tools or works of art.

Berera was awarded the Grand Prize of a trip for two to Las Vegas to attend the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) trade show from November 3 to 6. Seven years in the making, his winning submission was a giant, 160-lb radio-controlled (RC) buggy that he designed and built on weekends. Powered by a 70 cc engine, the 5-foot-long by 4-foot-wide buggy was constructed using metal purchased from Metal Supermarkets Vancouver (Richmond). Machined components were constructed using 6061 aluminum alloy, while the steering servo was made from a modified wiper motor. Berera also crafted an electric resistance welded (ERW) chassis from 060 wall, 3/4-inch tubing, constructed shock assemblies from brass and made oil-lite bronze bushings for all pivot points.

"I'm incredibly excited and honored to receive the Grand Prize in Metal Supermarkets' Metal My Way contest," said Berera. "This was a labour of love, constructed in my spare time on weekends during a particularly busy time of my life, while raising young children with my wife and overseeing home renovations. It means a lot to have my work recognized, and I'm very grateful for the trip to SEMA to find inspiration for future projects and meet other makers and manufacturers."

Dubbed Metal My Way: Everyday, the 11^th-annual competition ran from October 1, 2025 to September 30, 2026, marking the first time entries were accepted over a year-long period. The competition awarded one Grand Prize as well as multiple special prizes to winners throughout the year. Open to both metal professionals and hobbyists alike, the contest received over 1,480 submissions from entrants across the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom.

"We're pleased to announce Kevin Berera as this year's Metal My Way Grand Prize winner," said Ryan Pryznyk, President and CEO of Metal Supermarkets. "His RC buggy displayed an exceptional level of detail, complexity and ingenuity that showcased his talent and dedication to metalwork and machining. Each year, we are extremely impressed by the creativity, craftsmanship and high level of skill demonstrated by Metal My Way winners and entrants, and we greatly appreciate their participation and support."

The other winners from the 2025-2026 Metal My Way entry period were:

• Jeremy Werkheiser of Kingsley, Pennsylvania
  Project: The Deep Sleep, an 83-lb steel sculpture representing a vision of a Kraken sea monster tearing apart a pirate ship
   
• Peter Machen of Baltimore, Maryland
  Project: El Toro Inferno, a forged and fabricated stainless steel bull with propane-powered flaming horns
   
• Michael Verdon of Rockville, Maryland
  Project: Infinity Crystal Gateway, an immersive visual and audio experience combining metal with materials such as plastic, infinity mirrors, interactive electronics and over 16,000 LEDs
   
• Datus Thorup of Salt Lake City, Utah
  Project: Snow Blower Garage Lift, a custom garage lift built with square tubing, Unistrut track rails and a dual-capacity hoist setup
   
• Jose Perez of Little Egg Harbor, NJ
  Project: Godzilla, a custom installation of a 94-millimeter (mm) turbo engine into a Ford Foxbody Mustang
   
• John Billington of Windsor, Ontario
  Project: CycleKart, a vintage-inspired race car featuring a custom steel chassis, a bomber-style seat and hand-formed aluminum panels

Winning submissions were chosen based on criteria such as complexity, detail, intricacy, uniqueness, creativity, craftsmanship, quantity of metal used and ingenuity.

For additional information on the Metal My Way contest and to view photos and video of winning submissions, visit www.metalmyway.com.

ABOUT METAL SUPERMARKETS

Metal Supermarkets, the world's largest supplier of small-quantity metals, has been providing fast, convenient service to customers for over 40 years. The company operates over 140 brick-and-mortar stores across the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom, with over 15 franchise locations in development. Known for its speed and convenience, Metal Supermarkets sells a wide variety of metals including Aluminum, Hot-Rolled Steel, Cold-Rolled Steel, Stainless Steel, Alloy Steel, Galvanized Steel, Tool Steel, Brass, Bronze and Copper. With highly specialized staff, customers can get the metal they need, cut to size, with a wide variety of value-added metal processing services available including Production Cutting, Shearing, Plate Cutting, Bending, Drilling, Hole Punching, Notching, Delivery and more. For more information about how Metal Supermarkets is helping customers today and tomorrow, visit the Metal Supermarkets website, Facebook and LinkedIn.

SOURCE Metal Supermarkets Franchising America Inc.

For further information: Laura Schober, Senior PR and Communications Specialist | [phone]