Ahead of FuelFest this weekend, Tyrese Gibson and Cody Walker speak of their love for SoFlo and car culture

Two of car culture’s biggest stars — Cody Walker and Tyrese Gibson from the “Fast & Furious” movies — will bring their celebrity wattage to FuelFest, a wheels wonderland coming to West Palm Beach on Saturday.

The fourth annual car show will give vroom-vroom to 800 custom, exotic, rare and exclusive cars and trucks as well as:

• live-action drifting
• fan ride-alongs
• custom exhibits
• interactive fan racing activities and attractions
• auctions
• live concert

New this time around will be Taste of Tokyo, a Japanese “underground” car meet showcase as well as judged car show sections and Best of Show awarded trophies.

In addition to the appearances by “Fast & Furious” film franchise luminaries Gibson and Walker, some of the cars used in the movies (and other vehicle-centric flicks) will be on display.

A portion of the event’s proceeds will benefit Reach Out WorldWide (ROWW), the nonprofit founded by the late Paul Walker and continued by his brother, Cody Walker. The organization was founded in 2010 in response to the need for relief teams after an earthquake devastated Haiti. ROWW’s mission is to fill the gap between the availability of skilled resources in post-disaster situations.

Here is more about FuelFest in Q&A sessions with Walker (who is also a cofounder of the event) and Gibson that have been edited for clarity and brevity.

TYRESE GIBSON

Q: You’ve spent a lot of time in South Florida, so what is your favorite memory from one of your visits?

A: I love Boca Raton, Miami, South Beach and Fort Lauderdale — I love Florida. My greatest memory was shooting “2 Fast 2 Furious” in … Miami. Me and Paul Walker and Ludacris and John Singleton had a life-changing, amazing time filming and hanging in the city.

Q: Is there anything in particular that you are looking forward to with FuelFest in West Palm Beach?

A: Yes, I don’t know what it is (but) the passion and energy we feel in that crowd and up on that stage is never-ending. The love we feel when we are there is actually overwhelming.

Q: What is the most strikingly memorable interaction you’ve had with “Fast & Furious” franchise fans?

A: The real fans don’t always get access to us when we shoot our movies or do movie premieres these days. If you really wanna feel the actual impact and influence of this (car show) franchise and this infinite love for Paul Walker and our beloved (movie) franchise — it’s FuelFest hands down!

Q: Do you have any music projects coming up you would like to share with your fans?

A: My new double album entitled “Beautiful Pain” was just released … on all streaming platforms. (It is) the most important album of my life, produced by the legend David Foster and Brandon “B.A.M.”  Hodge. All I can say is press “play,” grab some wine and get ready.

CODY WALKER

Q: Have you spent time in South Florida?

A: This is our fourth year hosting FuelFest in West Palm Beach, so I’m typically in the Palm Beach County area for a few days each year. Also, coincidentally a few years ago, I filmed in a music video in West Palm Beach with Caroline Jones, who is now with the Zac Brown Band.

Q: Is there anything you particularly enjoy about our SoFlo vibe?

A: I love South Florida because the energy is great. The sun is shining and everyone seems happy and wants to have a good time. Since I grew up in Southern California, I appreciate flip-flop weather, which is basically sand and the beach. I genuinely enjoy my time in South Florida.

Q: Is there anything in particular that you are looking forward to with FuelFest in West Palm Beach?

A: I’m really looking forward to coming back to West Palm this year. And our event has a guest DJ, Nick Hogan, Hulk Hogan’s son. I met Nick from my brother, Paul, in Los Angeles. Also, watching drifting and riding along with Chris Jackson, the president of the U.S. Drift Circuit, is always a thrilling experience. … Overall, West Palm Beach is one of our largest shows in the year, so it’s always great.

Q: What do you enjoy the most about car culture fans?

A: They come from all walks of life, and they are extremely diverse. Normally otherwise you may not cross paths with the fans, so I appreciate the generosity of the car culture and the immense support the car culture has given to ROWW and FuelFest. The car culture is responsible for lifting me out of a bad place when my brother, Paul, passed away.

Q: What is the most strikingly memorable interaction you’ve had with “Fast & Furious” franchise fans?

A: Bringing the movies to life … that’s essentially how FuelFest was born. Also, it’s great to see Tyrese Gibson, Vin Diesel and other cast members stop by and how the fans are so overwhelmed with the complete experience at FuelFest.

Q: What would you like for South Floridians to know about Reach Out WorldWide (ROWW)?

A: We see ROWW as Paul’s legacy. It’s very special to us and humbling to see the amount of support we receive from all over the world. People only knew him from films and now they’ve had a chance to embrace his spirit and his legacy in such a positive, impactful way. Anyone in South Florida can donate time or money to ROWW. They can simply volunteer and help. We’ve spent a lot of time in South Florida due to recent hurricanes. We’re glad to be a support system during the time of these natural disasters.

IF YOU GO

WHAT: FuelFest

WHEN: 1-8 p.m. Saturday, March 8

WHERE: South Florida Fairgrounds, 9067 Southern Blvd., West Palm Beach

COST:

• General admission is $45 (includes parking in general lots)
• If you buy four general-admission tickets, the discounted cost is $40 each.
• VIP Platinum admission is $300.
• Meet & Greet with Cody Walker and VIP Platinum admission is $500.
• Preferred Spectator Parking Pass is $30.
• There are also Car Registration, FuelClub Membership and merchandise add-on options at various prices.

INFORMATION: fuelfest.com/south-florida