TMCP #555: THE Pro-Touring Update with Larry Callahan – SEMA 2023 Preview – Pro-Touring Dinner – Ron Francis Goes To The OPTIMA Ultimate Street Car Invitational,
It’s once again is the quarterly Pro-Touring Update, Presented by Ron Francis Wiring, and starring Mr. Larry Callahan! Technically this is the 3rd quarter update, but with the schedules of events (and the possibility of something special in the first weekend of Oct) we needed to push it back a couple of weeks. I’m happy to say that the gamble was worth it! The focus of this update – as always – is to stay on the inside scoop of what is going on with Larry and The Pro-Touring community as well as getting the inside scoop on upcoming Pro-Touring (autocross) events for the end of 2023!
TMCP #554: Ask Rick – Whats The Big Deal About SEMA? – UAW Strike, The Real Flaw In The System – Henry Ford “X” Engine – Listener Questions – Cars Picks of the Week
It is now October so be on the lookout for ghosts and ghouls at Halloween. This is time for costume parties, trick or treating, and another riveting Ask Rick segment were I ask him the tough questions that not everyone wants to hear! As always Rick delivers sage advice and wisdom founded in years of buying and selling classic vehicles. In this episode we waded into the topics spanning from “how do I store my classic vehicle” all the way to “how do we fix our broken governmental system.” As always the answers are entertaining, polarizing, and sometimes surprising.
TMCP #553: Holley Moparty Super Show Special! – HHWheels 1969 RT/SE Unrestored All Original Charger – Dylan McCool, Fixing and Racing an 80’s Cop Car – Richard Petty’s 1974 Charger Race Car
FEATURE INTERVIEW: 2023 Holley Moparty Special! This special bonus episode on The Muscle Car Place is brought to you live from the Holley Moparty 2023 event at the Beach Bend raceway (and amusement park) facility in Bowling Green Kentucky! All of your favorite show hosts and co-hosts loaded up and drove out to the […]
TMCP #552: Ask Rick – Is it Wise (or Possible) to Have Collector Cars as Your Retirement Investment?
It is September and football is back!!! It is also time for another riveting Ask Rick segment were I ask him the tough questions that not everyone wants to hear. As always Rick delivers sage advice and wisdom founded in years of buying and selling classic vehicles. When it comes to cars as investment, possibly a with a great ROI, Rick has strong opinions and advice here. Can it be done? Short answer; yes! Should it be done? Long answer……maybe.
As with all things, it depends what you understand and where you can make your gain on the purchase of the car initially. For Rick and his dad, their collection has immense value today of course, but every car in inventory was chosen for it’s specialness to the Schmidt’s not as a hedge on a great investment. They chose high quality low mile original cars and didn’t just stick to muscle cars. Their collection has many examples of unique rare American cars that have less than 1000 miles (think Rivieras, Eldorado’s, and Lincoln’s).. Some have interiors with the delivery plastic still in place! Others are beautifully restored treasures. Today, it’s paid off. Technically, it could payoff if they ever chose to sell….which they almost never do!
TMCP #551: Live From RoadKill Nights 2023 – Special Feature with Dodge! Interior and Exterior Design, 2024 Charger, Direct Connection, and Marketing for the USA!
This special bonus episode on The Muscle Car Place is brought to you live once again from the streets of Pontiac, Michigan! Our journeyman reporter Scott Stap was roadside at Woodard Avenue where the streets were closed and setup for LEGAL street drag racing at the annual RoadKill Nights event, presented by Dodge. Every year this event brings action, excitement, and new automotive experiences to Michigan (and visitors from other Midwestern states) automotive enthusiasts!
This episode is from “press day” where grudge match racers were introduced to reveal their drag race cars. Friday was a media only event and Scott was able to get his recorder and microphones in to talk to more Dodge insiders for a behind the scenes look at how the “donuts” of a muscle-car-loving OEM are actually. This was before Roadkill Nights opened to the public and there were a lot of people to talk to in a short period of time. He talked to old friends that have been on the show before as well as interviewing new guests that provided different angles and aspects of how Dodge designs and sells new muscle.
TMCP #550: Live From RoadKill Nights 2023: Special Feature – Talking to the Dodge Boys While Drag Racing On The Streets Of Woodward Ave In Pontiac Michigan
Live From RoadKill Nights 2023: Special Feature! Scotty Stap was onsite to talk to the OEM Dodge Boys While Drag Racing On The Streets Of Woodward Ave In Pontiac Michigan. This special feature episode on The Muscle Car Place is brought to you live from the streets of Pontiac Michigan. We were road side at Woodard Avenue where they closed the road and setup a drag strip for the event called RoadKill Nights. Every year RoadKill nights brings action, excitement, and new automotive experiences to Michigan (and other midwestern states) automotive enthusiasts. This year was no exception!
The main difference in the event this year was that they moved North from its typical M1 Concourse location up to one block off from Downtown Pontiac. The car show was actually held on the streets of the famous southern Michigan town. This made the main event area a little tight and the Thrill Ride cars were ALWAYS sideways. As a result the ride itself was shorter but it was still a great event for 2023.
Our on the scene reporter Scott Stap was lucky enough to catch up with some old friends from Dodge and Stellantis who were on the “inside” track of all of the outgoing Chargers and Challengers. He also got some insight on the new Charger (electric) to come. That said, this was the final chance to talk about Dodge’s outgoing Last Call vehicles.Enjoy!
TMCP #549: Jason Chandler of Auto Metal Direct – How to Make Brand New 50 Year old Cars!
This week on The Muscle Car Place is a great interview with Jason Chandler, Director of Marketing at Auto Metal Direct (known in the industry as “AMD”. As of late I noticed that AMD had released some of the “un-ob-tanium” parts for ’68 and ’69 Charger restorations, nearly to the point that a person could build an entirely new car from scratch. This peaked my interest, so I asked Jason for the details. It turns out that you nearly could build one of those cars now…..as well as a few others (and trucks), all from new metal! ’69 Camaros and Square-body Chevy trucks are both good to go, and a few others are close as well. I needed the details!
Listener mail: Rob, A few years ago I shared with you my goals and plans for my Tesla powered 1940 Chevrolet. Well, after a lot of work, set backs, and strange gremlins, I finally got to the track this summer. I put together a video summarizing the track test, and wanted to share it. https://youtu.be/wnPICDZmv3M
TMCP #548: Ask Rick – How To Know If You Have The Best Insurance For Your Classic Car
It is August and time for hot August nights and some of the greatest car shows ever! Thousands of people will dig out their cherished vehicles this month and attend massive gatherings such as the Woodward Dream Cruise. When you get that many people in once place accidents will happen and you need to make sure your insurance is correct. In this edition of Ask Rick, I inquire as to what insurance Rick uses and how he knows it will cover his needs. It’s a boring topic…but one we all need to get right more than ever.
TMCP #547: Mike Good – The Science of Dynamat! How to Choose Sound Deadening and Heat Insulation Without Going Crazy.
This week on The Muscle Car Place is with a great industry insider Mike Good, the CEO of Dynamat! I enjoy learning about the science and history of brands that I have used before, an Dynamat is one I’ve used numerous times for numerous reasons. I always new it to be in the sound deadening space because all of the guys in my high school used it in their “thumper” cars with the huge stereos. I’ve used it for different reasons on my cars; specifically heat abatement (headers are hot). This was my chance to learn the brand and the tech in one shot!
Mike has a long history of business leadership at the executive level across a number of different genres, even academia. He was previously the CMO of FinishMaster (automotive paints) and started a communications company that was really good at tracking things through software and GPS. He has been interested in cars his whole life and has been in the industry for decades. Today he’s proud to be the leader of Dynamat, a place that can tinker with car products (and other things) day in and day out.
TMCP #545: Bonus Episode – Todd Liebelt and his Amazing Corner Carving ’65 Chevelle!
This week on The Muscle Car Place is an extra “4th-of-the-month” bonus episode that I simply could not wait until next month to share! I spoke with Todd Liebelt who not only races autocross (as I like to do) but has built an almost identical in appearance Chevelle to mine. I say almost because Todd was able to make the changes in his car, that after years of ownership I now wish I had made to mine. Our paths have never crossed before, but somehow we have generated two cars that are certainly really close siblings!
Ten years ago I made some decisions on how to build my Chevelle. Since the car has been built I have had some great driving opportunities but I have wondered how it would have been if I had built it just a little differently. Specifically, I’ve always been curious about the chassis and if it would have been better to go with a full replacement instead of (as we did) modifying the factory GM frame and then adding great bolt-on suspension options on.
I also wonder how would it have handled on the track if I had bigger tires, especially up front where I’ve run out of grip time and time again? Well, luckily for me I have been presented with the unique opportunity to talk to Todd who has an almost identical car ….except that he made the choices I did not and has the inside scoop on if it was worth it. Basically, by speaking with Tood I have the chance to go back in time and learn what the “other path not taken” would have been like (and if I should take it now).