TMCP #375: SEMA 2018 Show #1 – Ring Brother’s Chevy Blazer, Martin Klein of Recaro, Jeff Allison and Jeremy McLellan’s ’66 Chevelle Reveal!
This weeks installment is the first of multiple LIVE from the show floor episodes from SEMA 2018. I was able to catch up once again with old friends of the show, see some amazing cars, and hear about some great products. This first installment is Bernie’s interviews with the Ring Brothers, and Martin Klein of Recaro. I also caught up with Jeff Allison of Allison Customs and Jeremy McLleand in the Ron Francis Wiring booth.
TMCP #374: The Green Hornet Turns 100 (MPH)-Jacob Davis Does the Cannonball Run; Ask Rick – Trends in Unrestored Driver Cars
This weeks interview is with friend of the show Jacob Davis. You should remember him from previous episodes #311 and #334 where he detailed his journey to obtaining his dream job at Hot Rod Magazine! Since that time Jacob has quickly made a name for himself and is enjoying the rewards of his efforts. As a result of this he now runs into many people in his travels, some of whom offer him interesting and unique propositions. The story that follows is the result of one of these conversations. Please note the word “allegedly” is used (a lot) in this show.
TMCP #373: Holy Fiberglass, Batman! Mark Racop of FiberGlass Freaks; Making Screen Accurate and Brand New 1966 Batmobiles; Pro-Touring Update with Larry Callahan
This weeks interview is with Mark Racop, founder and owner of Fiberglass Freaks, builders of 1966 Batmobiles that are Officially Licensed by DC Comics!
At a young age Mark was fascinated by the Batmobile and knew he had to have one of his own someday. This was no passing fancy or little boys dream, it was a definite passion. During high school Mark and his friends decided to create a fan fiction batman episode and of course they had to have the ultimate prop to do it with. Using very limited resources and a 1974 Monte Carlo the boys built from scratch the car now known as Bat-One. Later on the television studio finally re-released the entire Batman series and Marks dad recorded all 160 episodes on VHS. Mark spent many many hours watching, pausing, and replaying the tapes for clues on how the vehicle was built. There are pictures of him at car shows posing next to the show vehicles and even these family photos got pulled into use as reference points.
TMCP #372: Feature with Colin Date, National Parts Depot’s all new Director of Marketing!
n this episode of the show our guest is Mr. Colin Date, the all new Director of Marketing for National Parts Depot! Colin has been around restoration parts industry and automotive media business for 20 years and is no stranger to the ups, downs, people, and passions that make it all go round. He and NPD’s Rick Schmidt new each other, had interacted quite a bit, and had a mutual respect for years. He is an all around car guy, not tied to any one specific brand (i.e. all muscle cars are good muscle cars, and loves the whole classic car culture!
TMCP #371: Rob Dumovic, Chasing Upside Down Speed Dreams – Ask Rick, The Inside Scoop on AACA Judging
Today’s show is with Rob Dumovic, instructor from Executive Flyers Aviation. He is also the host of a podcast about aviation Plane Talk Podcast. I wanted him on the show to discuss his big goals in life and how he is chasing them.
Rob told me his big goals are to be a world class aerobatic pilot, a top level air show performer, and to the join Red Bull Air race. These goals in aviation are saying you are going to drive at top level Nascar or be a famous movie star. He is aiming for the very top levels of the sport.
TMCP #370: Dave Hall from Restore A Muscle Car on Trans Ams, The Restoration Business, and Working with Burt Reynolds; Pro-Touring Update with Larry Callahan – Good Guys Colorado Results
Today’s show is with Dave Hall, founder of Restore a Muscle Car, lover of Trans Am (and all muscle cars), and even a past show guest (episode 38). Restore A Muscle Car is an impressive restoration business that he and his wife have built together that restores all muscle cars, but is always the one I think of first when it comes to the “Bandit” Trans Am. They also had a close relationship with Burt Reynolds (The Bandit) himself!
TMCP #369: Tom Burden of GRYPMAT; Inventing A Product, Winning Shark Tank, and Going to the Next Level!
Today’s show is with Tom Burden, inventor of the GRYPMAT For those of you that need a clever place to put your tools while working on the car, this is the show you’ve been waiting for. If you’d like an A-Z lesson in taking an idea to market, winning SEMA Launch Pad, winning Shark Tank, and growing a business, this is still the show you’ve been waiting for!
TMCP #368: Jon Chase from Hoonigan; The Secret of Talks Hooning (and ’55 Chevy Gassers) – Ask Rick, Finding NOS Parts and The Real ROI on Developing Restoration Parts
Today’s guest is Jon Chase, Brand Manager and Art Director at Hoonigan since 2014. Back in 2012 I met Jon at SEMA and we had him on TMCP #159. At that time he was with Maisto designing amazing car models. From there he went on to run his own clothing brand company called DSTROYR. That process led to an introduction to Hoonigan where he decided to head full time, which allowed him to do all of the fun stuff he enjoyed with DSTROYR, with more time for family, fun, and to pardon the pun, Hooning. In this episode we got to the bottom if what Hoonigan actually is ( a brand lifestyle, media creation, an apparel company) and detailed all of the ins and outs that go with it.
TMCP #367: Brotherly Love at it’s Best – A Pontiac Firebird Restored in Memoriam; The Pro-Touring Update Featuring Larry Callahan’s 21st Century 6-banger ’55 Chevy
Today’s show is perhaps one of the most important we’ve ever done at TMCP, and frankly speaking – it’s the real reason this show started in the first place. Our guest is Brandon Bailey, a man I’ve never met in person but one that I was convinced my my great friend Kirk Hansen that I needed to know. Brandon had just purchased Kirk’s Firebird in order to restore it as the feature car for a very-soon upcoming fundraiser to raise money in memoriam for the family of his best friend Daniel. This is the story of that journey.
Branden Bailey had a best friend, Daniel Reed and they met at a sandlot baseball game before they were teenagers. These two became best friends as close as brothers and did everything together. They grew up riding bikes, playing football, and watching Smokey and the Bandit enough to wear out the tape. When Daniel was offered a 1980 Firebird his dreams of a car like in the movie came true. The boys spent many hours changing motors and fixing on the Firebird and driving around having a great time. Daniel was struck by a car while riding his motorcycle to work and passed away. Local friends and relatives put together a memorial run to raise money for his 8 year old son and wife that he left behind. Branden said around 70 cars showed up for the drive and everyone had a great time.
TMCP # 366: Michael, Look Out! Our Inside Scoop on the REAL Screen Used KITT’s from Knight Rider with the Knight Rider Historians.
In the early 80’s there were a few different car centered TV shows competing for the same viewers. There were the Dukes and the General Lee, but Michael Knight and KITT showed up with a different, more futuristic kind of automobile. Our guest this week is AJ Palmgren who is a Knight Rider Historian similar to how our own Corn Dog is to the General Lee. Between AJ and Joe Huth there is many many shows worth of information (plus a couple books) and the depth of research is astounding. Unfortunately many important people involved with creating and developing the series are no longer with us but these guys were able to interview and document many stories before they passed away.