The Round Six Podcast

MIKE ALEXANDER INSPIRES THE GEARHEADS Episode nineteen brings the inspiration and life lessons themes. Mike Alexander is the Tim Ferriss of the automotive world. He’s an example of inspiration, dedication and vision. A pioneer in the digital publishing world, he has moved seamlessly to manufacturing  some of the most ground-breaking air ride systems. Living proof that hard work pays dividends, he opens up about design, school and instinct. Along the way, he lays out a master plan for making it through work, work, work. …and then we discuss nipples. Like you’d expect any less. THINGS COVERED IN THIS EPISODE: * An awkward discussion glides seamlessly into a podcast * Starting with a letter to the Editor of MiniTruckin’ to land that first gig – Renting a car a twenty one and holding tripods * The humble beginnings of mini trucks and the lifestyle – “Second car poor” lifestyle * The constant shifting of magazine ownership – The “perfect 24” * The passion of building a brand * Self employment for better or worse * Shop names in hindsight – The value of projecting your business name on your future self * Starting early has value (and impresses Brian) * The digital revolution – The politics which prevented growth – Missing social media and more by twenty years * Plotting a future, post-magazine life * Rev’d Media, Slam’d Mag and a talent pool of incredible proportions – Deliberate quality standards – When Jalopnik doesn’t compare – The coffee table book of digital * The value and non-value of formal education * Knowing what to apply and when – Following your interests; pursuing what you love * Max and Brian’s metaphysical discussions serve as an example * NEVER giving up * Bring passionate enough to get mad at your passions * Balancing character with nervous energy * “Smile at hardship” – Working with struggle to forge character – Fight over flight every time A VERY NON AIR-FRIENDLY JOKE WAS REMOVED HERE FOR YOUR SAFETY. * The podcast is not sponsored by a condom company * An absolutely terrifying Michael Jackson joke – Eric made us keep it * The small business-as-child metaphor * Creative brain equals no sleep * The value of compartmentalization * Koala bears and chlamydia – Dancing in a golden shower of bear urine * SEMA insight from every angle – Building a vehicle and the challenges presented – Cost vs ROI of booth space * Sponsorships revisited – Representing your sponsor product’s company through your creation – Responsibility weighs heavy – The importance of effort and how it reflects in all directions – “How you do anything is how you do everything” – Or “grip the banister with both cheeks” – Brian’s lack of a trigger – The value of spelling “sponsorship” correctly – Sponsorship is the pro-level of building – Trade-level value * Mike and Brian plot matching SEMA tattoos * FLO Airride Manufacturing! – A bespoke line of air ride systems – A unique compressor – Billet vs inferior materials – Addressing longevity through design  

TIM STRANGE SITS DOWN WITH THE GEARHEADS Episode eighteen. That’s a milestone, right? If we were a female pop star from the 1990’s, the creepers would be posting weird things over on social media about how they’d have a chance with us now…. But instead, it’s us who get the chance to sit and talk with good friend and hot rod industry ambassador extraordinaire, Tim Strange. We talk custom car legends in their underwear, the darker side of TV stardom, hot rod cruises and fat camps, goat sex changes and the dangers of “buffet syndrome.” Let’s see your podcast do this. THINGS COVERED IN THIS EPISODE: * A Marvel-style intro * A poor, sad, nearly pathetic flat boob joke at the expense of 4-H * Getting started in the hot rod hobby – Tim’s first car, a ’55 Chevy that he bought at eight years old – His Dad’s custom bikes and wild ’57 Chevy * Always knew he wanted to build hot rods – Had his business name picked out in sixth grade * The benefits of being raised to work hard – Farm life * Early days working on Corvettes, both concours and custom – Learned to paint ‘flake by fixing crashed custom bass boats * Tim’s sideline as a Christmas tree flocker * Brian and Tim’s shared history * The mentoring theme continues – Learning marketing and the value of am working relationship with manufacturers with Rocky Roberstson – Staying true not only to your word, but to those who give you a hand * Advice to young builders on the topic of sponsors – Nothing is free – Do what you promise – It goes well beyond money – “You dance with who got you there.” – Bobby Alloway * On burning bridges with sponsorships – All companies network * How social media has changed the sponsor/builder relationship – A whole new requirement and dynamic vs the old days of simple magazine coverage – Instagram VS Facebook – Number of views, social reach, YouTube views * On the changing of goals in the industry – Getting in magazines VS winning awards * Hot Rod fat camp * On automotive television – “Search and Restore” * On the business of building hot rods – “Buffet syndrome” * On building cars for enjoyment VS judges * The great goat sex change * Appreciation for all cars – What we’re used to VS what we can do * Darryl Starbird’s underwear * The Hot Rod Cruise * The superpower that is insomnia * Brian expresses his thanks to Tim for his help – Tim’s talking hands destroy an iPad at SEMA * New product judging at the SEMA Show * The Nashville-to-Vegas “Strange Road Trip to SEMA” FIND TIM ONLINE Official Website: www.strangemotion.com Instagram: @strangemotionrodncustom YouTube: thestrangemotionway  

THE ENGLE BROTHERS HANG OUT AND WHATNOT On episode seventeen, David and Greg Engle of Engle Brothers Fabrication take time from their busy Instagram posting to hang out with the Gearheads and talk cars, life, family, being freakishly tall, and surprisingly, human anatomy. THINGS COVERED IN THIS EPISODE: * A bizarre intro * When things go off of the rails * Getting started in the hot rod hobby * Family history with the Road Kings – Early chrome moly dragster chassis construction * Drag Week and Greg’s connection to it * Podcast Superhost, “Ludicrous Misnomer” * Greg reveals that he doesn’t like LS engines * Dave’s 8HP blown Olds * Alex’s dog falls asleep * Putting soul into a project – The importance of making things look timeless – Beauty is in the details * Shots fired on Greg’s wagon * Inspiration and where you find it – Art in every aspect of a build – Making the most of what’s on hand * The Danny D-painted kandy gasser stroller * The V8 go kart! * Greg’s old tool finds – A monster bred of necessity – Built to last – Estate sales and Craig’s list – Barry Manilow’s third mention on the podcast, but the first to evade editing – The value of purchasing used or old/antique tools when starting out * Being mentored by Rob Ida – Picking up things from everyone you admire * How Brad’s flip-phone Compu-Serve app failed him again * Return of the hot rod musical Tres Miserables * Dave questions why we had the brothers on – Brian hypothesizes that it’s the booze again – Alex argues that it was a lost bet – It all boils down to mutual enabling * The value of being unafraid of failure * Seeking out a mentor/guide  

EPISODE SIXTEEN: IT AIN’T SO SWEET, LOOKING BACK ON IT The Gearheads attempt to enjoy the first “Film Friday” episode, and in honor of this being the first week of Summer, made a grave error. We watched “Corvette Summer.” Three of the Gearheads rented it on Amazon; one went right on ahead and purchased it on iTunes. Buyer’s remorse? You’ll have to listen to the episode to see just how deep that rabbit hole goes. There’s nostalgia, kitsch, and, well, this movie. It makes you wonder if they had stuck with the title The Hot One, or its working title Stingray (which was registered for another cruddy film that also had a Corvette). “Luke, join me or you’ll star in CORVETTE SUMMER.” – Mike Nelson, MST3K, episode 513   IT’S AN INTERACTIVE EPISODE – HOW THIS ALL WORKS You can join the Gearheads, and watch along with us! Simply grab a copy of the movie (you can rent or purchase it here on Amazon, or purchase it on iTunes, too), cue that bad boy up as described in the podcast (get to the :10 mark, and let ‘er rip when we do!), and enjoy. We’d suggest having a beverage handy, and leaving your expectations outdoors. If you haven’t seen this one in a while, you may have some preconceived notions about what it’s like. So did we. THE GEARHEADS REFLECT ON THE FILM THROUGH A HAZE OF METALFLAKE Rather than even try to break the show down to just some bullet-pointed notes, we thought it best to just jot them down here. Except for Alex. He went all bullet happy. Either way, you’re welcome. BRIAN SAYS: Between the release of Star Wars Episode Four, A New Hope, and Episode Five, The Empire Strikes back, actor Mark Hamill was involved in a car accident. This film is that accident. I honestly don’t recall it being this bad. I mean, the only thing that saves it is Annie Potts. The rest is terribly written at best, poorly acted when at its worst, and just plain poorly filmed the rest of the time. Inflicted with major gaps in the storytelling, this thing is like some foreshadowing to latest Star Wars movie on more than just a few levels. The title of Beck’s song “Corvette Bummer” kind of sums it up neatly. It’s the discount store version of a car movie; heck it even has a Great Value edition Willem Dafoe played by Kim Milford. The good stuff: As poorly written as this film is, there is a lot to be said for establishing exposition by way of a few simple scenes with the car. However, it all gets blown apart over and over again by some very blatant Achillean themes. I mean seriously, between the bizarre teacher/student relationship and so forth, it’s uncomfortable to watch. And I attended Catholic school. Case in point, the shop teacher, played by Eugene Roch is just effing bizarre. ALL THINGS ARE DELICATELY INTERCONNECTED. EVEN HERE. Weirder still, Roche played “Captain Tim Greenwood” in Steven J. Cannell’s TV series Stingray (episode 11, season 2)! Continuing his connection with weird-looking red cars, he was also in Hardcastle and McCormick. Let’s go even weirder, why not? He was in an episode of Taxi named “The Road Not Taken,” an episode of Night Court entitled “Hit the Road, Jack,” two episodes of Webster (“Rearview Mirror, Parts 1 & 2”), four episodes of Perfect Strangers (but only two could be tied in, car-wise with “The Break-In” and “The Horn Blows at Midnight”), and weirdest of all, considering the character relationship in this monstrosity, a Priest in the TV movie A Friend to Die For in 1994 AND another in 2003’s The Di...

EPISODE FIFTEEN. BOB FLORINE OF ARP TALKS FASTENER ENGINEERING AND SALES MASTERY. The Gearheads host the very gracious and incredibly fun Bob Florine of ARP. We talk careers, the value of learning a business from the ground-up, working as a traveling salesman and engineering. To say that there is a TON of value in this episode would be an understatement. If you’ve ever wanted to learn the in’s and out’s of fastener engineering and how to work your way to the top, then this is your episode. Suffice to say, Bob is the guy you want riding shotgun the next time you run to the hardware store to match up those bolts for your Kruupenschornen IKEA chair. If you ignore the incredible free class on fastener engineering, the amazing advice on moving through the ranks of company and even the great example of how to treat others, please take this away from the episode: Bob is a guy who is excited about, and clearly loves his job. The same one he has held for over forty years. Consider that for a moment. This episode hands you the secret to a happy life and career. Boom. The guys dive deep into the why’s and how’s of bolts, and then get carried away talking about Bob’s project cars, and a little Round Six connection to one via our own Brad.   THINGS COVERED IN THIS EPISODE: * The value of starting out on the ground floor * How a quality product and diverse line can put a company far ahead in all aspects * A brief history of incredible sustained growth * Competition in the marketplace * Quality and engineering * From go-karts to space – Everything from food lines to oil rigs to aerospace – Much of ARP’s work comes from racers having day jobs and suggesting the product to their employers * Dealing with counterfeit parts in the marketplace * The incredible advances in race technology * Brian launches “Team Pushbroom,” the only F1 race team that exclusively uses counterfeit parts * Smokey Yunick * John Paul Stapp and the rocket sled * The wealth of engineering information available in just the first twenty pages of the ARP catalog * Threads are the weakest link in a fastener * Torque wrench versus stretch gauge – Torque is variable, stretch is empirical – Yield – Elastic versus plastic * How fasteners are essentially springs * Designing fasteners for turbocharged applications * Exploring the re-use of “torque-to-yield” fasteners * Explaining thread diameter – Rolling/extruding thread * Hot-heading versus cold-heading * Marketing – Sponsorship versus paid placement – The value of personal relationships over sales dollars * Moving to California on his own at seventeen * Starting in sales * Bob’s first hot rod, a cafe racer-style Honda * A ’68 Satellite with a 383 * The $1500 4-speed ’69 Road Runner * The Red ’70 Camaro * The ’57 Ranch wagon * Pete Chapouris and Brad’s tribute on the tailgate * The forthcoming ’67 C-10 project * On patina – Alex invents “Simu-Rust” Listen to/watch this episode on YouTube! Be sure like, comment and subscribe to our channel, please!  

EPISODE FOURTEEN. ROB IDA, TUCKERS, HOT RODS AND RACING ON THE BEACH. The Gearheads host the incredibly skilled and prolific Rob Ida for an evening of incredible coincidences, hot rods, legendary friends and more. If you had to illustrate humility and grace, you’d be well served in using Robs image as a reference. Rob shares his hot rodding history, his perspective on cars competing for awards, and being fortunate to have been able to work on cars that inspire an emotional connection, versus simply being a means to an end in and of themselves. Being a small shop, it’s simply about the car, which is why you won’t visit the shop and see a ton of decoration. Ida’s shop is, as he describes it, “decorated with work.” And that is a fine description of his incredible career, as well. We think you’re going to enjoy the heck out of this episode, and cannot wait to have Rob back again soon. You can learn even more about Rob and his team on their website: www.robidaconcepts.com   THINGS COVERED IN THIS EPISODE: * The stakes are high with a new game show * The Race of Gentlemen – eBay helmets * Gene Winfield – Finishing projects of Gene’s from the 1960’s – Metalshaping classes – Laying down on of his world-famous fade paint jobs – The incredible work ethic of a 90 year old icon * Building cars as art, not a competitive device * Having the opportunity to purchase Gene’s old ’32 * “Decorated with work;” discussing the lack of flashy decor in the shop – Emotional attachment to a project versus over-processing a build – The recurrence of trends – A love of engineering and design and balancing the two * Rob’s love for Willys, Tucker and Porsches * A family history of fast cars – His Dad’s supercharged, 10-second 427-powered street ’32 – From horses to the Hemi Healey * Building the Tucker Torpedo – Solving the problem of the center-mount driver seat – Using Arduino and SolidWorks * Pebble Beach concours-level Tucker #44 restoration – Removing 200-lbs of factory lead * Using the cars to go beyond, in terms of charity and inspiration * Rescuing the original Tucker blueprints – Saved from a landfill because of the ink! – Discovering original correspondence from Rob’s grandfather and Tucker * The challenge of working on/restoring Tucker automobiles * The 589ci Tucker flat six – Simplicity means less parts to break * The incredible engineering of Tucker * The value of having great people in your life, and taking the time to recognize and appreciate them Listen to/watch this episode on YouTube! Be sure like, comment and subscribe to our channel, please!  

EPISODE THIRTEEN. LIFE COACHING AND ART. AND COFFEE. AND PINSTRIPE CHRIS. The Gearheads host Chris Dunlop, aka “Pinstripe Chris” for a fun evening of talking art, life coaching and taking risks to get where you need to be. He has an unmistakable and unique style, his work is easily recognizable, and rather than talk about that, we talk about Stanley Kubrick and a Pontiac Fiero. And Spencer Gifts. An episode that any young artist will not want to miss, as Chris offers some priceless insight and life experience. He’s truly a man wise beyond his years, and truly on a road to forging a legendary career. THINGS COVERED IN THIS EPISODE: * “The punk rocker that wants to buy fake dog poo” * “I knew your mom!” – Motley Crue concerts and Brian’s mom * The profitability of life coaching * The difference between “want to” and “have to” * On moving from Maryland to California with $1200 * Making the transition from restoring exotics and classics to being an artist – The willingness to start from ground zero to realize one’s potential * Creating art – “Show something familiar in a unique way” – Channeling  the inner “skater” mentality * The California car culture * SEMA build stress and career trials * The difference between monetary gain and opportunity – Exposure versus profit – Weighing numbers versus value * The advantage of being efficient in creating work * How hands-on automotive work translates to better art * The fundamentals and their importance moving forward * Return of the Pirate and Turtle * Keeping fresh by being diverse * Developing a unique look – Limiting “borrowed influences” – Dissecting art – The “Bob Ross” effect of “happy accidents” – “Artistic Neurosurgery” * Art and Coffee – The different wiring of artists and their response to caffeine * The difficulty of wasting materials – The cost of pixels * The advantage of working both digital AND analog – Knowing when to apply which approach – Looking for an reveling in the “human flaws” that put a fingerprint on their work * Chris’ Bic pen art * The value of always pushing for perfection * The Sharpie car thing – Chemistry – Clear coating tricks and tips – Paint markers earn their place – The Fiat Olympic car and Jay Leno’s Garage * Chris’ secret car crush Listen to/watch this episode on YouTube! Be sure like, comment and subscribe to our channel, please!   WHERE TO FIND CHRIS AND HIS WORK: Website: www.pinstripechris.com Instagram: @pinstripe_chris Facebook: www.facebook.com/PinstripeChris  

TALKING HOT BOATS, PAINT AND INNER TUBE SPEED RECORDS The Round Six Gearheads sat down with world-famous custom painter Billy B for an evening of good-natured, wet fun. This was a fast-paced, fun look at the world of high-powered, super-trick custom boats, racing and laughs. That and creating a water sport so extreme that even the Australians may not go for it.   THINGS COVERED IN THIS EPISODE: * When Billy met Brad * Brian’s filthy mouth * A terribly inappropriate intro – A flurry of brutal pop culture references * Making the move from Graphic Design to Custom Paint – The mysterious connection of Dentistry and art * Rediscovering Billy’s first custom paint job * World-record water skiing – BAREFOOT, no less! – “Dead arm” – Worst secret handshake ever * The Australian Dam-to-Dam race (Google this. Holy moly.) * Long Beach to Catalina race * Humble beginnings * Brad’s leaky truck – and his Captain Hazelwood shirt * The sound of Crocs at 130MPH on water * The Red Bull Extreme Inner Tube Challenge – The many realms of Formula D – The dirtiest acronym ever * A thing we can’t mention because someone made us edit it out * Genesis of Billy B’s Hot Boat Show – In memory of Officer Marvin Carter – Giving back to the community * The hopeful return of river racing * How things have changed over the years – Re-branding ideas * The Pirate Cove show – Local interference * The Liquid Fly-By * Eric plays Chamber of Commerce rep * The boat storage business * Personal projects – Being a Ford guy with a Chevy powerplant * The joy of working without a timeline * Brad takes a few more lumps * Clients gone wild * The many nicknames of Brad SOME COOL VISUALS FOR YOU A peek at some of the fun stuff we discussed on the podcast: …and yeeeeaaahhh. About that whole inner tube thing:

REDEFINING THE STREET MACHINE OF THE YEAR (SMOTY) AWARD The Round Six Gearheads sat down with and got back to their roots with an unscripted, candid discussion on the state of the Street Machine of the Year (SMOTY) award. More than just a simple opinion fest, the guys share insight on the state of the art, the need for a renaissance, and the stale nature of trends. The conversation goes deep for a bit, and explores the what and why of how a car can command your attention, and then levels out neatly with an idea for a tortilla machine to be standard in all continental breakfast lines. That and carbon fiber ball joints, of course. But not in the breakfast line. Mankind should know his limits, after all.   THINGS COVERED IN THIS EPISODE: * The current state of build trends * How everything went Pro-Touring * The “required mods” list, or so it seems * The politics of dancing into the Top Five * Carbon fiber ball joints * Old trends we miss… and a few we don’t * Waxing nostalgic with tongue firmly in cheek * Offering constructive criticism to bring excitement to the SMOTY award * Burning out on a build style * “Jumping the shark” on a build style * The act of throwing money at a car versus having a plan * When a build becomes satire * Other trends that are suffering from “same-as” burnout * The pricing-out of the common man * The importance of pie-in-the-sky builds as inspiration * When a car is “too nice” to drive * Terribly inappropriate SEMA Show call-backs * The hot rod illuninati/”aluminati” * The birth of a secret society * When a certain build just “does it” for you * That point where a high-end build breeds contempt * The differences in creativity: Designing from scratch VS junkyard trawling * Engineering a home-built solution to a high-end design challenge * Bringing tweed back * Alex and Brian go all Star Wars. Again. * Birth of the “Ratborghini.” * Why Peter Jackson won’t be directing the Round Six Biopic

THE STAINLESS STEEL CONSTRUCTION MAKES THE FLUX DISPERSAL… The Round Six Gearheads sat down with documentarian Adam Kontras, and talked DeLorean DMC-12’s, time machines, Back to the Future movie cars, LS engine swaps, automotive drama, Shakesperian betrayal… and Eric’s eating habits, naturally. All of this as Adam’s documentary, Fastest DeLorean in the World hits Amazon Video, sharing fortuitous timing with another story about a kid from Columbus Ohio who happens to race a DeLorean. Ready Player One ironically has more screen time of Doc brown’s stylish time machine than does the original Back to the Future. Talk about all things being delicately interconnected. SPOILER ALERT: Watch the documentary first if you don’t want to spoil anything. It’s a big spoiler. Wish to have the DeLorean time machine appear at your Birthday, wedding, bris, whatever? Hit up Adam’s site here. THINGS COVERED IN THIS EPISODE: * How a non-car guy becomes a car guy by way of necessity * The incredible sense of community in the car world * Hindsight being 20/20 * The variables involved in building an engine vs purchasing a salvage motor or crate engine * Brian ponders mounting turbos in the rear exhaust vents * The benchmark of 12.6’s in the 1/4 mile * The hard part of having to rely on the car to earn a living while risking breakage * Troubleshooting a power dip * Sorting gremlins * Faked dyno pulls * The effect of the new movie Ready Player One on the car’s popularity * The incredible tie-in with Don Fullilove, aka Mayor Goldie Wilson * Did you happen to know that Suzy is a publicist? * Double-feature of Back to the Future and Fastest DeLorean with a Q&A with Adam and The Mayor of Hill Valley * The polarizing nature of the f-bomb * Creating a f***less version of the documentary * The neat coincidence of the shipping of the DeLorean * Questioning the manufactured drama of automotive reality television * “Ha-ha” vs “horrifying” funny * Enjoying a tasty timeslip sandwich with the kids * Overlooking the small things when rushing a project * The true cost of budget knock-off parts * Brian’s endearing soft-ball joke delivery gets a name * Where and how to watch the film, and how to help support it

HE’S NOT A “CUSTOM” PAINTER. THERE IS A DIFFERENCE. The Round Six Gearheads sat down with painter Mick Jenkins for an hour of paint talk. In Episode Six, we discuss the latest tools and techniques, the time and effort required to paint cars at the AMBR and Ridler level, and even wax a bit nostalgic. We laughed, we learned, and we asked a ton of questions that Mick was kind enough to answer. Even after Brian called him Mick Jagger. And Mickey Dolenz. THINGS COVERED IN THIS EPISODE: * The difference between a painter and a custom painter * The Pure Vision ’57 Ford wagon’s SEMA debut * Mick hints at a Ridler project in the shop * Brian coins a phrase * Rare and notable cars * Mick’s favorite project: The Anvil Mustang from Fast and Furious * The guys do their homework * The time required to turn out an AMBR-winning finish * The fine line between passion and a job * The difference between hot rodding in England VS the United States * Working from a great career to going back to starting at rung one * Starting out in the US with Dan Fink, Chip Foose, So-Cal and more * Mick’s personal roadster project * Working to a level and not wishing to back down from it * Staffing a high-end shop with the right personnel * The importance of being one’s worst critic, but in moderation * The continual evolution of paint quality * Advancements in paint materials and chemistry

THE DONNA REED OF AUTOCROSS The Round Six Gearheads sat down with autocross enthusiast and 2017 SEMA Show sensation Suzy Bauter. Suzy goes beyond promoting, and articulates the empowering feeling that Autocross can bring to women, and offers an invitation to all who may be interested in getting involved. Truly a fun time, and a great look into the exciting sport of Autocross. It’s a good think to drive like a girl. We learned a lot, had a bunch of laughs and said a bunch of stuff we all pinky swore to never mention again. THINGS COVERED IN THIS EPISODE: * Brian’s encyclopedic knowledge of females in racing history * German podcast awards * Eric’s voracious appetite for tacos * How wearing an official-looking shirt can make women talk to you * How we all met * The Rambler wagon * How masking tape can ruin your timeline * Suzy’s SEMA Ignited parade experience * The craziness of a SEMA build with regard to sleep * Competing in Goodguys autocross – The great fans – The awesome support – The coming up-to-1987 vehicle year inclusion * Rookie mistakes and learning from them – It’s not always the parts, sometimes it’s user error – The dangers of liquid Mercury-filled shocks * Suzy on being the lone girl in her High School Shop Class – Being kicked out of Home Economics – “It’s a broad issue.” Thanks, Alex. – Sewing VS latch-hooking metal * The history of the Rambler project – From trailer park to SEMA – Eight-tracks to glory – Performance testing an eight-track tape under high-G loads * Hammer pants, LA Gear high-tops and matching scrunchies * Brian’s equipment failure breeds a great back massager joke * Suzy turns the tables, and asks the Gearheads a question * Brian messes up; it was the 1960 Buick Electra w/the reflecting speedometer * Alex’s super-low production sequence number ’71 Camaro RS * The growing trend of third-gen F-bodies * Waxing nostalgic over first cars * Learning to drive Autocross * A discussion of island-y people * The Round Six Gearheads have a sleepover * Brian sings!

BENCHRACING WITH THE BOYS The Round Six Gearheads sat down with the Veazie brothers, Evin and Justin of So-Cal Speed Shop fame for an evening of benchracing and story-telling. From humble roots sweeping the floors of the famed hot rod shop to putting together the 2012 AMBR-winning Indy Speedster… and perhaps mention of a fenderless ’79 Monte Carlo with a severely-raked ’33 Ford grille shell, this episode has it all. And then some. Things covered in this episode: * That audio podcasts are just sound * Rediscovering the joy of old-school benchracing * Brian asks a very “Facebook” question * How the guys started at So-Cal Speed Shop * The importance of truly caring about every aspect of the business * The joy of brotherly abuse in the workplace * Defining the line between “traditional” and “rat rod” * The darker side of hot rod-based TV – When non-car people create car-based entertainment – Fake drama meets scheduling nightmare * Traditional Lowriders and Kustoms * Eric’s stash of Truxarossa body kits * Frenching Cadillac tail lamps into truck beds for fun and profit * Being mentored by Pete Chapouris * Building the world’s largest mini truck * Round Six’s Brad and his contribution to the truck being debuted in Pomona this week * The immortal Beugler striping tool * What cars the boys have in their stables * Putting together an America’s Most Beautiful Roadster-winning car * Grille shell rake, and an observation that it’s much bigger in a certain state * Why AM/PM probably won’t be sponsoring any of us

EPISODE THREE: CHAD REYNOLDS FROM BANGSHIFT.COM INTERVIEW In this interview, the Round Six gearheads sit and talk story with the one and only Chad Reynolds from Bangshift.com . We discuss everything from project cars to a forgotten and later-liberated fridge. Heck, we even hear about testifying in Federal court. Yep, you read that correctly. Things covered in this episode: * Chad’s introduction to hot rodding * His career in corporate America via a Chinese-owned company –Chad testifies before a grand jury * Accidentally building the ’56 Chevy wagon in 59 days * Hardcore road tripping * The genesis of livestreaming at events (the California Hot Rod Reunion) * Why ProStock is near and dear to Chad * Getting kicked out of tech for not having a rollbar * Questionable Questions of the Day * Working with sponsors –The biggest piece of advice you can get regarding sponsorships * Why print is not dead…yet * The importance of working your ass off at what you love * Pitching “One Guy, One Taco Shell” * Liberating a kustom fridge

TOM FRITZ MASTERCLASS PART TWO We set out for an interview, and got a masterclass instead. The Round Six gearheads were fortunate to spend nearly five hours hanging out with legendary automotive artist Tom Fritz. We learned and laughed more than we have in years. We had set out to sit and talk art and life, but managed to take this into masterclass territory. In part two, Tom builds upon the foundation, and offers sage advice, time-saving tips and a bunch of laughs. Things covered in episode two of this series: * Continuing Tom’s recollection of early visual inspiration * Use of dramatic lighting * Drawing on personal experiences to create work – The universal draw of humans to machines – Telling a story in the work * Selecting a historical era or subject for your work –What sells? –Avoiding being too specific –Learning to tailor the work to your market –Balancing a personal taste for the subject VS what will sell * When drag racing was raw * Reference materials –Research –Avoiding Copyright issues –The value of creating your own reference materials –Knowing the historically-accurate details * Commissioned work –Selecting which jobs to take, and which to turn away * Tom’s US postage stamp project –The process of landing the job –Working with a team of Art Directors –Not being able to sign the original paintings… and why –The original paintings are now in the Smithsonian National Postal Museum * Painting medium –Surface substrate selection, the Tom Fritz way –Feel of the brush on the surface * Chemistry –A discussion on painting medium –The value of using your intuition and experience to select the right mixtures * Supplies –The changes in standards of pencils, paints and more –The value in being adaptable to new technology –Sourcing older supplies * A business pitch that may or may not involve a deceased artist’s hair * Tom’s favorite color, of course