TMCP #645: John Kairys on AACF – Saving the Automotive Aftermarket When Life Hits Hard
In this episode of The MuscleCar Place, Robert Kibbe sits down with John Kairys, Executive Director of the Automotive Aftermarket Charitable Foundation (AACF), to uncover one of the most impactful yet under-the-radar organizations in the industry. Since 1959, AACF has quietly provided financial assistance to individuals and families within the automotive aftermarket facing life’s toughest challenges—from illness and injury to natural disasters and unexpected hardship. With a fast and efficient process, they’re able to step in quickly and help people get back on their feet when it matters most.
What makes AACF truly special is its focus on community—helping the very people who keep the aftermarket moving every day. From technicians and warehouse workers to managers and corporate employees, AACF serves as a vital support system across the entire industry. This conversation highlights not only the organization’s mission, but also the real stories behind it, reminding us that at the heart of every build, every business, and every part is a person—and sometimes, that person needs help.
TMCP #644: Dr. Jamie Meyer on HPX’s Big Return – AI, Street Car Takeover, and the Future of Performance!
Dr. Jamie Meyer returns to preview year two of the High Performance Expo (HPX), coming June 2–4 to the Charlotte Convention Center—and this isn’t just another trade show. Built to unite the racing, aftermarket, OEM, dealer, off-road, and overlanding worlds, HPX is quickly becoming the East Coast hub the industry has been missing. After a surprisingly strong debut, year two expands with bigger leadership sessions from Hendrick Motorsports, a major focus on real-world AI applications (including insight from Amazon’s AI leadership), and new features like the invitation-only Shop Car Challenge and Car Show Collective. If you’re in the business—or want to be—this is where connections, ideas, and opportunities collide.
But HPX is more than just a show floor. It’s part of a full “Automotive Performance Week” in Charlotte, with Street Car Takeover joining the action and bringing live racing, culture, and energy to the experience. Whether you’re a shop owner, builder, racer, or serious enthusiast, HPX offers rare access to the people, parts, and conversations shaping the future of the industry. Be sure to also check out Dr. Meyer’s podcast, Automotive Advantage, for deeper insight into the business and innovation driving it all. Learn more and register at TheHPX.com—and don’t miss your chance to be part of it.
TMCP #643: Ask Rick – Winning at Concours, Trophy Truths & Revology Reimagined
Rick Schmidt from National Parts Depot returns for the April edition of Ask Rick, fresh off an incredible run of back-to-back concours events—taking wins at both Moda Miami and Amelia Island. In this episode, Rick and Rob break down what really goes into competing at that level, from how cars are selected and judged to the behind-the-scenes dynamics most enthusiasts never see. Along the way, they talk Easter traditions, the evolution of car shows, and what a trophy actually means when it comes to value and credibility.
The conversation also dives into Rick’s unexpected take after touring Revology, a company re-engineering classic Mustangs with modern performance and refinement. To wrap it up, Rob and Rick throw down a challenge: if you had to buy a car today to win a trophy and break even when you sell it, what would you choose? With contenders ranging from local show sleepers to high-end icons, the answers might surprise you—but you’ll have to listen to find out which ones come out on top.
TMCP #642: Mike Finnegan Returns – Life After Roadkill & the YouTube Era
Mike Finnegan returns to The MuscleCar Place for a special edition episode, and as always, he brings the stories, honesty, and perspective that only he can deliver. From his early days on Roadkill to becoming a full-time YouTube creator with Finnegan’s Garage, Mike shares what life looks like after the 2024 shutdown of Motor Trend productions. What once felt uncertain turned into the perfect transition—giving him more time with family while opening the door to collaborate freely with friends and fellow creators in what he calls the “Wild Wild West” of YouTube.
We also dig into the fate of fan-favorite Roadkill cars, the reality behind automotive media today, and what’s next in Mike’s world—from wild shop builds to recovering from a recent dirt bike injury. Along the way, Mike shares his thoughts on Cletus McFarland’s impact on NASCAR, the future of shows like The Grand Tour, and why real chemistry—not scripted production—is what truly makes automotive content work.
TMCP #641: Scott Bowers – Ron Francis Wiring – Wiring a Hot Rod the Right Way
Scott Bowers from Ron Francis Wiring returns to The MuscleCar Place to talk about the art—and reality—of wiring hot rods the right way. With decades of experience helping builders bring everything from garage projects to award-winning show cars to life, Scott shares why thoughtful wiring design makes all the difference. Instead of generic “universal” kits, Ron Francis Wiring focuses on engineered systems built around real-world setups, ensuring builders get harnesses that make sense and actually work the way they should.
Along the way, Scott shares behind-the-scenes stories from the SEMA Show, dives into the surprising rise of the Ford Crown Victoria as a hot-rodding platform, and busts one of the most common electrical myths in the hobby—why installing a high-amp alternator won’t “overcharge” your system. It’s a fun and practical conversation filled with real-world tech knowledge that every builder—from first-time project owners to seasoned fabricators—can appreciate.
TMCP #640: Ask Rick — Green Cars, Tariffs on Taiwan, Chinese EV Rumors, and the Best Trucks to Buy Now
This month on Ask Rick, Rick Schmidt from National Parts Depot joins us for a St. Patrick’s Day edition covering everything from green cars and Guinness to real-world business questions. We discuss whether presidential addresses truly move the needle for business decisions, what the current tariff situation looks like on Taiwanese restoration sheetmetal, and how NPD is handling pricing in real time. We also dive into the growing conversation around Chinese electric vehicles entering the U.S. market — and whether joint ventures with American automakers make that inevitable.
Plus, Rick tackles a thoughtful listener question about selling a company to employees with no family successor, and we close with a truck-heavy investment showdown: custom builds under $75K and which ones make the smartest five-year bet. Insightful, practical, and always honest — it’s classic Ask Rick from start to finish.
TMCP #639: Jason Noel – Fat Fender Garage, The 20-Year Overnight Success
Jason Noel, founder of Fat Fender Garage in Gilbert, Arizona, joins us this week with a story that’s less about horsepower at the beginning — and more about perseverance. Jason didn’t grow up chasing race cars. He was a finish carpenter by trade, building doors and crown molding before the 2008 housing collapse wiped out his business and forced a complete reset. What came next wasn’t a hobby gone wild — it was a deliberate rebuild. One old truck led to another, then to customer builds, then to something much bigger than he ever planned.
Today, Fat Fender Garage is a full-scale restoration shop specializing in classic Ford and Chevy trucks, known especially for early Ford F-100s and modern Coyote swaps. Along the way, Jason learned that if he wanted the quality and timelines his customers expected, he’d have to take control of the process. That meant bringing paint, upholstery, parts manufacturing, and now even chassis production in-house. What started as flipping a few trucks for fun has grown into a 75-person operation building high-end custom vehicles and engineered components designed to compete at the top of the industry.
In this episode, Jason shares the hard lessons from early customer builds, the philosophy behind vertical integration, why he chose to compete directly with established chassis manufacturers, and how telling the real story — wins and failures alike — became the backbone of Fat Fender’s marketing success. If you’re into classic trucks, modern restomods, or the realities of scaling a business in the automotive aftermarket, this is a conversation you won’t want to miss.
TMCP #638: Ask Rick! Mecum Kissimmee Shockers — Is the Muscle Car Market Hot or Cooling?
It’s the month of love and football, and Rick Schmidt is back with another edition of Ask Rick to break down what’s happening right now in the automotive world. Rick weighs in on recent comments from Ford CEO Jim Farley about the future of sedans, noting that American automakers have largely abandoned the affordable sedan market—leaving foreign manufacturers, especially Korean brands, to quietly dominate the segment. With early signs pointing toward low-cost electric sedans on the horizon, Rick believes Detroit may yet have an opportunity to re-enter a market it once owned.
Rick also reviews the eye-opening results from January’s major car auctions, calling it a market that “blew the doors off.” Unexpected vehicles crossed the $100K mark, classic ’50s cars held strong, and certain sporty models like the Thunderbird remain undervalued despite high-dollar restorations. The episode wraps with a real-world Mecum challenge: three cars bought under $60K—can one be enjoyed for a year, untouched, and sold at Mecum January 2027 for a win? Rick breaks down the strategy and the risks behind the picks.
TMCP #637: Tom Maxwell of Velocity Restorations // Classic Cars and Trucks Made on Modern Day “Small-Mass Production Line”
Velocity Restorations serves a unique space in the restoration world — for enthusiasts who want a classic vehicle that captures the memories of their past without spending years in a garage or navigating endless custom decisions. Rather than operating as a boutique, one-off shop, Velocity takes an a la carte, production-driven approach. Customers choose from a curated range of options that fit within a carefully planned build system, allowing Velocity to deliver consistently high-quality restorations at scale. Their process is engineered for repeatability, efficiency, and continuous improvement, resulting in vehicles that are designed to be driven, not just displayed.
Unlike companies producing brand-new replicas, Velocity Restorations starts with authentic, original vehicles, restoring them through a refined production line that preserves history while delivering modern reliability. With a growing inventory of sourced vehicles and demand that continues to rise, Velocity offers everything from classic and Fox-body Mustangs to Broncos, Ford trucks, Chevy Blazers, C10s, K10s, and Scouts. The result is a restoration experience that delivers peace of mind, a rare industry warranty, and a vehicle ready for road trips, memories, and real-world use. You can see Velocity’s impressive builds at YouTube.com/@VelocityRestorations and explore build options at VelocityRestorations.com.
TMCP #636: Director Pete Segal & Anghel Restorations – Bringing The Screen Used Tommy Boy Car Back To Life!
Some movies don’t just entertain us — they become part of who we are. Tommy Boy is one of those rare films, blending heart, humor, brotherhood, and horsepower into a story that has resonated with car people for nearly three decades. On this week’s episode of The MuscleCar Place, Rob Kibbe has the rare privilege of interviewing Tommy Boy director Peter Segal and master restorer Marc Anghel to tell the unbelievable story of the movie’s most famous co-star: the 1967 Plymouth Belvedere GTX. Peter understood car culture from the start and intentionally made the GTX a true character in the film — one that suffered every mishap right alongside Tommy and Richard, earning its place in automotive and movie history.
After spending more than 25 years forgotten at a picture car warehouse, the legendary GTX was reunited with Peter at a Barrett-Jackson auction and brought back to life through a concours-level restoration by Marc Anghel. The result is a real-world Tommy Boy car, complete with Callahan Auto decals and subtle nods to its cinematic legacy — and a perfect-score winner at MCACN, the “Pebble Beach of muscle cars.” This episode is a celebration of creativity, craftsmanship, and the way one movie — and one car — can leave a permanent mark on all of us.