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Ask Rick:
Memorial Day Reflections,
Dallas Kibbe Racing, and Smart Summer Car Picks
As May rolls in, so does one of the most meaningful weekends of the year. Memorial Day is often seen as the unofficial start of summer—parades, car shows, and time with family—but at its core, it’s a day of remembrance. It’s a time to honor those who gave everything in service to this country.
On this episode of The MuscleCar Place, that perspective isn’t lost. Rob and Rick take a moment to reflect on what the holiday represents, from small-town parades to quiet, personal traditions like visiting cemeteries and remembering veterans who might otherwise be forgotten.
From there, the conversation naturally shifts into what car people do best—cars, stories, and strategy—starting with a look at the next generation of racers.
Dallas Kibbe Racing:
Progress, Pressure, and Momentum
The Dallas Kibbe Racing program continues to move forward, and while the results may not yet show a breakout win, the trajectory is clear—this is a driver getting closer every time he straps in.
Coming off the INEX Spring Nationals, Dallas consistently showed top-five speed across multiple races. The challenge wasn’t pace—it was finishing. Out of seven races, only three were completed cleanly, but even with that, he nearly cracked the top ten in overall points. That speaks volumes about both the level of competition and the raw capability he’s bringing to the track.
What’s evolving now is how he learns. The traditional coaching methods that worked early on are giving way to a more visual, experience-based approach—less “tell me,” more “show me.” It’s a natural progression for a developing driver, and it’s starting to click in real time.
At the same time, the program reached an important milestone off the track. The Dallas Kibbe Racing update now has a presenting sponsor, with Turbo Tires stepping in behind the effort. Through brands like Lexani Tires, Lionhart Tires, and Rolling Big Power—all available via SimpleTire—the partnership adds meaningful support to a program that’s clearly gaining traction.
This isn’t just branding—it’s validation. Sponsors don’t step in at this level unless they see momentum, and that belief matters as much as results.
Looking ahead, May becomes a balancing act. With school wrapping up and limited race opportunities, the focus shifts to staying sharp and keeping seat time consistent. The real test begins in June and July, where a packed schedule—including a late model debut and the Charlotte summer stretch—will demand everything.
The takeaway is simple: he’s close. Not just participating—competing. And when the breakthrough comes, it’s going to mean something.
The Ask Rick Conversation:
Market Reality, Muscle Car Futures, and Straight Talk
When Rick Schmidt joins the show each month, the goal isn’t just to answer questions—it’s to cut through noise and get to what’s actually real. This episode starts grounded in the timing of the season, with Memorial Day setting the tone. While many see it as the kickoff to summer—parades, gatherings, and time with family—both Rob and Rick acknowledge the deeper meaning behind it. Rick leans toward a quieter, more introspective view of the holiday, while Rob reflects on more hands-on traditions like visiting cemeteries and honoring veterans in small but meaningful ways. It’s a reminder that even within car culture, there’s a connection to something bigger.
From there, the conversation shifts into one of those topics that sounds great in theory but gets complicated in reality—giving a car as a gift. On the surface, it feels like the ultimate gesture, something memorable and meaningful. And sometimes it is. Rick shares a story about gifting a brand-new Mustang GT to a longtime employee, and in that case, it landed exactly as intended—a reward that was appreciated and enjoyed. But not every story ends that cleanly. A vintage Buick gifted to his grandfather came with challenges—storage issues, maintenance headaches, and the kind of realities that can quietly turn a thoughtful gift into a burden. The takeaway isn’t that it’s a bad idea—it’s that a car carries responsibility along with emotion, and both need to be considered.
That same practical lens carries into one of the more interesting discussions of the episode: whether the continuation-style model, like what Revology has done with Mustangs, can work beyond that platform. Rick believes it can—but only under the right conditions. It’s not just about building something cool; it’s about building something that enough people will buy to justify the engineering behind it. That’s why his thinking immediately goes to cars like first- and second-generation Camaros, or even classic Chevy trucks—vehicles with broad appeal and strong, sustained demand. Other segments, like Mopars, bring passion but not the same volume, while Corvettes already live in an overcrowded space of high-end builds. The opportunity exists, but it’s narrower than people might think.
That idea of balancing passion with reality continues as the conversation turns to the latest Camaro comeback rumors. On paper, it’s exciting—another return of an iconic nameplate—but Rick approaches it with caution. The emotional demand is always there, but the business case is what ultimately decides whether a car lives or dies. In today’s world, that likely means a global platform, similar to what Ford has done with the Mustang, spreading development costs across international markets. Without that, history has a way of repeating itself, no matter how much people want the car to succeed.
By the time the conversation lands on the current state of the restoration market, Rick simplifies what a lot of reports tend to overcomplicate. After the surge during the COVID years, when people had both the time and motivation to tackle long-delayed projects, the market has settled. Not declining, not booming—just steady. Flat, in his words. And with that comes a reality check that applies far beyond cars: you can’t spend your way out of a flat market. No amount of marketing or push can override broader economic conditions. The smarter move is to stay efficient, adapt where needed, and ride it out.
Taken together, the entire conversation reinforces what makes the Ask Rick segment work. It’s not just opinions—it’s experience. And whether the topic is cars, business, or the space in between, the perspective stays consistent: be realistic, think long-term, and don’t confuse excitement with sustainability.
Memorial Day Car Picks: Parade Season Strategy
With summer kicking off, the guys shift into a fun—but strategic—challenge:
Buy a car under $50K, enjoy it all summer in parades, and sell it without losing money.
The Contenders
1964 Ford Thunderbird Convertible
A stylish cruiser with classic presence, but questionable underneath. Looks can hide problems—and for parade duty, reliability matters.
1969 Chevrolet Camaro (Yellow, Restomod)
Bright, loud, and impossible to ignore. But at nearly $50K, there’s little room for error—and bold styling doesn’t always translate to resale strength.
1969 Dodge Coronet Convertible
The sleeper pick. Clean, usable, and desirable without being flashy. Rick’s choice for the safest play—enjoy it all summer and get your money back.
Round Two: Bigger Stakes, Real Profit Potential
For the second round, the rules change—and so does the mindset. The $50K cap is gone, and now the goal isn’t just to enjoy the car… it’s to make real money. Not percentage return—actual dollars in your pocket. That shifts everything from emotional buying to calculated decisions.
1992 Chevrolet Corvette:
An undervalued performance icon with room to grow, making it a smart, low-risk play if the market continues to catch up.
https://bringatrailer.com/
2000 Ford Mustang Saleen:
A niche collector car with upside potential, but one that depends heavily on finding the right buyer at the right time.
https://bringatrailer.com/
1971 Chevrolet Chevelle:
Listen and Get Involved
Got a question for Rick? Whether it’s about restoration, market trends, or your next project car, submit it and you might hear it featured in a future episode of Ask Rick. The MuscleCar Place is built on enthusiasts like you—so jump in, get involved, and keep the conversation rolling.
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This interview sponsored by our pals at National Parts Depot –
your premier source for muscle car restoration parts!
