TMCP #625: Dan Kahn – A Crashers Guide to SEMA 2025! What To Know If This Is Your First Time At The Big Show!
This week on The MuscleCar Place, Rob Kibbe welcomes Dan Kahn, president and CEO of Kahn Media, for an insider’s masterclass on how to get the absolute most out of SEMA 2025. Dan’s deep roots in the automotive world—spanning journalism, car building, agency leadership, and service within SEMA itself—give him a uniquely panoramic view of the industry. As the author of The New Rules of the Road, he’s built his career around helping brands and creators tell authentic stories that connect passion with professionalism.
In this episode, Dan shares proven strategies for creators, builders, and businesses alike: how to navigate SEMA effectively, build meaningful relationships, and create content that truly stands out. From the etiquette of approaching brands to leveraging media credentials for access, Dan breaks down what separates those who simply “walk the floor” from those who maximize the experience. Whether you’re an industry veteran or a first-time attendee, this conversation is a blueprint for turning SEMA into opportunity, influence, and long-term success.
TMCP #624: SEMA 2025 Product Preview: Blaine Burnett on Ridetech’s All New Pro-Touring Chevelle (and GM A-Body) Replacement Chassis!
If you’ve ever dreamed of giving your classic A-body the precision handling of a modern performance car—this week’s MuscleCar Place episode is for you. Rob sits down with Blane Burnett of RideTech to dive into the all-new MOMENTUM Series Chassis, a complete foundation engineered for 1964–1972 GM A-bodies like the Chevelle, Tempest, Cutlass, and Skylark. Built on RideTech’s legacy of innovation—now strengthened through its partnership with Fox Factory Holding Corp—the MOMENTUM Series delivers modern geometry, rigidity, and customization in a true plug-and-play solution. Even better, a full chassis comes in at an incredibly competitive $20,000–$30,000, putting high-end engineering within reach for serious builders.
Adding even more credibility to the project, long-time Optima Ultimate Street Car competitor Tom Farrington has partnered with RideTech, trusting the new chassis under his ’66 Chevelle. Farrington’s proven record as a multi-event winner in the OUSCI series speaks volumes about RideTech’s confidence and craftsmanship. Tune in to hear Blane break down the engineering, options, and vision behind the MOMENTUM Series—and see it in action at RideTech.com or YouTube.com/@RideTechTV.
K&F Show #343: Bernie’s Birthday and a General Lee Giveaway (Maybe)? // Car Movie Review: “Speed Zone” – the Lost John Candy Flick!
The Kibbe and Friends Show returns with Episode 343 — and this one’s full of laughs, nostalgia, and big ideas. Rob, Corndog, and birthday boy Bernie celebrate his 65th with a mix of humor and heartfelt chaos while rediscovering Speed Zone — the almost-forgotten “Cannonball Run III” starring John Candy. Between movie trivia and behind-the-scenes banter, the crew keeps the laughs rolling as only they can.
Meanwhile, Rob gears up for Dallas Kibbe’s first Las Vegas race weekend, with the No. 13 car back on track at The Bullring before heading into the Asphalt Nationals. It’s a huge test for the season, and listeners get an inside look at prep, pressure, and the thrill of competition. And then comes a bold idea — could Kibbe and Friends actually host a General Lee giveaway? Not confirmed, but the possibility is on the table. Would you want in? Tune in to find out — available now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube!
K&F Show #342: Rise of AI Corndog! Surviving General Lees, Lost VINs, and a Vintage Chat with Bo Duke Himself, John Schneider!
What happens when Corndog takes a week off and his digital twin takes over? You get AI Corndog — a surprisingly sarcastic, eerily accurate clone that somehow knows every surviving General Lee by VIN number and still manages to roast Bernie mid-sentence. In this week’s episode, Rob and Bernie navigate a wild mix of technology, nostalgia, and good ol’ car talk as they lock in SEMA 2025 plans, revisit a few listener voicemails that should’ve stayed buried, and share behind-the-scenes updates on Dallas’s race prep for Las Vegas.
But the real horsepower hits in the back half of the show with a Patreon-exclusive deep dive into the surviving screen-used General Lees, guided by the encyclopedic mind of Corndog himself. Then, for dessert, the guys crack open a vintage interview with John Schneider — a fan-favorite throwback where Bo Duke talks about filming the final jumps, correcting paint mistakes on the reunion cars, and the hidden realities of life on set. It’s equal parts hilarious, heartfelt, and totally “Hazzard.”
TMCP #622: Ask Rick — Can American Manufacturing Return for Restoration Parts? Rick’s Take: Bob Lutz Says EVs Will End the Internal Combustion Engine!
Kick off October with a fresh Ask Rick as Rick Schmidt weighs in on the value of car-show trophies, parts sourcing, and where the market’s really headed. Are small-show awards worth chasing—or are they just eating into charity budgets? Rick also unpacks the hot question in restoration parts: will manufacturing return to the U.S., or will Taiwan’s increasingly high-quality tooling keep leading the charge for low-volume classics?
Then it’s “Rick’s Take – Car Deals: The Bob Lutz Edition.” Rick sizes up a supercharged ’99 Viper GTS ACR, a ’09 Solstice GXP, and a ’00 Prowler for long-term ROI in a world edging toward electrification—followed by an “Investment Hedge” round featuring a ’87 Trans Am, ’06 Ford GT, and ’87 Buick GNX. Which has already peaked, and which still has runway? Tune in to hear how Rick reads the market—and which cars he’d flip first.
K&F Show #341: Dallas’ Wild Jefferson Weekend, the Road to SEMA, and a Dukes Review S3, E12 “State of the County”
October kicks off with a bang. Rob, Corndog, and Bernie recap Dallas Kibbe’s three-day run at Jefferson Speedway: a breakout Friday-night win away from home—perfect choose-cone calls, smart restarts—followed by the rough side of racing on Saturday with hard contact and a heavy hit that likely totaled the Legends car. The best news: Dallas is OK (no head issues). With the Las Vegas Asphalt Nationals just weeks away, the scramble is on to source a competitive car and make the trip.
Bernie’s news (presented by National Parts Depot) covers the industry and the track: Bosch trims auto-parts jobs, modern-car “features” that drive us nuts (blinding DRLs, multipurpose buttons), and Ida Zetterström’s jaw-dropper .000 reaction time in Top Fuel versus Tony Stewart. There’s also a Route 66 “Pavement Pounder” road trip—think keys-in-hand cruise to SEMA with badges and Semafest perks—plus Rob’s cursed-but-fun weekend (bank card fraud, a cranky 944 speedo, and one life-changing smash burger).
Rob tees up an Ask Rick crossover for The MuscleCar Place: Bob Lutz on EV inevitability and Rick Schmidt’s response. Then it’s a Dukes of Hazzard rewind—“State of the County”—where Daisy’s new flame carries fireworks, Boss J.W. Hickman is played by Larry D. Mann (yes, Yukon Cornelius), and an Oak Ridge Boys cameo caps a leaf-strewn car-chase episode (call it 6–7 Corn Dogs). Sponsors: Holley has fall deals; NPD keeps the parts coming. Hit play for the full Dallas timeline, the Vegas plan, and all the laughs we didn’t spoil.
K&F Show #340: MOPARTY Recap! Vandemonium Win, Hemi Heaven, Autocross Chaos & Chats with Dylan McCool, Grant Skidmore & Tommy Boshers
MoParty 2025 delivered peak Mopar mayhem, and the Kibbe & Friends crew—minus Rob—brought the sights, sounds, and parking-lot “afterglow” straight to your speakers. Episode 340 opens with CornDog and Bernie’s unsupervised recap—late-night Hampton Inn vibes, fan-club grill action, and the now-legendary “Stand-In Kibbe” Iowa fact machine—setting a heat-soaked, laugh-heavy tone.
Promoter Jimi Day calls MoParty “America’s high-performance Mopar event,” and this year backed it up: autocross, speed-stop, drags, burnouts, monster-truck crush, parade laps, the mullet showdown, and the new circle-track headliner, Vandemonium. Crowds packed in, the sun didn’t quit, and the show never slowed.
On the field, highlights included ~35 Hemi cars in one lineup, a crisp white ’70 Road Runner pilot car, plenty of wagons, and lovable oddballs (mid-’70s Chargers, Cordobas, Magnums). Best of Show: a clean, purpose-built white Duster.
Vandemonium stole the night—YouTube’s Dylan McCool took the win in a 2016 A-Team-styled Caravan (proper cage, sticky tires, no ill-timed nitrous), and we grabbed him for a shade-tree chat on his “omelet C10,” shortened ’72 Challenger/buggy mash-up, and his dad’s hand-lettered Petty-blue ’70 Satellite. Fabrication fans will also dig Grant Skidmore’s lowered, Whipple-blown ’97 Jeep Cherokee XJ (AX15, leaf-under, 14.4 in the quarter), plus TV-vet-turned-creator Tommy Boshers’ family-built “Hemibago”—a ’71 Winnebago with a Hellcat, side-pipe cutouts, Road Runner horn, and delightfully retro interior.
Wrap it with classic K&F energy: Bernie’s news (NPD shout-out), a quick celeb game, and Rob’s home-front update—skipping MoParty to coach Dallas to a strong P2 at Elko. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts/YouTube Music, jump into Patreon at patreon.com/KFshow, and big thanks to Holley for making MoParty the fall’s can’t-miss event (Ford Intergalactic is up next).
K&F Show #339: MOPARTY Preview! Classic Rides, Garage Laughs & Reviewing The Dukes of Hazzard TV Reunion Movies!
In this episode, the Kibbe and Friends crew dive into classic car fun and garage laughs while reviewing The Dukes of Hazzard: Reunion. Join Rob, Corndog, and Bernie as they relive Hazzard hijinks, share behind-the-scenes stories, and keep the spirit of the General Lee alive.
TMCP #619: Ask Rick — OEMs, Politics, and Profits; Plus Cars You Can Flip for Fun (and $$) at Football Tailgates
In this episode of The Muscle Car Place, Rick takes us inside the impossible yet fascinating world of OEM leadership—where shifting politics and billion-dollar bets make or break the future of the industry. Then, in true “Rick’s Take” fashion, he shifts gears to the fun side: which ’90s icons and classic rides make the best tailgate companions—and the smartest flips for ROI. From Corvettes and Cobras to Broncos and Foxbody Mustangs, Rick breaks down which cars will impress your buddies, hold value, and maybe even make you money after football season.
TMCP #618: Roadkill Nights Special! – Live From Woodward Ave – Finnegan and Freiburger, Ashton Munoz Dodge Product Manager, Mike Copeland Race Tech and Staging, Chris Coberg DSR Performance, Ed Buczeskie Carlisle Events
Join us for a special RoadKill Nights episode of The Muscle Car Place! We catch up with the legendary Finnegan and Freiburger, talk Dodge with Ashton Munoz, go behind the scenes with Mike Copeland on race tech and staging, hear from Chris Coberg of DSR Performance, and get insights from Ed Buczeskie at Carlisle Events. Plus, Dallas Kibbe celebrates his fourth Legends racing win!