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.
K&F Show #357: Duvall Tribute, Dallas Takes 3rd in Nationals, and Daytona Drama! // Dukes VIDEO Review S1E5 “High Octane”
This episode of The Kibbe & Friends Show delivers a full Phase 4 blend of heart, horsepower, and Hazzard County as we celebrate the life of Robert Duvall, recap Dallas Kibbe Racing’s latest national event run, and dive headfirst into one of the strongest early Georgia-era Dukes episodes ever made — Season 1, Episode 5: “High Octane.”
Before we get to Hazzard, the guys reflect on the passing of Robert Duvall and his unforgettable presence in automotive cinema — especially Days of Thunder. From Daytona 500 reactions to racing rule debates and short track chaos, Rob brings a full Dallas Kibbe Racing update, including brake failures, podium finishes, and real-world racing lessons from a five-day national event. It’s real racing talk mixed with the usual KF nonsense.
Then it’s time for the Dukes Review — and “High Octane” might just be the Georgia-era sleeper hit. Uncle Jesse breaks probation for patriotic reasons (moonshine-as-fuel, naturally), Boss Hogg plots to steal the credit, and we get introduced to Sweet Tilly — Jesse’s legendary moonshine-running Ford LTD. Add in one of the hardest early-season General Lee jumps ever filmed (over a semi on Georgia Highway 20), a one-episode revenue agent, and some serious Charger nerd deep-dives from Corndog, and you’ve got an episode that reminds everyone why the Georgia-filmed shows just hit differently.
The guys break down:
• The semi-truck jump and which General Lee likely paid the price
• Georgia filming locations and production details
• The debut of Sweet Tilly
• Early Boss & Rosco Laurel-and-Hardy chemistry
• Why this episode feels like the true send-off to the Georgia era
It’s vintage Dukes storytelling with modern car-guy commentary —
exactly what Phase 4 was built for.
K&F Show #356: Dallas Race Week, Florida Speed, and Daytona Fever // NASCAR Movie Review + Days of Thunder
Rob is in Florida this week with Dallas kicking off his 2026 racing season at Auburndale Speedway in Winter Haven. It’s a five-day national Legends tournament — practice, qualifying, and racing every single day — with Dallas running the Semi-Pro class in the white #13. The goal this season is simple: run the biggest Legends events possible, graduate up and out of the class, and take the next step forward in his racing career. While that action unfolds in real time, we’re setting the stage for Daytona week the best way we know how.
To celebrate the Daytona 500, we’re revisiting our full review of Days of Thunder — still the greatest racing movie ever made. Yes, it’s “Top Gun in a stock car,” and that’s exactly why it works. We break down the racing roots of Cole Trickle, the Harry Hogge mentorship arc, the real NASCAR influences behind the film, and why quotes like “Rubbin’, son, is racin’” still live rent-free in every race fan’s brain. Released in 1990, directed by Tony Scott, and starring Tom Cruise, Robert Duvall, Nicole Kidman, and Michael Rooker, the film earned nearly $158 million worldwide and remains a cornerstone of modern racing pop culture. If it’s Daytona week, it’s time for Days of Thunder.
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.
K&F Show #355: Broken Arms, Bad General Lees, and Bernie on the News // Dukes VIDEO Review S1E4 “Repo Men”
This episode of The Kibbe & Friends Show brings the show back to its Phase 4 sweet spot with a full-on Dukes Review of one of the best early Georgia-era episodes of The Dukes of Hazzard: Season 1, Episode 4 — “Repo Men.” It’s the perfect mix of simple Hazzard County storytelling, big laughs, and the kind of car-nerd details that only this show obsesses over — right down to the General Lee quirks, the Waylon “balladeer” narration, and why this episode still matters in Dukes lore.
Rob Kibbe, Justin “Corndog” Cornette, and producer Bernie McPartland break down why “Repo Men” is a fan-favorite: Bo and Luke get pulled into a crooked car-dealer scheme involving a Rolls-Royce repo, a counterfeit ring, and some truly savage stunt payoff. Along the way, the guys spotlight what makes the Georgia episodes special — the chemistry between Bo and Luke, the early-series simplicity, and the wild practical stunts that feel like they could never happen the same way today. And of course, Corndog goes deep on General Lee specifics: the rare window-up shots, the ’68 tells, and the car-history rabbit holes that turn this review into a full Dukes enthusiast session.
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.
K&F Show #354: Race Season, January Auction Record Sales, & the Story Behind It All // Car MOVIE Review “Ford vs Ferrari”
This episode of The Kibbe & Friends Show delivers a long-overdue review of Ford vs Ferrari, a modern racing classic that has become required viewing for car fans everywhere. With Daytona season approaching and January’s auction buzz still fresh, the timing couldn’t be better to revisit the story of Ford’s battle against Ferrari at Le Mans and the people who made it happen. It’s a film that captures the emotion, danger, and obsession behind endurance racing while telling a powerful human story along the way.
Rob Kibbe, Justin “Corndog” Cornette, and producer Bernie McPartland break down why Ford vs Ferrari works on every level — from Christian Bale’s unforgettable performance as Ken Miles, to the tension between racers and the boardroom, to the brutal reality of 24-hour competition. The GT40 becomes more than just a car, it becomes a character, and the movie becomes more than just a race film. It’s a story about passion, sacrifice, and the cost of chasing perfection at full throttle.
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.
K&F Show #353: Quitters Day 2026 and Killer Racing SIM Rigs // Dukes VIDEO Review S1E2 “Daisy’s Song”
Welcome to Episode 353 of The Kibbe & Friends Show — and yes, this is the second show of 2026, which means we’re officially back to doing what we do best: talking cars, talking nonsense, and occasionally learning something by accident. We kick things off with Quitters Day (the second Friday in January when New Year’s resolutions go to die), debate the nation’s fittest and fattiest states, and then I take you inside my newest obsession: building a full-blown racing sim rig at home with real force-feedback hardware, a real race seat, and even a vibration unit so you can feel rumble strips in your bones. It’s part race car, part erector set, and entirely ridiculous.
Then it’s time for our Dukes of Hazzard review, now available on YouTube as part of Phase 4 of the show. This week we’re breaking down Season 1, Episode 2, “Daisy’s Song,” one of the original Georgia-filmed episodes. Daisy discovers her song has been recorded — but she never got paid — which sends Bo and Luke undercover to shut down a full-blown record piracy operation run by Boss Hogg himself. This episode delivers major Dukes lore, including why the General Lee’s doors are welded shut, plus some of the earliest and best screen time for both the General and Daisy’s Roadrunner. Final score from all of us: a unanimous 10 out of 10.
TMCP #635: ASK RICK! – FIFTY YEARS of National Parts Depot! The REAL Story of Surviving and Thriving in Restoration Parts
National Parts Depot is celebrating an incredible milestone — 50 years in business — and we’re sitting down with Rick Schmidt for a special Ask Rick episode to talk about the journey that built one of the most respected names in classic car restoration. From its humble beginnings in a family basement to becoming a global leader in restoration parts, Rick shares the story of how his father Jim Schmidt built NPD through hard work, vision, and a relentless commitment to serving enthusiasts. We also dive into Rick’s leadership philosophy, the evolution of the restoration market, and what the next fifty years may hold.
It’s also auction season, and Rick is ready to help us make some money. We break down what it takes to buy right, sell smart, and turn a profit with a quick flip. With a goal of keeping the upfront cost under $30K, Rick walks us through which cars make sense to chase at the January auctions — and which ones to leave on the block. If you’re looking to sharpen your auction strategy, this is an episode you won’t want to miss.