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TMCP #654: Chris Smith – Smitty Built Custom Auto – If You Want To Go Fast, Smitty Can Build It!

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TMCP #654: What REALLY Makes a Pro Touring Car Fast? Chris “Smitty” Smith Explains
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The Kibbe and Friends Show
TMCP #654: What REALLY Makes a Pro Touring Car Fast? Chris “Smitty” Smith Explains
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1:04:50
Episode Description
This week’s episode has a little bit of everything I love.

First, I share why I’m heading back to EAA AirVenture Oshkosh, a place that’s become much more than the world’s largest aviation gathering for me. It’s where I spent countless summers with my dad, and every time I go back I find myself reconnecting with those memories while getting excited about the future of aviation. This year I’m especially looking forward to seeing TurboTech’s regenerative turbine engine, a technology that could completely change general aviation by delivering turbine reliability with piston-engine fuel economy. If you’re an engineering geek like me, you’re going to enjoy this discussion.

Next, I have another Dallas Kibbe Racing Update, including race broadcast audio from Charlotte Motor Speedway. Dallas continues battling through one of the toughest Late Model fields in the country, and while the wins haven’t come yet, the progress absolutely has. We talk about why racing is about much more than trophies, the importance of learning race craft, and why I believe he’s building the foundation that will eventually put him in Victory Lane.

Then it’s time for one of the most candid interviews I’ve ever had on this show. Chris “Smitty” Smith from Smitty’s Custom Automotive joins me to talk about what it really takes to build a modern Pro Touring car that can compete at the highest level. Chris doesn’t hold anything back. We discuss suspension systems, ABS braking, chassis design, budgets, what parts are worth the money, what parts aren’t, and the lessons he’s learned after nearly three decades of building and racing some of the fastest street cars in the country. If you’ve ever wondered what separates a good Pro Touring build from a championship contender, this is an interview you won’t want to miss.

Episode Details
Status: Scheduled
Release Date: Jul 17, 2026
Author: Robert Kibbe
Episode Type: full
Episode: 654
Rating: Clean
File Info
Size: 89 MB
Duration: 01:04:50
File Type: audio
Codec: mp3
Bitrate: 187.50 kbPs
Sample Rate: 44100 Hz
Upload Date: Jul 16th, 2026 05:04 PM
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Episode Description
This week’s episode has a little bit of everything I love.

First, I share why I’m heading back to EAA AirVenture Oshkosh, a place that’s become much more than the world’s largest aviation gathering for me. It’s where I spent countless summers with my dad, and every time I go back I find myself reconnecting with those memories while getting excited about the future of aviation. This year I’m especially looking forward to seeing TurboTech’s regenerative turbine engine, a technology that could completely change general aviation by delivering turbine reliability with piston-engine fuel economy. If you’re an engineering geek like me, you’re going to enjoy this discussion.

Next, I have another Dallas Kibbe Racing Update, including race broadcast audio from Charlotte Motor Speedway. Dallas continues battling through one of the toughest Late Model fields in the country, and while the wins haven’t come yet, the progress absolutely has. We talk about why racing is about much more than trophies, the importance of learning race craft, and why I believe he’s building the foundation that will eventually put him in Victory Lane.

Then it’s time for one of the most candid interviews I’ve ever had on this show. Chris “Smitty” Smith from Smitty’s Custom Automotive joins me to talk about what it really takes to build a modern Pro Touring car that can compete at the highest level. Chris doesn’t hold anything back. We discuss suspension systems, ABS braking, chassis design, budgets, what parts are worth the money, what parts aren’t, and the lessons he’s learned after nearly three decades of building and racing some of the fastest street cars in the country. If you’ve ever wondered what separates a good Pro Touring build from a championship contender, this is an interview you won’t want to miss.

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.

TMCP 623: Don Abenante – Fabricator to YouTube Star – Building And Driving a 1970 Chevelle From Rhode Island To Vegas For SEMA 2025!

Don Abenante of Retro Fabworks isn’t your average YouTube builder — his story blends Hollywood grit, family legacy, and pure horsepower. After early stints on Below Deck, Horsepower Wars, and Netflix’s Resurrected Rides, Don found his true calling behind the welder instead of the camera, documenting every cut and weld for his growing audience.

His current project is deeply personal: a 1970 Chevelle he first planned to build with his late father. That dream paused for years but never died — and now it’s roaring back to life. Don’s transforming the Chevelle into a Ford Coyote–powered showstopper for SEMA 2025, filming the process step by step for his followers. The twist? He plans to drive the car all the way to Vegas, proving that craftsmanship, creativity, and heart still belong on the open road.

TMCP #383: Auction Insights! Bret Voelkel from Ride Tech at Barrett Jackson, and NPD’s Ask Rick Segment on the Growth of Mecum

This episode marks a fun trip to the January auctions! Our intrepid show producer Bernie McPartland was our man on the scene at Barrett Jackson in Scottsdale Arizona and while there caught up with Bret Voelkel of RideTech. To follow up with that, we had Rick Schmidt on to get his opinion on the auction world as a whole, both from a marketing perspective for NPD and as a buyer and seller of cars. I also really wanted his opinion on the higher-than-normal sales prices of “Resto-mod” Corvettes at the Barrett Jackson auction (which he does watch annually) vs their fully restored counterparts.