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 #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.
K&F Show #359: Spring Break Confusion, “This Week vs Next Week” // Dukes VIDEO Review S1E7 “Luke’s Love Story”
In Episode 359 of The Kibbe & Friends Show, the guys head back to The Dukes of Hazzard Season 1 with a review of Episode 7, “Luke’s Love Story.” The story centers around the annual Hazard County Obstacle Derby, where Luke enters the General Lee against a new challenger — Amy Creevy and her black Mustang, “Lucifer.” The episode blends racing, romance, and sabotage as Amy’s jealous ex-boyfriend attempts to take her out of the race while Luke struggles with his own misguided ideas about relationships. The result is a strange mix of love story and demolition-style stock car racing that only early-season Dukes could deliver.
Despite the awkward romance storyline, the crew finds plenty to enjoy in the episode thanks to the racing action and early California production style. The Hazard Derby delivers some great car footage, including the General Lee battling through the obstacle course and plenty of raw stunt driving that helped define the show’s early seasons. Rob, Corndog, and Bernie also dig into behind-the-scenes details, including the surviving Georgia-built General Lees still being used during these early California episodes and the unique cars created for the race. In the end, the episode earns mixed reactions from the crew, but the racing and stunt work keep it memorable for Dukes fans.
Kibbe & Friends Show #350: 2025 Christmas Spectacular with the Griswolds // Car Movie Review: Christmas Vacation – The Gift that Keeps on Giving the Whole Year!
Episode 350 is a Christmas-season milestone for The Kibbe & Friends Show, and the guys deliver exactly what the week before Christmas calls for: National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation with all the extra flavor only K&F can add. Rob, Corndog, and Bernie celebrate the “small block Chevy” episode number, clink moose mugs, share the good news that Holley is back for 2026, and recap a successful Toys for Tots push—setting the table for a holiday episode that feels equal parts tradition, gratitude, and pure fun.
From there, the crew dives into why Christmas Vacation still works no matter how many times you’ve seen it. They talk about aging from Rusty into Clark Griswold, revisit the scenes that still make them laugh every single time, and swap favorite moments that prove it’s not about the plot—it’s about delivery, timing, and how real the chaos feels. Along the way, they sprinkle in car-guy details, Vacation lore, and a killer behind-the-scenes nugget about a scripted ending that never made the final cut. If this movie is part of your yearly ritual, this episode will make you want to queue it up again as soon as the show ends.
TMCP #630: SEMA 2025 Show Spectacular Finale – Centerforce Clutch Tech, Holley’s LT-Swapped 4th Gen Camaro, and Meguiar’s Pro-Level Detailing for Real-World Builders
This episode delivers a packed finale to our SEMA 2025 coverage, featuring three can’t-miss conversations straight from the show floor. We kick things off with Trent McGee from Centerforce, breaking down real-world clutch selection for street, strip, and track — covering everything from classic muscle car setups to high-horsepower, twin-disc race applications. Then Mark Gearhart from Holley joins us to walk through their LT-swapped 4th-gen Camaro and the bigger picture of modern engine swaps, showing how builders can bring modern power and drivability into older platforms. We close out with Mike Pennington from Meguiar’s, who dives into their new pro-consumer detailing line, sharing practical tips on paint care, polishing, interior cleaning, and headlight restoration that everyday enthusiasts can actually use.
We wrap this episode proud — because this was, without a doubt, our best SEMA show and coverage to date. The depth of the interviews, the quality of the guests, and the real-world value packed into these conversations made this series something truly special. If you’re building, restoring, maintaining, or dreaming, this finale ties it all together and sends SEMA 2025 out the right way.
K&F Show #347: Thanksgiving Special Car Movie Review – “Planes, Trains, and Automobiles!”
Few movies capture the chaos, heart, and humor of the holidays quite like Planes, Trains, and Automobiles. Steve Martin’s tightly wound Neal Page and John Candy’s endlessly lovable Del Griffith deliver one of the greatest odd-couple road trips ever put on film — a journey packed with missed flights, broken-down cars, and moments that somehow make you laugh uncontrollably and tear up at the same time. It’s loud, ridiculous, heartfelt, endlessly quotable, and somehow only gets better with age. This movie isn’t just a Thanksgiving watch; it’s a Thanksgiving tradition that reminds us that sometimes the people who drive us the most crazy are the ones we’re most grateful for.
From all of us here at Kibbe & Friends, we want to wish you and your family a warm, happy, and safe Thanksgiving. Whether you’re traveling across the country or just heading down the street, we hope your week is filled with good food, good laughs, and the kind of memories that only come from time spent with the people who matter most. Drive safe, hug your people, and don’t forget to enjoy the ride.
K&F Show #345: SEMA 2025, Road Coarse Racing, and Matthew McConaughey // Car Movie Review – 40th Anniversary of Back to the Future!
SEMA 2025 delivered one of the most electric weeks the KF crew has had in years—and Rob, Corndog, and Bernie break it all down in Episode 345 of The Kibbe & Friends Show. From jaw-dropping builds like the Ringbrothers’ futuristic Aston Martin to the return of real-deal ’60s–’90s muscle across Central Hall, the guys dive into everything that made this year’s show unforgettable. Rob also shares his wild post-SEMA detour to Atlanta, where Dallas tackled his first-ever road course race in the Moonshine Series—with delays, crashes, segmented cautions, and a hard-earned breakthrough behind the wheel.
To celebrate the 40th anniversary of Back to the Future, the episode finishes with a full replay of the very first BTTF review the guys ever recorded—an episode their team says “made the ensemble click.” It’s the perfect mix of SEMA chaos, racing stories, and time-travel nostalgia… plus the kickoff of their annual Toys for Tots fundraiser with the U.S. Marine Corps. Dive in and enjoy the ride!
TMCP #626: Ask Rick – Preview for the Muscle Car and Corvette Nationals 2025, “The Pebble Beach of Muscle Car Shows”
It’s one of the biggest months of the year — SEMA, MCACN, and Thanksgiving! In this episode, Rick Schmidt joins Rob to tackle the real questions everyone’s asking: turkey, beef, or ham? Cranberries from the can? And of course, what makes MCACN (the Muscle Car and Corvette Nationals) such a world-class event. Rick gives us an inside look at his 13-mile 1964 Ford Galaxie XL, shares why authenticity matters more than perfection, and explains why this show has earned its nickname: “The Pebble Beach of Muscle Cars.”
From Thanksgiving table debates to restoration realities, Rick dives into the surprising truth about American vs. Taiwan-made panels, plus which cars—classic or modern—could be future MCACN stars. Whether you’re restoring, collecting, or just daydreaming, this one’s packed with laughs, insight, and muscle car wisdom. Tune in and find out: is Rick Team Turkey or Team Ham?
K&F Show #344: Dallas Races and the KF Show Hits Vegas for SEMA 2025! Dukes of Hazzard Review: S1E12 “Route 7-11”
The crew heads to Las Vegas for SEMA 2025, bringing with them plenty of laughs, chaos, and one classic Dukes of Hazzard re-review: Season 1, Episode 12, “Route 711.” With Rob and Bernie on the ground (and Corndog holding down the home front), the team dives into the gambling-themed episode that mirrors their Vegas backdrop—complete with Bo and Luke unknowingly hauling a rolling casino, Uncle Jesse turning card-shark, and Cooter pulling strings behind the scenes. The guys also reveal some big updates for Kibbe and Friends: live Patreon broadcasts moving to a new platform, new YouTube plans for 2026, and the behind-the-scenes grind of capturing interviews across SEMA’s sprawling show floor.
From there, it’s full-throttle storytelling—Dallas Kibbe’s run at the Legends Asphalt Nationals, a turbocharged Holley feature, and a round of movie-car trivia that somehow loops Ben Stiller, Owen Wilson, and Cars’ Lightning McQueen into the mix. Add in Bernie’s trademark “news you didn’t ask for” (rogue monkeys and all), and you’ve got another classic K&F blend of cars, culture, and comedy. It’s Vegas lights, Georgia dirt, and General Lee nostalgia rolled into one big laugh-filled episode.