Two Guys Garage Podcast

Matt Hagan is ruthless on the racetrack, but as nice a guy as you’ll ever meet in person. As the two-time DSR Funny Car Champion playfully explains to Willie and Kevin, at 300 mph “it’s a fine line between bravery and stupidity!” The racer, farmer and entrepreneur also shares his recipe for success, reveals what scares him to death, and discusses running in the NHRA in the time of COVID. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It’s Three Guys Garage when Kevin reunites with his former co-host, renowned fabricator Bryan Fuller. Get ready for a raucous conversation about cars, bikes, the creative process, Bryan’s new gig as co-host of Car Fix, and the upcoming 20th anniversary season of Two Guys Garage Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oil’s job is pretty simple: to clean, cool and lubricate. The science behind it, though, not so simple. Chris Gabrelcik is the white-lab-coat-scientist of Lubrication Specialties, the guru who knows all there is to know about metal-on-metal friction, solving problems and extending the life of everything. Grab some paper and pencils, join Willie and Kevin, and let the learning begin! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ian Johnson is his own man, instantly recognizable for the signature hairstyle, easygoing personality, and unbelievable welding chops. Kevin and Willie recently caught up with the former high school shop teacher turned TV host, as he was about to begin production on Season 2 of his hit MotorTrend series, FourWheeler. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

They say love is blind, and when it comes to his 1966 Dodge Charger 383 4-speed, Willie will be the first to admit it. In this episode, Willie professes his undying love for this self-described “Ugly Duckling,” which he’s actually chopped the top off of – and that’s just for starters! As Kevin can himself appreciate, it’s the ultimate labor of automotive love. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A lot of guys in the racing word know about Holbrook Racing Engines; the name is synonymous with big power. Following in the tracks of his legendary father Carl – the original Captain Cobra Jet – Chris Holbrook has perpetuated the family pedigree with a slew of awards and a reputation as being the guy you don’t want to line up against on the drag strip! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The holiday season is a time for giving back to the community, and especially to those among us who are less fortunate than others. In this episode, Willie and Kevin discuss the charitable activities nearest and dearest to them, most notably Willie’s Cars for Christmas program, now in its 14th year, dedicated to changing lives one car at a time. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tires smoking; engines thrashing. Sliding sideways; rubbing bumpers off cones and walls. Kevin and Willie strap in for an adrenaline-fueled conversation with “Fun-Haver” Vaughn Gittin Jr. about everything from 100 mph drifting, to 12.9-mile burnouts at the Nürburgring, and conquering the King of the Hammers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Fresh off his commanding NHRA Funny Car victory at the 2019 season finale in Pomona, the guys catch up with two-time NHRA Champion Jack Beckman during a well-deserved holiday break. Hooked on hot rods as a young kid in California, “Fast Jack” has more than earned his nickname, progressing from running 15.06 at 90 mph, to 3.92 at 323 mph! Noting how “good preparation leads to good performance,” Beckman speaks candidly about the trials and tribulations of racing nitro funny cars in the dark, and how having the right mindset can make the difference between life and death, as witnessed by his epic 2016 crash in Epping, NH. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The thrill, the fun, and the adrenaline rush of selling a vehicle at a collector car auction is an experience like no other. And there are few experts in the field more knowledgeable than John Kraman, Consignment Director and Lead Commentator at Mecum Auctions. In this episode, Willie and Kevin pick John’s brain on topics ranging from the pros and cons of reserve vs. no reserve bidding, to what’s hot on the auction block and what’s definitely not. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Singular among automotive hobbyists, enthusiasts and collectors, the name Lingenfelter is instantly identifiable as both a one-of-a-kind Collection of unique cars and a state-of-the-art Performance Engineering company. In this episode, the guys sit down with Ken Lingenfelter for a wide-ranging conversation touching on everything from Cars and Coffees, to Cadillacs and Colorados, to Camaros and Corvettes, and the level of customer expectation that inspires Ken to be raising the bar constantly. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Still energized by their recent experience at SEMA, Willie and Kevin dedicate the entirety of this episode to their freewheeling conversation with the legendary Ring Brothers – two of the most acclaimed and renowned custom car builders working in the industry today. From their humble Midwest beginnings, through intense sibling rivalries, and innumerable awards and accolades – Jim and Mike tell all in their own inimitable style. And before it’s over, a special guest will drop by and surprise all the guys! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Strap in for a lively and candid conversation with Leah Pruett, currently third in points driving the Don Schumacher Racing Mopar Top Fuel Dragster in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series. With the season on hiatus, Leah chats with the guys about livin’ the dream, working hard and playing harder; the thrill of racing and the reality of living 300 days on the road; and how much it means to be a role model for young girls and boys. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The story goes something like this: Young son asks his dad for a real-life version of his favorite video game supercar and dad says okay. This is where it gets interesting. The object of 12-year old Xander’s eye is a half-million-dollar Lamborghini Aventador, and as his dad, Dr. Sterling Backus, is a renowned physicist, they decide to build their own… by 3D printing one from scratch! It’s an incredible true story with an amazing twist, and it might well be the ultimate wish fulfillment fantasy come true. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Christmas comes early this year in the form of the all-new TREMEC TKX, their slimmer, rounder, lighter next generation 5-speed transmission that delivers an astounding 8000 RPM. “This is the first time we’ve actually developed a transmission specifically for the aftermarket,” says TREMEC’s Mike Kidd, while Kevin and Willie pick their dropped jaws off the floor. With multiple shifter locations capable of handling those 8000 RPMs, it’s the sweet spot that weekend warriors and hot rod builders have been needing for a really long time. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Despite sometimes being referred to as “death at one mile an hour,” four wheeling has become exceptionally popular with the off-road crowd. Today the guys spend some time with Cassie Hughes of Bestop, known for its soft tops, half-doors and seat covers for Jeeps and trucks. From the CJ5 and JL to the new Bronco and Hummer EV, it’s never been easier to be careful, be safe and have a righteous amount of fun! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nothing gets car guys fired up quite like the throaty growl of an exhaust system – the balance of loudness and quality, the flavors of the exhaust notes. As systems are getting more and more complicated, the guys wonder what’s coming down the pipeline, literally. “We’re in a world today where you have total system continuity,” answers the man from Magnaflow, Richard Waitas. “From the bumper to the motor to the exhaust to the interior, everything’s connected.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Improvements in suspension geometry. More modern alignment settings. Reducing body roll. Evolutionary leaps in shock technology. What is the secret of Ridetech’s success? “It all starts with the people that work there,” Product Manager Darren Schilling explains to Kevin and Willie. “A lot of these products we developed we didn’t even know that we needed them or wanted them, and all of it was born usually in building a car.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This episode is all about metal – shaping, smashing, cutting, making it do what you want it to do, which isn’t always easy. “I’ve definitely filled up a few scrap bins in my day,” Bruce Van Sant, Owner/President of Trick-Tools, confesses to the guys. From his auto body background growing up on a farm, to becoming a self-described tool junky, Bruce now offers all kinds of tools, even tools for tools! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For pure sub-9 second, factory direct, mega horsepower drag racing, nothing beats COPO Camaro. Just ask Rich Rinke, multi award-winning driver and owner of COPO Parts Direct. Kevin and Willie do just that as they get the inside scoop on the latest and greatest. From battles royale in the staging lanes, to the next evolution of the Central Office Production Order, one thing remains constant, says Rich: “We’re a bunch of overgrown Hot Wheels lovers!” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“The future creates the present.” So Google’s top-rated futurist speaker Thomas Frey tells the guys in this fascinating podcast. From predictions of the death of the internal combustion engine and the emergence of the 1000-mile range electric car, to the impact of autonomous vehicles on real estate values and how the Covid era will fundamentally change mankind, “We’re gonna try to stretch people’s thinking a little bit here, so let’s jump right in!” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Kevin and Willie ponder the science, the mystery, the voodoo behind the harmonic balancer that holds an engine together. They invite Fluidampr’s Ivan Snyder III to school them on the three types of vibration to be aware of – unbalanced, axial and torsional – starting with Lesson #1: You know you’ve gotta have a damper, but what the hell is it? The answer: It’s crucial. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Kevin and Willie go behind the scenes with longtime SEMA President and CEO Chris Kersting as he prepares to roll out SEMA 360, the organization’s new online platform created in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on the annual Las Vegas trade show. With over 6,000 member companies, the Specialty Equipment Market Association is much more than its namesake event. The preeminent trade association of the automotive aftermarket is on the front line of defense, actively tackling the biggest challenges facing the $45 billion industry. “It’s a whack-a-mole gig” that keeps Chris extremely busy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Rambler Ranch in Colorado is, in a word, unique. THE destination for all things AMC, Nash (and Kelvinator appliances) is home to, as Willie puts it, “one of the most amazing car collections on Earth.” Started in 1992 with 30 cars and now numbering upwards of 800, rarities include a 1955 Pinin Farina Speciale, 1948 Nash Tow Truck, AMC Marquesa prototype, and the only AMC Concord Touring Car in existence. “I have seen grown men cry,” says caretaker Ben Hamilton, “and I’m not joking.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Troy Ladd has a special love for old school hot rods, especially 30’s-era hot rods. Ever since he built his first car in high school – a ’66 Mustang – the visionary behind Hollywood Hot Rods has made his bones on new stuff that looks like old stuff and makes you feel like you’re back in 1936. From one-of-a-kind barnyard finds to the one that got away, Troy tells the guys, “I wish I had the ability to keep them all and never sell a car,” but unfortunately that’s no way to run a business. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Comedian Christopher Titus is an automotive addict. “The disease bites you,” he admits to Kevin and Willie. “It’s terminal, I can’t get rid of it, and I’m glad I have it!” In a lively discussion, the trio of horsepower freaks share crash and burn stories, discuss the famous Titus-Foose “Once a Knight” ’56 Chevy, and agree that “cars are a great litmus test for any relationship you’re in”… well, that and IKEA. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Engine builder Jon Kaase is all about winning. The 1977 NHRA Pro Stock Championship. 12X Mountain Motor Pro Stock Champion. 9X Engine Masters Challenge Champion. You get the picture. Jon recently sat down with Kevin and Willie to discuss his many accomplishments, most notably the revered Boss Nine automotive engine, and his many big engine battles in the marine world. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It’s a fairly simple equation: More Air + More Fuel = More Power. A supercharger can boost that power by as much as 50-85%. Now ProCharger has changed the game with its F3X capable of generating 3500 HP @ 70,000 RPM. Sergio Shifman joins the guys to explore the company’s lineup of full kits that can add hundreds of horses to late-model vehicles in a single weekend. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Art, sophistication, elegance, performance and total badass-ery are the hallmarks of Rad Rides by Troy. As Bonneville, SEMA and Ridler Award-winning custom builder Troy Trepanier informs Willie and Kevin, “this ain’t no 40-hour job,” and that’s no joke. With a pledge to constantly raise the bar without sacrificing quality, he lives by his mantra: “We try to let the car tell us what it wants a little bit.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the second of their two-part interview with Gale Banks, Willie and Kevin get deeper insights into the man who changed the history of the internal combustion engine. “I’m hopelessly addicted to horsepower,” exclaims the racing legend who cut his teeth on gas and is now largely known for diesel. On predicting what lies ahead, the born to run competitor anticipates “it has to have a higher energy density.” And that’s just the beginning. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Gale Banks is a force to be reckoned with – a legend with 11 patents and hundreds of copyrights, he has literally changed the world of hot rodding. In the first of a two-part conversation with Kevin and Willie, the self-described “full-blooded nerd” reflects on numerous milestones throughout his 50+ years in the business, concluding that “the underlying theme for my whole career is the turbo charger.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Brian Tooley of BTR Racing is like a master chef who brings together unlikely ingredients to create unique recipes for high horsepower systems. Willie and Kevin welcome “The King of Cams” back to the podcast for a professional grade discussion on boosted vs. nitrous in the HP wars, and whether nitrous and supercharging can work together. As Kevin observes, “The world is full of random facts, and this guy puts it together in some sort of map.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Rick Fragnoli’s dad was an electrician who knew nothing about cars, but when he lost a union election, he chucked it all and bought a junkyard. Since then, the family Pick-a-Part has morphed into Cleveland Power and Performance, a virtual gold mine for swapping modern power trains into old school metal. On this episode, Rick sits down with the guys to talk about the journey from the bone yard to “the Panacea of Power Plants,” and in particular his game changing ’69 Charger project called Reverence. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

CARtoons Magazine entertained and enthralled generations of car kids and adults from its birth in 1959 through its final issue in 1991. That is until 2015, when Mark Methout unexpectedly resurrected the legendary title. In this podcast, the CEO and Publisher regales Willie and Kevin with the colorful tale of his unlikely journey from recovering the abandoned trademark and reuniting some of the original artists, to reviving the beloved publication. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Bogi is not only co-host of MotorTrend’s hit series All Girls Garage; she’s a renowned ASE certified master technician and owner of Girl Gang Garage in Phoenix, Arizona. In a candid conversation with Kevin and Willie, Bogi discusses the challenges she faced coming up in a male-dominated industry; her passion for empowering women to take a more active role in car ownership and career opportunities in the automotive field; and how Two Guys Garage influenced her decision to branch out into television. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Evan Smith of REVan Media has a reputation as THE behind-the-scenes media mogul of the automotive world – a writer/photographer/test pilot with all the inside scoop on the OEs. And man, can this guy wheel! Kevin and Willie sit down with REVan Evan for a freewheeling discussion about all the baddest, newest and trendiest goings on, and what it’s like in the driver’s seat of the Ford GT 350 and 500, Corvette C8, Dodge 392 and ZL1 Camaro. Strap in and hang on for a fun ride! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Following in his dad’s footsteps, Mark Bowler began scraping transmissions at age 9 and rebuilding Mom and Pop trannies by 13. His dad deterred him from performance stuff until he retired in 2001, and today Bowler Performance Transmissions works with all the top companies around the world. On this episode, Mark and the guys discuss the difference between rebuilt and reman; less gears, more gears and overdrive; and the pros and cons of paddle shift automatic transmissions. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Matt Hagan is ruthless on the racetrack, but as nice a guy as you’ll ever meet in person. As the two-time DSR Funny Car Champion playfully explains to Willie and Kevin, at 300 mph “it’s a fine line between bravery and stupidity!” The racer, farmer and entrepreneur also shares his recipe for success, reveals what scares him to death, and discusses running in the NHRA in the time of COVID. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Driveshafts take a relentless beating, constantly applying load with substantial torque. Repairs, upgrades and modifications are always top of mind for Lee Mejia of The Driveshaft Shop. Citing expensive custom builds that completely neglect driveshafts and axles, Lee regales Willie and Kevin with stories of destructive and real-world testing, like what happens when a heavy projectile made out of steel suddenly pole vaults or grenades. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Einstein of Additives, Chris Gabrelcik of Hot Shot’s Secret, returns for another informative podcast in which he demystifies viscosity; discusses the endless learning curve involved in developing problem-specific solutions for friction; and amazes the guys with tales of the World’s Fastest 7.3, his 11 Diesel World Records, and the very real 100,000 mile oil change. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

They may not be all that sexy, but when it comes to pneumatics and air tools, a compressor is the first and most critical big tool you’re likely to buy. Today the guys learn from Jarrett Affolter of Ingersoll Rand all there is to know about air compressors – the different types, what the fail points are, how to make them last forever, and what size you need to do what you want to do. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dr. Jamie Meyer’s credentials are impressive to say the least: PhD in Anatomy and Cell Biology; postdoctoral researcher in molecular genetics; former head of GM Performance; and now the newly minted President of the Performance Racing Industry. In a frank and wide-ranging conversation, the guys discuss everything from the LSX and COPO Camaro initiatives he led, to Dr. Meyer’s vision for PRI during COVID-19 and a post-pandemic world. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For Jim Chadick, life was a choice between being a rock star or a car guy. While the former didn’t quite work out, the CEO of Performance Online has no regrets. Jim and his Operations Manager Larry Ashley join the guys to reflect on how tastes have changed from the early 90s – when how you looked in a car or truck was all that mattered – through today, where owners want classics to handle like modern cars. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Lots of folks love a car or truck that looks old but drives like new. Crate motors, overdrive transmissions and big brakes have blown open the resto market, and that’s been good for business at Auto Metal Direct. GM Mike Gray gives the guys a primer on how AMD’s sheet metal is better than OE, why quality matters, and the reason muscle car guys love trucks. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A safety fuel cell is a legit piece of racing hardware; an indispensable replacement for a fuel tank with a whole lot of advantages for hotrodders. Aero Tec Laboratories has been producing and perfecting these since 1970. Ron Ross attributes ATL’s success to constant R&D and one fundamental principle: “We can’t sit still and not move forward.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Kevin and Willie welcome Mike Kidd and Matt Memmer of TREMEC to the podcast for a frank and wide-ranging conversation. As the premier supplier to OEs around the world for high-performance cars bordering on supercars, the guys acknowledge the slow fade of traditional manual transmissions and espouse the virtues of their new DCT performance components. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A lot of guys in the racing word know about Holbrook Racing Engines; the name is synonymous with big power. Following in the tracks of his legendary father Carl – the original Captain Cobra Jet – Chris Holbrook has perpetuated the family pedigree with a slew of awards and a reputation as being the guy you don’t want to line up against on the drag strip! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode the guys go deep with Mark Stielow, Sr. Manager at GM in Advanced Vehicle Dynamics, described by Kevin as “one of the sharpest car cats – from designing, to building, to driving the damn tires off!” Mark knows all there is to know about Camaros, having built 17 of them during his career-long tenure at General Motors. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

From the old pole barn in the woods to the custom multicar garage and the ultra-modern car condo, gearheads have been searching for the perfect Man Cave / Mechanic’s Dream since time immemorial. Brian McNamara of Gearhead Homes joins the guys today to answer the call as he reveal the tricks of the trade and hottest trends in auto-centric real estate. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It may seem like voodoo magic, but formulating effective engine additives involves intense chemistry and physics. And no one is more knowledgeable about liquid protection than “the Einstein of Additives,” Chris Gabrelcik. On this episode, the man behind Hot Shot’s Secret shares some good ones with the guys, including how the product got its name. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices