Tony Thacker is our guest on this episode of the Bonneville Up To Speed Podcast, in an interview recorded on a windy night in Wendover, Utah at the 2023 SCTA Bonneville Speed Week. Tony is living his hot rod dream, from driving hot rods flat-out to covering events and races all over the world for TorqTalk, Hot Rod Magazine, and others. He’s been a friend to us and the sport for decades, and it was fun to catch up with him and chat for a few in the Nugget Casino parking lot car show.
Kevin Oeste and Mike “Q-Ball” Clarke chat about their recent trip to Las Vegas for the 2023 SEMA Show, the week-long center of the automotive aftermarket universe. The SEMA Show is loaded with cars, new parts, and events, but Kevin feels this year was more about the personal connections than anything else. Of course, there’s automotive trivia and some other nonsense along the way, making it another fun episode of the V8 Radio Podcast!
The V8 Speed and Resto Shop Team has an opening in our automotive upholstery shop! We are hiring an Auto Upholstery Technician for Restoration and Custom Cars at the V8 Speed and Resto Shop in Red Bud, IL!
Are you an experienced and creative Automotive Upholstery Technician? Do you like to build custom interiors for amazing cars? Do you have a keen eye for detail and a skill set that transforms vehicles into automotive masterpieces? If so, V8 Speed and Resto Shop is looking for you! We are a renowned automotive restoration and customization shop, and we are seeking a talented and experienced Upholstery Technician to join our dynamic team.
As an Upholstery Technician specializing in restoration and custom cars, you will play a vital role in transforming vintage vehicles into works of art. You will be responsible for a range of tasks, including; pattern making, sewing various materials, vinyl wrapping, spray glue techniques, interior assembly knowledge, deconstruction & documentation, interior fabrication and wood working. Your expertise will help preserve the timeless beauty of classic cars while adding custom modifications to meet our clients’ unique visions. You will be a critical member of the team working to perfect our customers’ dream cars!
Perform top-notch interior craftsmanship installation on classics, customs, and muscle cars.
Execute and ensure highest quality of interior fabrication and perform final interior assembly on seats, door panels, headliners, trim, and other interior items.
Collaborate with our passionate team to ensure every project meets our high standards of quality.
Auto Upholstery Technician Skills, Experience, and Job Requirements:
Proven experience as an upholstery technician, with a focus on restoration and customization.
In-depth knowledge of automotive upholstery work and repair techniques.
Proficient in sewing, deconstruction and assembly of car interior, wood working skills, vinyl wrapping, pattern making and interior fabrication for vehicle restoration.
A keen eye for detail and a commitment to delivering exceptional results.
Ability to work effectively as part of a team and independently on projects.
Strong problem-solving skills and a passion for overcoming challenges.
Excellent communication skills and a customer-centric approach.
Passion for custom cars and the automotive culture.
Join Our Enthusiastic Team!
If you have a deep love for classic cars, take pride in your craftsmanship, and possess the skills to elevate automotive restoration and customization, we want to hear from you! At V8 Speed and Resto Shop, you’ll have the opportunity to work on remarkable projects and collaborate with fellow automotive enthusiasts.
We value the well-being of our Team and their families above all else, and we all focus on generating the best employee and customer experience possible. Our core values center around the way we treat people and would like to be treated. We live and breathe classics, customs, restored and modified muscle cars, restomods, pro-touring cars, and more at the V8 Speed and Resto Shop. We take pride in meticulously restoring and customizing vintage vehicles, and our commitment to craftsmanship and attention to detail sets us apart in the industry. We understand the significance of these cars to their owners and treat them as such. Our team is composed of highly skilled professionals who share a common passion for automotive excellence.
V8 Speed and Resto Shop Purpose:
We believe in the importance of classic vehicles not only as historical objects, but for their personal significance to enthusiasts and their families, and for the joy they bring to the world.
We believe in the importance of the automobile industry as a workspace where people of all skill sets and in all areas of business can thrive working around special vehicles that ignite their passion.
We believe that dream cars can and do exist, and that our team is here to build them.
V8 Speed and Resto Shop Mission Statement:
To connect people with the best times of their lives through things with wheels.
Values Statement:
The V8 Speed and Resto Shop achieves our goals and the goals of our customers by applying the following core values to everything we do:
Happiness
Quality
Respect
Honesty
Loyalty
Teamwork
Passion
Innovation
V8 Speed and Resto Shop Vision Statement:
To ensure that automobile enthusiasts will always have a trusted, talented, and passionate source to provide services they need to enjoy their special vehicles.
To always provide a healthy, safe, creative, and respectful workplace where our team can enhance their skills and abilities and enjoy satisfying and rewarding careers.
This Auto Upholstery Technician job opening requires experience. This is not an entry level position.
This position requires big picture thinking and a great attitude.
This is a full-time position. Shop hours are 8-5 Monday – Friday (Technician Hours 7AM – 3:30PM optional)
This job opening provides many benefits. We provide paid health insurance – PPO Health, Dental, Vision insurance 75% company paid. Paid time off starts accruing on day 1. Paid Holidays, 401(k) 3% matching, Flexible schedule, Company Paid $50K Life insurance, Employee discounts on parts, Provide in-house and out of shop training.
Competitive salary based on experience.
The V8 Speed and Resto Shop is a great working environment with awesome teammates and lots of cool tools and equipment to grow your abilities. We have a backlog of work and are always looking to build better, more creative hot rods, customs, and muscle cars. We are located in a small, safe midwestern town of Red Bud Illinois.
To apply for this exciting opportunity, please click the application link below. We look forward to speaking with you and welcome an exceptional Auto Upholstery Technician like you to our team!
Experience required! This is not an entry level position.
This position requires big picture thinking and a great attitude. Shop hours are 8-5 Monday – Friday (Technician Hours 7AM – 3:30PM optional)
We provide PPO Health, Dental, Vision insurance 75% company paid. Paid time off after 90 days, Paid Holidays, 401(k) 3% matching, Flexible schedule, Company Paid $50K Life insurance, Employee discounts on parts, Provide in-house and out of shop training.
Great working environment and awesome teammates to work with as well as lots of cool tools and equipment to grow your abilities. We are located in a small, safe midwestern town of Red Bud Illinois.
If you want consistent, rewarding work every day, every week, building award winning show cars this is a job for you!
Flip Through Some V8 Speed and Resto Shop Car Builds:
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Fill Out The Application To Schedule An Interview Today!
The V8 Speed and Resto Shop is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The V8 Speed and Resto Shop does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, non-disqualifying physical or mental disability, national origin, veteran status or any other basis covered by appropriate law. All employment is decided on the basis of qualifications, merit, and business need.
Take a lap through the 2023 Muscle Car and Corvette Nationals with us after hours! The 2023 Muscle Car and Corvette Nationals show once again was jammed with unbelievable cars and displays. In this video, we take a walk-through the show after hours where the general public was not allowed to get up close in personal with many of the cars and feature exhibits. We cover the great “Who’s The Boss?” Ford display, the dual engine 1966 Oldsmobile Toronado, then we see the big bodied Buick display, cars from AMC and Pontiac and Chevrolet, special featured 1968 Ford Torino GT 428 Cobra Jet, Saleen Mustangs, and much more.
1970 Oldsmobile 442 W30 Convertible in PLUM CRAZY at 2022 MCACN Show Muscle Car Of The Week
This amazing 1970 Oldsmobile 442 W-30 convertible is wearing an unusual color for an Oldsmobile, it’s actually a factory Chrysler color called Plum Crazy Purple! However, this amazing car was painted by General Motors in this Chrysler color back in 1970 and is considered correct for the car. How can this be? We got the whole story from restore Allan Steinbock at the 2022 Muscle Car and Corvette Nationals show in Chicago.
This is not just a pretty face, as this 442 features the 455 V8 engine with the W-30 performance package, including an aluminum intake manifold, hotter camshaft, tuned carburetor, and other blue-printed engine parts. It also features sport suspension, and the W 27 rear axle as well.
Although it is not a typical car, it is typical of the types of amazing and rare muscle cars found each year at the Muscle Car and Corvette Nationals Show in Chicago, we hope to see you there!
Are you familiar with the Automotive Aftermarket Charitable Foundation? They are always there for those in the Auto Aftermarket if something bad happens. I had a quick conversation with my good friend Joel Ayres about the foundation and how they are there when you need them. It’s a great operation and worth supporting.
This cool 1932 Ford Roadster is a great looking fiberglass hot rod powered by a dual quad-fed small block Chevy V8. It came to us in need of some wiring updates to be more reliable.
Honoring Veterans And The Birth Of Hot Rodding on Veterans Day 2023
Today’s hot rodding and high-performance parts industry can be directly traced back to veterans who enthusiastically put their newfound skills to work following World War II. This was a time where their enthusiasm and passion for speed and creating machines was coupled with an availability of low cost jalopies and cars to hop up, And a booming American economy, provided financial resources for them to make it happen. We love the fact that many veterans have started high-performance parts businesses many years ago that are still in business today helping us all realize our passions and enjoy our cars with friends and family. Thank you to all veterans From the V8 Speed Shop team! 
Muscle Car fans from around the world are gearing up for the 2023 Muscle Car and Corvette Nationals show in Chicago, and we have MCACN Managing Partner Bob Ashton on the V8 Radio Podcast for an exclusive show preview! We are really looking forward to seeing legendary designer, engineer, and racer Peter Brock at the show, in addition to all the amazing cars! Bob, Kevin Oeste and Mike “Q-Ball” Clarke throw down automotive trivia questions, laughs are had, and much more on the V8 Radio Podcast!
