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.   

https://www.torqtalk.com

https://www.bonnevillepodcast.com

#bonnevillepodcast #tonythacker #hotrods #saltflats #racing

Chatting with Tony Thacker at Speed Week 2023 on the Bonneville Up To Speed Podcast
Bonneville Up To Speed Podcast
Chatting with Tony Thacker at Speed Week 2023 on the Bonneville Up To Speed Podcast
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It’s really cool to hang around with people who are really passionate about what they like, and on this episode of the V8 Radio Podcast, Kevin Oeste and Mike Q-Ball Clarke chat about what it’s like to get excited about what you like to do.   Kevin references music producer Rick Beato and a recent interview with guitar virtuoso Nuno Bettencourt and how jazzed Nuno was to share his passion and stories, much in the way car enthusiasts do all the time.   Later, we get an update from Mr. Q on working at the V8 Speed and Resto Shop and how that’s all going.  Then, they touch on the new Bonneville Up To Speed podcast, some special V8 Radio Podcast shout-outs to new friends made through this podcast, Automotive Trivia, an announcement about V8 Radio stickers, some Hot Rod Magazine stories, and much more!   Listen, like, subscribe, and review this episode of the V8 Radio Podcast!

https://www.v8radio.com

Rick Beato Nuno Bettencourt interview:  https://youtu.be/sYpKg6HR1z8

https://www.bonnevillepodcast

#musclecarpodcast  #carpodcast #bonneville #v8radio #v8speedandresto #v8speedshop

Meeting New Friends, Summer Road Trips, Sharing Enthusiasm, Rick Beato, Nuno Bettencourt, Automotive Trivia and More on the V8 Radio Podcast!
V8 Radio Podcast
Meeting New Friends, Summer Road Trips, Sharing Enthusiasm, Rick Beato, Nuno Bettencourt, Automotive Trivia and More on the V8 Radio Podcast!
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We were super-stoked to see the 1932 Ford Roadster owned and loved by Hot Rod Magazine’s Gray Baskerville. It’s not only a righteous ride, but has crossed over 230,000 miles in the name of having a good time telling car stories to the masses. It was great to see it in the Hot Rod Magazine / MotorTrend booth at the 2022 SEMA Show in Las Vegas, NV. It’s also on the cover of the 75th Anniversary issue of Hot Rod – check it out! @hotrodmagazine @semashow #32ford #hotrod #sema #baskerville #toocool #adeeos #legend #icon

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Gray Baskerville 1932 Ford Roadster SEMA 2022

From the Cars, Stars, and Roll Bars site: “Kevin Oeste, Owner of V8 Speed and Resto Shop, has been a friend for many years and it was great to have him set aside time to be my featured guest. He is a lifelong automotive and motorsports enthusiast who’s passion was sparked at an early age. After receiving a degree in Broadcast Communication from Illinois State University, Kevin was able to merge his two passions by getting hired at Hot Rod Magazine in Los Angeles, eventually producing Hot Rod TV on Speedchannel. Shooting NCMA races and events like the Hot Rod Power Tour led him all over the country, eventually meeting his wife Kelle 6 states from home after his 1962 Ford Galaxie 500 XL convertible broke down on the Power Tour.

In 2005, Oeste and Kelle launched the V8 Speed and Resto Shop in Red Bud, IL, a world-class restoration, custom, and performance center currently employing 25 dedicated professionals building award-winning cars for discerning customers all over the world. Kevin handles the media and helps customers visualize their dream cars, and Kelle is the operational force that runs the business. Their first car was a 1969 Camaro SEMA show car, and it’s been full throttle ever since.

The mission statement of the V8 Speed and Resto Shop is “To connect people with the best times of their lives through things with wheels.” Kevin and Kelle Oeste remain immersed in automotive business, media, events, and culture, noting that it’s not about the cars… it’s all about the people and their stories. It seems they’ve written quite a story for themselves along the way.”

#hotrod #NHRA #SEMA #csrbvegas

Known as “The Grand Daddy Of Them All”, the Grand National Roadster Show is a must-attend event for anyone into Hot Rods, Kustoms, Lowriders, VWs, Muscle, Kulture, and more. This year they celebrated the 90th anniversary of the 1932 Ford roadster, and there were Deuce roadsters of all flavors on hand to check out and enjoy. Recognizable standouts include the 1951 Hirohata Merc, which recently crossed the Mecum auction block for over $2 Million with the juice. Another favorite is the “Limefire” 1932 Ford Roadster, which graced the pages of Hot Rod Magazine and thousands of walls in poster form back in the 1980s. Numerous awards are presented at the event, but the two most prestigeous include the America’s Most Beautiful Roadster (AMBR) award, and the Al Slonaker Memorial Award. This year, the blue 1934 Chevrolet Roadster owned by Jeff Breault and built by Devlin Rod & Customs took home the AMBR, and the amazing 1932 Ford Coupe owned by Pat Gauntt and built by Hollywood Hot Rods won the Slonaker, sponsored by ARP. The 2022 GNRS did not disappoint, and we recommend booking your visit to Pomona, California, for the 2023 show!

JANUARY 15, 2022 – The Hirohata Mercury sold for a hammer price of $1.95 Million Dollars at the Mecum auction! It remains the highest price paid for any kustom car, and we were excited to see it happen.

ORIGINAL ARTICLE:

When it comes to kustom cars, the 1951 Mercury built by George and Sam Barris for Bob Hirohata is about as legendary is it gets. The car innovated kustom design elements, and remains true to form today, even through an extensive restoration. Oh yeah, it also looks awesome! It’s long, low, chopped, clean, with Buick side trim, tuck & roll interior, Caddy Sombrero hubcaps, and a real Von Dutch stripe on the dash, and it’s boss. And now, it can be yours!

The spring, 2022 Mecum Auction in Kissimmee, Florida is where this amazing ride will change hands to the highest bidder.

HIGHLIGHTS

  • The Hirohata Mercury, arguably the most famous custom car of the classic era
  • Named for the car’s original owner, Bob Hirohata of Los Angeles, California
  • Iconic custom car built by Sam and George Barris
  • Featured in Hot Rod Magazine in March 1953
  • Cover car for Hop Up magazine in March 1953
  • Class Winner at the 1952 Petersen Motorama
  • Featured in Rod & Custom in October 1953
  • Appeared in the film “Running Wild” in 1955 starring Mamie Van Doren
  • In the care of the McNiel family since 1959, when Jim McNiel purchased the car for $500 at the age of 16
  • Restoration completed in 1996 to exact 1952 Motorama specifications
  • Restoration detailed by Pat Ganahl in several issues of Rod & Custom magazine
  • Colors matched using spectrography and new paint was applied by Junior’s House of Color using PPG materials
  • Displayed at the “Hot Rods and Customs (The Men and Machines of California’s Car Culture)” exhibit at the Oakland Museum of California upon completion
  • Restored again by the original builders, including Herschel “Junior” Conway and Frank Sonzogni, in 2015 for Pebble Beach
  • First in Class at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance in 2015
  • Added to the National Historical Vehicle Register in 2017 and displayed on the national mall in Washington, DC
  • Previously displayed at the Petersen Automotive Museum
  • 1953 Cadillac 331 CI OHV V-8 engine with three Stromberg carburetors
  • The B-pillars were removed and the roof was reshaped to create a hardtop
  • V-butted windshield
  • Top chopped 4 inches in the front and 7 inches in the rear
  • Front fenders extended 4 inches, incorporating frenched 1952 Ford headlights
  • Rear fenders extended and fitted with frenched 1952 Lincoln Capri tail lights
  • Trunk corners were rounded
  • Hood was filled, peaked and extended into the grille
  • Custom grille made from three 1952 Ford grilles
  • Factory dips on the doors were filled and the surrounding sheet metal was reshaped to flow with 1952 Buick Riviera trim spears
  • Functional brake cooling scoops on rear panels
  • Flush fit, flared fender skirts
  • Chopped front coils in front and the frame was kicked up in the rear
  • Springs were de-arched using two sets of 1.5-inch lowering blocks
  • Finished in two-tone Seafoam Green and Organic Green
  • Pinstriping originally applied by Von Dutch
  • Custom upholstery by The Carson Top Shop
  • Trunk upholstered by Gaylord’s Kustom Shop
  • 1953 Cadillac “Sombrero” wheel covers
  • Twin Appleton S-552 spotlights

Head over to https://www.mecum.com/lots/FL0122-487726/1951-bob-hirohata-mercury-custom/ to see more, and for your chance to register to bid on a true kustom legend. And if you win, please take us for a spin!

The V8 Speed & Resto Shop Crew wishes to thank Hot Rod Magazine for including our shop in their 2015 Hot Rod Power Tour coverage!    The 2015 Tour rolled past our shop on June 9, and we all had a great time seeing the cars and helping out a few fellow Hot Rodders in need.      The video below tells the story of the day the Power Tour came to town!

The 2015 Hot Rod Power Tour is coming, and it is rolling right past the V8 Speed and Resto Shop! On this episode of V8 Radio, Kevin and Kelle chat about Power Tours past and share some tips on how to have a successful trip.

V8 Radio Podcast Logo
V8 Radio Podcast
Hot Rod Magazine Power Tour Is Coming June 9!



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2015 Hot Rod Magazine Power Tour Visits V8 Speed & Resto Shop Video V8TV

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http://www.v8speedshop.com/contact – 314.783.8325
Produced by Kevin Oeste and V8TV Productions, Inc. Continue reading “2015 Hot Rod Magazine Power Tour Visits V8 Speed & Resto Shop Video V8TV”