This episode of Hammer Down hosted by Kevin Oeste features a great lineup of Hot Rod Industry personalities, including HRIA Chair and HushMat & ZyCoat Owner Tim McCarthy, Pete and Jake’s Owner Jerry Slover, and South City Rod and Custom owner Bill Ganahl. Tune in as they:
Dive deep into the SEMA Hot Rod Industry Alliance (HRIA), its mission, and its impact on the hobby we love.
Offer invaluable insights and tips for Hot Rod business owners, helping them navigate the ever-evolving landscape.
Revisit legendary cars that have left an indelible mark on the industry, like the iconic California Kid.
… And share some laughs and great stories along the way!
Whether you’re a seasoned gearhead or just starting your professional Hot Rod journey, Hammer Down delivers informative and entertaining discussion that celebrates the passion, ingenuity, and enduring legacy of the Hot Rod community and how the SEMA HRIA aims to help Hot Rod businesses succeed.
So buckle up, rev your engines, and join us on this thrilling ride through the world of hot rodding. Welcome to Hammer Down.
Kevin Oeste and Mike “Q-Ball” Clarke chat about their recent trip to Chicago for the 2023 Muscle Car and Corvette Nationals Show! The 2023 MCACN show brought out hundreds of the most amazing Muscle Cars in the world, and Kevin was once again honored to help unveil some of the Featured Restorations and Emcee the event. Keep your eye on our V8TV YouTube and Muscle Car Of The Week channels for new videos from the event. Of course, there’s automotive trivia and some other nonsense along the way, making it a legendary episode of the V8 Radio Podcast!
We are excited to announce the winners of the 2023 V8 Speed and Resto Shop Appreciation Awards of Recognition!
These awards are our way of saying thank you to the incredible Team members who make our organization, culture, and cars the best they can be.
This year, we are honoring five Team members who have gone above and beyond to contribute to our success. These Team members are:
Amber Lazenby – Administrative Assistant in Administration – Awarded the Gigi Carleton “Visionary Vanguard” Award, In Appreciation for Protecting Our Team’s Long-Term Success
Mike Bess – Parts Restoration Technician – Awarded the Vic Edelbrock Sr. “Excellence in Mentorship” Award, In Appreciation of Developing and Empowering the Next Generation of Leaders
Brian Wibbenmeyer – Parts Manager in Administration – Awarded the Eugene Kranz “Tough And Competent” Award, In Appreciation for High Aspirations, Positive Attitude, and Winning Desire
John Blandford – Facilities Tech – Awarded the Louie Melching “Make It Happen” Award, In Appreciation for Recognizing Opportunity, Persistence, and Personal Growth
Phillip Baldwin – Director of Parts Movement and Storage – Awarded the 2023 V8 Speed and Resto Shop MVP, Peer-Selected and Recognized for Exceeding Expectations, Quality Work, A Great Attitude, and Helping Our Team
These Team members are all dedicated, hardworking, and passionate about their work. They are always willing to go the extra mile to help their colleagues and customers. They are an essential part of our Team, and we are so grateful for their contributions.
Here are a few of the reasons why these Team members were chosen:
Commitment to excellence: These Team members are all committed to providing the highest quality of service possible. They are always looking for ways to improve their skills and knowledge, and they are always willing to go the extra mile to get the job done right.
Teamwork: These Team members are all great Team players. They are always willing to help out their colleagues, and they are always looking for ways to collaborate to achieve common goals.
Customer service: These Team members are all committed to providing excellent customer service. They are always friendly, helpful, and professional, and they are always willing to go the extra mile to make sure that our customers are satisfied.
Positive attitude: These Team members all have a positive attitude. They are always upbeat and enthusiastic, and they always see the best in people. They are a pleasure to work with, and they make our workplace a more positive and enjoyable environment.
We are proud to honor these five Team members with our Appreciation Awards of Recognition. They are an inspiration to us all, and we are confident that they will continue to do great work for many years to come.
Congratulations to the winners!
We would also like to take this opportunity to thank all of our Team members for their hard work and dedication. We are so grateful to have such talented and passionate people in our organization.
ABOUT THE AWARDS
Gigi Carleton “Visionary Vanguard” Award, In Appreciation for Protecting Our Team’s Long-Term Success
Gigi Carleton, for more than 40 years, worked at Petersen Publishing Company as Margie and Robert E. Petersen’s executive secretary and personal manager. She started there as a temp, working on organizational details for the Motor Trend 500 stock car race, sponsored by Petersen Publishing, at Riverside International Raceway each year. She was then hired by the Petersens as their full time “right arm” in the administration of all executive aspects of the business and many of their personal and philanthropic activities. Post the Petersens’ passing, she is now president of the Margie and Robert E. Petersen Foundation, and was lifelong friends with the Petersens. Gigi was instrumental in assembling the first SEMA Show in 1967, and continues to ensure the Petersen Museum and automotive enthusiast lifestyle lives on through her work with the Foundation.
We present this award to a V8 Speed and Resto Shop Team Member who works to ensure our future is bright and secure.
Vic Edelbrock Sr. “Excellence in Mentorship” Award, In Appreciation of Developing and Empowering the Next Generation of Leaders
Founder of the Edelbrock Corporation, Otis Victor Edelbrock Sr. was an early days hot rodder who modified his own cars, tested products on them, then sold the parts piecemeal to an eager base of customers in Southern California. Eventually, mass production of Edelbrock manifolds and heads was inevitable and the company flourished. The Edelbrock line now includes cylinder heads, intake manifolds and pistons for many applications. And he achieved an industry first in 1958 by getting 1 horsepower per cubic inch from a 283 Chevy small-block with the new cross-ram manifold. Vic Sr. was inducted in the International Drag Racing Hall of Fame as well as the National Midget Auto Racing Hall of Fame. Although he passed in 1962, his lessons and training equipped his son Vic Edelbrock Jr. to take the helm of the Edelbrock Corporation at just 26 years old and build it into one of the most respected names in automotive performance.
We present this award to a V8 Speed and Resto Shop Team Member who mentors younger Team Members to become their best.
Eugene Kranz “Tough And Competent” Award, In Appreciation for High Aspirations, positive Attitude, and Winning Desire
Eugene Francis Kranz (born August 17, 1933) is an American aerospace engineer who served as NASA’s second Chief Flight Director, directing missions of the Mercury, Gemini and Apollo programs, including the first lunar landing mission, Apollo 11. He directed the successful efforts by the Mission Control Team to save the crew of Apollo 13, and was portrayed in the 1995 film of the same name by actor Ed Harris. He characteristically wore a close-cut flat top hairstyle and the dapper “mission” vests (waistcoats) of different styles and materials made by his wife, Marta Kranz, for his Flight Director missions.
He coined the phrase “tough and competent”, which became known as the “Kranz Dictum”. Kranz has been the subject of movies, documentary films, and books and periodical articles. Kranz is a recipient of a Presidential Medal of Freedom. In a 2010 Space Foundation survey, Kranz was ranked as the #2 most popular space hero.
We present this award to a V8 Speed and Resto Shop Team Member who demonstrates not only skill and ability in challenging situations, but who understands the standards of our shop and works to exceed them.
Louie Melching “Make It Happen” Award, In Appreciation for Recognizing Opportunity, Persistence, and Personal Growth
Robert “Louie” Melching was a generous and crafty individual who built a life of making the best of what he had to work with. He wore many automotive business hats in his small town of Red Bud, IL, ranging from auto sales, collision repair, towing, salvage, filling station attendant, and anything else he could to keep the lights on and help his family and community. He had owned and operated Louie’s Auto Repair in Red Bud for 58 years. The V8 Speed and Resto Shop exists today in buildings Louie once owned, and our Team has fond recollections of Louie walking through the shop and helping us understand the how’s and why’s of the additions and improvements he made over the years. We appreciate Louie’s positive, can-do attitude, and enjoy discovering “Louis-isms” in our buildings years after his passing.
We present this award to a V8 Speed and Resto Shop Team Member who is able to create innovative solutions and solve problems with limited resources with a positive attitude.
V8 Speed and Resto Shop MVP, Peer-Selected and Recognized for Exceeding Expectations, Quality Work, A Great Attitude, and Helping Our Team
The V8 Speed and Resto Shop values the contributions of its Team and recognizes their dedication through a peer-to-peer recognition program. Each Team member has the opportunity to nominate and vote for a colleague who has made significant contributions to the company, culture, and quality of cars we build – particularly those who demonstrate a positive attitude, consistently deliver high-quality work, introduce innovative ideas, and bring positive change to the organization.
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 TMI TRIM Awards at The SEMA Show 2022 set the industry on fire. With the lack of awards from a few companies that are normally at the show, TMI Products stepped up to give the recognition that these builders deserved. Builders from all over the world entered for the coveted title of Best of Show – but only one amazing ride was able to take home that trophy.
Seven other winners were awarded in their respective classes and the TMI TRIM Awards were firmly cemented into the SEMA Show history books. After the week, coverage spread like wildfire of the TRIM Awards and they were seen by over 57 million enthusiasts.
The TMI TRIM Awards pay homage to the craftsmen who hand cut, stitched, and designed all the amazing interiors at SEMA. Too often though, the paint, wheels, or engine received most all of the recognition – no longer is that the case where TMI is now honoring fellow tradesmen who have perfected their craft.
TMI Products has been hand crafting some of the finest automotive upholstery for over 40 years now. With 40 years in the rear-view mirror, it was time to give back to the community and recognize those special builders. TMI is continuing this new tradition with the TRIM Awards for the 2023 SEMA Show.
Last years Best of Show winner wasn’t even a TMI Products interior, showing how serious TMI is about recognizing the best of the best. In fact, TMI doesn’t even choose the winners; for that, a completely independent panel of six industry veterans go over every inch of the car and then determine the winners.
The expert panel of judges include:
Kevin Oeste- The Voice of the SEMA Show and TRIM Awards Host, V8 Speed & Resto Shop Owner
Sean Holman- Owner of Use For Adventure and Co-Host of The Truck Show Podcast
Sara Morosan- Owner of LGE-CTS Motorsports, 2021 SEMA Person of the Year, Multi-time Ford Design award winner
Theresa Contreras- owner of Baja Forged, Multi-time Ford Design award winner, PPG Brand Ambassador
Marcel Venable- co-owner of AutoRevolution on Amazon Prime, OBS-Clash, Car Guy Confessions Podcast
Jason Mulligan- co-owner of AutoRevolution on Amazon Prime, OBS-Clash, Car Guy Confessions Podcast
The TMI TRIM Awards are designed to not only honor the builds and the craftsmen behind it, but to celebrate them in a public fashion. Wednesday November 1st at Noon all the judges and builders will convene at the stage in the TMI Products booth. Here, the judges will go over some of the highlights and announce winners in front of the entire Central Hall at The SEMA Show 2023.
The trophies are just as unique and custom as the interiors and can easily be hoisted in the air in a show of appreciation and accomplishment during the awards ceremony. While there are a few winners, only one ride will be crowned as the Best of Show!
To be eligible for the TRIM Awards, you need to have a vehicle that’s registered and on display at the SEMA Show 2023. There are categories for TMI-equipped vehicles, and categories for non-TMI-equipped vehicles. Having a TMI-equipped vehicle though does not offer a better chance of winning, as proven by last year’s Best of Show winner, that was not TMI-equipped.
TRIM Awards Categories include:
Best Car –Open to any car that features TMI seats
Best Truck –Open to any truck that features TMI seats
Best Custom SUV or Wagon –Open to any SUV or wagon, either two-door or four-door
Best Full Interior –Open to any vehicle of any type that is running a full TMI interior. A full TMI interior includes all the available components from that model line
Most Creative –Best usage of patterns, colors, and overall execution
Best Color-Matching –Best usage of patterns, colors, and stitching that matches vehicle exterior
Best Custom Car Interior (open to all Cars at the show) –Can be any vehicle with any type of custom interior
Best Custom Truck Interior (open to all Trucks at the show) –Can be any vehicle with any type of custom interior
Fan Favorite (Chosen Online) –Finalists that the TRIM Award Judges have chosen will be voted online by fans worldwide.
Best of Show Champion –Judges will vote on their favorite interior of SEMA 2023 and crown it with the TRIM Award’s highest honor
SEE WEBSITE FOR COMPLETE RULES AND INFO AND ENTRY FORM
Judging for the 2023 SEMA Show TRIM Awards will begin Tuesday afternoon October 31st with the announcement from TMI’s SEMA booth of the top 20 vehicles. Competitors are encouraged to register online to let judges know where to find their vehicles.
The crowning of the inaugural TRIM Champion will take place on November 1st at TMI Products SEMA booth #24477, 12:00 noon PST.
Our hosts Kevin Oeste and Mike “Q-Ball” Clarke are joined by Ross Berlanga of TMI Products on this special episode of the V8 Radio Podcast! They cover the long friendship of Ross and Kevin and lots of hot rod stories along the way, all the way up to the upcoming 2023 TMI TRIM Award to be held at the 2023 SEMA Show in Las Vegas. The TMI TRIM Award celebrates outstanding interiors of show cars and trucks, and provides great content and even market research for new TMI interior product ideas. Kevin acts as a judge and Emcee of the TRIM Award, and you’ll learn all about it here. And don’t worry, there is plenty of silliness and Automotive Trivia as well, on this unrivaled episode of the V8 Radio Podcast!
SEMA Fest will be open to everyone and bring the full spectrum of automotive passions together in an accessible, awesome celebration of car culture.
The SEMA Show will remain a trade-only event Tuesday through Friday, with limited access to enthusiasts through the Friday Experience program. SEMA will take over the Las Vegas Festival Grounds on Friday evening of SEMA Week through Saturday night with an all-new SEMAFEST, featuring top music, entertainment, car show and cruise, VIP experiences, craft food, automotive celebrities, and motorsports.
CAR SHOW • MUSIC FESTIVAL • LAS VEGAS SEMA is proud to present this historic festival event open for all to attend at the Las Vegas Festival Grounds Friday, November 3 & Saturday, November 4.
British magazines Classic Fords Modified and Retro Ford Magazine feature 10 pages of the top modified Mustang and Ford builds from SEMA Show ’22, in the latest issue. SEMA is the largest automotive aftermarket event of the year. If you are lucky enough to experience SEMA you are sure to experience Kevin Oeste. Kevin hosts SEMA Ignited and SEMA Central which include interviews with automotive celebrities, industry experts and influencers. SEMA 2022 was anticipated by many after coming off the pandemic years; however, SEMA 2023 just may prove there are further enhancements and higher exceptions.
Photography by Mike Rysiecki, SEMA, Zack Miller & Cole Reynolds.
Today we’re setting the wayback machine to November, 2014, where we find the “Mr. Chevy” 1955 Chevy gasser riding on the back of “Carried Away”, it’s personal matching ’55 hauler as they exit the 2014 SEMA Show lighting up the SEMA Cruise on their way out the door. In this shot, SEMA Cruise Emcee Joe Sebergandio fires up the crowd – who was already fired up – as the golden gasser makes a grand exit. “Carried Away” was restored by the V8 Speed and Resto Shop, while “Mr. Chevy” remains as it was when completed back in the late 1960s. You can see the restoration photos and videos of Mr. Chevy at this link. Today, Joe Sebergandio and V8 Speed and Resto Shop’s own Kevin Oeste still have fun hosting the SEMA Cruise… a rolling car show where you truly have no idea what could be rolling by next!
SEMA CEO Mike Spagnola joins Mike “Q-Ball” Clarke and Kevin Oeste on this episode of the V8 Radio Podcast, recorded in the ARP display at the 2022 Performance Racing Industry Show in Indianapolis! Topics include the SEMA Show news, the SEMA Garage, and cool projects of his own like his new Nissan Z. Spagnola breaks down the SEMA Individual Membership and how joining helps protect the interests of all automotive enthusiasts and professionals. And he did pretty well on the Automotive Trivia contest! Click to listen and be sure to subscribe!