Join hosts Kevin Oeste and Mike “Cue Ball” Clark for another fun, no-fluff episode of V8 Radio! Kevin recaps his spring shakedown of the 1962 Ford Galaxie with a full tune-up, clever fixes, and real-world lessons learned the hard way. Kevin shares the inside scoop from the SEMA Hot Rod Industry Alliance long-range planning meeting in Florida, plus stories from the Edison & Ford winter estates. The guys also drop two fresh automotive trivia questions to keep you guessing until the very end.
On This Episode:
Automotive trivia questions
Kevin’s 1962 Ford Galaxie season opener: tune-up, new MSD wires, NGK plugs, EGR cleaning, and throttle body mods
Real talk on parts ordering mistakes (wrong spark plug wires and O2 sensors) and re-homing strategies
Kevin’s recap of the SEMA Hot Rod Industry Alliance (HRIA) planning meeting, with a deep dive into HRIA programs: education days, builder roundtables, Hammer Down podcast, and feature vehicles
V8 Speed and Resto Shop updates, Mike’s Suburban transmission plans, and teaser for a future episode on disappointing famous cars
We’re excited to share the newest episode of the V8 Radio Podcast is live! Kevin Oeste and Mike “Q-Ball” Clarke are back delivering another fun, insightful ride through classic car culture, hot rod builds, and shop life at V8 Speed and Resto. From automotive trivia, real-world lessons on making modified classics more enjoyable to drive, to crew shenanigans and plenty of laughs, this one’s packed with the kind of garage talk every gearhead digs.
Key topics covered:
Deep discussion on balancing high-performance upgrades (suspension, rear axles, bushings, mounts) with everyday drivability – avoiding the “noisy tin can” trap many builds fall into
Shop philosophy: connecting people to the best times of their lives through cars, and why conversations about what you REALLY want from a build matter more than horsepower numbers
Crew fun: V8 Speed & Resto Playlist Challenge (team guesses who picked which songs), shoutouts, and a few hilarious tangents including 80s spy shows and unexpected global car trivia
Funny moment: The dramatic band sting when Mike’s wildly off-base guess on an automotive trivia question gets revealed – pure comedy gold. 😂
Listen now wherever you get your podcasts or head to v8radio.com. Smash that subscribe button and keep the shiny side up!
Hang on for another episode of the V8 Radio Podcast, where hosts Kevin Oeste and Mike “Q-Ball” Clarke crank up the fun from the heart of V8 Speed & Resto Shop. This episode dives into automotive trivia that’ll test your tire knowledge, shares heartwarming tales of loyal customers and multi-car builds, and geeks out on how AI is revolutionizing shop ops and engine tuning. From winter garage gratitude to dream car hunts and EGR valve epiphanies, it’s another fun ride packed with laughs, tips, and that unmistakable V8 vibe. Whether you’re wrenching on your own project or just daydreaming about spring cruises, this one’s got the spark to keep your cylinders firing!
Topics Covered:
Automotive Trivia Showdown
Winter Shop Vibes: Reflections on brutal Midwest cold, indoor car storage, and a 360° tour of in-progress builds like a ’66 Chevelle SS, ’79 Broncos, and multiple Trans Ams from repeat customers.
Customer Connections: Celebrating multi-car owners (up to three per client!), Firebird Fest shoutouts, and tips on scoping out rides like a ’71 Riviera or ’87 Fiero.
Dream Car Hunting: Partnering with Zach Straits’ Dream Car Connection for concierge car-finding services, plus stories of cross-country inspections with Hot Rod Magazine alums.
Industry Insider Scoop: Hosts’ roles in SEMA and the Hot Rod Industry Alliance (HRA), including new member spotlights and the value of trade associations for hot rodders.
AI Revolution in the Garage: From custom shop software automating work orders to tuning EFI data logs, EGR valve deep dives, and brainstorming fuel-efficient mods on a ’62 Galaxie.
Personal Project Pit Stops: Mike’s GTO engine rebuild with Edelbrock upgrades, torque converter woes on a Suburban, and fluid-change hacks; Kevin’s O2 sensor saga and dyno dreams.
Engine Shop Spotlights: Excitement over YouTube mini-videos on honing, balancing, and more, with fan polls demanding even bigger engine content.
Shop Growth & Team Wins: Adding project managers and HR pros to handle 45+ cars, plus shoutouts to staff like Ethan Hahn for killer machining vids.
Dig the latest V8 Radio Podcast – Kevin and Mike recap the muscle car magic from the 2025 Muscle Car and Corvette Nationals, share trivia triumphs, and geek out over rare rides like that drool-worthy Starlight Black GTO!
🔥 Topics we revved through:
MCACN extravaganza: 640 cars, Hemi B-body convertible invasion, Z16 Chevelle showcase & the epic red carpet display!
1967 Pontiac GTO Ram Air unveil – black beauty with buckets, 4-speed & rare pedigree
Overhead Cam Six Pontiacs, Maple Leaf Muscle from Canada & survivor stories like the 256K-mile ’66 Shelby GT350H
Personal picks: Kevin’s Bamboo Cream ’70 Buick GS 455 4-Speed Convertible (Dave McClelland’s ride!) & Mike’s Sprint Six LeMans convertible
😂 Funny moment: Mike’s epic drool over the Starlight Black GTO leads to Kevin joking about installing a “Cue Ball’s Drool Pond” with gondola rides at the convention center! 💦🚣♂️
On the latest V8 Radio Podcast – Kevin’s hopped up on cold meds so he’s a bit goofy, but the mellifluous vibes are STRONG! We dive deep into SEMA Show 2025, automotive trivia, Q-Ball’s GTO block resurrection, and a LOT more! Listen and subscribe! #V8Radio #SEMAShow #MuscleCars
🔥 Topics & Tangents:
SEMA Show recap: New dealers, 2334 display vehicles, the Smokey Yunick Camaro, thousands of new products & the epic SEMA Cruise chaos!
1969 Corvette build spotlight with Coker Tire’s hot new redline/raised white letter Pro-Trac radials
GTO 400 block teardown: Cracked, but not dead! Dyno dreams ahead!
😂 And: Kevin apologizes on-mic for blocking media cams at the SEMA Cruise: “Sorry, I was the guy with the big bucket of brains!” 🤯
Tune in to the latest episode of the V8 Radio Podcast with hosts Kevin Oeste and Mike “Q-Ball” Clarke – it’s an “illuminating” ride full of classic car chat, trivia, and shop stories. Whether you’re wrenching on your ride or just dreaming about it, this one’s a must-listen!
In This V8 Radio Podcast Episode:
Automotive trivia bombs: Why was the 1957 Nash Ambassador illegal in 11 states? And what’s unique about 1968-1970 Firebird window stickers?
Behind-the-scenes at V8 Speed & Resto Shop: From building a stunning ’66 Chevelle SS (aka “Tropical Freeze”) to the latest engine carnage update on Q’s GTO.
Fun shop tales: Impromptu car club tours, student success stories, and prepping for the 2025 SEMA show.
Funny moment:
Kevin’s deadpan rage-baiting about “LS-swapping” everything – even though he secretly knows it’s sometimes the smart move. 😂 Don’t miss Q’s reaction!
Listen now on your favorite podcast app, subscribe for more, and share with your car buddies. What’s your wildest engine fail story? Drop it in the comments! #V8Radio #ClassicCars #MuscleCars #Podcast
Mike’s Award Winning GTO, Automotive Trivia, V8 Speed and Resto Shop Wins, and Much More on the V8 Radio Podcast!
Join hosts Kevin Oeste and Mike “Q-Ball” Clarke for an award-winning episode of the V8 Radio Podcast, recorded live from Kevin’s personal garage! This episode is packed with automotive enthusiasm, car show triumphs, shop updates, and intriguing trivia that will keep gearheads glued to their speakers. Mike shares the thrill of winning a trophy for his 1967 GTO at the Chicagoland Motor Expo, while the duo dives into the nuances of car show judging, the evolution of tire technology, and the V8 Speed & Resto Shop’s latest projects. From a heartwarming Buick Regal surprise to a rare 1969 Charger restoration, this episode celebrates the passion and stories behind classic cars. Plus, stick around for the reveal of their automotive trivia answers that spark lively debates!
Our Fearless Hosts Cover:
Mike’s 1967 GTO wins a trophy at the Chicagoland Motor Expo, with insights into car show judging and the “boomer board” phenomenon.
Discussion on the differences between bias-ply and radial tires, highlighting their impact on driving experience.
V8 Speed & Resto Shop updates: 14 cars completed this quarter, a 43% repeat customer rate, and standout projects like a 1977 Buick Regal SR surprise and a 1969 Dodge Charger restoration.
Heartwarming story of a Buick Regal unveiled at a grocery store’s 30th anniversary, showcasing the emotional impact of classic car restorations.
Automotive trivia questions about the fastest speeding ticket and the first American car with clear coat paint, with surprising answers revealed.
Tease of a potential acquisition: a 1970 Buick GS convertible with a storied history tied to Dave McClelland.
So many of us live with the regret of selling a favorite car. The story of a growing family and the limitations of hauling kids in a 2-door coupe is a pretty common tale that often ended in that prized coupe heading down the road with a new owner in favor of a bonafide family truckster. This was the case with a particular family man and his beloved 1977 Buick Regal. Had it, sold it, missed it. Until, that is, many years later when his now-grown son reached out to the V8 Speed and Resto Shop to replace the one that got away! One fun element was that the owner’s family owns the local Red Bud IGA Grocery Store across the street from our shop!
Finding A Unicorn
The car in question… a red 1977 Buick Regal, was unfortunately wrecked after the sale. The owner’s son approached our team to help locate and revitalize another red ’77… have you seen one of these driving around lately? A car that once seemed ubiquitous on the streets of America had seemed to be erased from time. Thankfully, a multi-sided search concluded when the owner’s son called and said “I found one, and am sending it to your shop to make it as close to Dad’s as possible!”
From The Owner: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ – “These folks do incredible work ! My 1977 Buick Regal was fully restored by this team and the job ( especially the white leather interior) was done to perfection ! I highly recommend this company if you want superior quality. Respectfully, T.J. Norrenberns Owner TJC Markets INC.”
It Had To Be Right
The original car wasn’t just any ’77 Buick, however. It was red with a white interior, bucket seats, floor shifter, T-tops, white vinyl top, and the V2.0 car had to be the same. Amazingly, the car the son found was also red with T-tops and buckets, but the interior was red cloth. Not gonna happen. That’s when the V8 Speed and Resto Shop Interior Shop sprung into action turning the red to white.
Taking the Interior Up a Notch
Changing the interior color sounds simple, but there were dozens of red plastic parts that needed to be color-matched to white, along with the headliner, rear package shelf, door panels, and the seat upholstery. It turns out that brilliant white seat covers are not falling off the shelves at the local parts store, so our team had to make them from scratch. New patterns were created, and piece by piece the seat covers, both for the front buckets and the rear full-width seat were sewn. New filler material was added to the frames before the covers were stretched over and cinched to perfection. The end result? A gleaming, bright white interior that is nicer than any done by Buick in 1977.
See The Surprise Reveal Video!
The Reveal
The best part of this story is how the customer’s son staged a suprise reveal for his Dad at the 30th anniversary of the family’s business, an IGA Grocery Store in Red Bud, IL. They had a huge party to thank their staff, customers, vendors, and the community for their support of the store over the years. The big surprise came after the ceremony when the son presented his Dad with the keys to the freshly updated Regal, and it was a magic moment! We were so happy for the family to be able to reconnect their Dad to some of the best times of his life through his prized Buick… and that’s the V8 Speed and Resto Shop mission statement in action!
The 1977 Buick Regal story as told in the V8 Radio Podcast, click to listen!
Join hosts Kevin Oeste and guest Mike “Q-Ball” Clarke on this episode of the V8 Radio Podcast as they dive into the excitement of the upcoming Street Machine Nationals event, chat about your car’s legacy, design a fantasy desert cruiser, share riveting automotive trivia, and have a few laughs along the way. Tune in for an engaging mix of car talk and fun—don’t forget to listen and subscribe today!
Mike “Q-Ball” Clarke and Kevin Oeste chat about how you can find far more enjoyment and success when working on your car – or any other part of life – by channeling your “inner labrador” and keeping a positive frame of mind and focusing on the outcome. You control your thoughts, thoughts control feelings. We’ll explain. Also, hang around for Q’s LED headlight upgrade on the ’67 Pontiac GTO and Kevin’s triumph over silent horns on the ’62 Ford Galaxie, Automotive Trivia, and much more on the V8 Radio Podcast!
