Helluva nice guy, Matt Hodges, shares the richness of life on Episode 74. You know him from Red Neck Ram and West Texas Off Road, but there is much more to the story. From his love of family and travel to his redneck engineering and the soft spot he holds for those less abled, meeting Matt on the trail is one of life’s pleasures.

3:10 – the Hodges’ Family Zoo

6:51 – driving on the highway to the ranch at 11 years old

13:46 – Marine Corps intelligence is just asinine

19:07 – I could let my OCD flourish

21:52 – he gave me a ’46 and a ’48 Willys and said “put them together”

27:29 – started tearing apart gearboxes 

33:20 – it’s funny to call it a manufacturing facility

44:33 – I just gave Kenny Hauk the Unimog

51:53 – as far as the media stuff goes, I would never want to do that

1:17:33 – I’m already the richest man in the world

We want to thank our sponsors Maxxis Tires and 4Low Magazine.

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www.4lowmagazine.com 

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All Automotive with Matt Clawson
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Sometimes you meet people in the industry and “think” you know their story. This one surprised me. Fifty years of hotrods, over 20 published books, training at the highest levels and all this before off-road became what we knew him for.  Don Alexander has a storied past, listen in and enjoy.

3:34 – go carts at age 11l

5:52 – always pushing the RPM limits

13:57 – professor changed my trajectory – not in the way you’d think

28:36 – connecting off-road guys through our industry

34:47 – it’s all about the wheel spin

39:03 – “had the aerodynamics o a Walmart store”

46:20 – I made some good maps

51:48 – that sums up the three mile an hour adrenaline rush

55:00 – let’s talk roof top tents

1:11:28 – the problem is convincing people they need to be trained

1:34:17 – you’re an off-roader, right?

 

We want to thank our sponsors Maxxis Tires and 4Low Magazine.

www.maxxis.com

www.4lowmagazine.com 

Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app.

 

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There’s no grass growing under her feet, that’s for sure!  Owner of TorqMasters Industries, Cora Jokinen, shares the divergent path that got her to the place she’s at today. But she’s not done yet!  TorqMasters releases a new product every two months, Cora is involved with SEMA, competes in the Rebelle, and is building the space she aspires to own. With her architectural background and her husband, Erik, and bestie, Petunia at her side, this woman is unstoppable.

3:16 – hockey was my focus in high school

6:43 – I built a house in college instead of renting

8:10 – my first vehicle was The Gouda, a 1980 Mercedes Diesel Wagon

9:57 – spent Thanksgiving break on my first off-road build

13:09 – I would tig architectural models in the 2nd story laundry room

16:12 – Tech official for Monster Truck

23:50 – got my first sponsor for the Vermont Jeep Girl Challenge

25:43 – hey, Bill, I’d like to buy your company

33:24 – it’s a swiss army knife

37:55 – phone call to delivered product in 10 days

43:53 – releasing a new product every two months

58:32 – going back to the Rebelle with Ford

1:07:09 – we have our dream driveway

 

We want to thank our sponsors Maxxis Tires and 4Low Magazine.

www.maxxis.com

www.4lowmagazine.com 

Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app.

 

All Automotive with Matt Clawson
Automotive related topics. Anything from owning an repair facility to racing. Anything...

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A man who takes his hobbies seriously, from welder to fabricator to three-gun shooting to RC cars and back again.  Jason Conover, Snort Clown to those in the know, of the PNW is back on the block tending to unfinished business in Episode 71.

6:12 – I was not into any of the social networks

9:40 – there was nowhere to spend your money

12:19 – that’s when the four-wheeling bug kinda caught

17:25 – up here it’s more like tree dodging or moshing

21:45 – almost kind of like a gamertag, a little bit of a joke

25:54 – trying to come up with my own design

36:48 – moved away from the rockcrawling side and did the King of the Hammers

41:54 – it allowed me to daisy-chain with him and be a part of the racing

43:28 – I got into three gun shooting

46:54 – I bought a bomber – I probably would have been happier with a real one

50:29 – it was fun again

52:56 – it’s been the long game, waiting for the kids to come of age and want to be a part of it

54:57 – building a new chassis, the Bravo X, more hands-off

 

We want to thank our sponsors Maxxis Tires and 4Low Magazine.

www.maxxis.com

www.4lowmagazine.com 

Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app.

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Automotive related topics. Anything from owning an repair facility to racing. Anything...

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From Monster Truck lover to world-class buggy fabricator, Jesse Haines tells his history in fabrication and rock crawling.  His focus and drive have brought him to the pinnacle of his career with his family and friends cheering him on. If anyone can “figure it out” it’s Jesse Haines.

4:13 – my goal in life was to own a Monster Truck

9:22 – we had some Epic Fights

12:04 – by the time I was done with the field trip, I’m like No, I’m not doing this

19:21 – first off-road competition was the Top Truck challenge

22:20 – a lot of things just worked out, ended up working for Troy Myers at the Badlands

25:20 – I wanted them to see my work in person, have an idea what I was capable of

26:57 – Hot Dog Mike asked me to spot for him

29:05 – I did horrible, there’s a lot to learn

37:15 – I just had to figure it out, took it to the finals and the car is a disaster

40:37 - First event in Jellico and I broke my back

48:48 – I didn’t deserve to win because of Randy’s showing in the Shootout

53:40 – the poop chute was the finale

1:01:30 – I built the Torchmate buggy, then quit and went to work for Torchmate

1:11:49 – I felt confident this stuff was going to work

1:21:50 – coming up with the ideas is one thing, coming up with a way to produce your ideas is another

1:27:44 – you’re losing your advantage because you’re giving it away

1:43:20 – you have to analyze every possibility on the course

1:54:30 – I did this before and caught hell for not mentioning my wife and kids

 

We want to thank our sponsors Maxxis Tires and 4Low Magazine.

www.maxxis.com

www.4lowmagazine.com 

Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app.

 

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Marketing and Sales Director at SCORE, Jim Ryan, previously publisher at Dirt Sports and various Peterson publications gives us some insight into how a driven young man has put eyes on so much media over the years. From Cycle News to SCORE, and the ups in between.

4:06 – Cycle News, the internet of Motorcycle Motorsports World

7:16 – Senior project was to sell myself

10:28 – getting really organized, really fast

15:03 – Mr. Peterson’s publishing banner, he had done everything he could possibly do

21:02 – the Mickey Thompson series was a galvanizing entity expanding the marketplace

26:22 – a total blanket across North American in terms of sports and enthusiasts 

35:40 – Dirt Sports and Masterpiece of Metal 

43:28 – the Score Journal has a global media presence 

47:08 – jumped into SCORE 7 years ago, Roger was taking it to the next level

1:00:21 – good cadre of leadership every year

 

We want to thank our sponsors Maxxis Tires and 4Low Magazine.

www.maxxis.com

www.4lowmagazine.com 

Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app.

 

All Automotive with Matt Clawson
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Powerful words. Tom Campbell from Ohio joins us for Episode 68. Tom is a rockcrawler from wayback, but also a Chaplain for Racers for Christ. He shares his history with the Navy, Veterinarian, rockcrawling, missionary work, and the life-altering accident from just four years ago.

10:34 – my daughter says I’m spreading a disease

14:02 – we modified our three speeds to be mountain bikes

20:41 – the last 7 people to survive the pool would go on to SEAL training

24:40 – …and I got arrested

35:28 – two hundred horsepower and cutting brakes

43:25 – Veterinary college 

46:11 – detecting biological and chemical weapon use

51:10 – street racing cost me my license numerous times 

56:51 – Tennessee Offroad Challenge – 3 day event

1:05:10 – RCV’s were the only axles that didn’t break

1:12:33 – we were hit by a Lexus SUV going 55 

1:16:29 –when you’re a Christian, being disabled is much worse than dying

1:17:48 – Racers for Christ

1:22:39 – vaccines for livestock in Mali, Africa

 

We want to thank our sponsors Maxxis Tires and 4Low Magazine.

www.maxxis.com

www.4lowmagazine.com 

Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app.

All Automotive with Matt Clawson
Automotive related topics. Anything from owning an repair facility to racing. Anything...

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Founder of many things, including the Ladies Offroad Network, Charlene Bower, shares her colorful history in off-road. Included are the highs and the lows and a lot of personal history between Big Rich and Charlene. It’s a great listen.

4:19 – I had the coolest van in high school – metallic blue

6:47 – my coach said No dirt bikes

12:27 – I’ve got a couple of ATC 70’s that are all blown out, they’re pretty aggressive

15:35 – my first job at Zoom Motorcycles – first girl they ever hired, vetted me the same they would the guys

24:23 – mini skirts and high heels to work every day

26:46 – do you want to hear the truth or what you want to hear?

29:28 – Hot Boats in Disco Bay

33:17 – I took six months off, hooked up my trailer, and went to Pismo, I was done with retail 

36:22 – I’ll take the job, but I’m not starting until after Christmas

41:51 – the first thing companies do in a recession is cut their marketing

45:28 – I did what any good business owner would do, I started my own business sitting on my parents' floor 

50:11 –three elements that make the industry work

55:23 – how I ended up in Arizona

1:00:23 – I hit another wall, I wasn’t filling my bucket back up

1:04:30 – Boom, there it is – Rallyventure, Uwharrie and Rebelle Rally – just say yes

1:14:44 – what am I supposed to do if I win this thing??

1:19:04 – we offer lifetime memberships now

1:24:40 – Bower Academy will be an online school

1:28:51 – we kept them out of jail and nobody died!

 

We want to thank our sponsors Maxxis Tires and 4Low Magazine.

www.maxxis.com

www.4lowmagazine.com 

Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app.

All Automotive with Matt Clawson
Automotive related topics. Anything from owning an repair facility to racing. Anything...

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Spend some time with Ben Falkner, President of Teraflex and learn more about their almost 70-year history and the innovative line of products for all your Jeep styles.  

3:55 – Growing up in Manti, the best small town experience

8:07 – I loved dinking around with Jeeps

9:04 – Grandpa started MEPCO in the 50’s

12:28 – the start of Teraflex

14:46 – it was worse than factory!

17:16 – they don’t maintain their vehicles

27:00 – we call it Clarence

32:31 – more than a 60 program 

37:29 – Falcon shocks began in 2016

53:30 – the people of Teraflex

57:50 – he’s pretty amped up

1:05:29 –All these new customers

www.teraflex.com 

We want to thank our sponsors Maxxis Tires and 4Low Magazine.

www.maxxis.com

www.4lowmagazine.com 

Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app.

 

All Automotive with Matt Clawson
Automotive related topics. Anything from owning an repair facility to racing. Anything...

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OG Rockcrawler Steve Nantz of Sandhollow Offroad joins us in Episode 65.  Steve’s career has taken him all over the west, many know him from his 16 years at Moab 4x4 Outpost and the outstanding service we all received there.  Now at the burgeoning mecca of Sand Hollow, Steve still offers outstanding service.

3:29 – I BMX’d a lot, sponsored rider for Kuwahara

4:45 – started off-roading in the mountains near San Diego

5:54 – we just declared war

8:34 – every day you act as if you’re at war, the difference is you’re loading live ammunition now

11:51 – joined the Mountaineers Jeep Club, that is a great club

13:12 – I went to Moab and broke my t-case, got offered a job

14:52 – I actually spotted for Kevin Hawkins at the very first rockcrawl

16:51 – my buggy was fighter jet style with a seat behind, that was the Centipede 

20:07 – Four Wheelers Supply bred really good fabricators

23:32 – it was scary, I’d never been a business owner

29:14 – That’s how we built our reputation in Moab

35:29 – it just worked out good for everybody

40:45  – it really is the Mecca for wheeling

46:16 – when you fabricate, you get to be creative

 

We want to thank our sponsors Maxxis Tires and 4Low Magazine.

www.maxxis.com

www.4lowmagazine.com 

Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app.

 

All Automotive with Matt Clawson
Automotive related topics. Anything from owning an repair facility to racing. Anything...

Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify

Support the show