NHRA's Brian Lohnes & HOT ROD Magazine's John McGann chat with former editor of HOT ROD Magazine & Car Craft - Jeff Smith! Known for his decades long tenure as the Editor of both HOT ROD Magazine & Car Craft, Jeff brings us back to where it all began! Jeff tells stories about being hired by Rick Voegelin at Car Craft Magazine in 1979, Pro Street, the impact of Real Street Eliminator, Autocrossing, the genesis of the first ever Fastest Street Car in America, Dare To Be Different, Rick Dobbertin's J2000, the CadZZilla, and more!

0:12 - Today's guest - Jeff Smith!
1:53 - Where it All Began - Car Craft Magazine, 1979.
7:12 - Stories from the Car Craft days.
13:20 - Pro Street.
15:55 - Real Street Eliminator.
19:58 - Jeff Schwartz' '82 Cadillac Fleetwood Brougham.
25:20 - His tenure with HOT ROD Magazine.
27:05 - Marlon Davis stories.
33:43 - The genesis of the Fastest Street Car in America.
36:00 - Dare To Be Different.
37:24 - Rick Dobbertin & the Pontiac J2000.
40:30 - HOT ROD's largest month of circulation - the CadZZilla.

Jeff Smith on his time as Editor of HOT ROD & Car Craft, Fastest Street Car in America, & the CadZZilla

The HOT ROD Pod: Where It All Began brings 75 years of journalism and storytelling to the audio waves as hosts Brian Lohnes and John McGann sit down with the automotive aftermarket's latest trendsetters, motorsport mavens, and mechanical wizards on where they've been and where the hobby and sport are headed.

Automotive

Games & Hobbies

Leisure

NHRA's Brian Lohnes & HOT ROD Magazine's John McGann are back at Pomona Speedway for the final day of HOT ROD Power Tour West! Today, the guys sat down with Hot Rod Garage Host, Lucky Costa, to talk about Where It All Began, Overhaulin', his '66 Chevelle, the genesis of Hot Rod Garage, Roadkill, driving himself to jail, steering column failure, the best cars he's ever owned, his HRG Co-Host Alex Taylor, and more!

1:56 - Where It All Began!
5:42 - Self-taught.
8:08 - Early years of the business.
12:48 - Overhaulin'.
20:32 - Evolution of Lucky's '66 Chevelle.
30:51 - Hot Rod inspirations over the years.
32:17 - Genesis of Hot Rod Garage.
36:00 - Working with Tony Angelo.
37:10 - Roadkill / MSD Van. 
40:36 - Being a passenger with Tony Angelo.
45:25 - "Did I just drive myself to jail!?"
47:41 - Steering column is out!
49:33 - On return from Del Mar...
51:25 - It's about the journey, not the destination.
53:05 - Lucky's '67 Chevy C10.
58:13 - What's next?
01:00:05 - On his HRG Co-Host Alex Taylor.

Lucky Costa on Hot Rod Garage, his '66 Chevelle, Roadkill, & '67 Chevy C10

NHRA's Brian Lohnes & HOT ROD Magazine's John McGann take the podcast to Pomona, California for Day 3 of HOT ROD Power Tour West 2023! The guys chat with Hollywood Hot Rods Owner, Troy Ladd, about where it all began, the "One-Day Hot Rod", how he built Hollywood Hot Rods, Road Thrash in 2008, his creative process, behind-the-scenes stories from the Gauntt Coupe & Mulholland Speedster builds, firing customers, working with other shops, working with clients, and HOT ROD Power Tour West!

0:07 - About today's guest - Troy Ladd.
0:53 - Welcome to Moviefone!
2:44 - Where it all began - the business plan.
7:39 - The One-Day Hot Rod!
11:50 - Rivets!?
16:04 - Genesis of Hollywood Hot Rods.
20:28 - Road Thrash, 2008.
22:49 - Scope of HHR's style.
27:09 - Troy's creative process.
29:14 - The Gauntt Coupe, '32 Roadster.
30:15 - The Mulholland Speedster.
35:22 - Behind the business.
36:41 - Firing customers.
38:15 - Friends & Frenemies.
42:18 - Timelessness of Model A's & Coupes.
45:44 - 3D Printing?
48:33 - Working with Clients.
55:23 - HOT ROD Power Tour West!

Hollywood Hot Rods Owner Troy Ladd on the One-Day Hot Rod, his creative process, & HOT ROD Power Tour West!

NHRA's Brian Lohnes & HOT ROD Magazine's John McGann take the podcast to Irwindale Speedway for HOT ROD Power Tour West to chat with Steve Pazmany of Fully Torqued! Steve tells us where it all began for him, building up his Fully Torqued brand, the world of aftermarket, working with clients, Thermal Club, and what's next!

1:09 - Day One of HOT ROD Power Tour West @ Irwindale Speedway!
3:11 - Steve's mission with Fully Torqued.
6:06 - Where It All Began!
10:37 - Owning his own content & partnership with History Channel.
13:04 - Early mistakes.
15:08 - Bulletproof Truck!
17:23 - Custom builds.
19:00 - Building out the Fully Torqued brand.
21:12 - Restomods.
24:07 - Concerns for the HOT RODDING industry.
27:42 - Steve's collection.
30:28 - Pontiac GTO vs Ferrari.
32:18 - The next big project.
40:05 - Drawing inspiration from HRPTW.
42:55 - Working with clients.
47:31 - Thermal Club.
51:55 - Hot Lap(s).
55:09 - F1 Drive to Survive.

Steve Pazmany on Fully Torqued, the Aftermarket World, & HOT ROD Power Tour West!

David Frieburger, Brian Lohnes & John McGann are back from the PRI Show to chat with 2023 FIA Top Fuel World Champion - Ida Zetterstrom! Ida talks about her decision to join the NHRA, her racing history - starting at 8 years old, her history in motorcycle drag racing, how she made the transition from Motorcycles to Top Fuel, process of getting her Top Fuel license, joining JCM Racing, plans for 2024 season, major adjustments, stories from Hockenheim, FIA tracks, Santa Pod, and what race she's most looking forward to!

1:09 - On Joining the NHRA.
2:49 - Where It All Began!
4:34 - Her motorcycle history.
15:58 - Transition from Motorcycles to Top Fuel.
22:02 - Process of getting her top fuel license.
26:22 - Management experience.
30:03 - Joining JCM Racing & the 2024 season.
32:00 - Why is this the right opportunity?
36:09 - Don Garlits stories.
37:24 - Her dad's reaction to the move.
39:03 - Major adjustments.
42:55 - Perceptions of her as a driver.
46:17 - Stories from Hockenheim.
49:52 - On FIA tracks.
50:44 - Santa Pod Raceway.
51:41 - What race does she look forward to most?

Jeff Smith on his time as Editor of HOT ROD & Car Craft, Fastest Street Car in America, & the CadZZilla

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