A COMEDIC ADVENTURE PLAYED IN THE THEATER OF THE MIND

The Gearheads got together one day a threw down a radio play.

Why?

It just made sense in the “we like to do what no one else can” kinda way. And it was fun, really.

The whole thing began when Brian just wouldn’t shut up about his love for the old radio shows… the adventure stories, the comedies, even the dramas. That was the golden age of entertainment; the stuff right before the motion pictures and television shows took over. The sort of entertainment that relied on your imagination. Theater of the mind, as it were. Just like reading a book… Or, more in keeping with recent times, like listening to an audio book.

That said… Welcome to the first in a new series.

GLORIOUS THESPIAN AURAL

The story is pretty straight-forward. The characters are kept to a minimum, and the whole thing was penned in one sitting. Brian slapped the thing together, and then he and Steve plugged in a few jokes, tweaked a few lines, and Brad, Brian and Steve banged it out. Steve has an amazing array of voices and characters to draw upon, and Brian lives to over-act… So the whole thing was destined to fall together like a whipped cream pie meeting a clown’s face.

It always pays to write about what you know, and to write comedy about that which you love. Or may not love so much. In fact, you can glean some great content by simply going balls-out after the things that annoy you. And this sketch, well, really hits on something that annoys the gang.

ALL THE WORLD’S A STAGE

…and a joke, really. You just need to know where to look for the punchline. Bear in mind that this is one part love letter to the hobby, and one part a tongue-firmly-in-cheek absurdist comedy. It’s not a personal attack on anyone, nor is it some thinly-veiled anything. It’s just a wacky adventure that never really starts on any rails.

We hope that you enjoy listening to it as much as we enjoyed putting it together.

The Credits:

Created by: Brian Stupski

Written by: Brian Stupski

Edited by: Brian Stupski and Steve Hayes

Directed by: Brian Stupski

Produced by: Brad King, Brian Stupski and Steve Hayes

Engineer: Brad King

Sound Effects by: Brad King

Final Mix by: Brad King

Narrated by: Brad King

The Hunter: Brian Stupski

Internal Monologue: Steve Hayes

Internal Monologue Twice-Removed: Brian Stupski

Strip Club Bouncer: Steve Hayes

Strip Club PA Announcements: Brad King, Brian Stupski, Steve Hayes

Strippers: Brad King, Steve Hayes

Lowrider Vision Quest Shaman: Steve Hayes

Appalachian Extra: Brian Stupski

The Ghost of Borge Garrish: Steve Hayes

Don J’Septembertino: Steve Hayes

TraditionalGateKeeper32: Steve Hayes

HAMB Mook:Brad King

STORIES N’ STEEL TRAILER

You can stream our Amazon Prime Video series Stories N’ Steel right HERE!

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THE STATE OF THE HOBBY FROM MULTIPLE PERSPECTIVES

The Gearheads hosted a roundtable of a different sort, discussing the state of the hobby at the 71st Grand National Roadster Show. We arranged a cast of builders, owner/clients and builder/owners to talk about where the hobby is at, where it’s going, and what the stakes are with regard to quality and chasing perfection. This episode is an amazing look into competing at AMBR/Slonaker/Ridler levels from nearly every perspective. We invited Erik Hansen, who has owned high-profile cars (including “Sedeuced,” the 1932 Ford which was featured on the TV show Rides, season one, episode ten) to provide his perspective as a client. We also invited builder and prior guest Tim Strange, and builder/sometimes self-client JF Launier to provide the builder perspective on the state of the hobby, and what goes into putting a car together at the upper  level.

It is an interesting and entertaining look inside of the relationship between client, designer and builder, and a fascinating peek behind the curtain of competing for the top awards.

THINGS COVERED IN THIS EPISODE:

*

Some VERY coincidental events and overlaps

* Speaking Canadian fluently

* The client/builder relationship

– The builder/client relationship

* An insider’s look at the time investment from a client’s perspective

* The client/designer/builder dynamic

– Mention of “the wife dynamic”

* Perception of quality

– Private sale VS auction sale

– Passion from all parties involved as opposed to screen time on TV

* The builder’s “whole life investment” in a build

– Re-mortgaging multiple family properties to complete a build

* Selling a concept to a client

* Hinting at a project

* The amassed knowledge of a career VS billable hours

– Building a car in the real world as compared to a television budget

* The reality of automotive reality television

– 3800 man hours in 30 hours of TV

– A team of skilled industry professionals working nonstop versus three buddies eating pizza and watching NASCAR

– The push at the end/building the right team

* Logistics of a high-end client build

* Hot rod flashcards

– Ben Franklin’s non-Presidency that should have been

* The Al Slonaker Memorial Award (best non-roadster) revamp

– The Detroit VS Pomona thing

– The lessening of the importance of the big award in Detroit

* Competing at the highest level

– Best car in the world compared to the best car to show up that day

* Originality in builds versus simply refining a trend

* BUILD THE CAR YOU WANT

* Building for pleasure meets finances

– Private sale or auction

* “Well-bought” weighed against “$3M invested” and the public perception

* “You don’t build these cars to make money”

– The challenge of building AFTER winning the top award

– Narrowing your reach to clients due to perception of higher prices/longer build times

* Plans to have the first 200MPH Ridler winner

THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING AN INDUSTRY AMBASSADOR

* How the Ridler Award slit the throat of the hobby

– Visually imperfect and onward to the auction for a payday

– Altering the state of the hobby in a negative way

* On being an ambassador of the hobby versus winning a trophy

“HE’S TEARING THIS THING APART LIKE HE’S AT PICK-N-PULL.”

The Gearheads sit down with long-time friend David Engle of Engle Brothers Fabrication to talk brunchtime. Namely a brunch that didn’t happen, really.

Without giving too much away (you’ll have to tune in on Amazon Prime Video this Friday, April 3, 2020 and watch the new episode of Stories N’ Steel), it involved a secret overhaul of Brian’s Challenger. Calling in friends from all over, some of whom made the cross-country trek to be a part (like Tim Strange), the gang pulled a supercharged surprise. From Hotchkis Sport Suspension to a Magnuson supercharger, Baer six-piston brakes, Toyo tires, a carbon fiber Speedkore spoiler and custom badges from Alumicraft Street Rod Grilles, it was an ambitious one-day project to say the least. It even got its own t-shirt, featuring artwork by Round Six’s Del Swanson. You can grab your very own RIGHT HERE.

You can get inside of Brian’s head (don’t say that we didn’t warn you) by reading his take on the day HERE.

THINGS COVERED IN THIS EPISODE:

*

The backstory

* What it takes to arrange a build like this… and keep it secret

* Keeping an industry secret from an industry insider

* The logistics

* Personal loss

– A death in the family

* Getting the car to Dino’s without Brian knowing, but having him drive it there

* Turning Brian’s son into a gearhead

* The amazing group of friends that we have

* Learning all about Challengers

* Industry icons working and having fun

* Bringing back passion lost

* The Phoenix Valley One-n-Done tradition

* A loss for words

* The clandestine SEMA meetings

* Supercharged, lowered and more in one day

* The fear of not finishing

* Inside jokes become fuel for ideas

* The meaning of hot rodding isn’t just cars

STORIES N’ STEEL EPISODE 5 TRAILER: A SUPERCHARGED BRUNCH

BIG THANKS

A huge THANK YOU to all of the great people and companies involved in making this happen. To begin to fully express my gratitude, appreciation or respect for you in a few words just doesn’t crack the surface. This was, bar none, one of the most incredible, meaningful and perspective-altering things to happen in my life. Thank you for being a part of that.

Please visit and support our good friends who made this happen!

HRE Wheels,

GLOBAL HOT ROD AMBASSADORS

The Gearheads sit down with hot rod ambassadors Jason Rushforth and Mike Keller (of Big Creek Restorations in Kansas) in The Round Six Experience at the 2020 Grand National Roadster Show and discuss the 2019 Riyadh Auto Salon in Saudi Arabia.

You’ve read the opinions of many who weren’t there on social media, now here’s the inside scoop from two industry professionals who were there. Jason and Mike discuss local sights, sounds, culture and more. Learn all about the event, and what it’s like to be one of the first tourists in Saudi Arabia. It’s a fascinating look at the worldwide automotive culture, and how cars are always the great equalizer. Our extreme gratitude to Jay an Mike for sharing their experiences and time with us.

This is a fun episode that offers a great look into the international scene from a very personal perspective. We hope you enjoy it as much as we did.

You can read more about Jay’s trip HERE, and see a few photos as well.

THINGS COVERED IN THIS EPISODE:

*

Brian gets all joke-y

* The ARP Lounge and Bob Florine’s influence on a great GNRS

* Passion for cars

* Working relationships in the hot rod world

* The Riyadh Auto Salon

– Spousal support for international travel

– Heading blindly into an international trip

* The mainstream media misconception about Americans in the Middle East

– Feeling more than welcome by the Saudi people

– Wandering Riyadh in off-show hours

– The incredible logistics involved

* The “orphan” hotel

– “3-4 leisurely omelettes”

* Watching Pulp Fiction in Saudi Arabia

* Exploring Riyadh, all self guided-like

* Learning culture on the fly

* The local car scene

* Cars and Coffee at Tim Horton’s

* Fifty-five pounds of boost into a straight six Nissan!

* Hot rodding is universal

* The GM B-body revolution is alive!

* The REAL story on the “missing” cars

– Dispelling the internet theories on dirty and damaged cars

* Cornering a badger

* The King’s Cup camel race

* Brian pulls “ambrosia”

– Jay christens a custom car

* Staring a falcon in the eye

* The lack of Citation X-11’s overseas

* The modernization of a country

– A Prince’s vision

* A change in perspective

* The guys make their show award pics

* Shutting down the Grand National Roadster Show on a Saturday night

STORIES N’ STEEL TRAILER

 

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A SUPERCHARGED GNRS EPISODE

The Gearheads sit down with Erin and Dustin Helm of Magnuson Superchargers for a, well, supercharged discussion. Talk goes deep into careers in the aftermarket, the value of networking and a covert-ops mission worthy of a television show. Episode seventy-three dives headlong into some fun topics, as well as laying the groundwork for anyone looking to get a foot in the door of the High-Performance Automotive Aftermarket Parts industry.

Of course, Erin and the team at Magnuson Superchargers were tremendously instrumental in making Project Emanon come together, for which “thanks” just doesn’t seem enough. We touch on that project, the covert ops behind it, and how it all came to be. Dustin gives some background to his career as a fabricator, and explains his path to working with one of the premier brands in the industry… And how it all began with Marine Biology. We have fascinating guests, and they always bring a great story!

And if this weren’t enough for you, we dive deep into the mechanics of a couple who work together, and how that all adds to the relationship. We’re a lot more like Oprah than Dr. Phil in this one. It’s a value-added episode in terms of pursuing a career in the industry, and we cannot thank Erin and Dustin enough for their insight, candor and great advice for our listeners hoping to pursue their aspirations.

THINGS COVERED IN THIS EPISODE:

*

The blown elephant in the room

* Brian becomes the mark

* Brad does a big thing

* Dave Engle is always the connection

* The power of networking (and shooting for the moon)

* The computer unlock/Petty’s Garage connection

* When your kid goes rogue

* Alex’s first supercharger imstall

* The drama-free build day

* Things go Predatorial

* The Engles stop by!

* A reunion of sorts

* Supercharger talk/welcome to the boosted life

* A foot in the door in the industry

– Working your way up

– Getting a job via networking

* From Nanny to Sales Assistant

– The value of adaptability when transitioning positions within the company

* A day in the life of a Marketing Coordinator

* R&D Fabricator via Marine Biology

– From Wyo-Tech to Magnuson

– The importance of an education

– The crossovers in job duties

– Tech school as a stepping stone to a career

* SCUBA diving when you can’t swim

* “Superchargers? I want turbos!”

* Married life meets Working life

– A balance of career and passionsa

– The work/life crossover

* The learning curve in the aftermarket industry

STORIES N’ STEEL TRAILER

 

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We are proud to have this episode brought to you by Trailer Tug. Please visit their website to learn more at TrailerTug.com

Round Six Podcast listeners get 10% off by mentioning the podcast when ordering by phone, or by entering “round six” in the discount code box at checkout on the website.

“IT ALL STARTED IN AN EL CAMINO.”

The Gearheads sit down with designer and artist Jason Rushforth… finally. One of the marquee names in the industry when it comes to design, boutique wheel brands and just an all-around nice guy, it’s a twisting and turning bunch of topics.Episode seventy-two gets right into it with a discussion about the recent Riyadh Auto Salon in Saudi Arabia. Jason was fortunate to be one of the hot rod industry ambassadors who attended the event, and we talk logistics, the local scene and more. From humble beginnings as a BMX-obsessed kid to providing design guidance to some serious players in the business, Jason Rushforth is an inspiring, forward-thinking trendsetter whose designs are instantly recognizable anywhere.

 

You can find Jason at:Rushforth WheelsJason Rushforth DesignOn Instargam

THINGS COVERED IN THIS EPISODE:

*

The Saudi Arabia experience– Six months from genesis to event– A year’s worth of work in months– OSHA violations on parade– The logistics of importing 450 cars from around the world

* Brian offers a car club name

* A discussion of Middle Eastern daily life and traffic– Alex shares his memories– Honking out of courtesy VS anger

* The Saudi hot rod scene– LS-swapped GM B-bodies!– Not just a bunch of rich guys with exotic cars

* The difference between social media posturing and having to make a name prior to it

* Getting that first magazine feature

* Building a career– Having builders/magazines mention a designer’s name in an article

* A discussion on design

* Humility and making a name

* Jason’s Buick

* The Porsche 928– Brad prefers his Porsche Pro-Streeted

* Coming up in the shadow of the greats like Steve Stanford

* Once again, it all starts with BMX bikes– Getting back into it later in life–Soaring prices of vintage BMX bikes

* Best/Worst conception story of all time

STORIES N’ STEEL TRAILER

 

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We are proud to have this episode brought to you by Trailer Tug. Please visit their website to learn more at TrailerTug.com

Round Six Podcast listeners get 10% off by mentioning the podcast when ordering by phone, or by entering “round six” in the discount code box at checkout on the website.

“STORIES N’ STEEL IS A CAR SHOW ABOUT PEOPLE.”

Our all-new series, Stories N’ Steel drops this Black Friday (November 28, 2019) on Amazon Prime Video. The Gearheads sit down to discuss the show, what it’s about, where to view it, and most importantly how it all ties together with the podcast. Stories N’ Steel is a car show about people. That means no fake drama, no made-up deadlines or other nonsense… Just the stories from the hot rod builders, collectors and craftsmen who lived them.the Stories N’ Steel gang has teamed up with Auto Revolution to bring a new series to Amazon Prime Video this Black Friday, 2019. Stories N’ Steel is like the podcast; it’s one part conversation, one part storytelling, and all parts laid-back benchrace session. If you’ve ever wanted to get to know the whole story of some of the nation’s top builders, then you’re going to love what Stories N’ Steel brings each week. Hosted by our own Brad King, episode one takes you deep into the history of Squeeg’s Kustoms with Doug Jerger. If you’ve ever wanted to know what it takes to run one of the top hot rod shops in the country, or what it’s like to win the AMBR on accident, or even how to pinstripe all no-hands like, well, you’ll like where this is all going.Stories N’ Steel is brought to you by Executive Producers Brad King and Brian Stupski, and is Co-Produced by Brenda Gale Chadwell.

THINGS COVERED IN THIS EPISODE:

*

The genesis of the show

* How the podcast came to be

* Tying the podcast and TV series together

* Why we chose Amazon Prime Video

* Self-producing a TV series

* Television creation on a self-funded shoestring

* A peek behind the scenes

* Partnering with Auto Revolution

* What it takes to make this mess work

* Brad gets a new nickname

STORIES N’ STEEL TRAILER

 

FEED THE PODCASTERS:

Help the Gearheads continue to bring you great guests, stories, mentoring, projects and more by becoming a Patron today! Become a Patron!

PLEASE VISIT OUR SPONSOR

We are proud to have this episode brought to you by Trailer Tug. Please visit their website to learn more at TrailerTug.com

Round Six Podcast listeners get 10% off by mentioning the podcast when ordering by phone, or by entering “round six” in the discount code box at checkout on the website.

“I LOVE HOW SCREWED-UP IT IS.”

Brian heads out all solo-like to Squarebody Syndicate World Headquarters and takes a break from another One ‘n Done on Joe Yezzi’s diesel crew cab to sit and talk with Kevin Whipps. We dive deep into the philosophy of the Arizona community and family, and what makes it unique, and then into the builds that made for a career. It’s a laid-back ride through the importance of the people over the vehicles every time. We talk mini trucks, the growth and heyday of the Euro tuner scene in the 1990’s and beyond, to the influence of Courtney Hallowell on his and future generations and more.

THINGS COVERED IN THIS EPISODE:

*

Writing books on air suspension and C-10 restoration

* The longevity of a Rochester carburetor rebuild guide book

* Brian pitches more book ideas

* Kevin’s other book concepts

* A discussion on the death of the patina trend – Another coffee table book

* Dino pops in

* Early influences

* How enjoying the process of a build inspires a career path

* The Daihatsu Charade

* The Toyota pickup

* The Civic! – Covers of Import Racer and Lowrider Euro

* Rolling a car right after the photoshoot

* On getting started writing for magazines

* “You need to shoot his house”

* The Dino thing – The Git-Down

* When the magazines took a break from paying people

* The C-10 Restoration book

* The Euro tuner scene in its heyday

* When mini trucks ruled the world

* The ’72 E-Type Jag that started it all

* Growth as a person by becoming involved in the scene

* The Severed Ties years

* The sheen of nostalgia– “Look at how great my past was”

* Real nostalgia: “You love it when you’re not doing it”

* Rolling the Civic

* Tri-Fives as a generational thing

* The Old Body Style movement

* The slow death of the patina trend– The good, the bad and the delightfully messed-up– “It looks like Hell parked in someone’s garage”

* The Engles find a way into another episode

* LS engine talk, 4.8 VS 5.3 VS 6.0L

* Stripping a six year build in six hours

* Perspective

* Courtney Hallowell and a bigger-than-life influence

* Brian pitches the National Mini Truck Museum

 

FEED THE PODCASTERS:

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PLEASE VISIT OUR SPONSOR

We are proud to have this episode brought to you by Trailer Tug. Please visit their website to learn more at TrailerTug.com

Round Six Podcast listeners get 10% off by mentioning the podcast when ordering by phone, or by entering “round six” in the discount code box at checkout on the website.

“I TAKE MY FLAMES SUPER-SERIOUS.”

Sean Taylor, Vice President of Product Development at M2 Machines joins the Gearheads for an evening of laid-back conversation. We talk cool cars, the genesis of M2 Machines, the life of a die cast car company professional, working from home and more. We dig into the current and upcoming M2 Machines offerings, and geek out over the samples we were fortunate to have in hand thanks to Sean…

THINGS COVERED IN THIS EPISODE:

*

Bringing little cars to the Big Show

*

Sean hits the road and promotes the M2 brand

*

Weird convention names and chasing windmills

*

Drama in the Toy Car world

*

“We’re a niche diecast company”

*

Sean explains the differences in the levels of his toy line

*

The extra effort and research that goes in to create “uniquely optioned” cars

*

Bench seats in a muscle car? Sure!

*

The Hurst Sunshine Camaro

*

Brad anoints Sean as the “Willy Wonka of Toy Cars”

*

Growing up the son of a gearhead

*

Discussing product recalls and navigating through trademarks

*

In search of the Holy Grail: The Foose Hauler (1 of 6!)

*

“Dude, I take my flames super-serious”

*

Always striving to put out the best product every day

*

Research, research, research

*

The challenge and satisfaction of “pet projects” within the company

*

How making limited runs keeps your product collectible and fresh

*

Working with great companies like Walmart

*

Taking a car from design to production

*

Starting out as an artist

*

Sean’s first job as an artist……making Yellow Page advertisements

*

Crossing the velvet ropes and entering the inner sanctum at Muscle machines

*

Making so many 1969 Camaro Muscle Machines that they physically broke the mold

*

Sean reveals the most obscure model he’s ever done (psst…it’s the Fargo!)

*

Brian pitches his “Bullitt Car” toy idea

*

Sean goes crazy working from home

*

The birth of M2 Machines in 2007

*

Licensing everything just to cover your butt

*

Making Coby’s  VanGo van

*

Explaining the details of the upcoming Squarebody Syndicate toy

*

The Round Six boys want Sean to come back for part two to explain marketing and branding

*

A contagious passion

 

FEED THE PODCASTERS:

Help the Gearheads continue to bring you great guests, stories, mentoring, projects and more by becoming a Patron today! Become a Patron!

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We are proud to have this episode brought to you by Trailer Tug. Please visit their website to learn more at TrailerTug.com

“THERE’S STILL SOME JUICY LEFT IN THAT FRUIT.”

On episode sixty-eight, it’s all about Alex. And starvation. But mostly Alex. And maybe menopause. And a Magic 8-Ball bowling ball. And soup. And souls and Camaros and angels. …but mostly Alex.

THINGS COVERED IN THIS EPISODE:

* The Boys get emotional about the plight of starving podcasters

* Chicken soup for your ears, now with egg noodles!

* Want to help?  Go to Patreon.com/roundsix and decide what level you want

* Touched by an Angel…..is that such a good thing?

* Alex complains about always being in the back of the class

* Brian comes up with a brilliant idea:  The bowling ball sized Magic 8-Ball

* Uncle David and his hot rod influence on Alex

* Hot Rods in the neighborhood, and being “that kid”

* Alex’s first hot rod, a Schwinn Sting Ray

* The Hustler, always trying to make money

* Making the decision to join the Air Force and work on fighter planes

* Getting out of the Air Force and working on the B-2 Bomber

* Working at Edwards and being surrounded by incredible aerospace history

* Alex the historian and statistics buff who can’t cheat at Trivial Pursuit

* The 1969 Camaro road trip and permanent hearing loss

* Being in the service and always having cool cars

* Selling one Camaro and buying another

* Finding out that the ’71 Camaro Rally Sport was a very special car

* Alex talks Camaro paint colors, and how the years have made it easier to accept

* Hot rods are always the last to get money and attention

* The guys discuss sunroof ideas for the ’71 Camaro

* The Camaro almost got mini-tubbed and ruined

* The ghost of Hardly Earl

* Does this car have a Magnum V8?

* Making quartz countertops from Quartz Juice

* The mostly happy and kinda sad story of the 1958 Chevy truck

* Brian talks about menopause and his secret project involving Ewoks

* Lynn’s Dad’s 1968 Camaro RS and her childhood memories

* The 1968 Camaro project…….Monster Rally or Stadium ‘Maro?

* Starting a new series of building a hot rod by the most frugal means possible.

*

Making $11 bucks the hard way

*

Roadside milk jugs full of “Gatorade”

*

Wilford Brimley joins the show and promotes “Oatmeal Night”

*

Favorite Boy Bands and cowboy forehead bandanas

*

The emotion comes back, thanks to Sarah McLaughlin

*

Round Six discusses their “Chinese Democracy” concept album.

 

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PLEASE VISIT OUR SPONSOR

We are proud to have this episode brought to you by Trailer Tug. Please visit their website to learn more at TrailerTug.com

Round Six Podcast listeners get 10% off by mentioning the podcast when ordering by phone, or by entering “round six” in the discount code box at checkout on the website.