Kevin and Willie love wheelin’ and everything that has to do with steering and/or suspension, so they’re pumped to get a master class in bumps and humps from Frank Vasquez of KW Suspensions. From entry level all the way up to professional racing, KW is the epitome of German precision engineering in the category. With over 16 different options for any particular car, Frank’s quick to point out that they’re “just scratching the surface with some of our truck stuff.”
Kevin’s former Two Guys Garage co-host and good buddy Bryan Fuller is renowned for his work creating custom motorcycles, hot rods, and old school classics. He’s most recently discovered a new itch for precision driving – a.k.a. racing – specifically open wheel, and he’s set his sights on rebuilding a rare, vintage Mirage M5 to run in Formula Ford. “My first race car, it’s kind of scary,” he confesses to the guys. “It’s exciting, it’s fun, it’s scary; I don’t know, lots of emotion.”
The average age of vehicles on the road has ticked up to an all-time high of 12 years. Keeping them running cleaner and longer is the mission of TotalEnergies, the massive French company doing big things on a global scale. Luis Cerqueira and Darren Lesinski join the podcast to discuss what technologies are coming down the pike in terms of oil, natural gas, electricity, hydrogen, wind, and solar power. As the company strives to become greener in several respects, they’re at the cutting edge of developing oils that let the OEs literally design the engine around the oil!
Cleveland Power and Performance is a salvage yard like no other – a wonderland of curated parts and pieces, drive trains and engines harvested from crashed Camaros, Mustangs and Hellcats – that also happens to build mind-blowing hot rods like the noted ’69 Dodge Charger “Reverence” and last year’s SEMA Show stunner NIKA ‘79 Bronco. Owner Rick Fragnoli makes his third visit to the podcast to discuss all the latest goings on in the aftermarket and what lies ahead as the EV era dawns.
Kevin’s old college buddy Ernesto Roedenbeck joins the guys for a little throttle therapy on the ins and outs of dirt biking. Willie refers to it as “Dirt Church” and Kevin as “the best video game ever,” where the #1 objective is to stay safe and not get killed. Dirt, sand, wheels up, wheels down, it’s all a blast, so grab your gear, boots and all, and strap in for a wild offroad adventure!
Spectra Premium has been producing high quality aftermarket products for over 30 years – everything from oil pans and fuel tanks to engine management, heavy duty segments and classic car parts – right here in North America. “At the end of the day, our customers are really looking for complete solutions to what they’re doing,” Director of Category Management Aaron Athey tells the guys. “We’ve kind of taken that premium mentality to everything we do.” Asked if he’s ever had a customer cry, Athey notes only when they’ve been disappointed elsewhere first, “and we’ve been able to turn some of those tears into smiles!”
Back in the day, you had maybe two options for hoses – rubber and steel braided. Today, with so many different combinations to choose from, it can be downright overwhelming. What, why, and how to run the right lines is the domain of Brint McLellan, Technical Analyst at Fragola Performance Systems. Brint joins the guys to discuss the big mistakes, pros and cons, dos and don’ts of selecting and plumbing a wide array of fluid lines, from fuel to power steering, cooling to brakes, nitrous to racing.
Photo journalist and die-hard magazine guy “REVan” Evan Smith’s had his finger on the pulse of performance and racing for as long as he or anyone else can remember. In this all-new chat with the guys, he talks about making the transition from print to video to digital, and the need to keep pace with rapidly changing technology and the distribution systems central to reaching car folks wherever they are. And for folks wondering how to get your car into your favorite publication he offers some great dos and don’ts you’ll definitely want to hear!
Chris Gabrelcik, aka the Additive Alchemist and Guru of Goo, returns with more insights about “the cholesterol of your engine,” stiction. As CEO of Lubrication Specialties, Inc., a custom lubricant company breaking World Records in NHRDA racing, he’s proud to note that “the same thing we’re selling to our racing car guys is the same thing a diesel truck owner can buy for his truck.” It’s also a cost-effective product for keeping vehicles on the road longer, especially amid soaring inflation. “You’re reducing the friction and the wear, which is one thing, but you’re also doing the cleaning,” explains Kevin, “so it’s really the combination of those two things that’s kind of magical.”
Kevin and Willie welcome back Dave Smith, President/CEO at Factory Five Racing and one of their first guests from the podcast’s inception. A lot’s happened since then, but enthusiasm for FFR’s kit cars hasn’t waned a bit. “When you think about the satisfaction you get just from mowing your yard,” observes Kevin, “just magnify that by 10 bazillion!” From mistakes made and lessons learned to what’s new on the horizon, the guys have a lot of catching up to do!
In Willie’s view, it represents “everything outside the car that means more than the car.” It’s your own personal Garage Mahal, “the getaway spot where you go to find your soul,” says Kevin. “My garage is where I go to find myself.” Today the guys welcome Brian McNamara of Gearhead Homes to lead them through the ins and outs of searching for, identifying, and purchasing the perfect place. “I find people a garage with an attached house,” he tells them. “You need the bedrooms for the toys, too.”
When it comes to acceleration, Brian Tooley is the man that knows it all. He’s the King of Cams who’s figured out how to make 2+2=5. As Kevin points out, “You can pick a big cam, but what you match it with can really dramatically change your end results,” and Brian is on hand to explain the how and why of it. From the latest R&D at BTR Racing to the future and limitations of EV and hydrogen fuel cells, there’s a lot to learn.