Get Out N Drive Podcast

Driven To Fun With My Classic Car...Accidently With Dennis Gage

May 30, 2021 Shawn Sherrill and John Meyer Season 1 Episode 40
Get Out N Drive Podcast
Driven To Fun With My Classic Car...Accidently With Dennis Gage
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Show Notes Transcript

Ride along with Shawn MrSedanMan Sherrill and John CustomCarNerd Meyer as they talk with Dennis Gage of My Classic Car and owner of his own production company, MadStache, Inc. 
 
You might think you know Dennis Gage from watching My Classic Car, but there is so much more you'll learn in this episode. Dennis has great stories about accidents. Not those awful ones that make you get out n drive to the body shop, no one wants that. We're talking about how one day you were a legit scientist, a chemist, and you accidently ended up the host of the longest running car show in TV history. Now, that's an accident that car lovers dream of! 
 
Follow Dennis and My Classic Car on social media and don't forget to tune in to My Classic Car! 
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Special thanks to CoryGTO for the 5 Star Review on Apple Podcasts! Cory, send us an email with your mailing address and put #GOND5Star in the subject line and we'll send some Official Get Out N Drive Decals your way! 
 
Don't forget to check out Shawn and John's Restoration  Corner on Mikaniki.com
 
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You're listening to get out and drive podcast with John CustomCarNerd Meyer and Shawn MrSedanMan Sherrill. 

We'll be bringing you Gearheads all the information You've never wanted to know about cars and why they should be on the road and not in your garage. 

Are you ready to get out and drive? 

Hey, just wanted to let everybody know that we have a root page on Facebook. 

Get out and drive. 

You guys can post. 

Events on their questions. 

Pictures of your car. 

We love seeing, yeah, we love seeing videos of everybody driving safely. 

All kinds of stuff. 

 

Please do it while you're a passenger. 

Right, Yep, but yeah. 

So hit us up on that. 

Page and I I put something on there the other day. A question was what's the one car you got rid of but wish you had back man? We got a ton of responses on that thing. Just kind of looking through some of us kind of Scott Griffin 69 Cadillac Deville. Flipping through people posting pictures. There's the 67 Camaro convertible Bob Light and new stuff. Old stuff. Chris Wharington 55 Victor  little pink and white Victoria car. 

Oh man, little late 50s, mild custom . 

Uh, uh, Thunderbird from Franks Simonis all kinds of cool stuff, So what? 

Would you have shown that you wish you didn't get rid of one thing? I wish I didn't get rid of. I had a 71 charger 383 automatic car, butterscotch, pretty decent Car was back in the early 90s I guess and the wasn't worth much. 

It was before the big price boom. 

Or the big price boom and the 71 charger wasn't all that Popular, just wish I had that back. I'd like certain. Certainly like to have my pink 65 VW bug. 

I drove that thing around the 80s and it was. 

Kind of weird to see a cow look bug here in Saint Louis. 

Right, right? 

Nobody else had one that would be a cool car to have back there. 

Certainly never haven't gotten. 

Not popular, but they're starting to come back a lot more. 

Huh? 

Yeah, so go check out the get out and Drive Group page on Facebook. 

Post some stuff on their questions, pictures, driving videos. 

Events we like. 

To see it all. 

Hey, we're back with another episode of get on dry podcast I'm Sean, Mr Saddam Ancheril. 

I am John Custom corner admire. 

You know John. 

Listen looking at our guest bio today. 

Man, this guy grew up in a small farm in northwestern Illinois. 

Uh, he's been to college, got a PhD in chemistry. 

Avid Climber went winter Mountaineer. 

He has worked as a development scientist on stuff, including Pringles, Boost, nutritional, energy drink. 

Oh, he's also host of my classic car. 

This guy's done everything. 

It's 26 seasons and sole owner of MadStash Incorporated, a production company, talking about none other than Dennis Gage. Hey, thanks for joining us today, Dennis. 

Ah yeah, great to be here man. 

Though wow, what a bio. 

Well, what a long strange trip It's been. 

Yeah. 

Take us back what got you hooked on cars? 

Well, I you know. 

Well, I grew up in the muscle car era. 

I mean, I grew up at the launch, at the dawn of the muscle car era. 

And actually, you know. 

So if you grew up at that time, you, you're largely into it because of Madison Ave. 

You know it was like the big Three. 

All the manufacturers. 

We're looking for an untapped market segment and they they recognize that untapped market segment was the youth market they'd never marketed to youth before. 

Millimeter. 

And you know, big PNG guy and he talked about consumer needs and concept development everything. 

So you always look for the consumer need. 

With the consumer need of that. 

Untapped youth market. 

Well, it is he need for speed you know. 

I mean that was really it. 

So what it is they flap. 

Big engines and grocery getters, sedans and we had muscle cars and they just marketed the crap out of them to you. 

So, ma'am, I was. 

You know when I was growing up when I was, you know. 

A teens and young through high school stuff. 

It's like man, you run into the River into cars. 

I don't know what you're into. 

I mean it's just like it's a thing. 

I mean it, it was a. 

And we were. 

I mean it's kind of funny because we were actually. 

Many, many people where they realize it or not, but really brought into this hobby by Passion Ave they were just being marketed to and it you know and to the big three credit. 

They've built some, you know, pretty fun cars that should never been in the hands of 16 year old. 

Having been one of those that had a 67 GTO and what were they thinking? 

You know, I mean, uh. 

But yeah, that's what. 

I think got me into it, just it was really the era that was hard to miss, you know? 

Uh huh. 

Yeah, that's. 

We hear that from quite a lot of people that they were surrounded by this stuff and just him fully immersed in it. 

And it was it was just their God given right? 

And that's just what they did that that became their whole their whole speaking point of their whole life. 

Yeah, we don't realize sometimes is, ah. 

You know how they were led there? 

Right? 

They were let down by marketing to. 

A great degree. 

Right, what do? What is your first car memory? I mean, you're 2345 years old when, when did you become completely enthralled with automobile? 

Well, you know again, yeah kind of growth in Europe. 

I am a farm kid sure. 

And so you know you kind of had to be at least somewhat mechanical out of necessity really, and so you know, I was always tinkering with things and my grandfather would have, you know, the great. 

Tinker and creator and then just amazing guy that could make you know anything out of anything. 

And you know, my dad was always, uh, uh, it was a Buick guy like fast cars and so you know early memories of like about 54 Buick. I think his first car can actually remember. 

Well, but then it's like you know. Again, you know 11/12/13 fourteen. You know you're all the stuff coming out, but you know GTOs, and Road Runners. And then yeah, I mean this is all hitting the market. It's just like, you know, crazy I got my first comment. I think I bought my first car when I was 15 years. 

Cool well with 59 T-bird that I bought for 100 bucks and. 

Wow. 

You know, I wish I learned. So much from my car. 

Like I I just I didn't remember. 

I mean it's like it was a you know evening was Twilight was like dusk and you know looked with car or yeah 100 bucks. 

Jack right it's great. 

No. 

One of the things I learned about that car was. 

Never buy a car at dusk. 

True, because I looked out the window the next morning. 

Fine. 

He knows this pink car. 

Sitting outside, huh? 

And who's that is? 

The. 

The picking on color came in at, you know, get a color called Flamingo. 

It's really, really light pink. 

I swear it looks white. 

What? 

Uh, so yeah, it wasn't pink long. 

But my first car was a pink 59 . 

Incredible cool my first car yeah. 

I could only hear. 

House with that car. 

By the way, yeah, before I even had my drivers license I hit a house. 

Sure. 

It jumped out in. 

Front of me, it could not. 

It could not be avoided. 

Oh 

 

Understood. 

And those things happen. 

Trees just randomly grow up in front of cars all the time. 

Yeah, yeah. 

I've had a couple posts, grew up in front of my cars at time with you well. 

Yeah. 

Anyhow, my my first car was a pink 65 VW bug that I made that way on purpose. 

Open quote. 

Good for you. 

Yes, on purpose pink lowered 65 cow look bug with all the cool cow look stuff on it so. 

So you're also into motorcycles too, right? 

Yeah, you know, I mean. 

I actually bought my first motorcycle when I was 12 but and probably to be perfectly honest, I probably do more with bikes these days than I do with cars of the almost. 

I mean, they're easier to maintain, they take up less room stuff, more of them in a moment, and frankly, if it's a nice day, I'd rather be on a. 

Bike then then you know. 

In a caller actually. 

I mean I do like to ride. 

Right? 

Do you own any cars currently or mostly just motorcycles? 

No, I don't. 

I have a lot fewer than I used to have. 

I mean Really one time I think I had close to 20 cars. 

It was great. 

It was just. 

Ridiculous and it was the. 

Realization that it was just. 

Ridiculous. 

That caused me to, you know, start. 

Pairing that back, I mean I. 

You can't let them sit. 

They go to hell sitting right and so you know I'm. 

No. 

I'm doing the show I fly 100,000 miles a year. It's like you know, total insanity. I'm gone almost all the time. 

And. 

No. 

And if you ever see the show, you know there's the area, or it's in, you know, in my shop you know we're talking about some products and stuff. 

Like that, well, actually it is. 

That's my, that's my pole barn. 

I mean, it really is. 

Yeah, OK. 

That's where everything was. 

That's where all my cars were and stuff. 

And we would shoot all of those segments in a weeks time an entire season. 

Entire years were the segments of that of that garage thing were shot in one week, but it took me. 

Move. 

You know, probably, uh? 

Two or three weeks to prep that area to. 

Be able to turn it into a TV studio. 

Right? 

You know, when I realized that the last time I had fired this car up was the previous year to move it. 

Out of the way so. 

Like it was like, you know, I, that's probably not enough, you know. And then I had to, you know, find places for a dozen cars for you know 3-4 weeks and wish it was just a nightmare. So I started paring them back. 

Right? 

Baby, I'm gonna head this is fabulous 56 Lincoln Premier Oh my God. Turquoise and white. 2 door hardtop. block and a half long stunning car. Got rid of that 63 a study GT hawk  4 speed full dash God great car. 

63 Falcon Future convertible 260V8. You know that's gone? Opel GT that's gone? 

A 63 T-bird that's gone. 

Back 

Can't. 

On 

But it's true that I mean and in fact what I've done. 

Is I've granted you a little bit more too. 

But what I call future Classics almost home, I still have a 67 T-bird suicide door for those that is large their garage ornament I just, you know, 'cause. I just haven't put it on the road for a while. In fact, last time it was driven was for a music video. 

Oh, OK. 

I'll talk to yeah, so I got that. I've got an old F-150 four by 4, 76, but then it's things like I've got a 99 XK coupe Jag coupe and just think you know it's a beautiful car. I love the coupes. I've had types that that's gone. 

The the XK coupe really reminds me a lot of any type coupe. I think that's beautiful. I gotta an 06 Mercedes CLS, but you know the teardrop. They called the Four Door coupe I. 

Think that's a stunning caught first for that came out. 

Come on O2 T bird I I have a T bird I've had you know lots of them and that's a cool car out. First year for that the only year that had. 

That turquoise paint with a 2 tone interior. Turquoise and Jerry Oh my God that's on you know it and then like a new MKZ. Lincoln MKZ the twin Turbo 425 fourth all wheel drive monster. 

Wow, yeah. 

I had a dream essay Jones for years. You know the Taurus SHO which is incredibly ****** car. For that people realize and this I think this MKZ libels that thing, this thing hold fast. Oh my gosh, it's just an amazing car. 

Right, Yep. 

I love those. 

Lol wow. 

 

Uh-huh 

I haven't talked to you in about. 

A I don't know. 

If you were the things that I've had, I think I have 8/7. 

Again, seven, I'm down to 7 'cause I just sold one of seven BMW motorcycles. 

And a two, two and down to one. 

One motoGuzi 'cause I just hold the motor here too. 

So that's where. 

Yeah, I think I think that still rolls up to something like 19 totals that goes up to two mini. 

That's a. 

That's a lot of stuff to keep track of. 

Yes it is. 

That's a lot of titles and things to keep track of. 

I mean, they're cheap. 

Right? 

Right no? 

I just looked over OK, here's my registrations for this year. 

Oh my God, you're serious, you know, and having register all the bikes I've I've gotten to the point they used to register nine bikes a year. 

Yes, right? 

And that's just dumb. 

And ensuring everything like I I've decided now I'm gonna ride three. 

I'm going to pick three this this season. 

It's B street. 

Right? 

Like the other ones. 

Finally, you're kind of putting them up properly and stuff and not just you know. 

Your name? 

 

Turning them off and walking away from. 

Right? 

Where I put it. 

Is that that you know, whole car hobby motorcycle, hobby? 

It's a disease. 

Yes. 

It's incurable. 

Yes. 

But it can be managed with lots of money. 

That that is true, go through. 

That is. 

 

You and help you along in your life yeah, and and I guess you have as much as every other car guy and car person that you're focused on one specific vehicle and then all of a sudden you go. 

Yeah. 

 

Oh look, there's another one that I need. 

Yeah. 

Does that just distract your attention need? 

Well, it used to be a lot. 

It used to be a lot worse. 

I mean, I went through that phase like I gotta get me one of these like when it was that happened almost every time I got along with something. 

Sure, yeah. 

I would shoot a show and I do a piece on something. 

Oh damn, I gotta. 

Get me one of these, you know. 

I had to push after that. 

Yeah. 

Yeah. 

But but yeah, it's, uh. 

There are certain things and it's funny because there will be things that, uh, I will just decide I'm. 

I want that you know that is beautiful or that side that there's something about that, but I just really love. 

I must have it, and oftentimes I really know almost nothing about it. 

OK. 

It was a particular BMW. 

Motorcycle I bought and then I saw one once it was just. 

I mean this was beautiful and everything. 

It's just gorgeous and it was a great color and everything. 

And so I I yeah, I. 

Started searching for when I found one I'd never written that model I knew nothing about it. 

It just looked really great. 

Right? 

And so, and what I typically do, which I highly recommend against is, you know, uh, like fly somewhere and I'm either gonna write it or drive at home. 

You know, first time ever I'm going to get out and drive writer for a long ways. 

Right? 

I do not recommend that, although I do it all the time. 

Right? 

You know, so I get up there. 

It is a gorgeous bike and I ride. 

Then it turns out to be one of the best bikes I've ever ridden but but I you know it doesn't always work out there. 

But there's a lot of times where there's something I just decide don't. 

I don't even really know much about. 

It, but that's it. 

You just focus on it and then go get one there. 

Just bomb it back. 

I do, I like you know, like bite my my Lincoln was that way I did man that piece on all those lights and it's just great gorgeous and I you know and I just went after one. 

Now, have you ever decided that you had to have something? 

And then got in it and then realized it wasn't as much fun to drive as what you thought it was going to be. 

Did I mention that 67 from your birthday? 

Yes you did. 

What's the problem with that part? It's just everything is awesome and and that you know you're talking about car stories and how they affect you and stuff, I'll tell you the history of of that car's effect on me. 'cause you know on this on this farm, Karen live in northwestern Illinois. 

And. 

1. 

In 1967, actually called early 1967. My aunt and uncle came out from the Big city, Rockford, IL and they they came out to the farm and they came in this brand new 67 T Bird. I'm like Oh my God, you know what is that thing? 'cause if you know those guys. 

Oh my. 

You don't look. 

Like anything else shows, it didn't look like a keyboard. 

Right? 

You know, it's just. 

It's the weirdest and but it was like you know. 

So space agent, aeronautical. 

All these controls above you and you know and install list if you feel like you're in a cockpit of a. 

Oh yeah. 

Plane on it. 

Yeah I really. 

Great, so I mean years and years and years and years later I. 

Just decided I really. 

Now just been fighting this all my. 

Life, I'm just. 

Gonna buy my phone went out in Vegas actually. 

You know, had it had shipped here. 

Unbeknownst to my wife. 

Surprise. 

Yeah, not the first time and you know, I get this thing and it. 

It really is a great. 

Car, it's, you know, they're just they're amazing at built on a continental platform. 

And oh geez, you know. 

Yes, it's like driving the living room and suicide doors are so cool and it's rock solid and original. 

Miller 

But you know, I, I just I. 

I don't really have time for it and I've got rid of kind of all my old cars anymore. 

I mean, that's you know my like fifties 60s stuff. 

I kind of paired all that back. 

And you know, still got this one? 

And I'm like, yeah. 

I got it. 

I just got the release part yeah, but I came to the conclusion that I have to do that without driving it. 

Oh 

'cause every time I drive it, I go damn. 

This is math. 

It ***** you back in. 

So cool, like and so. 

Yeah OK, get rid of this, yes. 

What I have to do it without driving it? 

Yep. 

'cause that's the only way I'll sell it I I do really like it. 

Right wow. 

It's one of these that I shouldn't have bought 'cause I don't need it and everything, but it's just so cool and it is great to drive up. 

So I had to sell it without driving it. 

M. 

Yeah, that that happens to all of us collectors at one point in time. 

It's just absolutely crazy because you get that you have so many cars and you forget about this other car and then and then you drive it like you said and you're just you get this reoccurring memory that happens in your right. 

Yeah, you fall in love with it all over again, yeah? 

Fall in love with it all over again. 

Oh, you really do really do. 

Yeah. 

I mean I, I drive several different cars. 

You know, for work we repair something. 

I gotta take it off and drive it and I know my wife is getting tired of it, but I'll I'll send a picture of it to her notes. 

I need one of these, right? 

You know, it's just. 

You know it's Jeff. 

Every day Sean sends me something he says I need this. 

I need I need this today. 

I need this other thing I you know I need I need a fat fendered you know 40s era ordered. 

Yeah I. 

Oh my God yes. 

It's absolutely just absolutely ridiculous. 

But yeah, but that's part of it. 

You know, I guess that's part of the perks of my jobs. 

I get to drive all that stuff and I don't have to buy it. 

I could drive it and. 

And a week later I'll drive something different than that. 

You'll find out what cars you fit in and what cars you don't fit in. 

I need something else different, yeah? 

Yeah, there's certain cards I just don't fit in. 

Yeah, you know. 

And I tried to explain that to somebody other days, like certain cars just aren't as much fun to drive as others, and they're like what do you mean? 

What do you mean like? 

Because I don't physically fit in them very well. 

I'm a I'm a little larger guy and you know it just. 

Yeah, I think. 

I thought you know, I think cars, sports cars in particular were, you know, like I was like the test dummy or something built on built just like they're like they're made for a guy in my side. 

Uh-huh 

OK. 

Yeah. 

And I cooked perfectly and I'm like and I think about that. 'cause I'm not, you know. I mean 5-11 and tip, the scales of a massive 155 pounds. Well, but you know, I fit really well into these cars and I think about guys that are, you know, bigger than that. 

Yeah. 

And I'm going to hold it works. 

Yeah I tried to get into a 55 T bird about a month ago and I just couldn't physically get into the car with the roof on. 

Yeah, exactly. 

You know it's just yeah so I just no I can't drive this one. 

Exactly. 

You gotta let someone else do it. 

Do it. 

 

This. 

As I wanted to drive it, I just couldn't. 

Well, you know talking about those cars. 

That that that particular fifty 567. They're not real adjustable. You know that you know there's not a lot of adjust ability in that car, and I just think they're gorgeous, but they're really they. 

Yeah. 

No. 

Who lobbied are driving that? 

Well, you know there's all of actual cars and it's a little bit like a buckboard 

Yeah. 

 

But they should look great. 

Oh, they're beautiful cars. 

They look fantastic. 

Yeah, I want to drive that thing so bad. 

Well. 

Give us give us a little history to our listeners about my classic car. 

About your show. 

Kind of where it started from and where you plan to push it too. 

Well, uh, well it started as a complete accident. 

Huh? 

That's all great things do. 

We know that. 

Yeah, right? 

The car accident that. 

Didn't involve a trip to the hospital. 

Andy and I was just you. 

Know I mean, I've always been a car guy. 

But at the time I was, you know, I just said until I mean, I. 

I did get a PhD in chemistry and I I went from grad school to Procter and Gamble for 10 years and that's why did Pringles and stuff like that I mentioned? 

Now I want to be like a I was a director of Global product development for Bristol Myers Squibb Company and that's why I did boost the nutritional drinking and did a lot of. 

Right, right? 

 

Oh yeah, I mean I traveled all over the world and. 

I had this sort of roving ambassador position 'cause I was Doctor Gage, but I was also after 10 years of P&G. I love marketing knowledge and. 

But she obviously combined and such a good gig. But I I just, you know. I mean, I've done corporate R&D for 15 years and I and I it was just a complete accident. I had a chance meeting with the guy that end up being my business partner for about 15 years and he. 

Was the guy that had the idea of. 

The show explained what he was doing. You know, I I got this idea for a show and get on I listen like back in 1995. 

And not yet. 

I've been trying to find hosts all of the country and find all these TV. 

Guys, you know? 

Don't know anything about cars, always car guys that you can't put 3 words together into a sentence and you know you know you. 

You seem to know a lot about cars. 

You're kind of a character. 

That's a hell of a mustache. 

You know if. 

We get through that because we were shooting a commercial. 

That's how we met actually recruiting somebody that looked like a turn of the century. 

OK. 

Scholar, well, you know. 

There you go, bingo. 

There go bingo. 

We were talking about the turn of the 20th month we put. 

Oh 

 

So. 

Ah, that's how we we met. 

He's really big into his commercial. 

You know, we'd like to do a a camera test and see if it's like, do it so we. 

Yeah, it probably is you. 

Know which way it's got? 

A car and I said yeah and friends of the original Shelby, 68 Shelby Mustang. 

Oh 

Right? 

And so I called him up, I said, hey. 

MM over here. Do you know when the camera crew and yeah, which was kind of out of the blue and it's just early 95 and so we did it and it went OK? 

And so we you know. 

You know he was like look I, I think this could work. 

We should put a pilot episode together and you know I can. 

Hey, anything but you know I had a really good day job. Uh, by the way, the commercial we shot paid $25. 

Oh well. 

Who had somebody stop me from? 

You didn't spend that all in one place. 

Look, heavens no. 

You probably bought car parts. 

You bought 25 Hot Wheels. 

So we did the pilot, we went. 

Far from Nashville on southern Indiana, a couple hours, Nashville. 

Most families, TNM or national network which would have five days a week. 

Right, right? 

That was country music, MTV, and on the weekends he was home vision and cards you know, and that's to this day while we all watch. 

Oh yes, uh-huh. 

Partials battering Sunday mornings. 

He had him trained us to do that right back in the 90s. 

Right, that's true, right? 

That's true, right? 

Back in the early 90s. 

Late 80s. 

And, uh. 

So we took the pilot down, listen after you go down. 

Who this? 

Candace Cage Person is but will fund two more episodes and you have the three episode pilot series will. 

Air that in. 

January 96 OK. So often we you know. 

Again, I got. 

I'm traveling all over the world Asia, Europe South. 

American Soccer for Bristol. 

And but I would come back and we, you know, we should talk shows. 

So we did those 3 apps. 

We've done the pilot, the pilot episode, which we aired locally, you know. 

And I had a. 

We put a 800 number. I gotta get some feedbacks. It put 800 number on the show hey you wanna you know? 

Give us your comments and stuff 'cause we could follow the 800 number from the local TV station right there. One Saturday one Sunday at the blue. And because I was a PNG market research guide, you know he I said, well, let's get a questionnaire together. So if anybody does call us. 

Right? 

 

We can take him, you know, get some demographics on him and ask him some questions. 

Maybe get 10 people together for a focus group. 

But when they stopped in there, it like. 

You know, just. 

The phones lit up and we. 

Got like 303 hundred calls. It was like it so much shut. 

The system down but. 

We were able to take, you know, we filled out all this a questionnaire for everybody we had, you know, at a 300 base you could do statistics on it, so it's like. 

Overwhelmingly positive, that's actually what we took to TNM to say, you know. Here's the show, and hey, here's people reaction then. OK, so this thing is going to air in January 96. Be nice to get national feedback, but we didn't have a 800 number and we couldn't afford it. 800 number put on there. 

But we've heard about this thing called the Internet. 

Yes. 

Thing on the Internet this was 1995. 

Yeah. 

And geological terms, it was like equivalent when the Earth's crust was still cool. 

Yes, the dawn of eBay. 

But we yes with every week. 

Pretty bad, so we were actually online in December of 1995 and we were able to put a email address. 

On that pilot series 

Good, which then blew up and we got tons of feedback nationally and that's what caused TNN to go. OK, you know, that's pretty good and we embarked on a 3 year contract with them. I was still traveling all over the world and doing his day job thing, but in 96 I did that and produced a whole season of television. 

At the same time. 

Wow oh wow. 

Oh wow. 

And. 

And you know it was going well and that was kind of cool and everything like that. 

And and I was getting sick of corporate and. 

It was actually so. 

Like early 97 I was in Bangkok, Thailand and I quit. I said screw this, I can't do this anymore. I quit. 

You're not really. 

No more corporate. 

Gonna get it. Yeah it's always getting back to the US. 

Called my wife from Bangkok so. 

By the way, dear. 

Oh yeah. 

I quit my job home. 

Well, I figured you know I I can always if I need to join. 

And go back to cocoa. 

Bar indeed I did the show, you know, I I. 

I bought myself some time. 

And you know, and again to truncate this, you know. 

And then show took off and it just it was like never looked back. I mean this is the 26th 20 word production for the 26th season. We're airing the 25th season of the show. It's the longest running show of its kind in television history. Last think? 

Wow. 

That's incredible incredible. 

It's ridiculous, it's not. 

Oh, there's no. 

There's no explanation for it. 

It just kind of just worked well, but worked really hard always to never put myself. 

Well, in the position of an authority on or not and authority, I'm the ultimate enthusiast and you know the authorities using the person I'm talking to honor the vehicle I learned from everybody I talked to, uh, I've amassed a huge databank 'cause I got this ridiculous memory ability. 

Huh? 

Miller 

Everybody goes you, you know so much about cars and that's true. 

But it's because other people have told me that you know. 

Right, right? 

I mean, I learn. 

I learn from other people and I just store it so my heads full of useless crap. 

Actually. 

Yeah, it's a curse actually. 

So you know, good memories. 

Purse. 

It is. 

It is a curse we talked about that the other day. 

I was watching a television show and they had a what I what I thought was the wrong magazine on this television show that was recently filmed and. 

And my wife and I had. 

It was more than you thought it was wrong, it was wrong. 

A talk about it. 

Some television producers get it and nail it. 

Some television producers or what I feel is kind of LAX and you'll see, you know, white letter tire. 

On a car and it's in the 60s, you know that. 

Right, but they're not car fanatics right? 

And they don't get that you need to get down to that detail, right? 

They're trying to shoot a show with a car in the back and we're looking at the cars thinking there's a show. 

Going on around his car, right so? 

That is true. I know you've had your show and you say going on, you're filming your 27th. 

Isn't this what is this shooting 26. 

Actually shooting 26. 

25 is area. 

And we love breakdown stories about things you know you put stuff together in your MacGyver on the side of the road, and putting things together. 

Any cool stories about things that they're supposed to run and supposed to go great and they don't? 

A lot of these cards weren't. 

Really that reliable one? 

Never knew. 

Right? 

Right? 

And, and they're. 

They're certainly not one or 40 years old. 

And then they're also not driven much. 

So a lot of times issues. 

Yeah, it's bad enough they're going to get to something you never been around before, but it's probably hasn't been run for a couple years, or you know, they just got it going. 

Or and so, yeah, we've had it. 

Sure. 

 

I mean, just tons of stuff. 

Me now I remember. 

This was before cellphones were ubiquitous. 

But we I was doing at 54 Kaiser Darrin. 

Where it could cause pocket doors and. 

I I have worked on one and painted one. 

All that yeah, and uh. 

We took that thing out to get something we. 

Had those before Gopros even we were using just like consumer little little home video high end home video cameras for the kind in car stuff. 

I'm seeing office on the back deck. 

Took off to get some riding shots and. 

The thing just like driving along, it's just yeah. 

It turned out later that what happened was when the actuator arm on the fuel pump broken. 

It was just over, yeah, but we're out and you know we have no cell phone or you know we're just stranded and you know some back loading in. 

Oh 

In Michigan, because we like pretty roads and stuff, so you're not in the middle of freaking mower and you know you broke down and somebody comes by in a Jeep that happen to have a tow strap. 

And so we to strap that thing back that close had to close the show there with a broken down Kaiser Darrin. 

Wow. 

We told that by. 

No, no Gene Winfield. 

Who you know it's just amazing and ingenious years in his 90s and it's still banging fenders and they want a great customizers and did stuff that people don't realize. 

Mini Coopers. 

 

Right? 

You know he designed the landing vehicles for the original Star Trek TV series. 

He did a lot of movie stuff that people don't realize they weren't really cars. 

They were like. 

You know that like space vehicles that standard and. 

Miller 

Ah, so jaded that we were. 

How did his place in the Mojave Desert? 

Virtual experience and. 

You know that this is kind of. 

Best compound and city out. 

There's still, you know, like there's all these Gene Winfield creations. 

They're just sitting out 'cause the desert was I guess, OK, they're dusty, but they're not running with the Cheryl get used much it and we did a couple things. 

We did that reactor and we did this other thing. 

But then we took the strip star was the name of the car. 

You Google that thing. 

It's a really weird looking asymmetric. 

Futuristic, you know weird looking talk all the strips top thing push. 

Ah, like 406 board or something like that. There's some big Tord High riser on it. And all that we take this thing out. And if that just like piece of crap you know Jane and I are driving a singer type and then it you know possibly and dies on the roadside and so. 

Now she's trying to start it. 

We had cell phones and so we called back bring 5 gallons of gasoline poured in. 

And yes, I didn't put much gas on it, so anyways. 

So. 

He's probably at least, you know. 

Trying to start it like I get out, but. 

It was like you know, gas pouring down carburetor. 

Hey. 

Oh 

Over the engine I go to stop. 

Oh my. 

Spot on. 

You know we could. 

Have blown that thing up and. 

Burned it to the ground. 

Move. 

So what and how to gas at all? 

It had too much. 

Not in the right place. 

And not in the right place. 

Yeah, that that is fantastic, and how creative some of the hot rodders and restorers. 

R. 

That some people even restore their cars when they're wanting to get out and drive their cars they build in safeties like 2 electric fuel pumps or they build in things that keeps them from being off side the road from all their previous experiences. 

You know, having to walk forever. 

He will master cylinder, so you can actually stop if you break the line focus. 

Yes yes yes yes. 

But 

But you know you didn't. 

You made a good point there that a lot of these cars wasn't all that reliable. 

Back in the day, and I think that's one thing that a lot of people don't understand now that are just getting into the hobby. 

They. 

They buy an old car and think it's going to drive like their late model car. 

Or 

You know it is so they don't make them like they used to it. 

My response is thank. 

Exactly exactly. 

But 

 

I mean, I like cars that you stop at their cars at corner. 

Yes, yeah. 

Like awful cars would go like a bat outta hell in a straight line, but don't try and corner. 

Don't stop too quick, you know. 

Right, right, but but I've seen several people. 

They'll get into an old car and they bumped the key like a fuel injected and just want to drop it in gear and go and they don't realize it's a carburated vehicle. 

It needs a second. 

Or you may need to pump the gas to get it to start, or there's different things different ways you gotta treat it. 

They get it. 

Out of a 2019 Mercedes and they wonder why a 55 Cadillac is not running or they have to treat it differently and that is the what new cars have made people lazy. 

Right, why? 

Yeah, why doesn't it stop on a dime? 

Lazy drives. 

Yeah, you had good. 

I mean you cars back in the day really did have personalities. 

I mean everyone had its own quirks and you better know. 

Oh yeah. 

Or you could get in trouble. 

I mean everything now is just reliable, you know. 

And frankly, I mean. 

Yeah, but they're you know, uninteresting and there's. 

There's some truth to. 

That, but I mean, there's still some really amazing colors out now and the. 

Performance in these cars. 

Yes. 

You want power, you get it. 

It used to. 

Be, you know there's no replacement for cubic displacement. 

But now it's like, you know. 

You turbocharged 2 liters. 

Yes. 

Is kick most muscle cars ask? 

Right, very much so I I'd hate to see the person that has a a a big block 70 Chevelle 4 speed and they get walked by a new cobalt. 

Yes, you know, yeah. 

Hold it, honey. 

I mentioned it because I think that's you know what cars are now is quick. 

Right? 

I mean we have a lot of fast cars back in Denver, they really weren't that quick. 

And now the power just comes on immediately. 

Yeah, right? 

You know, if it's a, it's a. 

You know who got high tech engine. 

It just in there and those things are so quick. 

Yeah, and you have the ability to watch a soccer mom. 

In in a new hybrid doing 110 weaving in and out of traffic while she's combing her kids hair and on the cell phone and it's amazing and you couldn't have that before and people would crash more in the snow with a rear wheel drive car and you just see you just see foolishness and the safe cars are great and they're making people safe. 

Horse 

But I think they're taking the driver out of the driving experience. 

So one of the things we always preach is. 

The past more information onto the next generation, you know, help the next generation and get into the industry and the hobby. 

And what are you doing that would help and get the next generation interested or sharing your knowledge to the next generation? 

You know, I've been In this industry, for a long time and I associate with SEMA on single board of directors for seven years and the Council. 

For you know. 

Years before that and all that, and they're constantly wringing their hands about. 

Oh my God, that's what we know how we going to. 

And it get kids into the hobby and now and it's you know what programs do we need. 

But like that they have this belief. 

You can educate people into this and it's I just think that's crazy. 

I mean it, this is a passion. 

You don't educate a passion. 

You know you make this look like other people come to it. 

You look at you look at car shows. 

Back in the 80s. 

I mean, if you didn't really do it in the hobby, you didn't even know about the hobby, you know. 

And it was kind of. 

Insular, it was a little bit clannish. 

You know, uh, you know what really that welcoming 'cause you know which you know you're talking about now? 

Miller 

I have 3 bottles of the most offenders biggest offenders in that category sometimes, but I think I think a television. 

Marshall in particular, which kind of goal is for this whole hobby, brought the hobby to the general population. 

It brought it to people that didn't know about it and they went. 

Oh, it looks kind of cool. 

I had the car show in town this weekend. 

I here I think I'll go see that and so how we just exploded. 

I mean the in  

Handle TV got into the hobby. 

And so suddenly it's exposing. 

A whole lot more people. 

That's really good. 

A broader section of the population. 

We see that it's an emotional and emotion based thing is logical. 

So a motion based you. 

Right? 

In and so you know, I think the worst thing you can do is is to make this thing look like. 

All you really need to know what you're doing here by Callahan make this thing look like fun 'cause you need. 

It's fun and it's I was I was reference to Thomas Classic. 

Thomas were like no, so it's paint whitewashing attempts. 

You know often comes flying. 

Tom convinces him that this is really fun, you know, and the fact that you would trade me your dead mouse. 

I would let you paint this fence. 

Oh no. 

And lo and behold, you don't give him. 

What a deal. 

The dead mouse and he paints. 

The fence for Tom Sawyer so. 

I mean I, 

Think it's how do you present this? 

Now you make this? 

Something that looks like gradually. 

Right? 

We make this something looks like you know man I don't. 

Know how **** you know make. 

It look like it fit. 

Make it look like fun and fit. 

And that's what's going to get the younger. 

The new generation into it is and now, which really I don't think was true when I was kid. 

Well. 

You can actually make a career out of this. 

Hobby. 

Now, because there are so many people that don't know what they're doing, still want to play. 

But they don't know how to do this. 

So that's on the whole industry of people, building rods, servicing rods, you know creating their checkbook restorations their checkbook rods. 

Fine, you know. 

But still part of the industry, right? 

Somebody got the checkbook. 

They wrote that check and they funded aftermarket parts companies. 

They funded, you know, fabricators. 

They funded, you, know, young technicians, so you can actually make it. 

Yes. 

A living now building hot rods and you couldn't. 

Before you know 'cause every culture on you know, so I I think that I mean it's a great hobby. 

Right? 

I need to serve on lunch box and get. 

I also don't wring my hands as much as media tsemo do because. 

You know part of. 

This now younger generation isn't into it for. 

All the other reasons, but but one. 

Of them is that that's pretty freaking expensive. 

Yes, yeah. 

These cars are now. 

It stratospherically priced and and they can't participate. 

We did that when we when we were kids because you couldn't, you could afford it. 

Do you branch it yourself and you bought all my team? 

For 100 bucks, huh huh? 

Right? 

And now I want that keyboard and we paid $25,000 and probably be that good, you know so? 

Here's the thing. 

Note these these kids don't have money come. 

But they will as. 

They age, you know, you age into a different. 

Well, a different level in life we have a. 

Little bit more, you know. 

The disposable income and stuff like that and these cars are going to be not. 

Less cool in the future. 

Going on now, right? 

Make it any more of them. 

They aren't going anywhere. 

It's not like these cards are going to disappear. 

They're gonna move to other hands. 

The prices may come down into the stratosphere good, I'm fine with that, you know, get it back in the hands of enthusiasts hands at home. 

This one always says you're making money in this hobby or doing something wrong you know. 

That's not true at all. 

I mean, I mean the prices are just too hot. 

So you know, I, I think that. 

You know these same kids will probably build. 

A 80 CRX or something. 

You know the hot hatches there you. 

Right? 

But I'm not too jazzed about. 

The future, I think. 

I think we made it look like you know, if we're just running our hands all the time and you know keep hot in here, you need to pay attention here it's, you know that's going to be the death knell for. 

We make this thing look like a lot of fun. 

Millimeter. 

Who it was wrong? 

Like you were saying in the 80s, seventies and 80s and people were more stuffy about their cars. 

They'd bring a car to a static car show and we've all seen the guy red ropes around the car and everything and the car may not be as great a car as I thought it would be, and it's got red ropes around it. 

Don't touch it, you know it's made of sugar, can't and take it out. 

'cause it's too humid outside and that car will stay forever. 

And no one wants to go near that guy because he seems like he's in the hobby and he's always angry. 

That has kind of evolved, right? 

Everybody knows that guy, or that several pack of guys and. 

Why do I want to do this monthly? 

Uh, right exciting and you think why do you on what you were saying? Why do you wanna get some younger person into that hobby? Well, that person always seems angry and they seem stuffy and everything that it's going to rain or a bird's gonna poo on your car or something is going to happen to it. You're going to get a rock chip when you drive it that mentality in my eyes has kind of lessened. 

And people are really into more using cars. 

He kind of mellow out as you age it. 

Yes. 

You'll get the you know. 

And that my latest project which 

Which is the side thing that I did with Fireball was like, well, they actually an automotive coloring book and. 

Oh yeah, that's great. 

Let's say the. 

Fireballs coloring book like yeah. 

Fantastic. 

You know, because again. 

Like 

These things on. 

You know this hobby is fun for Fireball, who's a? You know I didn't know him, he's an artist out in the LA area and. 

Right? 

I've done books with, you know, like Gene Winfield and Sidney Mira 

Who is, you know, this futuristic designer, guided Blade Runner cars inside and. 

Right? 

So Fireball Contacts me and I'm like OK, that sounds cool coloring book it out and. 

What would be the theme? 

Right? 

 

Well, you know. 

The show is called my classic car, but. 

I hate I've always. 

Hated that, name. 

Oh, really. 

Yeah, because because classic car all sounds like some old big surprise here or it's you know, true classic. 

Oh, I see. 

I see you're saying, yeah? 

Food yourself. 

That's a little stigma on it. 

Look absolutely and and. 

OK. 

You know my attitude. 

I use a very broad definition of classic. 

Yet there's anything anybody thinks is. 

Cool, so the show really does everything. 

And that's been it's. 

It's been in since I've done. 

It for a quarter of a century. 

Uh, I I'm looking, you know, in CUDA, Camaro Mustang to death and I'm looking for stuff that I don't see in every show and so my shows become known for kind of off the beaten path type stuff and and so you know the theme of the book was going to be orphans and oddballs. 

M. 

No orphan colors like Mash Hudson, young marks. 

They don't exist anymore like partner level, so those are my options and oddballs, you know, just micro cars and stuff and so that sounds like a good thing. 

Yes. 

And you know, I chose 20 cars that we. 

Had done over the years that were just kind of fit back and got that we've got a video caught on on YouTube. 

Huh? 

But maybe this weekend. 

It really shows that you know, goes through the book, you know, kind of all the different. 

You know, different pages and you know and deals the cards that we actually. 

You know that actually. 

'cause we actually shot on it, is it? 

Right? 

 

It's just, uh, like Tim. 

Oh work 'cause he he's a really. 

He's really good artist and he does very accurate automotive renderings but then puts underneath fantasy environments for scoring book. 

Yes. 

Yep, seeing that he's done a great job, yes. 

There's a lot to do. 

There's lot to do. 

That so, so that's kind of. 

One of my latest projects and it's a way to. 

Again, say hey how cars are fun. 

There's so much fun. 

Here's a coloring book. 

Right, yeah, exactly. 

With. 

Kids in your car don't make it untouchable. 

Don't put the velvet ropes around it and everything and and I found more reactions about getting kids sitting in a car and getting the feeling of it. 

They may not have ever done that. 

No, I I totally agree with that. 

But the last line that shows is that. 

There's there's actually a number of people like that that they. 

Get the biggest kick. 

I'm just. 

Putting kids in my heart, I understand. 

People that have, you know, don't. 

$60,000 into that interior and they do. 

Movie. 

Sure, sure. 

And I understand that I get. 

That and. 

And in fact. 

Those cars aren't really owned as cars, they're owned as art single though. OK, I I put 100 grand into this. I like be kind of sensitive about that. And you're right, I'm not gonna fire it up 'cause it would blue the headers. 

Yes, right? 

Huh? 

You know, I mean I, I get that. 

Josh. 

But it's still far from but then. 

And so I appreciate it for that. 

Right? 

But I think that has. 

Actually doesn't have the impact. 

That some people. 

 for God sake. 

That it's just willing to let kids sit behind the wheel and they're, you know, picture takers flying down the Bender or something like that and that they don't have a gazillion dollars and two and they've got different perspective on so. 

The great thing about. 

Car shows which are now all pretty well above were before the pandemic and will be again. 

Pretty well attended, there was a full breath from the Trucial Cars 6 figure cars depending on daily driver. 

You know the diversity of a car show is great and I love seeing kids at car shows and love seeing. 

You know strollers. 

You know it's a family affair. 

This is a great hobby and it it's all. 

Yeah, right? 

It's good, clean fun. 

It's all family hobby. 

That's how you want to push it. 

That's how you want to promote it. 

That's how you perpetuate it. 

And share that information in a fun way. 

And that's that's absolutely incredible. 

Yeah so. 

Anyway, I found out. 

Oh yeah. 

About a Buck and a half will get you a Starbucks Cup. 

Of coffee exactly exactly. 

Exactly exactly. 

 

So where does Dennis Gage go from? 

Here. 

You don't like my life, has had so many weird turns and twists and stuff. 

Yeah. 

I've always just kind of gone with the flow, you know stuff just pops up and I go, huh? 

That looks interesting. 

You know I think I'll do that if I had to give it life advice. 

You know my philosophy, my life. 

Advice I can distill it down to 2 words. 

Those words are pay attention. 

There's so much going on around here, and most people don't even notice it. 

I mean, there's opportunity just around you all the time. 

It all you have to do is pay attention and you know keep your peripheral vision open, you go and you see something uh-huh that's kind of that's interesting. 

So many people are just. 

Their nose is so close. 

To the grindstone or whatever they just don't realize how much cool stuff, how much opportunity, how much life is just all around them. 

You know my whole walk of life, it's just. 

Yeah, kind of paying attention. 

It just kind of noticing things and go. 

I'm an inherently curious person, become a decent interviewer 'cause I actually I'm interested in the answer to this question. 

You know? 

I mean I they're genuine questions. 

What is that I'm not look where'd that come from? 

You know, I'm curious. 

I didn't plan to be in TV. 

You know I didn't. 

Plan to be touring with bands in the 70s. 

I didn't really plan to be a scientist, it was just, huh, that's interesting. 

I mean they don't do that for a while. 

So we've been interesting about. 

This gig is that you have. 

20 on quarter century. 

And I haven't gotten bored with it. 

That's not really what it is. 

It's really when I. 

Quit learning in a category. 

Then it's time to you know I'm trying to Max out the learning I can get here and that looks interesting I. 

Think I'll go over there, but I haven't. 

Maxed out my learning here, I still learn something everyday and. 

That's right. 

As long as I do that, I'll probably still be doing something like this, but I. 

You know, I I I'm looking to dial it back a little. I don't I've been on you know I mean I like 2,000,000 miles with Delta alone let alone the other airlines. So I mean, I've flown in all my careers all my life and. 

Wow, launch. 

And so I'm looking forward. 

To you know, hanging out, playing with those motorcycles, playing with those colors a little bit more still doing television. 

I just I just this is news to you guys. 

News to John Dr. 

Part Podcast from Junkies is I just put a deal together still to young. 

He threw only 24 you know? I mean Oh yeah, I you know so I just any you don't do these multi year deals but I just did. 

Wow, nice. 

Well congratulations, I'm glad things are still gaining speed. 

Yeah. 

It refuses to die. 

It just refuses to die, yeah? 

And that's a good thing. 

Yeah, I enjoy the show a lot, yes. 

Very much. 

I appreciate that. 

Yeah, it's fun doing it, you know? 

It looks like a lot of fun. 

You know with which. 

What hit me in this was just yesterday. 

Mom, I even wrote it down. 

Because you know it. 

The show is really strange. 

I mean, we're. 

25 years is absolutely unheard of. 

And with the same host thing you know. 

Man would say everything. 

Come in and why is that? 

I mean it. 

And by the way, it is actually the number one show on the network. 

Nice. 

After 25 years, it still looks. 

Nice. 

So. 

Why is that? 

'cause I mean truly was a case of catching lightning in a jar, you know? 

And we just happen to catch lightning in. The jar and 'cause. 

If you look at the show. 

Is. 

We do the same thing every time. 

And it's always different. 

Miller 

Weird, that was what I wrote down this show is we do the same thing every. 

Time and it's always. 

Different, how weird is that? 

Right, that's absolutely incredible. 

I, I know it's hard to, and maybe you have a number for it. 

How many vehicles do you think you've interviewed or looked at? 

And do you have a favorite? 

Yeah, it's the one with. 

The four wheels and the internal combustion engine. 

Ah, that's it. 

Not for that plan. 

You know colors thousands just thought you know thousand fired yeah stuff that I never thought I'd get close to. 

I've driven, you know. 

Fight. 

Uh, it's, it's crazy and you know I mean, a lot of the shows out now can trace their lineages one way or 

The app. 

Meet Marshall, you know, sort of the godfather had become the Godfather. 

He's so weird. 

I see that. 

It's great to talk to you and learn about the history of your show and the history of you. 

Yeah. 

We have, like I said, what a long, strange trip it's been. 

Well, I thank you for taking some time out of your day to talk with us today. 

Yeah, it's been a lot of fun. 

Well, it's a pleasure and you know you guys. 

You look tense. 

You should get a coloring. 

Book you know you guys, you just. 

You look tense, you know. 

Hence everybody needs a coloring book. 

fireballs coloring. 

Books and just ship, you know, just chill and hang on color. 

Just hang out. 

Hang out. 

I'd have some have some fun coloring. 

You know Amazon and get that. 

I will do that. 

You just relax. 

Well, that is incredible and words of wisdom from Dennis Gage. 

Alright. 

Yeah, thanks a lot guys been pleasure. 

Thank you, thank you very much. 

Thanks very much. 

Thanks. 

Sean, I know what we do and all of our listeners love to watch car movies. 

Go all the time. 

There's been some good ones coming out recently. 

I know there's the John Wick series stuff. 

Oh yeah, yeah, with a Mustang. 

In this movie, it's portrayed as a 429, a boss 429 Mustang which all of us detailed car guys know that it is not. But we'll just follow along with. 

Right? 

We did a. 

It's a movie, just pretend. 

It is a movie. 

Just pretend quit pointing at the screen and screaming. 

We did a kind of step by step build up of what it would take to do that car on mikaniki.com on our page, Sean and John Restoration Corner. Right now our listeners can go to our website and find mikaniki.com you can go there and find out how to build your own. 

John Wick movie Car Mustang clone. 

Yes, go check it out. 

You can learn more about us. 

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