5 Minutes with Jeff Thisted – Cruising a ’55 Chevy to Car Shows Across the Country
The name may not ring a bell at first, but the voice certainly will! You’ve heard the enthusiastic tone of Jeff Thisted’s voice during Goodguys AutoCross competitions and awards ceremonies. For those road warriors out there, Jeff’s also a familiar face and voice at other automotive events like the Power Tour, C10 Nationals, and Summit Racing Autocross Week.
There’s also a good chance you recognize Jeff’s ’55 Chevy Handyman wagon, which he drives across the country to “work,” racking up thousands of smile-filled miles along the way. But how did this car enthusiast, game show aficionado, and master of ceremonies come to a point where he gets to have all this car guy fun? We were curious, too, so we caught Jeff at a rare moment of down time.
GG: How did you get into hot rod announcing and emcee work?
Jeff Thisted: I always wanted to be “America’s favorite TV game show host,” and I even worked with Bob Barker and Drew Carey on The Price is Right and hosted a couple of shows on Game Show Network. From there I got a gig with Chevrolet as a product specialist at the big auto shows in Detroit, Chicago, Los Angeles, and others. After that, a buddy asked me to help host the Hot Rod Power Tour, then I started doing Goodguys AutoCross after connecting on the Prestone 90th Anniversary road trip from Scottsdale to the LA Auto Show. And now, here I am in the Goodguys Gazette!
GG: What was your job with The Price is Right?
Jeff Thisted: I was the production coordinator and the contestant coordinator. I was the one who interviewed and then chose the contestants for every show. It was an incredible experience.
GG: What’s the best part of your job? How about the most challenging part?
Jeff Thisted: The best part is getting to see the USA in my Chevrolet and seeing my “car family” across the country. The most challenging part is getting to the events; sometimes things happen. Last year someone ran into the back of my ’55, which took it off the road for a few months. But it’s all part of the adventure, right? By the time you read this the ’55 will be fixed and back on the road.
GG: What wisdom would you share with someone looking to get involved the hot rod media?
Jeff Thisted: The best advice I can give is to make sure you love what you do. The old cliché is, if you love what you do, you’ll never work a day in your life. I always wanted to be a game show host, but as the industry has evolved no one wanted a professional host anymore. They want “experts,” so you’ve gotta know what you’re talking about. I read this quote from President Calvin Coolidge years ago that always stuck with me:
“Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful people with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated failures. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent.”
GG: How long have you owned your ’55 Chevy Handyman wagon?
Jeff Thisted: I’ve owned it almost 15 years. It had a typical 350 with a TH350 trans when I got it. I upgraded it over the years to make it a true road warrior. Now it’s powered by a Gandrud Chevrolet LSX376 with a Whipple supercharger, a Wegner front accessory drive, Gearstar 4L80E transmission, Gear Vendors overdrive, QA1 carbonfiber driveshaft, and Roadster Shop SPEC chassis. We’ve been to 38 states and 32 National Parks – so far! Giddy up!
GG: How many famous movie sites have you experienced in your travels?
Jeff Thisted: I don’t know exactly how many, but last year I went to all the “Two Lane Blacktop” locations and all the “Easy Rider” locations. I’ve also been to most of the “American Graffiti” locations and “Vanishing Point” locations. Oh, yeah – “The Blues Brothers,” “Casino,” “The Brady Bunch,” “The Karate Kid,” “The Soprano’s,” and “U-Turn” are some of the others.
GG: What is a stretch of road that every hot rodder should travel?
Jeff Thisted: I’m a big fan of our National Byway system – we’ve got some amazing roads! Route 66 is one of my all-time favorites. The Oatman Highway is like stepping back in time. Highway 550 in Colorado and Utah’s Scenic Byway 12 are awesome and Farm Road 170 in Texas is cool, too. And Tail of the Dragon – it’s not my favorite but it’s a road every hot rodder should experience at least once.
GG: What do you like most about Goodguys AutoCross?
Jeff Thisted: It’s fun to watch and super cool to see every level of driver from a first timer to Optima Ultimate Streetcar winners like the Leisingers. The variety of cars is awesome! Where else can you see a real deal Cobra racing? Not a replica. Not a continuation. Not a tribute. A real Cobra! We had the honor of watching Scott Fraiser beat on CSX3170 like a rented mule for years and it was amazing!
GG: Do you still have the ’69 Corvette that was featured on the TV show “JAG?”
Jeff Thisted: You had to bring up my old Corvette, didn’t you? It was the star car on JAG for the run of the series. I got my Screen Actors Guild card working on the pilot and as I was waiting at the stoplight at 20th Century Fox, Donald P. Bellisario pulled up next to me, looked at the car and said, “That’s our new star car, kid. Come in tomorrow and we’ll sign the paperwork.” That’s how it all started. It was my daily driver for over a decade in LA, but it wasn’t very practical, so I sold it and bought the ‘55.
GG: How was the experience working on a hot rod TV show like Rods N’ Wheels – what was your takeaway?
Jeff Thisted: It was awesome working on Rod’s n Wheels!! I had a blast hanging out with my friends, being in the shop, playing with cool cars, and getting paid for it. My take away is that reality TV isn’t reality at all… but it is good fun.
GG: Name three cars you’d love to own.
Jeff Thisted: A 1969 front engine 12-cylinder Ferrari Daytona. A Ferrari GTC4 Lusso, which is a Ferrari station wagon like the ‘55 but all wheel drive and a 12-cylinder. And a 1975 Chevy Suburban – also like the ’55, but on steroids and four wheel drive.
You can follow Jeff on Facebook, Instagram, and his website: idrivea55.com
