Hollywood Hot Rods was racing around the mind of its founder, Troy Ladd, long before he went into business. Troy worked in construction management during the day and built hot rods as a hobby at night and on weekends. In 2002, he decided to follow
Steve Strope’s path to owning his own Southern California shop, Pure Vision Design, started in a basement parking garage where he covered his neighbors’ cars in cellophane so he could paint parts hanging from the water pipes. More than 20 years have passed since those
After being cooped up in the shop for the first half of the winter, I always enjoy getting out and attending the Grand National Roadster Show at the end of January (or, this year, early February). Not only does this event attract big-time debuts with
Will Posey is a second-generation hot rodder who grew up helping his father Jimmy wrench and race, and who knew from a young age that he wanted to build hot rods. “My parents told me I had to go to college; I knew I wanted to
Mike Cook might not be a household name, but his face probably looks familiar to many hot rodders. Whether it was on the TV show Monster Garage back in the day, on any number of stunt shows in the 2010s, or more recently on the
Artist Eric Black has been drawing cars all his life. His infatuation began with big rigs as a young boy, but quickly expanded into passenger cars and pickups – basically anything with wheels. Growing up in Wyoming in the ’80s, his high school scene was
Darryl Starbird is an automotive customizer who, along with peers like Gene Winfield and George Barris, helped popularize the custom car during the 1950s and ’60s, when customs became a widespread part of American culture. He opened his Star Kustom Shop in Wichita, Kansas, in
Like many car builders, Jesse Greening inherited an interest in hot rods from his father, Jeff. The two of them worked on and built cars as a hobby and part-time business while Jesse was growing up in central Michigan, and then ventured south in the
Bring a Trailer founder Randy Nonnenberg developed an automotive passion early in life, the result of time spent with his father. “My dad always subscribed to Road and Track and he and I spent a lot of time together in the garage,” Randy says. “He
Jeanette Ladina had an unlikely start to becoming the President and CEO of Flaming River Industries. She was just in high school when she began working at the company, at the time just a start-up itself. Little did she know she’d have the opportunity to
