Cars Yeah With Mark Greene

Chad Hiltz, know as Bad Chad is the founder of Hiltz Auto Company and his is the star of the Discovery Channel’s new show, Bad Chad Customs. He runs a hand-built automotive customs shop in Nova Scotia and he is an artist like no other. Chad’s one-of-a-kind creations spring from his imagination using skills and resourcefulness to build cars using parts from boats, airplanes, and even an old locker. Part MacGyver, part Willy Wonka; if Chad can imagine it, he will find a way to build it. His neighbor once said, “Chad could build a Bugatti out of a chicken coup!” His new TV show, Bad Chad Customs will debut today, January 1, 2019, on the Discovery Channel. 

Chris Pantani is the Director of Motorsports at Cooper Tires. He has over 29 years in the tire industry and has worked globally for two major manufacturers during his career. Cooper Tires is an American company that dates back to 1914 in Akron, Ohio. Ira J. Cooper developed the Cooper Creed that focused on providing their customers with “Good merchandise, fair play, and a square deal.” Cooper’s Global Technical Center in Findlay is a worldwide center of excellence for tire science and technology. Cooper Tires also has a testing facility near San Antonio, Texas, where safety is their number one priority. I had the pleasure of meeting Chris and past Cars Yeah guest Johnny Unser while at SEMA where they shared the many quality features of Cooper Tires.

Josh Gifford is the President of Creative Mobile Interiors where he has been since 2006. At CMI they design and build custom, one-of-a-kind vehicle conversions of all types and sizes. Their reputation for high-quality craftsmanship, close attention to detail, and an unwavering commitment to customer service makes them unique in the marketplace. They work on motorhomes, executive vans, tailgating vehicles, RVs, mobile offices, family vans, trailers, and much more. Josh is a graduate of the Columbus College of Art & Design and he’s been an automotive enthusiast since birth. Josh’s motto is, “If it ain’t got wheels it don’t matter.” I met Josh at SEMA this year where he was showing an incredible creation that he and his team built, a 1972 Chevrolet C10/C30 truck and camper that took 11 months and over 2,200 hours to complete

Greg Stanley is an extreme automotive enthusiast who enjoys reaching out to non-car folks through his educational and inspirational podcast called Learn From Others. Greg’s goal is to educate the next generation by sharing career experiences of successful professionals and to ignite interest in the automotive hobby. Greg does this by asking his guest about their first car, their dream car and he then picks a Cool Company Car for them based on their job responsibilities. Past Cool Company Cars range from a McLaren F1 for an F-16 Pilot, to a 1909 Baker Electric for a Registered Nurse, to a 1992 Nissan Skyline for a National Sales Manager of an energy beverage company.  Greg is also an author, illustrator and his day job is selling Bazooka Candy Brands in the Convenience Channel.

Pontus Fontaeus is the Executive Design Director of GAC Advanced Design Center in Los Angeles, California. GAC is one of China’s largest automakers producing FCA vehicles, Toyotas, Hondas, Mitsubishis, and Peugeots under license for the Chinese market. He is an internationally recognized Swedish Car Designer who graduated from Art Center College of Design in Switzerland in 1993. Pontus has lived and worked in eight countries before his current role at GAC. He has nearly 30 years of design experience within the areas of automotive transportation product and graphic design, advertising, illustration, architecture projects, and with the VW Design Studio in Berlin. He served as the Interior Chief for Ferrari and worked at Volvo Car Corporation, Kia Motors Europe, General Motors, Renault, and Volkswagen. Pontus is spearheading the launch of a GAC vehicle for the American market in 2019.  

Paige Bouma is the Vice President of Cycle Trader, an online marketplace designed to connect motorcycle buyers and sellers. Paige has played an integral role in strengthening the Cycle Trader brand while sharing her enthusiasm for motorcycles through speaking engagements, marketing campaigns, and several other media outlets. With over 12 years of industry experience, Paige offers a wealth of knowledge and insight into the world of motorcycles and power sports. Paige also spends her weekends as the pit crew for her two young sons and husband who all race motocross. 

Noah Alexander is the owner of Classic Car Studio and the star of Discovery /Velocity Channel’s hit television show Speed is the New Black. His business specializes in building and restoring high-performance machines that combine classic lines with modern technology. Speed is the New Black showcases the technical aspects of car building where he and his talented team of master craftsmen perform their magic. Some of the automotive builds he’s created include a 1990 Porsche 964, a ’57 Chevrolet Bel Air, a 1962 Chrysler 300, and vintage trucks. An entrepreneur at heart, Noah’s eye for design and mind for innovation doesn’t stop at custom cars. He is also the Founder of Goebel & Co Furniture, one of America’s premier artisan furniture brands and his designs are sold worldwide. 

Jeff Perlman is a Media Relations Specialist and has spent over 25 years pitching journalists for a wide variety of clients in the automotive industry. Jeff has worked with brands including Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, “Voice of the Customer” J.D. Power, and luxury lifestyle authority, Robb Report, to niche entrepreneurial businesses. He’s worked extensively with media in virtually every sector of the automotive world, from the collector car hobby to dealer industry trades to mainstream automotive business and consumer enthusiast outlets. Schooled as a journalist, Jeff leveraged his training by establishing longstanding relationships with reporters, editors, broadcaster, bloggers, and influencers. 

Mariella Mengozzi is the Director of the National Automobile Museum, known at MAUTO, in Turin, Italy. It was established in 1932 on the left bank of the River Po and it is a journey through the history of the automobile. There are over 200 vehicles, 80 different marques all housed in a spectacular and unique building designed by architect, Cino Zucchi. Mariella was born in Forlì, Emilia Romania and earned a law degree and her MBA in Bologna, Italy. She has worked for worldwide brands including Walt Disney, Ferrari, Lamborghini, and others. Her goals with MAUTO are to increase its reach and international visibility and to work with passion building trust and long-term relationships.

Matt Hankin is the Head of Marketing and Communications at Rhino-Rack Australia where they create the world’s most useful roof racks for work and play. Rhino-Rack designs and builds durable and easy-to-use roof racks, luggage boxes, bike carriers, kayak carriers, load securing accessories, and much more. Matt has been a marketer for over 29 years having worked for many multinational and local Australian businesses in both the wholesale and retail environments. He’s been with Rhino-Rack for about three years supporting their local and global markets with a focus on Australia and the United States, where they have their U.S. Operations in Denver, Colorado.

Doug Herbert is a nationally recognized top fuel drag racing champion. He is the first driver to run over 300 MPH during NHRA eliminations, and his career-best speed tops 330 MPH. But in 2008 Doug put his racing career aside when he lost his two young sons, Jon and James, in a tragic car crash. After experiencing this tremendous loss and grief, Doug decided to create a driving program that teaches advanced safe driving techniques and founded B.R.A.K.E.S., (Be Responsible And Keep Everyone Safe) which is a non-profit 501 C3 Teen Pro-Active Defensive Driving Program. For over 10 years, Doug and B.R.A.K.E.S. have been traveling to various US cities to help prevent injuries and save lives by training and educating teenage drivers and their parents.

Martin Grossinger is the Senior Digital Marketing Manager for AutoMobility LA and the Los Angeles Auto Show. In this role, he creates video and social media content for the two events, produces the AutoMobility LA Podcast, wrangles the shows’ photography and videography teams, ideates branded activations and experiences, and liaises with a great community of car lovers all over Southern California and the world. He started with the show one day before it opened in 2014. Before moving to Los Angeles, Martin worked at a group of radio stations in Texas, wrote for Jalopnik in New York, and worked live event television production. Jalopnik’s Editor and Chief, Matt Hardigree, has been a past guest on Cars Yeah.

Doug Breuninger is the Founder of Notable Rides, which is a blend of his transportation design discipline and his art. He is a graduate of the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California. He is a rare breed in the automotive car world in that his passion for art blends seamlessly with his love of aftermarket design. He’s known for his Notable Rides, a Post-it series of cars he has been working on since 2013, that was born from his passion and enthusiasm for design, art and the automobiles. He’s created over 220 Post-It car paintings, all of which you can find on his website Notablerides.com.

Colin Dilley, Ph.D., is the Vice President of Technology at Prestone  Products Corporation. He joined the company in 1995 and is a well-recognized technological and commercial leader in the automotive fluids industry. At Prestone, Colin specializes in strategic business management of critical projects, including effectively revising processes, systems, and procedures to facilitate improvements in cost structure, quality, and service. He has been directly responsible for developing and launching several propriety Prestone products, including Prestone’s new Cor-Guard™ Corrosion Inhibitor technology in the industry-leading Antifreeze/Coolant. 

Joey Giordano is a Master Tech with Toyota/Lexus whose passion for automobiles goes back to his childhood where he spent time with his dad working on cars. He is a dedicated Volkswagen fanatic who decided to join Ben Sprints and Lee Stahlecker at Straight Up Dubs as a way to spend his after-work and weekend spare time extending his automotive knowledge to his passion for classic VWs. Through his business Sud Werkstatt, he restores old VWs, drives them whenever possible, and his beloved 1969 Safari Bay has been featured in multiple magazines. He created the Straight Up Dubs brand where VW friends and fans can gather to enjoy cars, hold events, and go on drives. Joey created a line of products around the marque he loves so much. 

Trevor Huiskens is the owner of WFO Concepts located in Auburn, California. He and his talented team are custom automotive fabricators who work on everything from Harleys to hotrods, street trucks, and off-road vehicles. They also design and build a variety of custom components including suspension parts, frames, axles, and suspensions; you name it. They have an in-house machine shop, CNC plasma cutter, water jet, and powder coating. WFO also sells a wide variety of off road parts for trucks and jeeps. Their focus is high quality, professional-looking products that fit their customers' needs and perform above expectations.Trevor has been in business since 2003.

Paul Rees is a British Racing Driver who is currently driving a McLaren in the European GT Championships. Paul is a multiple Karting Champion, Formula Palmer Audi Rookie Champion, and Race Winner. He was the FIA Formula 2 Rookie Cup Winner and podium finisher and was third overall in the Porsche Carrera Cup GB Championship/Race Winner. Last year, Paul was invited to join the Prestigious British Racing Driver’s Club as a full member. When he’s not racing, Paul is a Driving Coach and Development Driver for numerous clients including McLaren Automotive, Porsche, and Mercedes AMG. He is also a film stunt driver and has appeared worldwide on television and in print media.

Nick Crouch is an automotive artist from Phoenix, Arizona who has been drawing since 1988. Throughout his art career, he has explored a wide variety of art forms including drawing, painting, graphic design, photography, film, video, welding and fabricating. Nick has been involved in the car scene since 2003 when he started creating digital renderings of automobiles, trucks, and motorcycles, with a preference of hot rods, resto-mods, customs and anything that is down low. He loves to create images of rides nobody has seen before. Nick was part of Artwalk at SEMA this year and you’ll find a wide variety of his art on his website at Surfacenick.com

Lance Bergstein is a race car driver. Lance's passion for cars existed throughout his entire life but it was not until he was 20 years old and done playing competitive tennis that he realized his passion and talent for racing cars. Lance has competed in VLN endurance races at the Nurburgring, multiple 24-hour races throughout the United States and Europe, as well as being a regular in the SCCA Hoosier Super Tour Spec Miata Field. Lance is also a 28-year-old type 1 diabetic who has to manage his Diabetes 24/7 and that challenge is exponentially greater when racing wheel to wheel at over 150 mph. Lance credits organizations like JDRF and technologies like Dexcom for enabling him to continue to pursue his dream of high-level auto racing. Lance continues to be a car enthusiast on and off the track. When he’s not in a car or on a racing simulator, Lance works as a real estate developer. 

Loni Unser is a full-time college student with an athletic background in downhill skiing and other line-finding sports. She recently discovered her talent for racing. Perhaps this is because her family DNA includes the most winning family in motorsports history and one of America’s premier auto-racing dynasties. Her father is Indy racer, Johnny Unser, a past Cars Yeah guest, and the list of Unser racers is long, indeed.  With the support of her famous family, she is rapidly becoming a threat on track. She currently contests the Spec Miata series in the NASA Rocky Mountain Region, while also competing in select World Racing League endurance races. She is targeting the Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge as well as the Mazda Global MX-5 Cup.