With a very successful 2010 DiecastSpace Super Convention now past us, I sit down with Mike Zarnock and Joe Kelly Jr. to talk about our experiences during our week at Circus Circus in Las Vegas. We touch upon all the great events that occurred and all the amazing people who attended – from day one through the Diecast Hall of Fame ceremony to the finale.

Listen to the recorded show from the audio widget on this page and be sure to check out the catalog of previous shows on the Saturday Nitro page.

Saturday Nitro rumbles into 2010 with this first show of the year featuring Vinnie Dimartino and Cody Connelly from V-Force Customs. The pair were thrown into the spotlight during their time spent on the popular reality series “American Chopper.” We discuss their experiences on the show, dealing with fame, and of course, the bikes!

Since leaving the American Chopper, the two have found new success in launching their own shop where they focus on building one-of-a-kind custom bikes for all new clients and companies. During the second half of the show we talk about braking out on their own, building the new shop and launch their new successful venture.

Listen to the recorded show from the audio widget on this page or check out the catalog of previous shows on the Saturday Nitro page.

The final Nitro for 2009 features a special peek into the life of actress Erin Moran. Erin is best known for her role as Joanie Cunningham on the classic sitcom “Happy Days.” While Erin doesn’t fit into the standard “Nitro guest” category of die-cast designers, customizers and manufacturers, she will be part of the 2010 DiecastSpace Super Convention as a special guest celebrity.

After a slightly delayed start, Erin provided listeners with some great stories about growing up in front of America. Collectors attending the Super Convention are certainly in for a treat this coming February!

Listen to the recorded show from the audio widget on this page or check out the catalog of previous shows on the Saturday Nitro page.

The Car Room Magazine’s Joe Kelly Jr. and Hot Wheels Author Mike Zarnock join me for a special Saturday Nitro mash-up show. We’ve combined the standard live audio feed of Saturday Nitro with the video stream of The Car Room TV and topped it off by broadcasting from Mike Zarnock’s hobby room in Utica, NY.

Simulcasting the the show on both BlogTalkRadio and Livestream.com came with its share of technical hurdles, but I think things went fairly well for a first time effort. Please note that volume during the first two minutes of the audio stream on BlogTalkRadio is very low, but gets corrected soon after. We also had a few issues getting the video stream recorded properly in the beginning, so you’ll notice that the first few minutes of the show are missing when checking out the video clips below.

We really enjoyed teaming-up to try out this new format and its a sneak-peek of the direction I’ll be taking Saturday Nitro in 2010. Let me know what you think via the comments section below!

This time around we sit down with diecast and toy designer, Eric Tscherne. We’ll learn about about how Eric got into the business and has built a diverse career that has spanned Mattel, Jada Toys, RC2, and Upper Deck. We’ll also find out about his current and upcoming projects now that he’s freelancing as ET Designs.

Listen to the recorded show from the audio widget on this page or check out the catalog of previous shows on the Saturday Nitro page.

Over the course of his career, MiQ Willmott has created artwork for rock-n-roll bands like Motley Crue, Guns N Roses, and Aerosmith. More recently, he and his wife created TWEEQIM Creative Lab and have contributed their amazing talents to companies like Mountain Dew and Dell.

But of course, die-cast collectors will identify with MiQ’s art from his 6 years as project manager/art director for the graphics team at Mattel for the Hot Wheels brand. Join us for a discussion of all things art, rock-n-roll and die-cast on this edition of Saturday Nitro!

This time around I had the pleasure of sitting down with the talented Hollywood Movie Car Designer, “Fireball Tim” Lawrence. Tim grew up around the movie business, and has built an extensive career in the film industry having designed vehicles, weaponry, costumes and environments on over 350 major features, TV and commercials.

Tim and I cover the bulk of his career from his childhood hanging out on movies sets through schooling, his stint at Disney to the creation of his company, Fireballed Entertainment. He fills us in on his involvement on such popular films as “Gone in 60 Seconds,” “Pitch Black,” “X-Men” and “The Son of the Mask.”

We also talk about is passion for being in front of the camera as host of many popular web-based video shows as well as being guest host on TV shows like The Discovery Channel’s “Extreme Rides.” Of course, no show would be complete without talking about his passion for die-cast cars and his extensive collection that started at childhood.

Be sure to check out Tim’s official website for more information as well as pictures of his cool vehicle and movie designs. You can also find Tim on Facebook and Twitter.

Listen to the recorded show from the audio widget on this page or check out the catalog of previous shows on the Saturday Nitro page.

This time around we heat up the show with a great interview featuring Tim Phelps who authored the book “Up in Flames: The Art of Flame Painting” and is the driving force behind GreenLight Collectible’s popular “Up in Flames” series. Tim and I talk about his career as an Associate Professor and Medical Illustrator at John Hopkins University, his passion for flamed diecast, the process of writing the book and his awesome collaboration with GreenLight.

About “Up in Flames: The Art of Flame Painting” (from Amazon.com)
Flame painting first lit up the hot rod world more than 50 years ago—and it’s still burning strong. At the heart of the art are a handful of innovators who have pushed the tradition to ever-greater heights over the past half-century—and these are the artists profiled in this book. Up in Flames introduces readers to the flame painters who best represent the talent and inspiration that give this particular art form its power, and whose stories best illustrate the evolution of the flame job.

The profiled flame artists are: Dave Bell, Don “The Egyptian” Boeke, Robert E. “Bobbo” Dunn, Pete “Hot Dog” Finlan, Craig Fraser, Jack “The Italian” Giachino, Cary Greenwood, Art Himsl, Keith Knecht, Herb “The Line Doctor” Martinez, Tommy “Itchy” Otis, Rory Pentecost, Rod Powell, “Yosemite” Sam Radoff, Dennis Ricklefs, George Roybal, Steve Vandemon, and Mike “Wet” Willey.

Listen to the recorded show from the audio widget on this page or check out the catalog of previous shows on the Saturday Nitro page.

Despite the 1 hour delay due to technical difficulties (ala crazy hotel internet) we managed to bang out the first ever Saturday Nitro with a live studio audience! It definitely added a little extra excitement to the show that brought things to a whole new level. We also tried live streaming some video, but had some difficulties with the sound. Thats what you get for trying to add bonus features in the zero hour!

This show features special guests like Chris Walker, Lou Tanahara, Jim Lombari, Mike Zarnock, Lee Pearlman, Joe Kelly Jr and more!

Listen to the recorded show from the audio widget on this page or check out the catalog of previous shows on the Saturday Nitro page.

This time around we were able to take advantage of the good internet connection and did a show from the Wild Weekend of Hot Wheels 6! Over the course of the show I managed to persuade Jimmy “The Boxman” Chavez, collector Joe Altieri, Mike Zarnock, Bob Parker and CJ Cramer from DiecastSpace to sit down and chat about their thoughts on the Wild Weekend’s events and “come-back” as an annual die-cast event here in New England. Enjoy!

Listen to the recorded show from the audio widget on this page or check out the catalog of previous shows on the Saturday Nitro page.

Now all I have to do is convince my wife to attend!

Click either image to see a larger version

Be sure to visit the official Wild Weekend of Hot Wheels 6 web site for more information on tickets and accommodations for this event coming to Connecticut on July 30th thru August 2nd 2009.

This time we have a special round-table style, two-hour re-cap of the DiecastSpace.com Hotlanta Collector Experience with special guests Joe Altieri, Lou Tanahara, Eric Tscherne and Joe Kelly Jr. Each guest brings a unique perspective to their experiences at the convention. We even devote some time talking about the potential the next Collector Experience will have in 2010 at Walt Disney World, Florida. Enjoy!

Listen to the recorded show from the audio widget on this page or check out the catalog of previous shows on the Saturday Nitro page.

This time around my special guest is Chris Bouman, Hot Wheels Senior Marketing Manager at Mattel. Chris is responsible for the product line development and marketing for all the Hot Wheels collectible lines, which includes all cars priced $3 and up. We talk about his career, existing and future product lines and a whole lot more. Chris even provides some great teaser information on some upcoming products that you won’t want to miss!

Listen to the recorded show from the audio widget on this page or check out the catalog of previous shows on the Saturday Nitro page.

Matthew Elliot, Director of Production for GreenLight Collectibles joins Saturday Nitro to talk about the history of GreenLight, their unique product lines and the role he plays in ensuring GreenLight continuously delivers the great die-cast replicas collectors have fallen in love with. We also chat about Green Machines, Up in Flames and Black Bandits, as well as GreenLight’s upcoming involvement in the Hotlanta Collector Experience.

Listen to the recorded show from the audio widget on this page or check out the catalog of previous shows on the Saturday Nitro page.

This week we chat with Pro Die-cast Customizer Bryan Pope and dive into how he’s quickly risen through the ranks of customizing in a very short time by combining is expertise in graphic design with his passion for Hot Wheels. Additional topics include Bryan’s great convention parties, on-line and live sale pieces and the upcoming convention pieces he’s been commissioned to create.

Listen to the recorded show from the audio widget on this page or check out the catalog of previous shows on the Saturday Nitro page.

Boyd Jr. and Chris Coddington join the show this week, and we cover many aspects of their father’s career from how he traded a shotgun for his first car, to the legendary cars and numerous awards. Die-cast collectors and hot rod enthusiasts alike will enjoy the stories the brothers share through-out the show.

Listen to the recorded show from the audio widget on this page or check out the catalog of previous shows on the Saturday Nitro page.

Castline/M2 Machines VP of Product Development Sean Taylor sits down for a fantastic TWO AND A HALF HOUR chat about his passion for all things automotive! We cover a wide variety of topics including his career path to Castline by the way of Muscle Machines, the unique product lines across the M2 brand, as well as his on-going obsession with collecting!

Special thanks to American Collector’s Insurance for sponsoring the show!

As a reminder, each show is done LIVE on Saturday nights which means that you can participate by calling in and asking questions directly to our special guests! Be sure to check the official schedule on the Saturday Nitro site for a list of upcoming shows.

Listen to the recorded show from the audio widget on this page or check out the catalog of previous shows on the Saturday Nitro page.

After a nerve racking start, our show with George Barris launched into marathon discussions about his career, his many accomplishments and the state of the world of diecast. Several callers added a little extra to this record length show. Without a doubt, George Barris is a master at his craft and has some incredible stories to share. Be sure to check this one out and enjoy the ride!

Special thanks to American Collector’s Insurance for sponsoring the show!

As a reminder, these shows are done LIVE on Saturday nights which means that you can participate by calling in and asking questions directly to our special guests! Be sure to check the official schedule on the Saturday Nitro site for a list of upcoming shows.

Listen to the recorded show from the audio widget on this page or check out the catalog of previous shows on the Saturday Nitro page.

Saturday Nitro invites one of its first (of many) die-cast customizers to sit behind the mic. The talented Chris “Nightstalker” Walker joins me for a lengthy conversation about customizing, his collection and what inspires him. This show has something for all die-cast collectors, no matter if you’re into customizing or not. Even “Big Lou” Tanahara gets in on the fun by calling in to give Chris a good ribbing!

Special thanks to American Collector’s Insurance for sponsoring the show!

As a reminder, these shows are done LIVE on Saturday nights which means that you can participate by calling in and asking questions directly to our special guests! Be sure to check the official schedule on the Saturday Nitro site for a list of upcoming shows.

Listen to the recorded show from the audio widget on this page or check out the catalog of previous shows on the Saturday Nitro page.

Saturday Nitro kicks off 2009 with a show that sets the bar really high with Lead Hot Wheels Designer, Larry Wood as our special guest! Not only does this show contain over an hour and a half of great diecast discussion with Larry, but Super Convention chairman, Shane Whittenbarger shares some VERY special news about a new convention sponsor and partner!

Special thanks to American Collector’s Insurance for sponsoring the show!

As a reminder, these shows are done LIVE on Saturday nights which means that you can participate by calling in and asking questions directly to our special guests! Be sure to check the official schedule on the Saturday Nitro site for a list of upcoming shows.

Listen to the recorded show from the audio widget on this page or check out the catalog of previous shows on the Saturday Nitro page.

Our final show for 2008 featured legendary NHRA Drag Race Hall of Fame driver Tom “The Mongoose” McEwen. And if having an amazing guest like The Mongoose on the show wasn’t cool enough, we were able to have “The voice of NHRA Drag Racing,” McClelland fill in the hosting duties while I was away for the holidays.

Occasionally its a challenge coordinating schedules across various time zones. This show was one of those times, but Dave did a stellar job filling the show with great commentary as well as spontaneous interviews with DiecastSpace.com CEO, CJ Cramer and our own Saturday Nitro Producer, Shane Whittenbarger who talked in great detail about the new changes for the 2009 Super Convention as well as the 1st Annual Diecast Hall of Fame induction ceremony.

The show really launched into orbit once Tom McEwan came on the line. Both Dave and Tom ran thru a wide variety of topics that spanned their careers which made for a truly spectacular show. If you’re not a Drag Racing nut, you’ll certainly be one after listening to this show!

Special thanks to American Collector’s Insurance for sponsoring the show!

As a reminder, these shows are done LIVE on Saturday nights which means that you can participate by calling in and asking questions directly to our special guests! Be sure to check the official schedule on the Saturday Nitro site for a list of upcoming shows.

Listen to the recorded show from the audio widget on this page of check out the catalog of previous shows on the Saturday Nitro page.

Last Saturday night’s show with Tom Zahorsky was another monster clocking in at just under 2 hours! Tom and I had a lot to talk about and we certainly covered a wide variety of topics. Listener will get the inside track on the progression of Tom’s career, as well as his life at RC2 before and after the merger with Playing Mantis. We also dive into a discussion of the myths and realities of White Lightnings, Lightningfest (past and future) as well as what Johnny Lightning has in store for 2009 with their upcoming 40th Anniversary!

Special thanks to American Collector’s Insurance for sponsoring the show!

As a reminder, these shows are done LIVE on Saturday nights which means that you can participate by calling in and asking questions directly to our special guests! Be sure to check the official schedule on the Saturday Nitro site for a list of upcoming shows.

Listen to the recorded show from the audio widget on this page of check out the catalog of previous shows on the Saturday Nitro page.

Last Saturday night’s show with Carson Lev is definitely not one to be missed! Carson and I covered a plethora of topics during the monster one hour and 50 minute show! Much of the show centered around highlights from his amazing career with lots of detail about his time at Mattel and now with Redphin Productions and Foose Design. Collectors will want to pay close attention to some of the things Carson reveals towards the middle of the show about the future of the Foose line of diecast!

As a reminder, these shows are done LIVE on Saturday nights which means that you can participate by calling in and asking questions directly to our special guests! Be sure to check the official schedule on the Saturday Nitro site for a list of upcoming shows.

Listen to the recorded show from the audio widget on this page of check out the catalog of previous shows on the Saturday Nitro page.

As a reminder, these shows are done LIVE on Saturday nights which means that you can participate by calling in and asking questions directly to our special guests! Be sure to check the official schedule on the Saturday Nitro site for a list of upcoming shows.

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This show also featured a call-in from Rhode Island Hot Wheels Club president, Jim Lombari who reminded listeners about the current downhill racing challenge that the club has open to all collectors. Be sure to listen for the details!

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This show also featured surprise call-in guests Doug Shore who spent many years as Director of Communications at Irwindale Speedway and Joe Kelly Jr. from The Car Room!

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Thom Taylor is an award winning rod and custom designer whose drawings have been published in nearly every automotive magazine out there. He’s authored several books on hot rods and car illustration, like “How to Draw Cars Like a Pro” and “50 Years Of Rod & Customs.” Many of his designs have transcended paper to become real cars. Infact, his designs have won the prestigious America’s Most Beautiful Roadster on 4 different occasions! He’s even a member of the National Rod and Custom Hall of Fame.

Our interview covered many aspects of his design career, his numerous accomplishments and awards for automotive design, and of course, his experience working with several die cast brands over the years.

Jump straight to the show page here!

After a few technical problems were solved the show got off to a blazing start and continued on for almost a full hour and a half. Lou and I talked about how he got his start in design and the die cast industry, touched upon his years with Jada and his more recent projects at Tanahara Design and the new Custom Crew brand. Of course, we saved the best for last and revealed (almost) all the additional details about his highly anticipated Sledster. I believe one of the only details left to be discovered is what lie inside that gorgeous trailer!

The fun part of using BlogTalkRadio for the live show platform is that the listeners actually get to be a part of the show. Several collectors called into the guest line and were able to ask their questions directly to Lou himself. Collectors also gathered in the chat room and were able to ask from there that I would then pass on to Lou. Once the live show ends, listeners can continue to submit their questions through the Saturday Nitro group on DiecastSpace.com.

Each an every episode of Saturday Nitro will be recorded and made available for everyone to listen to if they can’t be part of the live show. I’ve made the show available here in this post and will also be providing access to this and all future shows via a special Saturday Nitro page here on diecastAUDIO. Of course, you can always find the shows on DiecastSpace.com and their BlogTalkRadio profile pages as well.

Future episodes of Saturday Nitro have already been scheduled and will feature special guests such as Tom Zahorsky from Johnny Lightning, Hot Wheels author Mike Zarnock, Tom Long, owner of GMP Diecast and Lee Pearlman, owner of Liberty Promotions. The hosting duties will be split up between myself and Alan Paradise from DiecastX Magazine.

We hope you enjoy(ed) the first show and we look forward to providing more excellent die cast oriented entertainment in the future!