These guys are the real deal. Let me start off by saying that. They put the P in Petrol Head, and will tell you things about cars that you never knew.
They are John and Shawn, auto restoration vets, two guys who drive around in a ‘68 Chevy called ‘Saddletramp’ to give you the 411 you DON’T want to know. Except, you totally DO want to know.
Mikaniki are super excited about having these two on board, as we share the same mission of making the world excited about cars again, and passing on their sage wisdom down to the next generation.
We’ve gone behind the scenes with the masterminds behind Get Out N Drive in a brand new exclusive just for you.
From passion to vocation
John: At a young age, I was always interested in anything with wheels. It started with Hot Wheels and model cars I was never content with building the kits as they were supposed to be built – I was always customizing everything.
I am a 35 year veteran of automobile restoration – I started in the industry learning with my eyes open and my mouth shut. After paying my dues, I ventured out on my own to open an auto restoration shop.
Shawn: Ditto on the Hot Wheels and models. My interest really exploded when my Dad brought home a gold 1969 Nova. It was only a 6 cylinder car and nothing really special, but it was the first 2 door car that I remember him buying.
I’ve always been surrounded by and interested in all things mechanical, especially in relation to cars. I recently decided to follow my passion and swapped industries to be a full time automotive restoration technician.
Favourite cars
John: My interest really lies in late 30’s to mid 40’s custom tail dragger style cars because of my interest in customizing. I love the boattail stance and smooth side profile. Muscle cars, ’62-’70, come in as a close second.
Shawn: I grew up when late 60’s and early 70’s muscle cars were just daily drivers so that’s where my passion lies. Specifically, big block, 4 speed cars. I also love 55 Chevy’s and ’32 Fords because they just scream hot rod. They are quintessential hot rods.
Dream restoration projects
John: I’ve always dreamed of restoring the Rod and Custom Magazine Dream Truck.
Shawn: Mine would be ’69 Yenko Nova or ’69 Hemi Dart.
The inspiration behind Get Out N Drive Podcast and who they’ve enjoyed interviewing most
John: The inspiration stemmed from seeing too many people sitting at car shows (we call them the Lawn Chair Nationals). We wanted to inspire people to get out of their chairs, get the cars out of the garage and drive them as they were meant to do.
Shawn: I really enjoy interviewing the younger generation in our What Drives YOUth series. It’s inspiring to see the younger generation appreciating older vehicles and to see the older generation passing on their passion and knowledge for cars.
Favourite car film?
John: Gone In 60 Seconds, from 1974. This was a great VHS B movie in the 1980’s. I found it at Blockbuster Video and rented a beat up copy of it. I’ve been hooked ever since.
Shawn: Two Lane Blacktop. Two guys are driving one of the coolest ’55 Chevy’s ever built, across the United States, street racing, drag racing and very little dialog. What’s not to love?
Advice for the next generation?
John: Try to gain as much information from previous generations as possible. They hold the key to unlock how the cars drove when the cars were new and how they modified them to make them better.
Shawn: Don’t be scared. Don’t be afraid to get your hands dirty and gain some new knowledge. You’re going to make mistakes. Learn form them. It doesn’t need to be the best, coolest car on the planet. Build what you can with what you have. Just get into the hobby and the industry.
Any future plans for the podcast?
We are looking forward to our collaboration with Mikaniki in 2021. We are looking to expand our What Drives YOUth initiative to support the younger generation in the hobby/industry.
Our listeners will get to see expanded content on our YouTube Channel diving into some automotive DIY videos.
We’ll be highlighting some car owners, industry leaders and road side attractions as we Get Out N Drive in 2021!
Watch this space
There you go, told you they knew their stuff! Watch this space for more pearls of wisdom from John and Shawn as they look to impart everything they know to the next generation.
Also, don’t forget to follow them on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube, and of course the Get Out N Drive Podcast.
