0:00
/
0:00
Rebecca Nguyen - The Warehouse / Arizona Car Week 2026
Rebecca Nguyen - The Warehouse / Arizona Car Week 2026
0:00
0:00
0:00
0:00
About this episode
Rebecca Nguyen joins the podcast to discuss Arizona Car Week 2026 and her role at the Warehouse event center. The conversation explores the evolution of car culture in Arizona, the potential for de-restricted speed zones inspired by Germany's Autobahn, and the significance of community connections in the automotive scene. Rebecca shares insights on her journey from managing a restaurant to becoming a partner at the Warehouse, emphasizing the importance of creating memorable experiences for car enthusiasts. The episode also touches on the challenges and opportunities within the local car culture, making it a rich discussion for anyone interested in the automotive community.
In this episode of Hard Parking, host Jhae Pfenning sits down with Rebecca Nguyen, co-founder of The Warehouse in Mesa, AZ, to discuss her journey from the Future Collector Car Show in 2016 to building the venue into a premier collector car storage facility, social hub, and event space housed in a historic citrus warehouse. They explore Arizona Car Week's growth, the debut of the six-day Art House Collective art exhibition (January 20-25, 2026), and Rebecca's thoughtful approach to curating inclusive events that welcome enthusiasts from all levels, from exotics to family-friendly gatherings. The conversation delves deeper into personal reflections, including the importance of community connections, memories built over a decade, parenthood, and concerns about AI's societal impact, technology's future, and creating positive change. Jhae closes by praising Rebecca's relentless drive and loyalty, encouraging listeners to revisit her 2021 appearance (episode 99) for more on her origins.
Chapters:- 0:00 Intro, Arizona Car Week Buzz & RAPID Act Discussion
- 4:15 Catching Up with Rebecca Nguyen at The Warehouse
- 9:30 10-Year Full Circle: From Future Collector Car Show to Partner
- 15:45 Building The Warehouse: Storage, Social Hub & Community Vision
- 22:00 Arizona Car Week 2026 – Art House Collective & Elevated Events
- 28:20 Event Curation: Inclusivity from Exotics to Family-Friendly
- 35:10 Challenges, Memories & Making Positive Impact
- 41:30 Deep Dive: AI, Society, Parenthood & Future Worries
- 47:50 Rebecca's Drive & Why Connections Matter
- 51:00 Wrap-Up, Shoutouts & Thanks to Rebecca Nguyen
Rebecca Nguyen's first appearance on Hard Parking (Episode 99 – "Rebecca Nguyen is Print Driven," December 13, 2021):
- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vNZZV-CqWrY
- Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/rebecca-nguyen-is-print-driven/id1477527835?i=1000544786155
- Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/736w0kYvwcaZnOogSOTwGW?si=ch-UcqgeQbqUiIKc8o1Gnw
(Great for listeners wanting the full-circle backstory from her Future Collector Car Show days.)
Arizona Autobahn Act / House Bill 2059 (RAPID Act):
The Reasonable and Prudent Interstate Driving (RAPID) Act, introduced by Rep. Nick Kupper on January 16, 2026, proposes derestricted daytime speed zones for non-commercial vehicles on select rural interstates (pilot on I-8), with night limits at 80 mph, stricter penalties for reckless driving, and annual safety audits—inspired by Germany's Autobahn but with safeguards.
Full article: https://www.signalsaz.com/articles/new-bill-could-bring-autobahn-style-roads-to-arizona/
Main Show Sponsors:- Right Honda: https://righthonda.com/
- Right Toyota: https://www.righttoyota.com/
- Arcus Foundry: https://arcusfoundry.com
- Autocannon Official Gear: https://shop.autocannon.com/
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: www.Hardparking.com
- Patreon: www.patreon.com/hardparkingpodcast/
- Instagram: instagram.com/hardparkingpod/
- YouTube: https://youtube.com/@HardParking
Don't miss The Warehouse's Art House Collective during Arizona Car Week—running January 20-25, 2026! Head to Mesa for automotive art, culture, and community.
Filter:
|
Technical
Too Afraid to Ask
Car
Acura Integra GSR
"In an older car, a little hairy, for example, take my 1999 Acura Integra GSR, even with the turbo on it, you get up to 120 and you're just begging that thing to stay together."
The Acura Integra GSR is a sportier version of the Integra, which is known for being fun to drive. It has a stronger engine that makes it faster and more exciting.
The Acura Integra GSR is a performance-oriented variant of the Integra, known for its sporty handling and high-revving engine. The GSR model features a more powerful engine compared to the base Integra, making it popular among enthusiasts.
Term
turbo
"even with the turbo on it, you get up to 120 and you're just begging that thing to stay together."
A turbo is a part that makes a car's engine more powerful by forcing in extra air. This helps the engine burn more fuel and go faster.
A turbo, or turbocharger, is a device that forces more air into the engine's combustion chamber, allowing for more fuel to be burned and thus increasing power output. This technology enhances performance without significantly increasing engine size.
Car
Acura NSX
"In my NSX now, you get to 120 and you don't really realize it."
The Acura NSX is a fast sports car that is very well designed. It can reach high speeds easily and feels stable and safe while doing so.
The Acura NSX is a high-performance sports car known for its mid-engine layout and advanced technology. It offers a blend of speed, agility, and comfort, making it a favorite among car enthusiasts.
Car
Porsche 911
"...if I do a high end event, say the Porsche event, you know, we had 911 turbos here at 40 of them, etc. We had a singer, we had a roof and this, this crowd that I,..."
The Porsche 911 Turbo is a fast sports car that has a turbo engine, which helps it go really quickly. It's popular because it's fun to drive and can be used every day.
The Porsche 911 Turbo is a high-performance variant of the iconic 911 sports car, known for its powerful turbocharged engine and advanced technology. It's a favorite among enthusiasts for its blend of speed, handling, and everyday usability.
Company
Singer
"...we had 911 turbos here at 40 of them, etc. We had a singer, we had a roof and this, this crowd that I,..."
Singer is a company that takes old Porsche 911 cars and makes them look and drive really well. They add modern features while keeping the classic style.
Singer Vehicle Design is a company known for its high-end restorations and modifications of classic Porsche 911s, particularly focusing on enhancing performance and aesthetics while retaining the original character of the car.
Company
RUF
"...we had 911 turbos here at 40 of them, etc. We had a singer, we had a roof and this, this crowd that I,..."
RUF is a company that makes very fast cars based on Porsches. They take the original cars and make them even better and faster.
RUF Automobile is a German manufacturer known for producing high-performance vehicles based on Porsche models. They are recognized for their engineering excellence and bespoke modifications, often creating cars that exceed the performance of standard Porsche offerings.
Car
Toyota RAV4
"...we also had ones that were like, here's a right hand drive RAV4. And you can only appreciate it if you're into that kind of quirky car. So yeah, my curation is really based on that concept..."
The Toyota RAV4 is a small SUV that many people like because it's reliable and has a lot of space inside for passengers and cargo.
The Toyota RAV4 is a compact SUV known for its versatility and practicality. It has been popular for its reliability and spacious interior, making it a great choice for families and outdoor enthusiasts.
Concept
quirky car
"...we also had ones that were like, here's a right hand drive RAV4. And you can only appreciate it if you're into that kind of quirky car. So yeah, my curation is really based on that concept..."
A quirky car is one that is unusual or different from regular cars. People who like these cars often enjoy their unique styles or features.
A 'quirky car' refers to vehicles that have unique or unconventional designs, features, or characteristics that set them apart from mainstream models. These cars often attract enthusiasts who appreciate their individuality.
Catching Up with Rebecca Nguyen at The Warehouse
10-Year Full Circle: From Future Collector Car Show to Partner
Building The Warehouse: Storage, Social Hub & Community Vision
Arizona Car Week 2026 – Art House Collective & Elevated Events
Event Curation: Inclusivity from Exotics to Family-Friendly
Challenges, Memories & Making Positive Impact
Deep Dive: AI, Society, Parenthood & Future Worries
Rebecca's Drive & Why Connections Matter
Wrap-Up, Shoutouts & Thanks to Rebecca Nguyen
Select text to request an explanation
This is hard parking brought to you by right on and right Toyota out of Scottsdale, Arizona.
It is Arizona auction week.
Arizona car week.
I keep calling it auction because that's kind of what it is, but car week, it's kind of
taken on that name.
I believe it started last year.
So coming up on today's show, I decided to head over to the warehouse, that place that
I'm always talking about, the warehouse event center, and to sit down with my good friend
Rebecca Wynn.
When we sat down for our conversation, I did not recall how long it's been since it's
just been on the show, but I did some research afterwards and it was December of 2021.
I'm going to post that in the show notes so you can go back and listen to that.
I don't know if I'm going to make it to the auction, the big auction this week.
I don't remember the last time that's happened, but there are some events going on that I
will be attending, one of which will be at the warehouse.
But before we get to that, the Arizona Audubon Act is something that I saw flash up on social
media and I looked into it.
House Bill 2059, also known as the Reasonable and Prudent Interstate Driving Act Rapid,
introduced by Rep Nick Cupper, which proposed creating de-restricted speed zones on certain
rural interstates for non-commercial vehicles during the daylight hours, eliminating specific
speed limits for a pilot program and potentially expanding, drawing inspiration from Germany's
Audubon system for a safer, reasonable and prudent driving.
Wow, that's interesting.
Some key provisions of the Rapid Act, ADOT, Arizona Department of Transportation, can
designate rural interstate sections, populations of under 50,000 for no maximum speed limit
during daylight sunrise to sunset.
Nighttime limits, 80 miles an hour would still apply, 80 miles an hour at night, that's still
booking, will still apply at night on these stretches, commercial vehicles, trucks and
other commercial vehicles will still observe the standard 80 mile an hour limit.
I can't even remember where we have AD posted.
It's somewhere in the state.
I think there's an 80 mile an hour stretch between here and Tucson, I think, I think.
But that would be wild.
Tell me what your thoughts are on an Arizona Audubon, if that were to come true.
Feels dangerous, sounds dangerous, but the reality is there's a lot of cars today that
can fly and feel perfectly normal and safe.
I can cruise on 110, 120 in my car and not sweat it.
In an older car, a little hairy, for example, take my 1999 Acura Integra GSR, even with
the turbo on it, you get up to 120 and you're just begging that thing to stay together.
In my NSX now, you get to 120 and you don't really realize it.
You know, I'm going to try to read this ad again.
Last week, I fumbled pretty poorly and I have not had a chance to put it to music
and make it sound more professional.
So here it goes.
If you run a business and you're tired of juggling tools, chasing logins and constantly
feeling like the tech side of things is heavier than it should be, this might hit close to home.
That tech fatigue usually shows up as an outdated website.
Before I met these guys, reviews slipping through the cracks, missed calls when you're
busy or social media that's always on the back burner.
Most business owners know something's off, but fixing it seems like a bigger project
than they have time for.
Sparkforge exists to take that weight off.
It handles the tech behind the scenes, helps clean up you how your business shows up online,
makes sure it's calls and messages don't get missed, keeps reviews from slipping through
the cracks, and wrangles social marketing so you don't disappear for weeks.
If you're curious, there's a short discovery session and it comes with 90 days free.
Actually, see if it makes things easier.
No pitch, no pressure, just a real conversation about what's working, what's broken and what
you can simplify.
Sparkforge brings everything together, one login, one platform, so you're not fighting
your tech just to run your business.
Head over to sparkforge.ai forward slash hard parking to get started.
Yikes.
All right, we're at the warehouse with Rebecca Wynn.
Finally, right?
We've been talking about doing this for a year.
I've been talking about doing this for a year and here we are a year later, finally here.
When was the last time we had our first podcast?
That was a while.
It was a few years ago and every once in a while, I reloaded that as one of the classics.
Oh boy.
Yeah, it's harder now because I do video, right?
Yeah, yeah.
But there was so much good stuff that came out of there.
And then when I listened to you on other people's podcasts, I'm like,
did they ask you anything interesting?
No, but it's informative, which is why people are there.
But I still take pride and I'm so proud that I was able to extract some of that good
stuff from you.
Yeah, absolutely.
One of the things I probably enjoy about your podcasts is that you're not strictly
trying to achieve one topic or the other.
You kind of let it naturally progress in the way that needs to progress.
And so it was always like little fun Easter eggs that will pop up that you'd expect that
came out of a topic, right?
So I always find that to be fun about your podcasts.
Well, I do appreciate it.
And we are at the warehouse and so it's right off of a busy street.
We have a lot of stuff going on.
It is Auction Week, which is kind of new for Arizona.
Yeah, ish, right?
As far as the name, right?
Yeah, so we now call it Arizona Car Week.
I guess it's been kind of called that in an informal sense for a while.
And it wasn't until a couple of years ago or so.
It's hard to say when it actually solidified as an entity.
I know Darren over at Motor Works Marketing, he's really put in an effort to make that
more of a legitimized concept, kind of how Monterey Car Week, of course, is like.
So kind of with that thought in mind, it made sense for us here to do something that's
more than just a cars and coffee and open house or something like that.
So, you know, some self promotion here.
We're doing a six day art gallery, which is bonkers, you know, it's been a great journey.
But at the same time, my poor husband has turned into a woodworker.
So, but leading off of what we did in November for that GTR exhibit, that was actually the
test run for the art gallery.
So kind of trying to think forward and think ahead and see how the community takes something
of this nature versus the quick three hour hit event kind of thing.
So that the response on that was great because people really did enjoy having the opportunity
to just slow down, walk and enjoy something to their own leisure and they even come back, right?
So I've started to kind of see this shift in what the consumer is kind of asking for.
And I'm trying to take advantage of it.
And this is kind of what we're doing.
So you do a lot of fantastic events here.
So all week is going to be the art event.
Yep. So the art gallery is opened just like an art gallery.
And so it's opened January 20th, which is a Tuesday all the way to Sunday, the 25th,
10 a.m. to 5 p.m. And then on Sunday, it's 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Aside from that, we have two nighttime events.
The first one is on the 22nd, which is Thursday.
And that's more of an intimate meet and greet with the artists.
All four artists will be here.
We'll do a panel discussion and then you can kind of talk to them directly.
Maybe there's a specific piece that you wanted or are interested in,
or you're even wanting some level of consultation for a piece of your own, right?
And all the artists do that, which is really cool.
And then on the 23rd, we've invited Avans to host their pit stop for their members here.
So if you're a member of the warehouse or the member of Avans, you have access.
Well, my car will be here at least.
Oh, yeah, that's right. At least for Friday, right?
Friday, yeah.
Yeah.
Hopefully you can come Thursday, but day before travel is not always the best.
No, I probably would. I need it.
And, you know, I've seen the ads on social media, of course.
And they look fantastic.
And I wouldn't miss it for the world being a wannabe artist growing up an illustrator.
Oh, I didn't know that.
Oh, yeah.
Yeah.
No, I didn't know that.
So in school, most people thought I was going to be either,
I was going to design shoes for Nike, or I was going to design cars,
or I was going to be a sports artist.
Still can. You're still young.
Bear Wang didn't start.
Staring down the barrel of 50.
I think she was 45 when Bear Wang started.
And look at her now, you know.
Yeah, don't let my wife hear that.
She's always, Jay, you don't ever use your artistic skill anymore.
You don't ever create anymore.
I'm like, I create all the time.
In a different way, I guess.
That's true.
Yeah, because I think it's passion, right?
I mean, passion is what drives you over and over to do all these things.
There's a little crazy.
Yeah, you have to be kind of driven.
I think it's, would it be fair to, maybe it's kind of an escape and a journey?
Yeah, of course.
I mean, it's actually funny that you mentioned that,
because a new current trend on social media is the 10-year look back.
It just so happens that 2026 is the 10-year anniversary of the first FCCS.
And what a full circle kind of, like I get goosebumps thinking about it,
but full circle type of moment to know that now during car week,
instead of doing FCCS, I have this beautiful vision here that we're executing.
It's kind of crazy how that all evolved.
And it really did evolve from that show,
because during that time, while I was working at show and creating that show,
I was actually a full-time general manager for a restaurant.
I think I was in Fox restaurant concepts during that time.
And that same year, I actually left my cushy, I don't even call it cushy.
It was really hard, but I was making great money.
And I left that at the end of 2016 to then come actually work here for my now partner,
which is bonkers.
Again, bonkers, everything's wild.
You never know where I guess you'll go.
But yeah, full circle, 10 years ago, I came here for my first automotive job,
and now I'm a partner with my ex-boss.
And we have this amazing social hub that we're creating here.
You know, that's wild.
And I want to talk more about the warehouse,
because this is kind of the first real introduction,
because I've talked about it on the podcast quite a bit.
And I'm always like, at the warehouse, at the warehouse,
at the warehouse, Rebecca, Rebecca warehouse.
But I'm glad you kind of took it back to FCCS,
because I did want to try to find a way to kind of
drive that into this conversation, and yet you brought it up.
Kind of looking back at that.
And I think a lot of people, at least in my circles,
that knows you or met you originally,
it was through FCCS, Future Collector Car Show.
And just I think yesterday, a couple of days ago,
I had uploaded a photo and tagged Fielding Shredder,
and tagged Future Collector Car Show.
And I'm like, I don't even know if anyone's manning this account anymore.
But it's kind of one of those things that, for me,
is always going to be cemented as part of my Arizona car journey.
Very proud of actually winning an award there.
And it's one of those things you look back at is like,
God, that was such a great thing that you did.
And looking back at that, how do you think that that event
is going to be remembered?
Because a lot has happened between 2016,
and then with the whole Barrett thing,
and then now it's no longer a thing anymore.
Yeah, I think I made that post actually last night, I think.
Kind of just walking down memory lane.
And it was funny because I got stories responses to it.
And one of them, Mark Valentino, which we both know,
now with Radford, he actually responded.
He's like, I was a judge at that show.
And even though I didn't probably directly introduce myself to him
at that moment in that time,
but now we're working together in a separate capacity,
but it's all those little red strings of fate, if you will,
that blossom out of that, I think that's what it's remembered for.
It's really every little connection that that event,
that brand created, everyone is reminiscing on those.
And that's always been kind of my mission.
It's like a personal mission.
It's self satisfying, if you will.
But I get gratification from everything that I do
when someone says, oh, I remember that.
Oh, I remember being there.
I met so and so there, or I met me there.
And even a little sidestep,
when I saw everyone's 2025 recaps,
everyone's posting about it and stuff,
to see just like a random photo taken at the warehouse,
that solidifies that, okay, I'm not crazy.
I'm doing something of significant value.
Maybe it's not on the number sheet,
if on a spreadsheet and it's got this great bottom line number.
But the fact that I can be a part of people's lives
in such a great capacity over the last decade
is a reward in itself.
And I think that's really what I'm chasing here,
to some guilt, because I'm stressed my husband out financially.
But yeah, so I think that's what it's really
going to be remembered for,
is all of the connections that were created
out of just a single night, if you remember.
It was only like a four hour, six hour event maybe.
And just crazy how many people came together
and pulled something out of that.
And now we can reminisce 10 years later.
That's an excellent response.
I'm going to work on these responses.
From an organizational standpoint.
But I would say that, because I've talked about it with other people.
And for those that haven't used that as kind of a springboard
for connections and networking and moving on with professional things,
one of the most common things I hear is,
man, that was such a great show.
We've never seen anything like it here.
It had so much potential to grow
and become something really great,
because it was this perfect combination
and just touched a market, a market of people
and a section of cars that nobody else was looking at.
I think besides being remembered as one of the best events
that we had here every year,
I think people are going to think about it also
and be sad of what it should have been in the end.
And that's not because of you, obviously.
But it's just such a missed opportunity.
And I hope that as Arizona continues to grow,
as Phoenix continues to grow with things like
what we're sitting at right now,
car week, Arizona car week,
and just continues to expand as places like the warehouse
at events and things for people to do all throughout the course of the week,
not just a house party or just something on Friday or Saturday night,
but gives people that are coming into town
as well a reason to come in town earlier than they typically would.
Yeah. And I think Arizona, everyone's grasping at that opportunity,
which is great. It is. It is really great.
I think there is a bit of,
it's like a fine line that I'm trying to push
our community of organizers or people of influence
to push them into something more elevated.
Don't do a quick fix.
Don't do just a quick open house type thing.
Start looking into it as, again, building legacy.
I'm hoping that as we grow what we're doing at the warehouse,
it's in some sense trying not to be so braggadocious,
as my husband would say,
but in some sense creating the right kind of competition here.
We're in Mesa. We're doing things differently.
We're investing in this more grander spectacle.
And one of the reasons why I feel like an obligation to do that
is because I want Arizona to be recognized
as the car culture hub that it is.
And not to throw anybody in the bus,
but there is some feedback I get
from outside industry professionals
or I don't want to say influencers,
but essentially people of impact that kind of tell me,
they're like, oh, it's not even on my radar.
I don't think about it.
I texted a couple of people that I feel like
are very impactful to our generation.
And I was like, hey, are you coming out to Arizona Car Week?
And literally they were just like, I didn't even know about it.
That's crazy. It's crazy.
And it's so sad, so sad.
So long story short, I feel like
there is an obligation here with the warehouse
that I'm trying to represent Arizona
and within my own circle of industry professionals and stuff.
And that's why this crazy idea
of doing a six day art gallery came to life.
We just, I just spent like three grand on lumber
to build gallery walls.
At least it's not lumber in 2020.
Yeah, oh man, I wish I should have just bought that.
That would have been 13 grand there, yeah.
That's true.
But yeah, so this art gallery is really important.
What Arizona Car Week is doing is really important,
as you know, printing everything in our backyard.
It just makes sense.
We have the cars, we have the people, we have the space.
It just makes sense.
I think to be fair, because we are kind of open with it,
Arizona Car Week as a name is so new.
I remember maybe even just last year,
going to another one of the facilities
and seeing the posters and the sticker.
And it's, oh wow, Arizona Car Week, this is great.
And talking to another kind of a big time influencer,
Amy Shackleford.
And we were at kind of the bar hanging out at their hotel.
And they were like, hey, I hope this is going to continue
to be a thing that has so much potential.
Because you know, they do a lot of stuff in Monterey Car Week.
A lot of stuff.
And so I just, I think moving forward,
it will just continue to grow and just be a thing.
And you won't hear that.
I have no idea it was a thing anymore.
I know.
It's such a missed opportunity.
But at the same time, it's exciting because
like even from you and I as an individual,
we have the opportunity to own the market,
whatever part of the market that we want.
So everyone is, like I said before, is,
everyone's grasping, right?
They're trying to get a piece of the pie
and be a staple because that opportunity is on the table.
You don't have the opportunity in Monterey.
You're fighting with something that's been there for,
I don't know, I think Pebble Beach has been around
at least 50 years, right?
So we have, there's so much opportunity here.
And I really encourage our fellow enthusiasts
to take advantage of it,
but also have some level of responsibility,
or yeah, I think responsibility is the word for it,
to own up to the fact that we have to represent Arizona well.
That will bring in the brands that we want to see, right?
I was working with Petrolicious and getting them here.
And that's, I mean, I-
It's a big deal.
Yeah, they're a big, I'm a big fan of their brand,
their production, how they started,
what they represent in the film and photography world of cars.
And the only way we can do that is by doing crazy things
that are at a level that we could have never imagined.
Is it difficult being so far away from, I would say the action
in sense, the auction week, everything is, Arizona car week,
everything is Scottsdale-esque,
because that's where the big auction is, a lot of the hotels.
Obviously Phoenix is huge as it is,
but have you found that to kind of be a challenge
getting people out here in Amesa?
Because it's not far, it's a straight shot down the highway.
It is a challenge, but it's also, I think, a differentiator,
which is kind of interesting.
Because there is a certain clientele,
because the market's so huge here now,
there is a certain niche, niche, niche clientele-
That word.
Yeah, niche clientele, that they want to get out of the crazy.
They want to get out of the Scottsdale traffic
and they want to get away from it.
And that's our differentiator.
We are close enough, like you said, right off the 101
about 15 minutes from Old Town Scottsdale.
And it's all freeway, so it's pretty easy access.
And yeah, so that becomes an advantage.
And we took some time to really dial in our branding
to make sure that that elevated nature was worth the drive,
even though it's 15 minutes.
So over the course of the last year,
every time we host an event,
every time we produce content from that event
or that experience, it has slowly convinced people
that, like, oh, Mesa's not so bad.
Right.
In the right space.
Sure, yeah.
It's nice because our building is so locked down,
it's so unassuming, that once people come in,
they're like, they feel safe, basically.
So I definitely spent the time and effort
in order to alleviate that skeptical kind of purview
of what Mesa is.
City of Mesa is also trying to do that as well.
There's a lot of gentrification happening on Main Street.
I don't know if you've been down there.
I was just thinking, as you said, that it's a mile away,
if that, and it is awesome now compared to what it was
six years ago, much less 10 years ago.
Totally.
And even the Asian District, H Mart's there,
it's actually been named the Asian District.
They have signed up now.
I don't know if you've been down there lately.
May Kong just expanded and they actually are a good partner
of ours as well.
They support what we're doing and vice versa.
There's a lot of money that's coming into here.
And being in a historic building, it's just,
it's really been able to draw people in because of the fact
that it's not your typical kind of space.
It's not your typical journey.
It's not your typical experience.
So we've turned it into a differentiator and advantage.
It just took a little while.
How do you pick, how do you go through picking what type of events
and which events you want to do here?
Because I would only, I would imagine there's multiple proposals
maybe to do stuff.
You know, there is a thought out there and I will share this with you
where I see, I as in the person saying this, not I as in Jay Finning,
you know, I see warehouse do their videos and their stuff on,
on Instagram and other social media.
And it's just so my car is better than your car.
So highfalutin and so much, you know, we're better than you.
And I go, no, that's not the case at all.
I said, because if it was, I wouldn't be there.
And I said, I'm very good friends with a lot of people there there.
So if you say that the people that are there are like that,
you're saying, I'm like that.
And I always hear, no, no, you're not like that at all,
but you're cool with everyone.
Yeah.
You know, so that's a two-part question.
You know, how do you pick the events that you do?
And, you know, are you, are you constantly having to battle that online?
And what do you think you can do about things of that nature?
Because you do have open public events as well.
Absolutely.
That's a great question because it's something that I hold dear to my heart as well.
You know me from my Subaru days, right?
Still have my Subaru, my little bug guy.
Yeah. Yeah. It's goofy, right?
It looks like it looks like a hot wheel on the road.
But now ruin the house.
It's, it's hard to like take someone seriously if you're hanging with the guys that have the
high end exotics and that, you know, I have this, this Subaru.
But I think it kind of stems from my own selfish need again to kind of fit in, right?
I now have the Porsche, but before that, I loved all kinds of cars.
I don't have a dream car because I still don't know which, if I have any bias,
because I just love cars in general and, and what they can do,
what did you do for the people and the stories behind them, right?
And another reason why the warehouse exists, but the reason why I mentioned that is that
selfishly, I wanted to make sure that everyone felt welcomed, like everyone from every walk of
enthusiast level, you know, because there's been several times that I'll walk into,
you know, an event or an experience and just don't feel like I belong.
And that is like the grossest feeling ever, you know?
By the same time, I'm so interested in the subject that I, I gotta put myself out there,
but it doesn't have to be like that is basically what I'm saying.
And so the way I do the event curation and the thought process is really based off of that
kind of concept. So if I do a high end event, say the Porsche event, you know, we had 911
turbos here at 40 of them, etc. We had a singer, we had a roof and this, this crowd that I,
even though I have a Porsche, I don't really relate all that much, right?
A lot of them are different places in life, etc., etc. Right after that, I believe we did
the Lego night. Brick by brick. Brick by brick. So we did this high scale,
you know, high volume, high expensive car. And then we went family friendly, you know,
and we had people coming in that didn't even like cars that came to the brick by brick event.
They built, you know, their succulent Lego or whatever. And we had pizza and it was informal
and we had music playing and things like that. So to balance and to introduce everyone into the
space, I make sure to do things that are relatable to anyone of any scale. So we, you know, we did
that high end event, then we did the Lego night. Then after that, we did the chef's table, you know,
and that in itself is more geared towards, you know, I guess I wouldn't say a higher echelon,
but, you know, someone that can afford that higher ticket, you know, the five course meal
that we did and are interested in that kind of culinary experience. So it pulls in a different
demographic, but then also a different interest. And then after that, we did obscurity, which is
all the rare and quirky cars. And yes, we had some that are a little on the higher end and stuff,
but we also had ones that were like, here's a right hand drive RAV4. And you can only appreciate
it if you're into that kind of quirky car. So yeah, my curation is really based on that concept
that I want to make sure everyone's welcome. So I made sure to touch kind of every sensory
of the enthusiast, anything from the obscure and rare to, you know, the more trendy mainstream
kind of thing, because that's really my goal. I want to feel comfortable, let alone make everyone
else comfortable, right? I think, and I agree, to define this place at times is hard because of
all those things. And the venue, as you said, a historic building, this place is excellent,
and you've done so many things here. For the people not really paying as much attention as they should,
kind of explain what all you can actually do with this space.
Yeah, I think my one liner been developing it more and more. We've been pivoting as well as
we're a collector car storage facility, social hub and event venue based in a beautiful historical
red brick warehouse. It's pretty good. Thank you. I think there is some level of underselling,
I feel, with how simple that one liner is. But again, we're working on it or I'm working on it.
And yeah, it's kind of a blank canvas, like you mentioned, I had my wedding here.
There's a couple of people who've come to events and then mentioned they'd been here for a different
event. I had a kid, okay, I say kid, but he's like 20 something. No, that's a kid. Okay, thank you.
He came in and he was like, yeah, I had my prom here. And I was like,
wild, right? And then he's a car enthusiast, he's coming back, he's doing things. So
we're building memories here. That's what's most important.
Wow, that's fantastic. What do you think the future of this space is? It's a very competitive
space anyway. Yeah. Something, a place like this where multiple things can be done,
being located where you are located. Do you see more of these popping up? And then how do you
differentiate what the warehouse does from some of the other ones that are kind of in the same
event space? That's the question I'm answering now. To your point, there are other venues that are
kind of similar. They're great spaces as well. I think the best way for us to kind of differentiate
ourselves or really build off this momentum is again, those memories that you have here,
you're likely more inclined to book a place for your wedding knowing you already have memories
there. Maybe you went on your first date here at an event or you and your family came for a car
show and that ignited your child's excitement about cars. So I think there's this long run kind of
gameplay here of just exposing people to the building, giving them a chance to kind of see
my vision and then maybe potentially see an opportunity for their own vision.
We've had a couple of people do that actually and I've given people tours, shown them the
space that want to do some of their own things. There's a fashion show that wants to come in here
now. Oh, great. Yeah, great. Yeah, exactly. But it's again, because they were inspired by content
we created, events that we've created and maybe even an interaction they've had here in the space.
So that is like the easy answer, things that we're already doing. As far as building off of that
and really establishing us as the go-to space to have these significant milestone events for
individuals or companies, that's probably the next hurdle. There's another facility in
downtown Phoenix that does a really good job of it. That's probably our main competition,
because they really aren't that far. They have a bigger team, etc. But I do take some inspiration
for them of course as a competitor. So I haven't answered that question yet. I think
for anybody that's listening or watching this far in, if you have any suggestions, let me know.
Can we turn the basement into a haunted house? I think that is the best idea. I want to do
something cool down there. It's creepy. It's so creepy. There's so much opportunity down there
too, because from an acoustic standpoint, I feel like that would be a cool place to do,
I don't know, candlelight classical music events or even doing a drum and bass thing down there
or something. I wanted to do something for Halloween, but it came and went. But here's the
thing, it'll be back. That's true. We need to start planning now. I was too busy planning for that
Kodar event, which was probably, I don't even know how to explain that. I definitely cried a
couple of times during that whole thing, like before, during, even after, because it was so
significant. There were so many full circle things in that too. There's a lot of owners, car owners,
that came that had come to FCCS the first time, the second time or whatever. And even just to
have Larry here, Larry was like an inspiration for me when it came to photography. I came across him
at Long Beach FD probably like 2013, maybe. He gave me a speed hunter sticker, I think it was,
when he was back with them. And to now see him come in here and actually be impressed by what
we've done. I mean, what a proud moment. Yeah, what a recognition. This dude's been all over the
world. He's experienced so many levels of events and even intimate things with Jay Leno and things
like that. So for him to recognize this crazy thing that I'm doing and even to tell me that I
was crazy for doing it, like what a compliment. And yeah, I mean, there's a core memory for me at
that point. I think that's why I'm just collecting infinity stones or just core memories. Again,
this is all selfish. I'm doing all this for selfish reasons. I'm very selfish. But am I
hoarding all these great memories? Because that's the only thing that seems to have value for me
as of late. I mean, you know, as a parent, I think there's a shift in your brain.
There is, yeah.
Yeah. And I've experienced it. I love it. I got pictures of my son here during the
Kodar exhibit. Thanks, Colton. Big shout out. And I want to share that. I want to make sure
that everyone else gets it too, because why not? And it also kind of elevates the memories I have
for myself to know that those memories are shared, right? Even doing the NSX thing with you. I mean,
that was bonkers, what we had set up and how quickly we got it together.
And people are already talking about doing it again.
Oh, great. Yes. Yes.
Making memories, like you said.
Yeah. And there's so many opportunities just to grow and refine. And I think that's a missed
focus for our generation and even younger in that lesson or that value of spend the time,
right? I'm a decade of all of this, my journey to get to here is a decade of experience,
a decade of interactions and just, you know, all these red strings of fate, like I said before,
led me here. And I wouldn't be here without that decade. So I hope that this also makes an impact
to the world. Not to, I guess, I have the audacity to say that. But I always worry,
one of my biggest worries is that I'm not making a positive impact to the world,
to the community that my son's going to grow up in. I mean, I think that's my other mission
here with all of this is how do I be a positive impact to the world that I complain about?
Because I do complain about it. You know, I don't like what social media is doing. I don't like what
AI can do for people. It's scary, man. It's so much scarier now than when I first started
talking about it six months ago. It's doing everything that I said it couldn't do then.
Yeah, it's scary. And it's also scary in an exciting way, because it can resolve a lot of
challenges that we have in the right hands. But how do you determine what the right hands are
and all of that. And there's also a protection of digital presence that we don't have, right?
Social media has that little fine print that says anything you put on here is free range,
basically. And whatever is happening on TikTok, they're Chinese based, blah, blah, blah. But
in theory, do I have the manpower, the capacity, the financial wherewithal to be able to protect
myself in a digital space? No, absolutely not, which don't come after me. But that's what's scary.
And anyways, that's a whole nother tangent by bringing it back to the warehouse.
I worry about the space that my son's going to grow up in. And I also worry that
am I making the right impact? So there's a long term play. There's a lot of conversation I have
internally that it's painful that these conversations are very painful because
I'm over here throwing a car show, an art gallery, whatever. And there's so much going on overseas.
There's so much turmoil. There's political things that are happening. And even from the AI
standpoint, there are regulations that may not be in place that I feel like should be in place,
but am I actively going and pursuing and making sure that our politicians are putting those in
place? No, I'm throwing a car show. So there's some guilt there too that I fight with as I
continue to refine what I'm doing. But my hope is that my future self will use that as a platform
to connect the individuals and implement this positive energy. And hopefully that will then
attribute to some sort of positive change. Because I think the concept of you are who
you hang out with is very, very true. And it's so impactful. I think my whole entire career
is based off of who I have interacted with. So I'd like to think that by creating this space,
I will create that community that will then really go out and do more positive things,
whatever it is, even if it's in a small scale versus a big scale or whatever.
So that's been an internal battle. A lot of like, what am I doing? I look at my son and I look at
the news and I'm like, and I'm throwing car shows. So I need to figure that part out and come to
peace with some parts too. I wouldn't say push back, but kind of double click into that a little
bit. It's amazing that you have time because you're so busy to think about those very real
things that are going on. And I would say that while that stuff is going on, the guilt part,
I think you should try to work on checking a little bit because when throwing a car show,
you're providing an avenue of escape for a lot of people as well. Something where they just don't
have to constantly, and no one has to constantly do anything, but I still think that it provides a
little, a big avenue of escape, just like being in the car community and doing all this other stuff.
This podcast, it's an escape. Yeah. It's an informative one, at least. If people make it this
far, most of them, yeah. I save the crazy shit to the end usually. We gotta warm them up.
I do, yes. And again, with everything that's going around. And I think also with AI, we have
Gen AI versus Productivity AI. So Generation AI is the stuff, the generative is what I think scares
more people on the surface. I can't tell what's what in this video. And then Productivity AI scares
some people because am I gonna lose my job? And I think ideally, it's really designed to make processes
more efficient and shift tasks. I mean, obviously, there's going to be people who lose their jobs,
right? Right. I work in the hospital space. There was a very popular job, borderline entry level
called transcriptionist, where you take what the radiologist and the cardiologist is speaking
into a phone and you listen to it and you type it out. Oh man. Obviously, that's a transcriptionist.
Yeah. And now you have dictaphones that automatically take that and they spit it out
on the page and you just have to kind of go through. And that's a productivity thing.
Transcriptionist founder of the jobs. It made healthcare a lot more efficient, a lot more accurate.
So there's, I think there's a lot of stuff out there still on the AI. I think we're just barely
scratching the surface. Of course. Yeah. I definitely see AI shifting that the entry level
market to where it won't exist anymore. And will that create a bigger separation from,
you know, I don't think lower class is the right word to say it, but like that middle class,
does that start to like shrink that? Yeah. I think it will. If you, if there isn't some,
you know, active effort to adapt to it, which I know, don't quote me on this, there are countries
now that are implementing some level of AI training. That's a, a, a, a, a, a, a, a, a, a, a, a, a, a,
for generations, maybe before us that are still in the, in the working class, but
they didn't grow up in technology like we did. So they have this disadvantage and a lot, a lot
of times that, that working class, that group of people are in those entry level positions.
And so if their positions are getting cut, now they're in a position where they either have to
learn new things, which at that age it's hard or, you know, et cetera, et cetera. As an adult
learner, it's like a thing. Yep. So there's this, when speaking just strictly to AI, there's
this lack of like forward thinking that's really frustrating to me, but luckily there are countries
that are thinking about that. So yeah, there's training available for, for older people that
maybe aren't as quickly adaptable as people like us or even the younger generation.
And then there's regulation that's not really getting implemented because now everyone has access
to a lot of these tools and who knows what they can create with it or how they're, how they will
be influenced by it. You know, there's been these crazy stories about people taking advice
from AI, which I don't know how you get there. I don't know if I want to understand how you get
there. So it's daunting, but I'm kind of one of those dark people. Jay, this is probably why
we're friends, but I'm just like, what's it called? Darwin's law? Is it? You know, opposites, right?
Opposites. So by you being such a dark person, I'm such a beacon of light. Yes, of course.
Yes, that's how that's, that's why that works. Yeah, absolutely. So there is a part of me that's
like, you know, I think as a species, if you look at us as a species,
Oh, this is getting deep. We kind of have to embrace this level of filtration, if you will.
Yeah. Right. And I hate to say it, but like,
we don't want to weaken our species in reality. And I think idiocracy, right? That movie,
that's great. It really does show what will happen. It's happening. Yeah. And people,
I've had teachers complain that I've listened to or follow about the next generation not understanding
what consequences are. And so they're, they're crashing and failing and they're getting depressed
and they're, you know, suicide rates, they're going up and things like that. And I'm like,
I hate to say it, but then I, the stronger thought or thought invoking or capable person will come
out from that. You know, and I hate to say it, but that's how evolution works. You know, and so in
my mind, there's a responsibility, right? That I understand as an older generation, you know,
lead by example, things like that. And I'm trying to invoke that here and also kind of create the
community that I want my son to grow up in. And for even my friends, you know, I want my friends to
also have that positive community and not kind of get soaked up into this, this crazy world of
like, there's no consequences or social media is the answer, you know, got influencers who are
entitled. Yeah. It's just, there's so many things that go into that. But I'm like, yes, evolution
is important. It's important for our species. It's important for our future. And so yes,
there are their consequences and sacrifices that have to be made to get there. Yeah, absolutely.
And I don't know how that ties into the warehouse. It doesn't really, but
this isn't about the warehouse. It's a personal thinking process.
It's life. That's a podcast. It's like, yeah, absolutely. You know, I, my niece and nephew,
they come over to the house and they immediately get on their phone or their iPad and they connect
with their good friends. Like as soon as they walk in and they're sitting there yelling into it,
and they're playing online, which is fun. They never go outside and play anymore. Kids just
don't go outside and play anymore. And when I look at that, or if I'm going to stop light and I see
these kids whiz and buy on these motorized bikes, it's like, how fun for them. But it's,
maybe I'm just so old. I look at it and I go, how are they getting exercise?
It's a concern. Yeah. You know, and it's just, it's, it's that movie Wally, right?
And Wally and everybody's like fat and they're floating around because they're so lazy and
everything. I mean, we're moving toward idiocracy and Wally. But that's another thing about
kind of social skills is no one's going out. So you're not going to your friend's house
and playing games anymore. You're just playing them at home in your own space. And there's,
I think there's an important cognitive thing that's, that's happening there. And there are
studies that where you take these iPads and stuff away from kids, not permanently, because it's what
the world is now. So you have to give them that, but their whole attitude changes. They start doing
better in school. You know, my grandkids, because you know, I'm that old, they'll just sit there
and gaze into these iPads. And every parent says, when I have a kid, I'm not going to do that.
But then you do it because they're quiet, right? And then you take it away and they just,
they just lose their shit. There's a chemical change. But yeah, they just, they just lose their
shit. But I guess, I mean, I want to thank you for allowing me to come over here and crash
this space in the middle of your work day. That works out great. Yeah, yeah. This could probably
go for three hours because I know you're like this untapped resource brain. But I think it's
important because people, people know you as Rebecca, the woman who puts all this stuff together
that runs around and makes stuff happen. But why? I think you have, but I think also having you
on this again is so they can kind of get a slice into who Rebecca is. Totally. You know, your
thoughts on things, your thoughts on parenthood, your thoughts on the struggle of burning a place,
your thoughts on what's going on in the world, you know, without digging too deep into any
specific topic. Try not to. Because then we get canceled, right? Yeah, yeah, let's not do that.
I mean, I'm pretty ambiguous, my opinion, opinions. And the reason for that is because I
don't know enough. And I acknowledge that I'm trying to learn. But again, going back to interaction,
I've learned more probably talking to somebody than what I can see on the internet. And even
if that what they're saying is maybe not true, or maybe it's like not exact, there is a physical
value almost, right? Like body language tells a lot. And I think it's important for me to kind
of absorb that too. That's also how my brain works and learns. So I love that some of the
interactions I have here, someone may raise the concern, maybe the facts aren't 100%. But then
it invokes this, this, this thought process, like, well, maybe I should look into that,
you know, so like a great conversation about the AI thing and all that stuff. And, you know,
how do we protect ourselves? Do we need to protect ourselves and stuff like that? But
it is also validating to know I'm not in the silo thinking by myself, because that drives
me nuts too. It's a very lonely silo when you're like that. So I definitely encourage people to
come out, experience what we do here, and meet new people. Having a small, tiny circle really
narrows your view of the world. So really encourage coming out to here and meeting new people. Come
meet Jay. He's always here most, most of the time. Yeah, he's not going to be here, or you're
going to be here Thursday. So come meet Jay on Thursday if this is released in time.
Oh, that will be released in time. Sounds good. Thanks, Rebecca. Of course.
Hopefully you guys enjoyed that conversation I had with Rebecca when
she is one of the most amazing people I've had the pleasure of meeting in my life.
As with most of my relationships through vehicles, of course, you know, that's just kind of the
connective tissue. And behind that, you know, she's not a diehard car person, but what she is
is a very determined, relentless pursuit of whatever it is that drives her, whether it's for
her own, proving that she belongs, whether it's for her son, for the local car scene. She's just
absolutely amazing. I took some time and I looked and she was on episode 99 of hard parking. This
is episode 309 now. So that was December 13th of 2021. That's a long time. And, you know, she
brought up a good point afterwards where, you know, having those type of conversations that we
have, not necessarily about the warehouse itself, but just about life. I mean, she didn't have a
child back then. And looking back at it, it's amazing to kind of listen to where you were
in life at that time. And it's not that she was somewhere that was so different. She was just
on another journey that was right in the middle of the Future Collector car show thing. I linked
that in the description because when you go back, I urge you actually to go back and listen to that.
I put the Spotify, the Apple link and my preference is you listen to it on YouTube, even though it
is a pure audio episode. But if you really truly want to know who Rebecca is and where she comes
from and where she gets some of this drive that she has, it's in that episode. And I've talked to
a few of my friends and other people that know her and we all come to the same conclusion.
No matter what she does, where she goes, if she ever needs our support, we're going to be there.
We are all incredibly loyal to her with all sorts of things here in the area. If there's
anything I could do for her, I am willing to do whatever it is because and I've said this before
and some of you are joining the show for the first time because of my guests because of Rebecca.
Back when I was looking for a partner, a sponsor for SEMA, she did everything she could
to get me in. Now ultimately, it wasn't through her, but there was no reason for her to do it other
than that's just the person she is. I didn't have any other products for the company she worked
with. I just knew her from the car scene. She saw my idea. She saw my vision and she felt that
that was worth working hard to try to make something happen. And the only reward I could
really give her was to give her the first photo shoot for the car because back then she was shooting
a lot more. Now she's running around just running shit. And it's a pleasure. It's an absolute honor
to have someone like that in my life. And I think many of you who know her feel the same way.
So hopefully you really enjoyed that and hopefully if this is your first time you've already subscribed
and if you have any comments, make a comment about this episode. If you want to leave a review,
you can reference this specific episode and how awesome Rebecca is. And if you're out there in
the local car scene, I mean, I don't, I have a long list of future guests, but raise your hand,
email the show, and I'll be glad to set up a conversation with you. There are no
rule criteria. You just have to be in the community and we'll just, we'll just go from there.
So with that being said, let me get my little monologue here, things I have to have to read
here. One of the things right Honda and right Toyota, I want to thank Spark 4JIF, Arcus Foundry,
one log and one platform all under your control. AutoCannon officially licensed Honda and Acura
Gear in this interview I was wearing in AutoCannon Honda. Hoodie, full zip hoodie. It was pretty
fantastic. I think you can agree. So you need to link up with them. Can't forget our Patreon business
supporter, Kuri Automotive out of Wintergarden, Florida, the Lucky Brake sports breakers of
Calderon, Michigan, Beacow, small home design of Asper, Virginia and Traverse City, Michigan,
Shaving Success Treasure Valley out of Boise, Idaho, and Automotive Specialty Tool out of
Owens Mills, Maryland. If you're in a position to help the podcast upgrade, you can always
also join the Patreon, patreon.com, hard-working podcast, access to bonus audio and show swag
when I have it. Or you can become a member if you're watching this on YouTube. Sometimes you
get the episodes early. Basically, it's like buy me a coffee if you find value in this episode,
if you find value in this podcast. I want to help the support keep it going.
I want to thank Mark Stolman, Katherine Croft, City of Ramos, Richard Greys, Bo Jung,
Alaskan Media, Drew Bunkley, and Andre Mullins. Don't forget to check me out on Instagram at
our parking pod. And of course, you are watching the YouTube. Hopefully, not listening to it,
but if you are, listen to it at youtube.com. And I will talk to you guys next week.
Request an explanation for:
4 cars
4 cars featured
Request an Explanation
Heard something you'd like explained? We'll add it to this episode.
Sign in to request explanations for terms you heard.
Want to learn more?
Browse our glossary for plain-English explanations of automotive terms, jargon, and concepts.
Help improve this episode
See something that's not quite right? Our annotations are AI-generated and can sometimes miss the mark. Click the flag icon on any annotation to suggest a correction.
Report incorrect info
Suggest better explanations
Flag missing cars