Ron Ananian, The Car Doctor - Classic Car Doctor - September 2, 2015 - Hour 1 - Paul Teutul Sr. Interview
About this episode
A live Car Doctor road-trip broadcast from Dead Man’s Curve’s Wild Hot Rod Weekend in Mahwah, New Jersey, featuring interviews with builders, racers, and club founders. Paul Teutul Sr. talks Orange County Choppers’ evolution from muscle cars and Triumph/Harley roots to functional, one-off bikes, plus the upcoming A&E/ Facebook return. Rich Conklin explains Dead Man’s Curve’s 1978 origins, the “Hot Rod Farm” winter culture, and his Raider Wheels comeback. Frantic Ford’s crew shares vintage funny-car nostalgia and licensing stories, followed by a wild 1941 Dodge pickup diesel build and event wrap-up with WRCR’s Kerry Potter.
Deadman's Curve Carve Show - Hour 1
Ron Ananian, The Car Doctor, takes the show on the road to the iconic Deadman’s Curve Car Show in Mahwah, New Jersey—where the cars are loud, the stories are louder, and the passion for automotive culture runs deep.
Broadcasting live from the heart of the event, Ron connects with a wide range of guests—from builders and enthusiasts to true icons of the industry and screen. Highlights include conversations with Paul Teutul Sr., sharing insights from the world of custom motorcycles and fabrication, and Candy Clark, reflecting on her role in the classic American Graffiti and the enduring influence of car culture in film and beyond.
It’s a celebration of horsepower, history, and the people who keep it all alive—captured in real time from one of New Jersey’s most beloved car events.
Whether you're a gearhead, a weekend cruiser, or just love a good story, this episode brings the car show experience straight to you.
Car advice, done right—then and now.
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cell phone adapter
"[26.3s] was using my cell phone adapter and the cigarette lighter no longer works. [30.8s] I blew a fuse. Can you just pop one in"
It’s a plug-in accessory that lets your phone get power from the car. If that plug doesn’t work, it usually means the car’s power outlet isn’t getting power anymore.
A cell phone adapter is an accessory that plugs into a vehicle’s power outlet (often the cigarette lighter socket) to charge or power a phone. If the outlet stops working, it can point to an electrical issue like a blown fuse.
blew a fuse
"[30.8s] I blew a fuse. Can you just pop one in [33.2s] for me?"
A fuse is a safety device that breaks the circuit when something electrical goes wrong. If it blows, you may need to replace it, but you should also figure out why it blew.
“Blowing a fuse” means the fuse element melted to protect the wiring from an electrical overload or short. Replacing the fuse is only the first step—if it blows again, you need to find the underlying fault.
Orange County Choppers
"[114.4s] ...we're gonna kick off this hour with a gentleman that needs no introduction... [114.4s] Paul Tunnel of Orange County Choppers. [124.3s] Paul, we thank you..."
Orange County Choppers is a famous custom motorcycle company. They’re known for building and showing off custom bikes, often with TV exposure.
Orange County Choppers (OCC) is a well-known custom motorcycle builder and TV brand associated with high-profile chopper builds. Mentioning OCC signals the show’s connection to the custom bike scene, not just cars.
Dodge Dart
"My first car was a sixty six Dodge Dart push button slanted six that I hated. It was that ugly brown."
A Dodge Dart is an American car model made by Dodge. The guest is talking about his first car—a 1966 Dart—and how it felt to own and drive.
The Dodge Dart is a mid-size American car from Chrysler’s Dodge brand. In this context, the speaker’s “first car” is a 1966 Dart, and the details (like the engine and push-button transmission) explain why it stood out to him.
drag racing
"And back then, you know, I was in the drag racing era, right, and you know, everybody meet Friday night at the the the diner, and uh, you know, everybody would just line up and loved it."
Drag racing is when two cars race in a straight line to see which one is faster. It’s usually short-distance, all-out acceleration.
Drag racing is a motorsport where two cars compete in straight-line acceleration over a short distance. The speaker’s “Friday night” routine and lineup culture describes how drag racing shaped car ownership and modifications in that era.
quarter mile
"used to race race on the Parkway and you'd race a bridge to bridge and it would be quarter mile, but you'd have like a mile of cars behind you, so there was no way you were going to take it for racing."
A quarter mile is a common race distance used in drag racing. It’s about 400 meters, and racers are timed to see how fast they can cover it.
A quarter mile is a drag-racing distance (about 402 meters). When people talk about racing “a quarter mile,” they usually mean timed acceleration runs where the car or bike’s performance is measured by elapsed time and speed.
steel fabricating business
"even my seventy four Harley, I was a fort you know, I had a steel fabricating business, so I was able to do things people couldn't do. So I could cut"
A steel fabrication business means they worked with metal—cutting, shaping, and welding steel parts. That skill is exactly what you need to build custom motorcycle parts.
“Steel fabricating” refers to making and modifying metal parts by cutting, shaping, and welding steel. In custom motorcycle building, this kind of shop capability is what allows someone to extend frames, fabricate tanks, and create one-off components.
gas tanks
"So I could cut up a frame, stretch it, you know, build gas tanks, build oil tanks."
The gas tank holds the fuel. When builders customize bikes, they often make custom tanks so everything fits the new frame and style.
A gas tank stores fuel and is a major part of a custom build’s look and packaging. Fabricating or reshaping a tank often goes hand-in-hand with frame stretching and custom bodywork to fit the new geometry.
frame
"So I could cut up a frame, stretch it, you know, build gas tanks, build oil tanks."
The frame is the main metal structure of the bike. If you cut and stretch it, you’re changing the bike’s shape, which can change how it rides and handles.
A motorcycle frame is the structural backbone that holds the engine, wheels, and suspension components. When someone “cuts up a frame” or “stretches” it, they’re changing the bike’s geometry, which affects handling, wheelbase, and ride feel.
every bike was different
"Every bike was different, everyone was as nice as the one before. How did that happen?"
They’re saying their builds weren’t cookie-cutter—each motorcycle had to be its own unique project. That kind of creativity is a big part of custom bike building.
The speaker emphasizes a core custom-bike philosophy: each build should be meaningfully unique rather than repeating the same template. In custom fabrication, that means rethinking geometry, styling, and component packaging for every project.
show and no go
"I've noticed that when you you know, it's it's not just something. It's not all show and no go, as we used to say."
It means something looks great, but it doesn’t actually work the way it should. In this case, the bike should be rideable, not just for show.
“Show and no go” is a common car/motorcycle phrase meaning something looks impressive but doesn’t perform or operate properly. It’s used here to criticize builds that prioritize appearance over drivability.
hot rods
"We'll be back from the Mawak Sheridan here at the dead Man's Curve Weild hot Rod party right after this. ... cool cars, hot rods, good stuff."
A “hot rod” is usually an older car that someone has modified to be cooler and faster. People often bring them to car shows and weekend events.
“Hot rods” are modified cars—often older models—built for style and performance. The term usually implies engine, suspension, and/or body modifications, and they’re strongly associated with car-club culture and events.
car club
"But it's not just about these past four shows. There's a lot more to this organization and what they bring to the table. ... how long has it been around dead Man's Curve."
A car club is a group of people who like cars and get together. They often plan events like cruises and car shows.
A “car club” is an organized group of enthusiasts who meet regularly, share knowledge, and host events. In classic and hot-rod communities, clubs often coordinate cruises, shows, and seasonal activities.
hood scoop
"Is that an L eighty eight Hood scoop. Yeah it's on there."
A hood scoop is a raised opening on the hood. It can help bring more air toward the engine, and it also makes the car look more “performance” oriented.
A hood scoop is an intake opening on the hood that can help feed air to the engine bay. On classic cars, it’s also a visual cue that the car is set up for performance.
gasser
"Seventy four, Yeah, seventy four is a little ladies car made it into a kind of an exaggerated gasser they used to call them street freaks…"
A gasser is an old car that’s been modified to race in drag racing. People usually change the engine and setup to make it faster in a straight line.
A “gasser” is a drag-racing style where older cars are modified for straight-line performance, often with a focus on engine swaps and stance. The term is strongly associated with 1950s–1970s American drag racing culture.
dead Man's Curve
"You know how long has dead Man's Curve been doing some of their other events... So we come up with dead Man's Curve, which was a song written by Jan Barry..."
“Dead Man’s Curve” is the name of the group they’re talking about. They chose it because it connects to a song and a story that made the name stand out.
“Dead Man’s Curve” is the name of the club/event being discussed, and it’s tied to a song origin story. The name comes from a real-world inspiration involving a crash, which is why it’s memorable and sticks as a brand for the group.
Raider Wheels
"There's a side to Rich Conklin though, that goes beyond all this, if that's possible. And Raider Wheels, Yes, tell us about Raider Wheels."
They’re talking about a wheel company called Raider Wheels. The person describes how the original wheels were made long ago, then how he restarted making them again.
Raider Wheels is the wheel brand being discussed in the interview. The guest explains how the original wheels were made decades earlier, then how he revived the company to reproduce that style.
Dick Rador
"Originally, they were built from nineteen sixty one to nineteen sixty eight. Dick Rador out of California built me. He went out of business."
Dick Rador is identified as the California builder who originally made the Raider wheels in the 1961–1968 period. This is a key historical detail for the brand’s origin story.
hot Rod Weekend
"We are at the Crossroad Sheridan, Mahwa, [1099.2s] New Jersey, at the dead Man's Curve Wild hot Rod Weekend number four. We invite you all to come out [1103.9s] and soak up some sunshine with us and enjoy the cars, the scenery in the afternoon."
They’re talking about a weekend event for hot rods. It’s basically a car gathering where people bring their cars and hang out with other enthusiasts.
“Hot Rod Weekend” refers to a themed car event focused on hot rods and related custom/classic vehicles. These gatherings are often where enthusiasts show cars, trade ideas, and build community around specific styles and brands.
funny car
"“The frantic Ford was a funny car based in the late sixties.”"
A funny car is a drag-racing car designed to go extremely fast in a straight line. It looks a bit like a regular car, but it’s built specifically for racing.
A funny car is a type of drag racing car built around a lightweight body that resembles a production model, but with purpose-built racing chassis and drivetrain. They’re known for very high acceleration over a short distance, typically competing in straight-line drag races.
Frantic Ford
"“The frantic Ford was a funny car based in the late sixties. Started out as the Frantic four dragster guys…”"
“Frantic Ford” is the name of a drag-racing funny car and team. It was active back in the late 1960s and competed across the country.
Frantic Ford refers to a specific funny car racing team/car name from the late 1960s. In this episode, it’s described as a “funny car” that competed on the drag racing circuit and achieved strong results.
low et records
"“…it ran and won and set low et records…”"
In drag racing, “ET” is how long it takes to run the track. “Low ET” means the car is getting down the strip faster than others.
“ET” (elapsed time) is the time it takes a car to complete the drag strip run, and “low ET records” means faster-than-before performance. In drag racing, setting low ETs is a major indicator of acceleration and overall race setup.
Mustang
"“The car went to the next generation, which was a Mustang too…”"
The Mustang is a Ford car. In drag racing, teams may use a Mustang-shaped body style for their funny car while building the real performance parts for racing.
The Mustang is the Ford model used as the basis for the team’s funny car body in the transcript. In drag racing, teams often choose a recognizable production model silhouette while using racing-specific engineering underneath.
big blower
"we have the cars set up like we like the cars ran sixties seventies. You know, we don't have the big mag we don't have the big blower, we don't have the big fuel pump, and you know we run into good percentage like everybody else did."
A “blower” is a supercharger used to force more air into the engine for higher power. Saying they don’t have the “big blower” implies a less extreme setup than top-tier fuel/drag configurations.
John Forest
"They needed like the long burnouts and the dry hops, which we don't see these days with the big time with the big time show cars, John Forest and the other guys."
John Force is one of the most famous drag racers in Funny Cars. He’s known for winning a lot and for making the sport a big spectacle.
John Force is a legendary drag racer known for Funny Car success and for bringing major entertainment value to the sport. The speaker contrasts earlier show elements with the “big time” era associated with Force and other top teams.
John Force
"[1585.0s] If you could match race anybody. [1586.7s] Who would it be? [1587.6s] John Force?"
John Force is a famous drag racer. The conversation is basically saying, “If you could race anyone, who would it be?” and they pick him because he’s a big deal in drag racing.
John Force is a legendary American drag racer best known for competing in Top Fuel Funny Car. When the hosts mention issuing a “challenge” to John Force, they’re framing it as a dream matchup against one of the sport’s biggest names.
PPG
"[1628.0s] ...Ronald McDonald House Essentral, New York PPG, who provides the paints for all our cars..."
PPG is a major coatings and automotive paint manufacturer. The host credits PPG with providing the paints for the cars, which matters because paint quality and correct products affect durability and finish.
Lucas Oil
"[1628.0s] ...Ronald McDonald House Essentral, New York PPG, who provides the paints for all our cars, any seeds company that I work for during the day. I have [1637.6s] a real job, Mister Gaskett, Lucas Oil, I C A Crown Sunglasses..."
Lucas Oil makes car-related products, especially oil and additives. They’re being credited here as a sponsor that helps make the show and events possible.
Lucas Oil is an aftermarket automotive products company best known for lubricants and additives. In this segment it’s mentioned as one of the sponsors supporting the show’s activities and cars.
power four wheel disc brakes
"It has power four wheel disc brakes, power windows, power, steering, four wheel drive works, and it's a it's just a lot of fun."
They’ve got disc brakes on all four wheels, and the braking system is power-assisted. That usually helps the truck stop more reliably, especially when you’re driving hard.
“Power four wheel disc brakes” means the truck uses hydraulic power assist and disc brakes on all four corners. Disc brakes generally offer better heat management and more consistent stopping than older drum setups, especially under repeated use.
modified Mopar
"We got first place at Bloomsburg Truck Show for modified Mopar with it, and uh, we're traveling around with it..."
“Mopar” is a nickname for Chrysler cars. “Modified Mopar” means it’s been changed—usually for looks or speed—and people at car shows love that kind of build.
“Mopar” is the Chrysler brand family nickname, and “modified Mopar” refers to a Mopar vehicle that’s been altered for performance or appearance. Winning at a show highlights how enthusiast-built cars are judged and celebrated.
progressive tip that starts injecting methane into the intake
"We have a progressive tip that starts injecting methane into the intake."
A “progressive” injection strategy means the methane is introduced in a controlled, staged way rather than all at once. Injecting methane into the intake is a fuel/air modification intended to change combustion behavior and can be part of a specialized performance or experimental setup.
power steering
"You know. It's power breaks, power steering. It's got a little bit of everything, a little bit of everything, including the kitchen sink correct perfect listen."
Power steering helps you turn the wheel with less effort. If it’s not working right, the steering can feel stiff or start making weird noises.
Power steering uses a pump or electric assist to reduce the effort needed to turn the wheels. Many older cars use hydraulic power steering, and issues like low fluid or worn components can make steering feel heavy or noisy.
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