The Great Return of Neil

SFJ 4x4 Studios presents, in my oversized four-wheel drive Jeep, a Jeep podcast starring industry

experts.

Pure monocity.

What?

Say that again.

With mad scientists, Scott Brown, used my drill press as a sort of lathe.

Our host, Neil Simpson, if one light goes out, they'll all go out.

We are really professional with Jeeps.

This is iSpeak Jeep.

Good morning, afternoon, evening, wherever, however, you are joining us.

I'm joining us from Grandma's couch studio, but finally, this is the iSpeak Jeep podcast

presented by SFJ4x4.com.

My name is Neil.

And as I mentioned.

Is he sure of that?

I'm very sure of it today.

I'm ready.

I'm ready to ret, man.

And my name is Neil.

And I am in Grandma's couch studio.

With that.

In person.

And that guy in plaid over there, Jeff, the producer.

And you got mad scientists wearing the snap-on hoodie.

The Italian style.

That you spent all the money to get finally.

Doc Brown.

Yep.

You know, did you change your jacket this morning, or did you take off that fly

looking one that you had on over the weekend?

Yeah, I took that off.

You took it off.

It looked really good.

I like it.

It was like car heart inspired.

You like that over flannel?

You know, I'm not.

Well, it was flashy.

I'm really confused now.

Well, you know, it is the Midwest, so flannel over everything.

Yeah, dear.

I know Jeff.

What's really entertaining about that is the fact that you were legitimately trapped

in the Midwest as part of your road trip.

I was.

And so you got to experience the real Midwest before coming back to.

You know, and the funny thing is for any of our viewers and listeners, the last small

update that you got from me was in Oklahoma, and I left Oklahoma and had a heck of a drive.

It was I was I was very tired at the two week at the end of at the tail of a two

week, you know, epic adventure and, you know, running the big truck across the across the

country and I broke down in somewhere, Missouri.

And while I don't necessarily want to wholly and completely expand upon that specific scenario,

I think it will be valuable to unpack in some capacity.

But I met a through a complete act of serendipity, the nature of what happens in the S F J way.

Yeah, I mean, the Bob Ross happy accident, right?

And I met a group of individuals who were in a startup diesel repair business.

And I was so wholly impressed and had a great experience and I've had to expand upon

my own kind of like social psycho babble about this.

And I think it was because I was in a such a vulnerable place when my truck breaks down

and I'm emotionally exhausted, and I just want to be home and I just want to get back

to family and friends and work.

And my kind of the wherewithal, my bank account, my emotional bank account is hanging

in the balance of these individuals that I just met.

And you're to a point that it's you're going to pay whatever it pays so you can get home

and you're in that vulnerable state where you know that you could be taking advantage.

And 100%.

And I didn't I had already been quoted for those who are falling along.

I had gotten quoted between 500 and $550 for an oil change in Amarillo, Texas.

And I got to tell you, everything's bigger in Texas and I got to tell you, I mean,

the truck takes six gallons of oil, it's gallons, not six quarts.

Can't they just like go up the refinery and just hook the truck up in Texas?

Right.

The filter is, you know, the filter is less price or MSRP, 115 bucks, but you can literally

walk into an O'Reilly's and buy it for about $70, right?

Retail, any Joe Schmo can go in and buy the filter for my truck for 70 bucks.

So it's like, and I know that, you know, a big truck oil change place is not using Shell

Rattella with zinc, you know, like that's just not what they're using, right?

They're using a bulk 1540 weight oil.

And so, you know, so it's a big quote of $550, I thought that's high rate robbery.

So if you if you see me doing a filter change, I may or may not explain upon that in

the mean streets of Las Vegas, O'Reilly's that is less than desirable parking lot.

That's why that was at the encouragement of the mad scientist who was like, hey,

you've got some fresh oil in there.

Go ahead and just spin the filter on and off.

And we did talk about that in our little short episode last week.

And we talked about how Davey became friends with a truck driver and almost

almost went home with a truck driver.

Yep. Yep. 100 percent.

He's a cuddly character.

Imagine how heartbroken he would have been with the turbo incident to have the

fresh brand new just put in oil and have you would have been I lost four gallons

of oil on the highway and from the hotel to the diesel shop.

They ended up having to add four gallons.

You had an oil change.

I did have an oil change.

I was supposed to be in it.

Six gallons are supposed to be in it.

You lost four.

And I lost four.

And the worst part is I actually poured a gallon in.

So in the grand scheme of things,

I lost around five gallons of oil through this process,

but I had a spare gallon.

So I was, you know, I wanted to be prepared enough to top off fluids to circle

back to this this this shop.

And if you saw my my couple of little videos on my personal social pages

and I encourage our global listening audience, you're welcome to jump

on to my Facebook account first and foremost.

But as well, Diamond Diesel in Sullivan, Missouri

and Diamond Diesel and auto repair, I believe just south of St.

Louis, right? West, southwest.

It's I mean, it is technically on a direct west westward eastward

route of St. Louis is not north south.

It's a west east.

But I think the way that the state lays out, it's a hair southwest,

but it's technically west.

Off of what, 4070?

I didn't even I don't remember because as I shared in our American

household podcast, I had to I was so exhausted.

I was so beaten up.

I had to Google where am I right now?

Yeah. So definitely not an intended stop.

But one that a shop out of the authentic Midwest

made the the best of for me.

So thank you once again to them and the process.

Today, we're going to be unpacking some of that epic experience,

some of the SEMA experience, some of the things that that you guys

might have saw online, the coverage, conversations that we've had with some of the guys.

It's kind of funny.

I don't think we've actually told you yet, but we put out into the universe

similar situation.

We had a customer, well, now customer person going through from

Vermont to Texas was going down the road,

started having electrical problems with his JK.

It's completely outfitted out as a tent that pops up like a Volkswagen.

Yeah, super cool. Oh, that was really cool.

And he called the panels on top of it.

You would have loved it. Yeah.

He called and he's like, hey, I have this going on.

Jeff tried to do the the nice thing out of phone.

Hey, it sounds like your batteries loose.

Guys like that can't be the case.

Fine. We're going to be here for a little bit longer if you can make it back.

So he backtracked from Menor.

Yeah, he was an almost an hour.

Oh, he had almost an hour west of us.

Yeah. But he did his internet search and the internet told him to come.

Here. So that's he turned turned around, tightened up his battery terminals

because the battery was loose.

Go bigger, fix this problem.

And I mean, hey, let's give you the tour.

Let's let us you experience what SFJ is.

And this is the SFJ difference.

And you know what?

It was just us giving you a five minute tour and two cracks of the ratchet.

Have a good day.

So we were I said after that, I was like, well, we're just putting that

out in the universe of Neil breaks down or when he breaks down.

The universe will be like, see you.

I see you. I will do the same for him.

That's that's literally what happened.

Well, and that is that is I but freaking love it.

Oh, you're going to love this even more.

We didn't even I don't think got to show this idea.

But his son, while they were broke down in Menor,

there was they stopped at a car shop, basically.

And the kid was recognized and pulled into the car shop to play

Pokemon while he was on the phone with us.

Third time world champion for Pokemon.

No, yes, yes.

And he's ironically internationally a little older than I boys.

Oh, no, yes, 13 years old, internationally famous.

Two time for Pokemon.

Yeah, two time world champion Pokemon player

and a third time with like a bronze and their traveling.

Through in their Jeep in a great epic adventure.

He's trying to expose his son to different sites,

sounds different countries, different states.

That's an amazing story.

You would have nerded out so hard.

I love it.

And luck to that person.

And he said he was so impressed that he's going to try to do maintenance

as he travels the globe stopping here.

Well, and we do have customers who do that now.

Hold on, I'm very thankful for those people.

We actually have customers that, well, hey, I'm going to be heading this way.

I want these XYZ maintenance things and they'll camp out in the parking lot

or they'll do whatever to make sure that I'm so thankful for those individuals

or listeners.

You know, if you're thinking about doing something like that,

we're happy to receive you in the process.

We're actually pretty well situated for that.

I should really jump to the comments because we've got a lot of comments.

Nate started it off as first saying good morning.

Good job, Nate.

And then he's got a whole.

Nate's been busy himself.

So if you're if you're in our comments,

Nate has got all the listings of the pretty significant Trail Hero X

experience and showing he had kept us in the dark on on what that

experience was going to look like.

He had a, you know, I don't I don't know.

He actually signed an NDA, but he was not allowed to talk about it before.

Again, but he's got all the first four episodes.

I don't know how many episodes total, but there's four episodes available.

What times are playing?

They're all listed in the comments for you.

Then you got Daddy Jeep saying, hey, hey, hey.

Billy Joe saying good morning.

Robert Siemens saying hello, everyone.

Lesley Ann saying morning.

Jagadjeeper saying good morning.

Joe O'Brien, you made it home.

Nate said, guess Joe's slacking this morning

because of how far down in the comment chain, Joe made it.

Right. That's entertaining.

You got Jeanie saying good morning and welcome home.

Roy Hill saying good morning.

Donna saying hi from Florida.

Tell her Jeep hi because her Jeep has been dropped off for service.

Fred saying good morning.

Nate said, good thing Neil was in Texas.

Had he leaked four to five gallons of oil in California,

he could have been jailed for ecological felonies.

Might be true.

I probably because I'm still probably on a wanted list.

Take Pennsylvania and their bridge structures.

I am pretty certain that there's an EPA warrant for me in Missouri now as well.

I don't know what you're talking about.

I was going to say I definitely didn't witness that happen.

Yvonne is saying great morning to you all.

Nate said he definitely did sign an NDA.

And then Bill McWilliam saying good morning.

And Nate said, since episode three is already aired,

he can mention that his wife and he crushed it in the tire change competition.

Congratulations. That's exciting. Very cool.

Very exciting stuff. Good morning. Good morning to everybody.

Thank you for prioritizing and joining us for the live episode

and for this program.

If you are listening in your ears at a later date

on your favorite streaming platform,

we thank you so very much for prioritizing us as part of your infotainment.

You are the bulk of our audience as much as we really enjoy interacting

with our our live followers.

The overwhelming number of downloads and later on listeners

is what proliferates, you know, the streaming and opportunities of podcasts.

I want to have an opportunity to say thank you again to those listeners

specifically because last month we had the most downloads of our episodes

that we've ever had in three years of doing the show. Yes.

So it was a phenomenal amount of downloads, which is even more reason to say,

go on, leave us a review, send that to Jeff because he could have.

He was not actually stuck.

He could have hooked Johnny off the trailer, hooked the purple strap

up to the front and towed that sucker flat towed.

The Internet would have loved me flat.

Tony, absolutely. Oh, no.

You know, I could just picture you shoving Leo in the in the C.J.

And oh, my God, Leo having the dead man.

It dead man.

And he'd be in an international.

He'll be dragging them with the.

I'd be all three of them.

Yeah, it's fine.

Be dragging all three of them.

I could you could have left the C.J.

On the trailer, absolutely.

And J five could have drugged the international drug and everything home.

Purple strap, purple strap, purple strap.

Purple strap would have broke trying to do that.

You know, I definitely broke when we tried to pull the things I've subjected

my child to far.

And it's just I look back.

I made him dead man, a tractor for me while it was hooked up

precariously close to the behind my my Dodge, my one ton.

It's character building.

And I made him and I think back to it and the expectation of how I had him

just hauling butt.

And he was probably seven trying to steer this tractor behind my my big truck.

And I think that was probably not a great parenting move on my part.

Yeah, I don't know.

All right, anyway.

So for for those of you who had been, you know, following along

with the the kind of the SEMA escapades, the cross country tour.

First of all, I really thank you so much for being part of the experience.

I got a lot of side texts.

A lot of people picked up on little bits and pieces.

Joe, Brian made sure to continually remind me that international

primarily makes tractors and manure spreaders.

That's fair.

So I would regularly get a text message from him regarding my 13 letter

manure spreader truck that was reasonably doing a good job getting me,

you know, close to great short haul truck.

It's a fantastic regional truck.

Really do enjoy it.

But I've got to be honest with you, folks.

I'm looking at a Volvo closer and closer every day.

And you know what?

If you think Volvo is a swear word, I would love a Peterbilt.

But but the Volvos just get great fuel mileage

in comparison to what they do.

And we don't need to have I'm guessing you didn't see another

forty seven hundred on the freeway when you were driving.

No, there's no.

Forty seven, forty nine hundred.

They're not, you know, it's a cool truck.

It is a cool factor.

Yes. Right. It's a cool factor hooked up to the wedge.

And I mean, I can't begin to tell you how many people coast to coast,

state to state, driving by, giving me the thumbs up,

taking pictures as they drive by, like the camera,

like their phone is just up against their window as they drive,

you know, up, you know, past the rig.

Past you because you couldn't do over 60 miles an hour.

Jeff, don't harm me like that.

Listen, so anyways, Charles in the comments saying,

good morning from Texas.

He needs a purple strap.

Bill McWilliam said, National Lamboon Jeep Vacation.

That's what it was.

So Brian said, thirteen letter poop spreader.

I periodically get those text messages from Joe in the process.

That's funny.

You know, the thing is, I think that the turbo was failing

longer than I had anticipated.

And as a person, and I just, you know, I mentioned this to Jeff

in our morning podcast, and I feel like I need to own it to the public now as

well. And you've all heard the multitude of times that I've lit vehicles on fire.

Mac, this is my third turbo that I've blown up.

I think it's important that we reiterate for our listeners that don't know you

that it's not because you wired the vehicle wrong, that you've lit them on fire.

Oh, 100 percent. No, it's never been that.

No, it's not.

The turbo is blowing up has nothing to do with, you know, a poor installation

or even a poor product on there.

I'm going to say to the first one was a pass.

But that's just me.

Oh, on the turbo, you're saying?

Yeah, on the on the ram.

That was a I don't believe that one was actually broken yet.

Maybe it was ailing.

Charles supports you on the Volvo, by the way.

Thank you, Charles. I appreciate the reinforcement.

I don't need a lot of like ease.

I'm I'm pretty subject to I think he needs a Mac myself

because he hits everything like a bulldog.

But that's just me.

Yeah. Macs are regional haulers.

You know, the Volvo is going to coast the coast and get in sip on the fuel for us.

But regardless of that daydream at the moment,

yeah, the turbos have been questionable and opportunities to upgrade and whatnot.

But I and that's the thing.

I'm just trying to use the vehicles at potential is what it comes down to.

And I'm asking a lot out of them,

sometimes a little more than the average user would or should,

much like the burning by small fires as well.

You know, I think that the challenge in this way, they always say like,

don't buy a mechanics vehicle.

And I stand true to that because the mechanic you are no representative of that.

I am representative of that.

I know you open up far the dictionary.

There's a picture of you and your vehicle.

What's really sad is I try really hard other than my John Deere tractors

to maintain my stuff.

And even me somehow, when I loan or sell things,

they seem to want more attention that like every time that Neil borrows

your maybe that breaks every time.

I mean, all right.

So anyway, so that he borrowed my air hammer broke it and then blamed you

because it's all fair.

Anyway, I'm going to move on.

So as far as the general epic on the way out,

you know, for those of you who had followed long sufficiently,

we made pretty good time when we left.

I had I'll do some highlights and whatnot.

It was really fun in the sense that we got to experience aspects of the country.

I literally watched him watched a reel or saw a meme that was like

if you kind of want to be angry at your fellow neighbor,

watch what's happening in the media right now.

But if you kind of want to love your country again, drive from coast to coast.

And I wanted to hammer that home to a degree because

I authentically encountered good,

regular human beings along the adventure, whether it was, you know,

from truck stop to truck stop to, you know,

to the highs and lows of of interactions to the roadside attractions.

And we all have got our peculiarities and our baggage.

And that's the beauty of the melting pot that we are

and recognizing that that we are this melting pot.

And so there was cultural differences and ethnicities and experiences

that vary or differ from state to state.

But in all, it was overwhelmingly positive,

especially those direct personal interactions.

Of course, you know, you get the the road rage inspired experiences

that no matter where you're at, you no matter where you're at,

you're going to get people who who get frustrated while driving.

That also seems to be part of our culture.

But within reason, it was this

I just kind of had this great falling in love with the American spirit all over again.

And I meandered on and off of historic Route 66, as I mentioned last time.

And that just kind of just made me continue to fall in love

with the automotive world because history and camping and exploration,

it kind of, in my own opinion, certainly here within the states

is inherently tied to our our love affair with the automotive field.

I absolutely love Route 66, the history of it,

the the the attractions that you find along the way.

It's worth every bit of it.

And and I've yet to do the whole Route 66.

And I've done exactly what you said, sure, in and out of it.

But one day, I would like to just do the whole route.

Yeah. And, you know, it was just so fascinating to me

as I kind of reveal more than I often do.

I'm actually doing a book study on Abraham Lincoln at the moment.

And so my travel from Ohio to St. Louis

correlated a lot with what's happening in my my book

because that was territory that Lincoln was so impactful of.

And then as by chances of the book called Lincoln on leadership.

It is not. No. But that sounds wonderful.

Might have to lend that to you. Yeah.

But from there, you know, the historical relevancy of that

then kind of really becomes obviously Route 66

technically starts in Chicago.

So then from from Chicago through St.

Louis then becomes this pilgrimage, which obviously it goes all the way

to Los Angeles and we take the detour

and go north at the Hoover Dam, basically, into Las Vegas.

But this this automotive pilgrimage, I felt very connected

because as, you know, I I share in our YouTube video that will be coming out soon

while we have been attending SEMA for almost a decade at this point,

which is really kind of wild to say and think about.

And and again, that shop of this startup shop that I go to

who saves my butt in nowhere, Missouri.

I mean, the guy expressed to me that it's a dream of his to get SEMA,

get to SEMA.

I know individuals who it's a dreams yet for them car collectors to get to SEMA.

And for whatever reason, their prioritization, their whatever,

let alone display vehicles in such an incredibly prominent manner.

And I can factually say that SEMA is specifically intended

to be an elite industry experience.

We've been attending for a decade

and it is not particularly easy to get involved in a high quality

or a high caliber manner.

That's not to say that there are some some who's who get through

every once in a blue moon.

We see some poor craftsmanship make its way through.

And you'll see that represented on the Internet.

However, the vast majority, the bell curve of attendees

is really some of the highest caliber parts and processes

represented within the automotive industry.

And not only that, I would say the more vehicles of SEMA

that they're throwing eggs at or outside that and people don't realize

that is literally like two shows at once.

Yes. Outside is public.

It's cool.

It is definitely an accomplishment to be there.

But it is a whole different zip code.

The outside is the wow factor for the general attendee.

Yes. The inside is the nuts and bolts.

Let's get down to it and see the quality.

Yeah. And so for us to have not one but two vehicles represented

inside the convention centers as a whole and our experience

after a decade of attending this event and, you know,

the value in which our customers have bestowed upon us to say,

hey, I trust you to do these things and for me to be driving

this route across the United States.

And I thank you, Jeff, for suggesting that southern route.

I really did enjoy it.

Also, it was probably the most beneficial to the truck.

I would have been still in the Rockies, I think, at this point.

Yeah. Yeah.

Because that turbo would have blown on the way there.

The turbo would have blown on the way there, 100 percent.

But regardless, that was this automotive religious experience for me.

And, you know, and being able to share that with people,

first and foremost, my son to bring him along as much as I absolutely

desperately love the mad scientist and credit him with being our first

and foremost best customer ever.

I jokingly say that Leo was my first business partner because

even in our years where I was just parting down used

used jeeps and selling parts on eBay and Craigslist and whatnot,

I would be out meeting with somebody and I'd have my kid,

my son in a car seat swinging him, swinging a used part over here.

I it was so natural for me to have my infantile child

at these transactions, you know, that a lot of people would be like,

do you need to go take your kid somewhere or do whatever?

No, my kid is perfectly fine with me right now.

Like, do you want to buy this part or not?

You know, I mean, like that kind of stuff.

So it was this.

So first of all, having to share that epic experience with him,

but then share it back to everybody else and kind of be like,

I oftentimes pull no punches, say I live vicariously through so many

of the people who friend me on Facebook or follow on Facebook.

I actually pay attention when people are participating

in these cool off road runs or there's cool,

you know, coast to coast drives and I'm excited for you.

And so for me to be able to offer a similar situation

was was awesome, was very cool as far as I was concerned.

Now, when it comes to the SEMA show itself,

what stood out to you guys from a distance?

So I thought it was cool that there was an FC there.

Obviously, our Jeep.

Um, overall, it was it was kind of just neat.

I didn't really see any big thing from the hot rod side,

which was kind of surprising.

Usually there is at least a build that's like getting revealed

or showcased or something.

And that seemed kind of quiet, which was kind of weird.

I do know a couple people missed their boat,

didn't have the car done, parts logistics didn't work out,

whatever. Obviously, you know, we keep dealing with the 2025

because 2025.

Right. Super weird logistics going on.

Absolutely.

You know, and these are big builds that have

people that are sponsoring and expected them to be in the booth

and that kind of stuff.

And honestly gives me more impact on how big a deal that is

when we were involved in that this year.

I think from from my perspective, there's two things that really stood out.

One is that I always look for the theme at SEMA.

We had the year of the Broncos.

We had the year of the Cybertrucks.

And this year, you guys said there really didn't appear to be a vehicle,

per se, that was the theme of the year, but more of a rap

and film protectant. Right.

You know what? And you're spot on.

And I'm glad you kind of once again have

have allowed me this this talking point.

It was to both of your credit and conversation.

It was an interesting year.

I want to add the second thing that I noticed is it seemed like

the off road and four by four was not what it's ever.

It's been in the time that I've been going with you guys to SEMA.

Yeah. And that's it.

It did appear to be a little smaller, a little off.

Um, not the show as a whole,

but certainly the four by four off road experience.

So there they're to contextualize for people

when I started going almost a decade ago,

the four by four and off road folks were

in one of the larger halls upstairs in the back, basically.

Um, it's this kind of out of sight, out of mind, you know,

and and and as a credit to the J.K. platform

and the community through the J.K.

The industry changed and we started to pull the four by four

and off road scene forward more.

And there's been ebbs and flows at one point in time.

There was the overlanding scene

and there was the whole and almost a a complete overland expo

which had taken a portion of the convention floor.

Overlanding experience. Yeah.

They had it inside.

They had an outside section at one point.

I mean, and it wasn't a small section.

It was it was massive, right?

And that was not just the Jeep community,

but that was four by four campers.

Yeah. And and so that section had been

attention commanding at one point.

I will say that the four by four

and off road scene had, in my opinion,

some of the best real estate at the show in the sense that

it was when you walked into one of the primary spaces

of what is called the West Hall,

you were confronted with the four by four

and off road community.

And that was spectacular.

So one of the kind of the iconic SEMA signs

that people will take pictures with.

And there's a two or three story Jumbotron

with some looking windows through it.

That space is the West Hall.

And the West Hall is across from the Marriott

and it's it's a little closer to the strip.

And, you know, there's a number of things like that.

And and so as you as you enter that space,

there's also a food cafeteria.

That's the primary on site food location

of the convention center.

As you turn into the West Hall,

the four by four and off road community was boom,

right smack there.

You go about three rows over

and that is where the Crown Automotive booth is.

This was prime real estate

right next to the Ford motor sports

and performance booth,

sharing the likes of Best Hop

and and their subsidiary and conglomerates.

Method Wheels was not far away.

Stein Jaeger was not too far.

Well, didn't you say 3M was the immediate booth

that you walked into?

These are power players.

Well, yes, Ford performance or something

right right next to it.

Yeah, that's what I just said.

Yeah, with motorsports and performance

with who was in that booth, though.

Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh.

So Cody Walker.

So, I mean, again, Cody Walker is Paul Walker's younger brother.

They are heavy investors in the motorsports industry,

speed and that kind of stuff.

So that's drawing a big crowd right there.

That's drawing a crowd and he's there.

Richard Petty was two or three booths down

in another direction and Ian Johnson was, you know,

one or two over in the other direction

as as namesake individuals who were participating

in this space, this space right here and there.

Right. I mean, we're not talking.

They just happened to be on site elsewhere.

We're talking about within, you know,

you know, 50 yard radius of the Crown Automotive Booth

where swamp donkey hashtag, not a restoration.

One of our primary vintage vehicles

that we've been displaying was on display for the world to see.

So that's I mean, we're we're in good company.

Yeah, in my opinion.

I do I do have a question from Djaga Jeepers

and he's asking if there was anything at SEMA that you saw

and thought that you'd want to try it or use that on a build.

And in the past, we have absolutely done that.

We've found Nacho lights.

We really like Nacho lights.

So that was something we found at SEMA.

We made fun of that SEMA at first

before we realized what they actually you did.

We did. You and Greg were like,

hey, you got to see this thing, you know what I mean?

Not your lights.

I was familiar with Nacho.

You weren't familiar with the fact

that they were part of ARB.

I was not.

And as soon as we saw him at ARB, we were like,

whoa, yeah, and that's getting real.

So there was that the XK command switch,

something that we also found at SEMA.

And we utilize in a lot of builds now.

And the the thing is, and this is kind of the whole point

of utilizing the podcast as a talking point

or kind of an infotainment point for people is to reveal some stuff.

As far as I'm concerned, you might not normally get right.

And so in a in a manner, that is where I see where you but certainly Greg

have excelled in Greg who's been going with me since the very beginning.

Well, he's found many things there.

He's found so many products and I can expand upon, as you mentioned,

an up down air was a product that was there.

Trigger was a product that was there.

We actually were able to talk to developers

understanding the inner workings of their product better

and then bringing that information back to our customers.

And then now our listeners and followers.

That's really a major benefit.

And then as I kind of reveal all to our listening audience,

I don't give a flying fig.

So when I say that, I say that in such a way that I blindly follow

Greg and you and when you've been there around.

And I go and and I basically you guys give me a list

and you're like, here's what we need to be conscientious of.

Yeah. Here's who you should talk to.

Here's here's who we should interview.

Here's product that you should go learn more about.

Totes and here's the map to get there

because you don't know how to find the way around the building.

I don't know how to get around the facility, folks.

I'm going for a decade.

I have no idea how to get around the facility.

And I'll reveal a little bit of that here in a hot second.

But but realistically, when it comes to those things,

I am so consumed with shooting off messages to other people

who might be who might be there or might be looking for me to be there.

I'm checking in on what's going on back here at at our facility,

doing customer communication or follow up.

I am oftentimes, you know,

this was our busiest year yet

because of people wanting to meet with me in the booth

or ask questions about the Jeep or Jeeps, I should say.

Well, yeah, you also end up doing interviews.

You did a couple of interviews.

I know Rick Payway was one that you talked with.

Yeah, we did. Yeah, absolutely.

The guys from Gone Jeep and were excellent.

The folks from Willie's Overland,

Tub replica producer, replacement tub producer.

Excellent. Yeah, we had lots of that kind of stuff as well.

I would say this year is a lot of reinvesting

in prior relationships, you know,

Center for some Willie's Overland, that kind of thing.

So much more than just going out and kind of hitting the street

and seeing what's new. It was more of a doubling down.

Hey, where are you at in your development?

Where do you at on this kind of stuff?

Here's what we're seeing on this.

Here's how it works out. How open to critiques are you?

Sure.

And sounds like it was a home run in those situations.

Sure.

I'm both apart.

Yeah, when I jokingly say that I don't care, I do.

I absolutely, I do desperately care because we've been able to bring

prototype product, the RSE product, again,

all the ones that you mentioned I mentioned,

we've been able to bring that back and share that as front runners in our industry.

I'm simply saying I am in a situation

subservient to your guys' identification of that stuff first.

Now, as a as a coated truck enthusiast,

I can't not talk about the Mickey Thompson wide wheels and Baja belted two

tire that just absolutely retro tires, the retro tires.

Right.

That absolutely consumed the show.

The truck community is on fire talking about these tires and wheels right now.

It's important to note that we have to follow up.

They're not available until May as our direct relationship with Mickey Thompson.

And it's not just our newfound love affair and direct relationship with them,

but specifically their product really did steal the show when it comes to

a new specific product that is has been released.

That just commanded so much of the four by four communities attention.

When it comes to other new product releases,

what were you going to ask or say?

I was just you go ahead and then I'll say after that.

Okay.

As far as some of the other stuff,

there didn't appear to be the same degree of practical innovation

that there has been in the past.

This is a good lead in.

So I mean, you'll see a video there where I've got quick disconnects of sorts

or sway bar links, but they actually have a reservoir shock on them.

So haven't we seen that before?

Not the actual bypass or the actual reservoir.

We've seen them where they have dampening and apex is making them where they spring.

They move between these different little tangs in the body,

but this actually had like reservoir shocks hanging off your sway bar links.

I do know that there is one product you were excited about

that you didn't say yet.

Okay.

Tell me that here in a second.

I'm going to continue to expand upon some things I didn't say.

There was air conditioning systems for YJs, for full size vehicles, for Cherokees.

It was fascinating at the fact that there are companies out there who are doing product development

on air conditioning systems, specifically retrofitting some of these vintage vehicles.

Well, that's because the only ones of those that survive right now

are down in the south where they need to.

That's actually a good observation.

Well, and I think that's just continuing of the hot rod march as vehicles are getting older,

and maybe you're hardcore in the hot rods, but you kind of want a family rig and a wagon

here kind of makes sense, but you want it to have the creature comforts,

which is a good lead in is what will Quake put crazy crap on for wheels next year?

And the reason why I even noticed this year is they chose my latest project.

I knew you're going to be so fired up over this to put a price to bring it up when you asked what

he observed. Why Model T Model T is a 26 27 Model T coupe.

Yup. Completely bone stock other than some LED lights and tracks.

I mean bone stock and the funny thing is they put four wheel drive tracks on there.

Yeah.

And it's not obviously for that four wheel drive.

And so many automotive people are not going to pick up on that.

Yeah. Not only that, the front axle on a Model T original is so weak.

Literally Henry Ford and one of his ex-capades wrecked the Model T and they had to go back

to the factory and get parts because the front axle was so subpar.

They couldn't probably even turn with those tracks.

No, I mean we're all who those of us who are in the know, absolutely unconscious that

they jacked that up pulled off the old.

There's literally a video now or pictures showing them taking the old wires off and putting on

the tracks where it sits and it did not move from that spot.

No, but it's all staging.

Yeah.

It's all staging.

Jeff, what were you going to say?

The product that you had mentioned there?

Well, I didn't mention.

JKS.

Okay.

Has the long arm that you were.

Yup.

Obsessing over while you were there.

The interesting piece is that was not actually in the new product expose,

but that was something that jumps out at me because obviously I want to long arm the world.

And they've been teasing it.

Yes, because the reason it was not in the new product expose was because they actually

revealed that I think in 22 at SEMA.

I would agree.

And we have actually been waiting this whole time, right?

We've been waiting this whole stinking time and it is going to be a very,

very competent kit if they can actually bring it to market.

Here's hoping.

Without being too much of a sass pants, the talking heads, the people in the booths,

and they don't know me from Adam.

Well, sometimes they do.

Sometimes they don't.

They do after afterwards though.

Correct.

Whether they're trying to kick you out or what, they know who you are.

Right.

Because they want to like, they're anticipating the vast bell curve of individuals.

I mean, thousands and thousands and thousands of people are going to walk by their booth.

They're going to have so many conversations throughout the course of the four or five days

that the show is that they're kind of treat everybody as a blank slate.

The thing is, I have been waiting with baited breath for this kit to come out

since I was personally shown it in 2022.

I also know all of the obstacles and challenges that they have endeavored to do

and the kind of the minutiae of how they anticipate this to be installed.

I wonder if there's like a Neil.

I met Neil support group for these individuals.

They're like going in, they're got their coffee like, oh.

It's like, what's up, man?

I had this customer is just really busting my balls, man.

He's really got me.

Did you have a mohawk?

Yeah.

Boy, was he from Ohio?

Right.

He claimed he was from the Midwest.

You know, and just for our listeners at home, I need you to know that there was a company.

We're good friends with them.

I hope they consider us friends who had a meme that when I called,

then one of them had to return my phone call.

It was the Ben Affleck, who was like hanging outside, like taking a smoke break or a coffee break,

desperately trying to muster up the courage to call me back.

And was like, this was the meme that got sent to whoever had to call me back, you know?

Yeah.

I was cracking up when they sent us that regardless.

Yeah.

So the guy approached me was like, well, you want to know about our new long arm kit?

I was like, well, why don't I tell you what I know?

And what I don't see on this particular team.

And then that's when he needed to join the support room.

Yes.

And he had to go get another guy.

Oh boy.

That guy, the first guy, he disappeared off into the distance.

He had to go look his wounds.

Yeah, right.

And I was like, all right, well, it's cool.

When are you actually going to build it?

Well, it's built.

It's here in front of you.

No, no, it was in front of me three years ago.

Well, we already took orders on it.

Yeah.

I would have ordered one three years ago as well.

When's it actually going to be available?

Well, okay.

Well, there were pre-orders taken at Smoky Mountain.

So I don't, you know what?

So what?

You took pre-orders.

Let me tell you about this time this Axl manufacturer told me

that we're going to have this program ready.

And it wasn't.

Let me tell you about that.

Listen, don't BS a BS there.

Okay.

Like, you know, you're not going to get me all excited

because I've been excited before and then I've been disappointed.

And the thing is this particular kit, the manner in which JKS had that displayed,

they had it displayed on an ultimate Axl.

Well, they did not actually an ultimate Axl.

I think the Courier Dynatrack Axls, regardless,

the JKS kit will require you to cut off your control arm pockets

and weld on supplied control arm pockets.

So the actual kit that they're going to supposedly have ready for production

or at least that they teased us they were going to three years ago

is not actually what was on display.

Yeah.

Listen, I'm not angry about it.

You know what I mean?

But don't try and call it out on your foolishness.

Yeah.

Don't try and blow smoke at me and my base.

Like, let's talk about this.

This is the reality of the situation.

Yes.

You want this kit.

I'm excited.

I want it.

Let's actually develop it.

Yeah.

Do what you said you were going to do.

And, you know, they get closer by the day is what they're saying.

And I am excited for them.

And I do folks listening at home understand that JKS and Iron Rock Off-Road

are my number one, number two call in no particular order

when it comes to suspension.

Well, at the moment, if it's a long arm, we have to go one direction.

Well, if it's a long arm, we're going to sell you Iron Rock Off-Road

because it's actually available and it's trail tested.

And it works.

But as JKS comes to market,

they have some cool things that they're offering as well.

Yeah.

So there was a little bit of the insider piece.

I do think it's valuable to follow up on my sentiment and statement

that of things that I do and don't pay attention to or care of at the show.

Now, I need you to know I'm going to own my indiscretions in life.

And I'm OK owning them publicly.

I always said, I'm not going to say anything behind somebody's back

that I wouldn't say to their face.

And I try to live my life in such a way that the actions that I take

on a daily basis that I would be able to admit them

to not just the ones that I love, but publicly as well.

On the fourth and final day of the show being open,

but the fifth day that we were there,

my intention was to go get swamp donkey from the booth and bring it home.

Equally, as we've already mentioned,

my 12-year-old was with me during the show.

He held up in the hotel.

He's a pretty responsible young man.

On Monday, he helped us move the Jeep into location.

They were a little less stringent about the attendance,

using badges and all that kind of stuff.

While they were cognizant of it, they were less stringent per se

than they were when the show is.

It is a very, very tight show when it comes to specifically

the credentials that you have around your neck.

And everybody wears these lanyards and there's different color coding.

And there's a whole bunch of stuff that goes with that.

On Friday, prior to getting the Jeep,

I had borrowed a credential tag from a manufacturer

with the intention to sneak my son into the show.

And now there is someone at the front gate

that needs to be in the club support group.

Who's been wronged by Neil Simpson.

So just being honest.

I think I'm going to be honest.

I don't think that they're in the support group.

I think they're leading the support group

because they put you in your place.

Well, there was four of them.

It's important to note.

Teamed up on him.

I did.

It's a Ron White thing of,

I don't know how many it would take,

but I know how many they were going to use.

Yeah, I riled up four security guards pretty thoroughly.

I'll be honest with you.

And I used just about every tactic that I have in my toolbox

with the intention to get my son in and through the show.

But I made a few fatal errors in the process.

Now I'll just unpack the scenario

in the most ridiculous and comical way possible,

knowing that I needed to grab my son

and with the objective to get him

in a timely fashion to get the Jeep,

to get it out of the building

prior to a lot of commotion.

I wanted to be at the booth by,

the show ends at four o'clock or so.

I wanted to be at the booth, 245-ish,

somewhere in there, finish out my time,

say thanks to the folks who sponsored our rigs,

again, Crown Automotive for being at the event

and appropriately be there

if there's any final questions about the display.

Which is not abnormal

when we've done other very close shows.

We've been trying to be at the starting line

as the show is finishing

and may or may not have had a backlash from that

a couple times.

But the really thing that sucks is we're watching

other people break down, tear down,

getting out of dodge early

and we're like,

we really want to go home and see our families

and we're just, we're trying to be

as abiding as we can.

Yeah, we're trying to abide the rules

and not break down early.

And for some reason, I guess we have guilty faces.

Well, so here's the thing.

So I grabbed my son

and I borrow, I used said borrowed credentials.

He's not attending the show.

He's literally just coming there for an hour or two

with the intention to help me pick up the Jeep

for us to then kind of be on our way.

But they don't care.

I recognize, so for me,

there's a lot of gray in this scenario.

For the show, he's an attendee.

He is on site during show hours.

And I'm flying pretty close to the sun, folks.

I understand that I'm going to accept my bias

and my perspective.

I want you to break the rules a little bit.

That's what I'm choosing to do.

I live in the gray.

All right.

So anyways, the manufacturer

who provides me the credentials,

first and foremost, our big problem was

we have different colors.

So despite the fact that we're walking

through the show together,

mine is listed as a buyer,

being that we are a retail business,

whereas my son is borrowing an exhibitor badge.

First and foremost, as the pair of us,

they are vastly different.

Nextly, they only had the name Catherine available

for the badge from the exhibitors.

It's 2025.

And it's 2025.

So I thought, well, what the heck?

Well, who's paying that close of attention

that this says Catherine?

Right.

I mean, they are.

Maybe.

So it's like, well, yeah,

but the only tag we have available

for you to borrow is Catherine.

I'm like, well, I just need it for like

two and a half hours.

I need to get from point A to point B

to be there with the Jeep to pick it up

as the event has broken down.

So we get there.

We buzz through the first security.

We're into the new product haul expose all over again.

We see some fun and interesting things.

We pass through that.

We then go through another section

which requires us to go through a security checkpoint.

Again, we're doing pretty darn good.

In that process, there are plenty of people

who are conscientious

that you have your credentials around your neck.

This is not open to Joe public.

You have to pay a pretty good amount to attend.

Additionally, on Friday when it is open to the public,

they have a completely different color credential

and you've paid a premium to be there in attendance.

So we've passed through two, three security checkpoints

of people who have been conscientious

of what we're wearing.

As I enter one of the primary halls,

they funnel us through a very narrow doorway.

And this is where things take a turn for the worst,

if you will, because my son is a very good do-gooder.

And I want that for him.

I want him to make good conscientious choices,

but I also wanted him to not stop at the security checkpoint

to pretend that he didn't hear them say,

hey, we need to do an identity check, an ID check.

But instead, he stopped

because for whatever reason,

they decided to do an ID check specifically on him.

And that's okay.

He did the right thing.

And so that's why they were aware that he was not Catherine.

That's when they were aware he was in fact not Catherine.

And that is when I then attempted to employ every tactic I know

of attempting to remediate and get my way,

which I need you all to know that the folks

who are working security in Las Vegas

are some of the most straight-faced.

I don't give a darn.

This is my job and I'm holding to it.

Fully.

And we've encountered this before in Vegas.

Multiple locations, honestly.

Multiple times.

And I give them all the credit because here's the thing is

like everybody in Vegas-

They just smile at you.

I don't understand.

Because the folks who are working security and checkpoint ID

and all that kind of stuff for these events in Vegas

are used to people full of shenanigans.

They're used to it.

This is not new.

Obviously we're not even inebriated and toxicated.

We're just passing from hall to hall.

These folks who work these positions are good at what they do.

Obviously.

And in my attempt to get my way, let's be honest,

it eventually I riled up four security individuals in the process.

You've made a scene.

I made a scene.

Now in the comments Nate's asking,

but did you hit them with a, do you know who I am?

Yes.

Yes, he did.

I did, Nate.

And they didn't care.

In fact, so much so that in that regard, they pull from behind her.

I seriously, it was like a magic bag.

I don't even know where she pulled it from behind her

and produced a stack, two inches thick of these credentials,

which they had confiscated from other people.

You should have said, oh, that's probably where my actual badge is.

Oh, that's why it's actually where his badge is.

I was wondering what happened.

Somebody must have switched badges with us.

And they were like, sir, we don't give a flip who stuff this is.

And I was like, I mean, I attempted to bluff and calling

other credentialed individuals.

I objectively said, I'm just trying to,

and this is actually part of the,

there are true things in this sentiment.

Because things I'm going to do is I'm not going to demean you

or dehumanize you in the process.

I'm not going to lie.

They asked me to the age of my son.

I authentically told him he's 12.

He's huge.

I mean, he's a big boy.

And of course they condescendingly like,

who brings that 12 year old to the show?

Which it hit me when I hit them back with it.

Do you know who I am?

I bring a 12 year old to the show.

I've got multiple vehicles in here and I'm trying to get to them.

And they're like, well, where's your vehicle, sir?

And I was like in the West Hall.

And they were like, do you know how far you are?

And I was like, no, I have no idea.

Because I finally just follow the guys

because my face is usually in the phone

doing content or communicating or whatever.

No, I don't actually know.

I'm just walking from space to space eventually getting to my hall.

And they thought I was certifiably nuts in the process

because I wasn't anywhere close to the West Hall.

And they said, are you now on the list for next year, Seema?

You know, Nate, I'm probably on a number of lists.

I'm just going to put it out in the universe right now.

This is the starting gate for him to now get his way for future Seema's

because we've had this situation at other shows.

And now we do the most shenanigans we've ever done

and we don't have any problems and we get to do our thing.

So the time stamp now.

The bar has been set and he's going to figure out how to climb over it.

Correct.

And this is without tweeting entirely too much of my own horn.

Yeah, you don't actually get to say no to me.

Pretty much.

We just find a more creative way to achieve the goals.

You may have stopped him this year.

Yeah, you just find him on the picture to walk him with.

I mean, Scott said it years ago and it kind of burnt a hole into my brain

when somebody at another event had done something that was not to our liking.

And Scott was like, well, if you haven't met Neil, he's just going to do it anyways.

Pretty much.

He's going to do his own event or he's going to ensure that the

direction of the next event goes the way that we want it to go.

And I mean, we authentically still got into the West Hall before hours were out

and I'm not going to expand upon how and manner in which we did that.

We did.

And we had the Jeep and we left the venue

at an appropriate time.

All they did was inhibit me from going through that main particular hall.

Now the whole time my son, oh my God, he's so sweet.

He's going to hate me for this.

He cried because he was like, he thought like something bad was actually transgressing.

And oh yeah, he's expecting you to be handcuffed right there.

Yeah, you know, I mean that whole thing.

Hulled away.

And again, I again, I'm not going to dehumanize anybody.

I'm not going to demean their job.

I'm not going to lie, you know, any of that kind of stuff.

It's just the fact that there was a couple things that we could or should have

have maybe done differently.

Maybe we didn't need to walk through the center hall in the process.

It's whatever.

But we did get out as we left the event.

We were we were beat.

We were tired and we were just going to leave.

But as I left the event.

Oh, you did not honk and wave at the security that didn't let you in, did you?

No.

You hesitated.

So as we passed by this primary security booth who had had once already not let me into the event

and she says, are you are you participating in the parade or are you not?

And I said, no, just want to go home.

And she said, OK, go that way.

As we did that, I recognized the magnitude of the parade that was happening just a few

hundred yards in the other direction.

So you did not listen to her yet again.

And so here I am on a primary road with a small, small median lower.

And I'm shooting in one direction because we're the people who are not participating

and they've got cones up to direct us and all that kind of stuff.

And and I thought, man, I don't know when I'm going to have this experience again.

You just never know, right?

For for anybody, you know, listening at home, you're in this moment,

you're like, man, am I going to be able to do this again in this same capacity?

And I hope that we are, but you you don't know.

And and certainly am I going to be able to do it again with my 12 year old?

And I thought, I'm going to I'm going to go in that parade.

I'm going to do it.

So I may or may not have driven over the median.

Again, we drive four by fours.

I come up and over the median and I come back to where the cones have have single

lane, the, you know, the security line out through.

And this is when they start yelling at me again.

Turn around, turn around.

You know, she's making these big motions, this stuff, you know what I mean?

And I'm like, I didn't understand the instructions.

I want to participate in the parade.

And one of the law enforcement individuals who was like, hey, that's a nice Jeep.

Did you just come out of the building?

And I was like, yeah, I sure did.

He's like, all right, let me move these cones for you.

Meanwhile, security still yelling at me to move.

And before they could have any type of initial exchange,

I just zoomed right through the cones.

Security guard.

Let them sort it out after you've already gone.

It's too late.

Just throw in a business card.

This is the club you need to join now.

So I got to go to the comments because Nate's saying so, or Joe said

they are not letting you in next year.

The Nate said, so what he's hearing is that you blew SFJ's budget on bribes.

And then Jeepers goes, at least he didn't borrow a golf cart.

I don't know anything about that.

Not yet.

It's coming.

Nate says, Neil is absolutely getting banned as you continue to expand upon your story.

I'm going to tell you, we got into the parade appropriately with everybody else.

We found ourselves in between a Baja Dune buggy and just a massively 24 inch lifted,

six door F350 thing behind us.

And we had the time of our life as we kind of paraded past the front of the West Hall.

Thousands upon thousands of automotive enthusiasts taking pictures and video.

And this is that moment where you get to rev the engine and squawk the tires.

The sand buggy in front of me, suspension could raise and lower because the torque

of the engine was significant.

And we just had just an epic experience with the parade.

It was actually pretty short.

Greg, who was driving J5, was told that the parade would go four or five hours.

And so if I would have known that information, I probably also would have chosen

not to participate.

But I blindly jumped into this two feet first, which is exactly how Greg and I work.

Pretty much.

And with that said, it was actually very short.

If the parade was 10 or 15 minutes in and around the facility.

Now I think what they did is that then much like Smoky Mountain, they do a cruise up and

down the streets or the Woodward Dream Cruise, where they cruise Woodward Avenue.

I think they then have this loose expectation that the parade goes to the strip and just

cruises the Las Vegas strip, which obviously we did not participate in that.

We went home.

We started loading up the truck and trailer to start our travels home at that point.

So needless to say, I far expanded upon some of my ridiculous shenanigans of sharing

the SFJ way to the world.

But we're not ones to sit on our hands, right?

And again, my objective is never to be disrespectful in the process.

But I am going to do what it takes to kind of ensure the brand and our agenda is best

represented as it can be.

Other than that, the show was was was pretty good.

Codings and films was the theme.

As as you mentioned, Method stole the show with their cardboard box,

Baja Racer inspired vehicle.

You know, the objective there is to stand out from the crowd.

You have to do something that objectively makes you noteworthy.

The cool thing about Swamp Donkey unquestionably was that it was the only CJ5 to my knowledge.

Honestly, I don't even know if I saw a CJ7 there.

I really there was a scrambler other than there was in the high lift booth

and shortly after one of my filmings, I did discover the scrambler,

very much an off-road inspired vehicle.

Swamp Donkey just has this incredible iconic styling with all the right upgrades

that you kind of peel back a layer and you see that upgrade.

And that's what I think made it so notable.

J5, of course, got its time in the limelight because it's J5.

I mean, it's just over the top and functional.

A lot of people liked, again, as it is, and which I think is the SFJ way.

The more you kind of look, the more there is to see.

And so it's just dripping functionality with this very pleasing form.

And I think that that's such a great representation of our brand.

And both you and Greg as the lead builders on either vehicle,

how we want to represent ourselves.

And so it was fun to be a fly on the wall

and watch people interact with those vehicles and take pictures

and be exposed to what is uniquely us and me be able to recognize that.

For them, they saw a cool tire carrier on Swamp Donkey.

They saw a mini bike on top of J5.

They saw that initial blip, that big superficial piece.

For me, I got to see them have the light bulb.

They see the light brackets that pivot 180.

Or they see that both axles are trust on Swamp Donkey.

Or to get told it has a 360 in it, not a 304,

and their brain breaks for a second.

Stuff like that.

Jeff, was there anything else noteworthy in the comment section?

Other than Nate saying that he thinks security has a different take

on you appropriately joining the parade.

No, I think that's it.

I think we've had a good episode and we need to move to our weekend update.

That is 100% accurate in all of the assessment.

Again, I wish them the best and I really don't want to be a thorn in their side

in that capacity.

It was never my immediate attention.

I hope you enjoyed our take on the SEMA.

There was a lot going on and so there's going to be a full YouTube video coming out

from Savage has been actively working to compile that documentation.

We can share that with you as soon as possible.

Until next time, Jeep on.

Jeep on, Jeep on.

So in true SFJ fashion, because you just, and powers you to do what you shouldn't do.

Me and Jeff, we worked all week last week during SEMA while they were gone.

So we had an extra floater day.

So we took Friday off and we hit the building from basically 8 a.m. till 6 p.m.

Your building, my building, the post frame construction.

And I took Jeff past comfort.

He was ready to throw in the towel.

He was done.

I was.

And he, it's always good.

He's a very good general contractor setup guy.

He's like, we're going to do this.

We're going to make this accomplishment.

And we were so close.

And he's like, I'm, I'm tired.

I'm done.

And I'm like, good music just hit on the radio.

My, the sun just came out.

The sun just did come out.

It's sort of warmer than it was.

I've now been able to ignore my pains and aches for,

because I've worked through it a long enough.

And I'm like, nope.

So he, he doesn't say a word to me.

I'm just finishing some button up stuff on one side and I look over and he's

starting to stand up a 12 foot post on his own.

And I'm just staring at him.

I'm like, here it is.

We're going to do it.

We're just going to keep going.

Mind you, this is after we've gotten our butts kicked on the 22 footers.

On the 22 footers.

They just were like, no, no, you're not.

Well, that I'm not going to pass go, not collect $200.

And we did two 20 footers, 22 footers.

We got those set.

And then we did the corners, the last remaining corners of the porch,

which are the 12 footers.

So it was just the four posts in between.

But we realized that the holes were offset from where they needed to be.

And so we had to dig out and we recognized that it was going to be a labor intensive.

Ups to hell.

Both ways.

In eight feet of snow.

So, so at that point it was like, okay, we've got four posts left.

We can do that tomorrow after work.

Let's, let's rest so we don't kill ourselves.

Nope.

And he just kept kept going.

And I'm like, he can't keep going on his own.

I have to help.

Yeah.

So here it is.

And, and I'm glad that we did because sometimes you just need that little push

to get over that hump.

And that's what we do.

So then we always do a little bit of pushing though.

I know what I mean.

I know.

Yeah.

And then Saturday we were licking our wounds at work.

And he's like, well, we're going to go and work on it some more.

So we got one wall done and he, we were watching the radar.

We were going to get dumped on at some point.

And he's like, I got stuff to do that.

I don't want to get dumped on doing.

So he took off and I looked around.

And you know how right before the storm gets a little warmer,

like the wind dies down.

I was like,

Literally the calm before the storm.

I'm going to put the saw away and I'm going to do dumb things.

And I'm going to keep going.

I love it.

You've got my full support.

So I had it got one whole string done on the back wall by myself.

I got what started me is just an eight footer to start with.

I was like, meh.

I can do an eight footer.

And I was like, I could put a 16 footer next

to it though.

That's a lot harder by yourself.

Right.

But I was able to get everything picked up that done

before the storm.

It definitely did not hit like we thought it was, thankfully.

Because I would have been very wet,

but I was able to get that accomplished.

So I felt good about that progress that we made on the building.

And then Sunday, I did this all day long haul apart

pterothon, which are good supporters of the business,

the Nova cells.

We've watched these boys grow up and they are now enthusiasts.

One has two Jeeps because you can't just have one.

You can't just have one.

And the other one is pursuing a Ford truck

supports projects.

And their dad has a vintage Ford truck.

Sure.

And he had parts on marketplace

and because I just can't stay off a marketplace

that were ridiculously cheap.

And I was like, well, I could use that part.

And when you don't have a building done

and you don't have any space and you're literally

definitely buy more part.

You should definitely get parts,

especially when they're free to cheap.

So I started Sunday morning meeting them in Pierpont,

which my wife was like, where is Pierpont?

I'll show you.

Your wife didn't know where Pierpont was.

She did just blend together.

They do blend together.

Unquestionably, they blend together.

So the biggest thing in Pierpont is the Dollar General.

So we met there, back tailgate to tailgate

and filled my truck so much that I originally thought

I could just go keep going and keep filling this truck.

And I was like, no, no, I can't.

So I drove home, unloaded it,

and then we drove to Dutton Falls and loaded it again.

And she was trying to pick up.

Oh, you thought you were going to be able to do this?

Like multi-stop of collecting.

You had multiple stops of old junk vehicle parts.

I did.

Does this surprise you?

Folks, I'm telling you.

The buildings are built.

Where are you pulling this stuff?

We are who we are.

I just can't.

I just can't, folks.

I mean, you know, we're not playing characters.

We're just...

Oh, I'm sorry, Jeff.

Are you okay there?

The sad part is, is my wife...

I'm just thinking about the fact

that we don't even have a roof on a building yet.

And he's collecting more.

Oh wait, I said the list of stuff I got.

I don't want to hear.

There might be some work room

for people that got irritated by Scott after this.

My wife will be leading that.

Right.

Because I was like, well, it's free to cheap.

I can now have...

That's your favorite price.

Right.

And the brakes for the 36 were really expensive.

And I wanted to use a Bendix style brake

because they're just better than the Lockheed style.

And so this time around, I'm like, okay,

if I go and buy $1,500 worth of brakes,

I can't afford North Store.

She might just slap me.

So how do I do this cheap to free?

Oh no.

You do it with F1 brakes from 49 to 50 something.

I haven't done enough research yet.

I can't give you all the definite Scott details.

That nobody cares about.

But I was able to procure a complete F1 front axle

with brakes on it,

and then a complete F1 rear axle with brakes on it.

When you say F1, for the folks listening at home,

what is that?

48, the 41-ish car sedan.

Ford truck.

Truck.

Which has Bendix style brakes.

They're 11s versus 12s.

Don't care.

Model T is lighter, smaller.

Oh yeah.

We know that 11s are more than sufficient.

Plenty.

So I'm going to figure out how I can adapt those on to what I got.

Now I have all the pieces I can go and play Legos.

This is like the original Mustang 2 front end swap.

Sort of.

And then the best part is, if you've done a good job of getting junk

and then selling junk to then have little to no investment

in your current junk, you want to do it again.

So I think I can sell off extra parts from the front axle

like I hoarded and maybe make it free the parts I want.

So that would even be better.

I need this to be a sound clip for Davey.

Just if you do a good job at your junk and my junk.

I mark this now I need it as a sound clip.

You will see this part again first.

Currently the Model T and my tractor are completely surrounded

with parts because how do I make my wife okay with it?

Well you get truck parts for her truck too.

So I got a complete 351 modified spare motor for,

but it's in complete parts like all taken apart.

So the pistons are in a box and the blocks over here.

This is the Nova cells?

Yep.

And then I got a nine inch center section

and axle shafts and yet another set of brakes for her rear axle.

So at this point I can just build a whole another axle for hers.

Roll her rusted junk out and put this one in.

Okay.

So that's the plan.

So everybody needs two rear axles.

Absolutely.

Whatever.

Well when one's got rust pits so deep that you can see through it

on the top of the housing.

Yeah.

I get it.

I know there's a Detroit locker in there and gears,

but I don't have faith that they're

100%.

Worth anything anymore.

Get it.

Makes sense to me.

I really want her motor to be okay,

but it's had a bird nesting in the engine compartment

and it's been in a field for a year.

So it doesn't hurt to have a spare block just in case.

Just in case.

That needs to go to the machine shop someday.

Anyway.

Wow.

So that's what my weekend updates were.

What I heard is that you acquired more projects.

That's exactly what he did.

Yep.

I'm just maintaining.

My weekend was focused on family and recovery.

My kids were involved in a local theater production.

Again, that continued attempt to keep them very well rounded.

Which I heard that attendance wise was out of the park.

Just had to turn people away basically.

Literally, not basically.

Literally, there was standing room only.

It was told it was sold out.

I mean it was for a little community theater.

It was awesome.

What was the play?

Rainbow Fish.

It is actually a youth oriented play.

That based on the book.

It is.

It is based on the book.

And my mom's actually the theater director for this initiative.

And my daughter was super excited to try to go.

She had a flyer at their school.

Someone at the school had put out flyers for all the kids.

And she had asked me about it.

I said, well, I'm not making no promises.

We'll see because we had a lot of car parts together.

So after we had gotten home,

she brought out the flyer.

And she said, well, can we do this?

And I said, well, sadly, it's sold out.

Yep.

No, we can't.

And that is absolutely the truth.

It was sold out three performances.

I think all of them were sold out or about near

as far as how they were advertising it.

My son runs the tech for it.

And my daughter was one of the primary characters in it.

And they did a beautiful job.

But the weird sucker that I am,

as much as you guys hear me with the shenanigans

and the house builds and the vehicles

and the this and the that,

I attend every single performance of my children.

So even though it's the same show

and it's three different shows,

I attend every single one.

I sit through every single performance,

even though it's the exact one that I just watched.

So that was the bulk of my day.

And then I do crazy stuff in between

or prior to or thereafter.

Fortunately, yesterday,

I had tried to preface with enough people

that I really wanted to try and do

like some some decluttering of my life.

And for the most part, people kind of let me be.

However, my wife, not my wife, right?

Because because folks,

I mean, if you thought that I was special,

my wife is barefoot on the beach.

Barefoot on the beach.

Yeah, it's cold, man.

I saw those pictures.

Yep, yep, yep, yep.

Not quite cold enough to need muck boots yet,

but that's coming.

Oh, I mean, and it was legitimately like,

she's like, I think I've done NERB avenues now.

We can go.

You know what I mean?

Like she's like,

you guys are meant for each other.

Her feet were on fire because we were so far down.

It was so cold,

but she insisted on being in the waves.

Yep.

And I mean, it is.

Honestly, the water was probably warmer than.

Yeah, I don't know.

I think it started to turn.

I mean, it was pretty,

it was pretty cool last time I was down there.

Here's the piece, folks.

And that's funny that you even mentioned that

because that's not even the part

that I was going to elaborate upon.

Honestly, that's just normal for me.

What I was going to elaborate upon was that,

man, I don't,

I'm probably going to share it.

So my wife has an acquaintance that she has befriended

and individual,

they have a very good relationship.

And in the process,

my wife is kind of assisting her

in some daily living activities.

I think it's the best way I want to phrase it.

And so this is a person

and my wife might help unpack some groceries for

or periodically after school,

we'll go and take her trash out

and pull the trash barrel out to the

and this is just kind of a little thing

that makes us uniquely us, right?

I don't talk about all this stuff that often.

But in my wife's

embraced into confidence,

she was going to do home repairs yesterday.

Not surprised.

And found herself in a home repair.

A pickle.

In a pickle.

And she needed reinforcements, right?

And she needed reinforcements

because she had incapacitated

an item within the bathroom.

And it's a home repair.

And my wife didn't plug up the bathroom.

She was trying to do a home repair

for this individual.

And they have not enough tools

to do what they were trying to do.

And the blind leading the blind, right?

But my wife's in just embraced in confidence.

We're going to figure it out.

She was going to do this repair.

And got to the point where a bolt and a nut

were so rust welded together

that they could not come undone any further.

Equally, the stuff that they were holding tight and true

had now become all loosey-goosey

and out of commission.

So there is no other choice

except for this to be cut

because it is rust welded in a place

exposed to water and so on and so forth.

And my wife throws herself upon my mercy

while I'm trying desperately to relax

and maybe do some other personal decluttering

of my brain and energy.

And now I am, as Jeffrey has done,

packing a toolbox and heading off to...

To cut the bolt.

Bury my face in somebody else's bathroom

and cut said bolt with a whiz wheel

so I showed up.

And if I was there for 15 minutes,

that was a long time.

I'm certain of it.

But it's 25 minutes, one direction, show up.

Had to kind of wait for this person

to invite me into their home

because again, their relationship was with my wife

and yada-yada.

Yeah, it was just something that's so iconically

my wife getting me involved in.

I just thought, you know, this is why,

isn't that any of us,

we struggle to complete our own projects

because we're us.

So I had, besides helping Scott with that build,

our nonprofit had our fourth quarter board meeting.

So I was an eerie for that.

Lots of emotional stuff going on this weekend

with the nonprofit, good and bad,

or not necessarily bad,

but open-ended questions now.

The venue that we utilize

for our major event every year

and have a great working partnership with,

well, the general manager

has now accepted another position

and he was very closely involved with our event.

Making it such a success.

Yep.

And then so we're like, all right,

well, that's one thing.

At least we still have the partnership with Voodoo.

But wait, Voodoo has decided to sell

that location into a franchise location.

So there'll still be a Voodoo

for those listed to our knowledge, right?

It's a franchise location

now instead of a corporate store,

which changes the dynamic because...

A little bit, right?

Has the capacity.

Capacity, their financial investment in our event

could potentially significantly change

based on new ownership.

Then we find out new ownership

is somebody that I actually know

and I'm acquainted with.

Yeah.

So there's a roller coaster of...

And I still don't know

what that actually means for the event.

There's gonna be more meetings and opportunities

and growth development within the organization.

So there was quite the toll on that.

We talked about finances.

We talked about future planning

and where the organization's going.

So it was a very involved meeting.

So afterwards, I did go back home

with intent to kind of, like you said,

declutter my brain, just rest.

My body was screaming at me

from the two days of work at Scott's,

plus the other stuff I had going on.

So I decided to sit and watch football.

I watched the Steelers and Bangles,

which was a great game.

Steelers had amazing success,

which then made me want to watch

the Browns and the Ravens

because I needed the Ravens to lose to the Browns.

So I was forced to root for the Browns.

And I ended up texting Davey

that I had to root for the Browns

and they better not disappoint me.

And he said, his reply was,

get used to it.

I've been disappointed by it.

I've been disappointed by my whole life.

Or you'll get used to it quickly.

Something like that.

I was cracking up.

Yep.

Sure enough, the Browns come out.

They're looking awesome.

They're destroying the Ravens.

I'm like, this is going to be a good game.

And then they lost it.

Last three minutes of the game.

Oh, they gave it away.

They didn't even lose it.

They just said, here you go.

You can have the one.

That's what the Browns do.

And I was like, we like to get your hopes up

and then kick your rate square in the pants.

We haven't had a good Browns thing

since I was in primary school.

I know.

And I don't know why I even bothered to try to root for them.

I used to tell people, we make the best partners

in relationships because our bar is pretty low.

My wife's a Steelers fan.

I don't know what it says about us.

I'm a Browns fan.

I'm a wife Steelers fan.

They're used to winning.

So she feels like she's winning.

I could barely tolerate anything.

So out of the whole thing though, I think the icing on the cake

of how the weekend went is when the Jeep commercial came on.

And I realized something that we have done

for three years on the podcast

has now been turned into a Jeep commercial.

Oh, what's that?

The 12 days of Jeep-ness.

Oh, you know what?

There is the 12 for 12.

There is a 12 for 12 that Jeep is doing.

We didn't even talk about all the good

Stalantis stuff that's happening.

We don't have time.

But we do need to point out that since we're talking about Christmas,

we are doing the Christmas Kanye Up Parade on Black Friday.

We had people asking about it.

I got messages over the weekend

that I inappropriately did not respond to.

And I apologize, but I was taking the weekend for my own things.

The big thing that I've shared with people is

as much as we do love the parade

and we desperately want you to also love it

and be involved with us,

our own personal professional pursuits

just had us kind of prioritizing these.

Run a little raggedy currently.

We're running a little thin.

And so our normal marketed ability

to share with people the plan for Black Friday Christmas parade.

It's lacking.

And we apologize.

We do.

We'll do better.

But we are planning to do it, yes.

I think on that note, we've got to go

because we've ran way over time.

Yes, we have.

But we thank you all so much for continuing

to hang in there with us, listen to us,

and be part of this great Jeep family that it is.

Jeep on.

The International is telling you what it was.

Replaced.

Did they have any insight to why we took two turbos out

of the same truck?

Evan, who is kind of

The Great Return of Neil

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