Shifting Gears with Aaron Kaufman (2018): Season 2, Episode 6 - The Race of Gentlemen - full transcript

I'VE BEEN BUILDING CARS
FOR OTHER PEOPLE FOR FAR TOO LONG.

NOW I'M TAKING THINGS
IN A DIFFERENT DIRECTION.

AT MY NEW SHOP,
ARCLIGHT FABRICATION,

I'M DESIGNING
AFTERMARKET TRUCK PARTS,

BUILDING UNIQUE VEHICLES THAT
I'VE ALWAYS WANTED TO BUILD,

AND I'M HAVING
MORE FUN DOING IT.

I'VE HANDPICKED A TEAM
OF THE BEST BUILDERS

FROM ACROSS AMERICA TO JOIN ME.

BUILDING THESE CUSTOM VEHICLES

WILL CHALLENGE OUR SKILLS
AND EXPERIENCE ON EVERY LEVEL,

AND WHEN THEY'RE DONE,
WE'LL PUT EACH ONE TO THE TEST.



I'M AARON KAUFMAN,
AND THIS IS "SHIFTING GEARS."

CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY
DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS

TONIGHT, THE TEAM AND I PACK UP
AND HEAD TO WILDWOOD,

NEW JERSEY,
FOR THE RACE OF GENTLEMEN.

WHO'S READY
FOR A LITTLE RACING?

ME AND MY
WORLD-WAR-II-ERA HARLEY

STORM THE BEACH
WHERE THE BATTLE IS FIERCE,

AND VICTORY
IS FAR FROM CERTAIN.

AND OUR MODEL A DRAGSTER'S
RACE WEEKEND

MAY BE OVER LONG
BEFORE IT EVEN STARTS.

WE DON'T HAVE THE VOLTAGE
TO SPIN IT HARD ENOUGH.

WE GOT TO PULL THE STARTER OUT.

AND LATER,
A HEART-STOPPING CRASH

THREATENS TO END THE RACE
EARLY AND MAYBE FOREVER.



THERE MAY NOT EVER BE ANOTHER
RACE OF GENTLEMEN,

SO YOU WITNESSED
THE LAST ONE POSSIBLY.

HOLY CRAP.

OUR MODEL A DRAGSTER
IS FINALLY DONE,

BUT WHILE TAKING IT
FOR A TEST DRIVE,

IT DIDN'T EXACTLY
STOP ON A DIME.

OH, BRAKES.

WHEN I CAME BY,
EVERYBODY STANDING OUTSIDE,

I WAS ALL THE BRAKES
THAT IT HAD,

AND I PUSHED IT
A LITTLE FURTHER,

AND THE BRAKE PEDAL
CAMMED OVER AND LOCKED.

WHAT'D YOU THINK?

- IT'S FAST.
- IT SEEMS LIKE IT.

- IT'S FAST.
- YEAH.

THERE'S NO REAR BRAKES,
WAS 100%.

LET'S GET THAT APART
AND ADJUST IT RIGHT.

IF IT WAS JUST BAD
BRAKES, WE COULD COPE WITH THAT.

IT'S IN SAND, BUT THE FACT
THAT IT CAMS OVER,

AND IT JUST DOESN'T...
IT'S NOT THERE.

THAT'S SOMETHING THAT'S GONNA
HAVE TO BE ADDRESSED, SO...

TWO WEEKS AGO,
I BOUGHT A FORD MODEL A.

IT'S RUNNING NOW.

THE PLAN IS TO CONVERT
THIS NEARLY 100-YEAR-OLD ANTIQUE

INTO AN OLD-SCHOOL
BODILESS DRAGSTER.

WHERE'S THE REST OF IT?

THAT'S IT, HUH?

THAT'S IT.
THAT'S ALL THERE IS TO IT.

WE'RE BUILDING THIS CAR
FOR THE RACE OF GENTLEMEN,

A 2-DAY CELEBRATION OF AMERICAN
HOT-ROD CULTURE WITH GEARHEADS

FROM ALL OVER RACING VINTAGE
AMERICAN MUSCLE DOWN THE BEACH.

THE CARS MAY BE OLD,
BUT THEY'RE FAST,

SOME HITTING 70 MILES
PER HOUR ON THE SAND.

WE KNEW WE'D NEED SOMETHING
MORE POWERFUL

THAN THE OLD
FOUR-CYLINDER ENGINE.

UP.

SO I PULLED MY '36 FORD
THREE-WINDOW OUT OF THE GARAGE

AND BROUGHT IT TO THE SHOP.

ITS FLATHEAD V-8
WILL MAKE A TON OF POWER

FOR OUR MODEL A DRAGSTER.

SORRY, '36.
WE'RE STEALING YOUR GUTS.

THIS BUILD HAS BEEN
CHALLENGING AT TIMES.

WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO USE
ONLY PERIOD-CORRECT

PARTS AND TECHNIQUES

AND FINALIZE OUR BUILD ALL
IN A SPAN OF LESS THAN 2 WEEKS.

I'VE ALSO BEEN PREPPING
MY OLD HARLEY,

WHICH I'VE WANTED TO BRING TO
THE RACE OF GENTLEMEN FOR YEARS.

WE'RE LEAVING FOR TROG
IN THE MORNING,

AND WE NEED TO FIX THE REAR
BRAKES ON OUR MODEL A DRAGSTER.

I'M GONNA CHECK THAT ARM.

IS THE BIG ARM, RIGHT?

YEAH.
- YEAH.

YEAH.
IT'S THE BIG ONE.

IS THERE
AN ADJUSTER BACK THERE?

YEAH, BUT IT DOESN'T APPEAR
TO BE WORKING PROPERLY.

THE BRAKES LOCKED UP
ON AARON'S FIRST TEST DRIVE,

SO WE'RE TRYING TO ADJUST
THE SHOE WITHIN THE DRUM.

BOTH REAR BRAKES HAVE
A SMALL SCREW

WITH A BACK
THAT SHOULD ADJUST THE TENSION.

HEY, DID Y'ALL ADJUST
THESE WHEN YOU PUT THEM ON?

SO THIS RIGHT HERE
IS THE ADJUSTER.

IT'S NOT WORKING PROPERLY.

IT MAY BE A SCREW STYLE.
IT MAY NOT BE, LIKE, ONE...

- IT IS A SCREW STYLE.
- ALL RIGHT.

WELL, LET'S BACK THEM
ALL THE WAY IN.

LET'S PUT THE DRUMS BACK ON.
LET'S ADJUST THEM OUT.

SO WE WERE ONLY USING
THE FRONT SECTION OF THE SHOE.

YEAH.

SO SEEMS THE SHOES WEREN'T
FULLY ENGAGED WITH THE DRUM.

ALL RIGHT.
THAT'S ALL THE WAY IN RIGHT NOW.

TO READJUST, WE NEED TO UNWIND
THE MAIN SCREW,

ATTACH THE BACK PLATE
AND TIGHTEN IT UP

SO BOTH THE MAIN
AND SECONDARY SHOES

WILL MAKE CONTACT
WITH THE DRUM.

DO A LITTLE DANCE.

NOW SEE IF IT WORKS.

WE MIGHT NEED GAS!

RAN OUT OF GAS?

WELL, THOSE BRAKES
ARE WORKING NOW.

- YEAH.
- DUDE, THIS THING IS FAST.

IT LOOKS FAST.

WELL, I THINK WE OUGHT TO PUT
IT UP BEFORE WE BREAK IT.

LET'S BREAK IT
IN NEW JERSEY.

WHAT DO YOU SAY?
- YEAH, ON THE SAND.

- WOO-HOO-HOO!
- HEY.

- THAT'S A FIRST.
- YEAH. YEAH.

YEAH.
WE'RE HEADING TO TROG,

PRETTY EXCITED
TO SEE THE CAR DONE,

GET OUT ON THE BEACH, GO PUT
A WHOOPING ON SOME PEOPLE.

EVERYTHING LOOKS GOOD.

ALL OPS CHECKS WERE OKAY
LAST NIGHT,

SO WHEN WE GET OUT THERE,

I'M PRETTY CONFIDENT
THE CAR IS READY TO GO.

I'VE GOT 1,600 MILES TO GO
BEFORE WE GET TO WILDWOOD,

NEW JERSEY,
BUT BEFORE WE GET THERE,

I'VE GOT ONE STOP I'VE GOT
TO MAKE ALONG THE WAY.

BYE!

WITH THE HARD WORK BEHIND US
AND THE OPEN ROAD AHEAD OF US,

MY THOUGHTS CHANGE
FROM THOSE OF BUILDING

TO THOSE OF RACING AND THE
ADVENTURE THAT LIES AHEAD OF US.

WE DROVE FROM DALLAS ALL THE WAY
TO NASHVILLE LAST NIGHT,

AND I WANTED TO DO SOMETHING
WHEN WE WERE HERE IN NASHVILLE,

AND I KNEW ABOUT
THE MARATHON MOTOR COMPANY.

WHEN IT COMES TO AMERICAN
AUTOMOBILE MANUFACTURING,

YOU ASK ANYONE
WHERE CARS COME FROM,

AND THEY'LL SAY, "DETROIT."

HOWEVER, THEY WERE BUILT
IN A LOT OF PLACES.

THE TURN OF THE CENTURY, THERE
WERE A LOT OF CAR COMPANIES,

AND THAT BEING SAID,

MARATHON HAPPENED TO BE
THE FIRST SOUTHERN CAR,

AND SO WE THOUGHT
WE'D TAKE THE MORNING

AND INDULGE
IN A LITTLE BIT OF HISTORY.

- HOW YOU DOING?
- I'M DOING WELL. HOW ARE YOU?

BARRY?
- AARON? BARRY.

YEAH, AARON.
NICE TO MEET YOU.

- LIKE THAT BEARD, MAN.
- THANKS, MAN.

THAT'S PRETTY SLICK.

THAT KEEPS IT GOING ON,
YOU KNOW?

BRUSHED IT SPECIAL
FOR YOU TODAY.

I TELL YOU,
LOOKING PRETTY, BABY.

I LIKE THAT HAT.

YOU LOOK LIKE YOU'RE
FROM NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE.

I'M GONNA SHOW AARON AROUND.

I'M GONNA SHOW HIM THE CARS
THAT WERE MADE HERE,

THE HISTORY OF THE CARS.

IT'S VERY IMPORTANT BEING
THE FIRST

AND ONLY CAR
TOTALLY MANUFACTURED

IN THE SOUTH UNITED STATES.

THIS IS THE MOTOR I WAS TELLING
YOU ABOUT RIGHT HERE, AARON,

THAT 1912 MAXWELL.

THIS WAS A REAL POPULAR MOTOR
FOR RACING.

THEY MODIFIED IT.

THE CONVERSATION
IS THAT OLD CARS

ARE SLOW AND DULL AND BORING,
AND THAT'S NOT THE CASE AT ALL.

TURN IT A LITTLE BIT.
IT'S GOT COMPRESSION.

- YEAH.
- SOUNDS SEXY, DON'T IT, BABY?

FOR THE SIZE, IT PUTS OUT
SOME PRETTY DECENT SPEEDS.

THEY HAD THESE CARS
AND THIS MOTOR

WITH SOME MODIFICATION
FLAT-TRACKING

OUT CLOSE
TO 100 MILES AN HOUR.

DOESN'T... I WOULD SAY,
"THIS REALLY SHOULD'VE BEEN,

COULD'VE BEEN AROUND
100 MILE AN HOUR."

100 MILES. THEY WERE RUNNING
100 MILES AN HOUR.

SO MUCH OF THE INNOVATION
AND TECHNOLOGY

AND THE PUSH HAPPENED
IN RACING.

THESE WERE EXTREMELY
CUTTING-EDGE.

ONLY A COUPLE DECADES
PRIOR TO THIS,

YOUR OPTIONS WERE,
WHAT SIZE HORSE DO YOU WANT?

THIS WAS THE ORIGINAL SHOWROOM.

THIS IS A 1911 MARATHON,
35 HORSEPOWER.

THIS CAR WOULD CRUISE AT,
YOU KNOW,

55 MILES AN HOUR, 60.
- YEAH.

I MEAN, YOU'D BE SURPRISED
THE SPEED OF THESE CARS.

THESE HOT RODS AND THESE CARS

MOST OF THESE
ARE AMERICAN-MADE PRODUCTS.

IT'S OUR HERITAGE,
AND YOU HAVE TO RESPECT.

YOU GOT TO KNOW WHERE YOU
CAME FROM AND WHERE YOU GO.

YOU SEE THIS BLUE CAR.

THIS IS A 1914 RUNNER...

- YEAH.
- ...WITH 25 HORSEPOWER,

BUT WHEN YOU WENT
TO A 45-HORSEPOWER,

THIS CAR WAS PROBABLY...

A THIRD BIGGER.

...4 FOOT LONGER MAYBE.

- YEAH.
- I MEAN, IT'S JUST A BIG CAR.

AARON IS A GREAT GUY.

I THINK THAT ME AND HIM BREATHE
THE SAME AIR AS FAR

AS THE EARLY RACING-TYPE THINGS,
AND WE'RE ALL KIND OF GEARHEADS.

WE THINK OF THEM AS CARS,
BUT REALLY WHAT THEY ARE IS,

THEY'RE A POWER-SUPPLY UNIT...
- THAT'S RIGHT.

...ATTACHED TO A GEARBOX
ON A WAGON.

- RIGHT. THAT'S RIGHT.
- SO...

YOU FIND THOSE SPECIAL
PEOPLE LIKE AARON,

AND YOU CAN TELL
THEY BREATHE IT.

A LOT OF THESE
GUYS RACING,

THEY'VE GOT THESE SPECIAL
LITTLE HATS.

AARON, I'M GONNA GIVE YOU
THIS RIGHT HERE, KIND OF LOOK

KIND OF SEXY ON YOU,
GET YOU BACK IN YOUR PLACE.

MAN, LET ME TELL YOU
SOMETHING.

I LOOK SEXY IN EVERYTHING.

YOU ARE PRETTY SEXY,
BUT LET ME TELL YOU SOMETHING.

THAT'S THE KIND OF HATS
YOU'D SEE IN THESE RACE...

THEY'D WEAR
THE LEATHER SKULL,

OR THEY'D WEAR SIMILAR
HATS LIKE THAT RACING

SO MIGHT BE
SOME GOOD LUCK TO YOU.

WE'VE HAD A WONDERFUL TIME HERE,

SPENT SOME TIME WITH BARRY,

AND TO SAY I'M IMPRESSED
IS PUTTING IT LIGHTLY,

BUT WE HAVE SOME MORE MILES
TO COVER

BEFORE WE GET TO NEW JERSEY,

AND SO IT'S ABOUT TIME
TO HIT THE ROAD.

I APPRECIATE IT SO MUCH.
- ALL RIGHT.

YOU BETTER WIN WITH THAT HAT.
THANK YOU, MAN.

- SEE YOU.
- COME BACK AND SEE US.

WHO'S READY
FOR A LITTLE RACING?

SO LET ME TELL YOU
ABOUT THE MOTORCYCLE RACE.

I LIKE RACING, LOVE MOTORCYCLES.

I REALLY ENJOY
MOTORCYCLE RACING.

AFTER A LONG
TWO DAYS OF DRIVING,

WE'VE FINALLY REACHED WILDWOOD,
NEW JERSEY, DRAGSTER

AND THE MOTORCYCLE IN TOW
FOR THE RACE OF GENTLEMEN.

I USED TO READ, LIKE,
KIDS' BOOKS, YOU KNOW,

WHEN I WAS LITTLE ABOUT,
LIKE, THEME PARKS,

AMUSEMENT PARKS OR WHATEVER,
AND SO THE WHOLE PIER

AND, LIKE, THE AMUSEMENT PARK
AND THE FERRIS WHEEL

AND THE WOOD
ROLLER COASTER,

JUST, LIKE, EVERYTHING ABOUT
THE BOARDWALK IS TOO COOL.

YEAH.
I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE IT.

FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE,

ALL THEY KNOW
ABOUT THE JERSEY SHORE

IS WHAT THEY SEE
ON REALITY TV SHOWS,

BUT THE TRUTH IS,
THERE'S A WHOLE LOT MORE HERE

THAN GYMS,
TANNING BEDS AND LAUNDROMATS.

EVERY YEAR DURING THE SUMMER,
THE POPULATION OF WILDWOOD

BALLOONS FROM 5,000
TO OVER 200,000.

THINK OF IT AS AN AMUSEMENT
PARK BY THE SEA.

FOR ME, THE LARGEST ATTRACTION
IS TROG.

THE GOAL OF TROG,
OR THE RACE OF GENTLEMEN,

IS TO DESCEND
ON WILDWOOD, NEW JERSEY,

A SMALL BEACH TOWN
ON THE JERSEY SHORE,

FOR TWO DAYS TO CELEBRATE
THE PRESERVATION

OF HOT-ROD CULTURE STRAIGHT OUT
OF THE '40s AND '50s.

AWAY THEY GO.

IT'S PART CAR SHOW,
PART DRAG RACE

AND A FULL-ON GOOD TIME,

ATTRACTING LIKE-MINDED PEOPLE
FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD.

IT'S LIKE A PART
OF THE USA'S STORY.

MY FATHER, MY GRANDFATHER
AND ME, MY SON, ALL LOVE IT.

IT'S FUN.
IT'S STRESSFUL.

YOUR ANXIETY LEVEL
GOES BANANAS.

SOME OF THE NICEST PEOPLE
IN THE WORLD HERE.

WE'RE JUST ALL GEARHEADS,
AND WE'RE HERE TO HAVE FUN.

THIS ONE COULD BE CLOSE, FOLKS.

THE RULES ARE SIMPLE.

MOTORCYCLES NEED TO BE
AMERICAN-MADE BEFORE 1947,

AND THE CARS IN OUR CLASS
MUST BE BODILESS

ON MODEL T OR A FRAME.

AWAY THEY GO.

DAY ONE IS EXHIBITION RACES.

THESE ARE JUST FOR FUN,
A CHANCE TO SHOW OFF

AND TEST YOUR VEHICLE
AND YOURSELF IN THE SAND.

THE AFTERNOON OF DAY TWO,
THE BRACKET RACES BEGIN.

THESE FOLLOW A FORMAT
SIMILAR TO MARCH MADNESS.

YOU RACE AGAINST SOMEONE ELSE
IN YOUR CLASS PICKED RANDOMLY.

WHOEVER WINS MOVES ON.

THE LOSER IS OUT.

RINSE AND REPEAT UNTIL
ONE MAN IS LEFT STANDING.

NOW, WILL I BE COMPETITIVE?

I HOPE SO, BUT THIS RACING
ON SAND

IS STILL PRETTY NEW TO ME.

THOUGH THERE'S ONE THING
THAT I DO KNOW.

AT THE END OF THE DAY,
WE'RE TAKING OLD VEHICLES,

AND WE'RE DRIVING THEM FAST
DOWN A HISTORIC BEACH THAT,

ON ANY OTHER DAY,
WOULD BE TABOO.

TO ME, THAT'S A WIN SO LONG
AS MY BIKE, MY CAR

AND I ALL GET HOME
IN ONE PIECE,

BUT THE FUN DOESN'T BEGIN
UNTIL TOMORROW, SO TONIGHT,

I JUST NEED TO GET MY BIKE
AND MY CAR REGISTERED

AND TECH-INSPECTED.

YOU KNOW HOW MANY PEDALS
REAL HOT RODS HAVE?

THAT'S RIGHT.

ONE OF THE BEST PARTS
OF COMING TO TROG

BESIDES THE RACING
IS GETTING A CHANCE

TO HANG OUT
WITH THE OTHER TROGLADYTES

AS THEY'RE
AFFECTIONATELY KNOWN...

I'M HAVING A GREAT TIME.
I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO TOMORROW.

...AND SEEING
WHAT KIND OF FIREPOWER

THEY BROUGHT TO THE TABLE.

HOW YOU DOING, BUBBA?
I SAW YOU EARLIER.

I WAS GONNA FLASH YOU,
BUT YOU WERE DRIVING.

I DIDN'T WANT TO DISTRACT YOU.
I SAW GENE WINFIELD.

HE WAS AT THE SHOP
A COUPLE MONTHS AGO.

HE WAS IN A '32 ROADSTER, BLOWN
ARDUN HEAD, FLATHEAD IN IT.

YOU KNOW, I FIRST WORKED
ON THIS CAR IN 1948.

- YOU GOT TO BE KIDDING ME.
- YOU WANT TO HEAR IT RUN?

I WOULD LOVE TO.
FIRE UP, PLEASE.

GENE WINFIELD IS A BONA-FIDE
ICON IN THE CAR COMMUNITY.

HE'S BEEN BUILDING AND RACING
HOT RODS FOR OVER 70 YEARS.

THE MAN IS A LIVING LEGEND.

BOY, THAT'S ALL THE RIGHT
SOUNDS, ISN'T IT?

IF YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT A DUDE
THAT NEVER SLOWS DOWN,

THAT'S THE DEFINITION
OF NEVER SLOWS DOWN.

WE TRYING
TO LINE UP A RACE,

BUT I KNOW WHO'S GOING
TO WIN THIS ONE.

I'M GONNA RUN UP THERE.
I GOT TO REGISTER.

THEY'RE GONNA CLOSE
REGISTRATION,

AND I WON'T BE ABLE TO RACE YOU.
I GOT TO GET MY CARS DONE.

ALL RIGHT.
GET UP THERE.

HEY, I'LL CATCH YOU HERE
IN A LITTLE BIT.

- HEY, THANKS.
- HEY, THANKS FOR FIRING

THE CAR UP FOR ME.
- YOU'RE WELCOME. BYE-BYE.

HEY.
IS THIS REGISTRATION?

- OH, I'M SO SORRY.
- IS THAT IT?

APPARENTLY, IT SAYS
YOU HAVEN'T PAID.

YOU HAVE TO LEAVE, DUDE.

AARON WHO?
- YEAH.

I DON'T KNOW.
- WELCOME.

THANKS SO MUCH
FOR HAVING ME BACK.

GLAD TO HAVE YOU.

SO WE GOT TO HAVE YOU
TECH-INSPECTED

FOR THE RAIL JOB?
- AND THE BIKE DOWN THERE.

ALL RIGHT.
JUST SHOW GLEN ALL YOUR STUFF.

- OKAY.
- WE'RE GOOD WITH THIS.

- THANKS, AARON.
- THANK YOU.

THIS YEAR, I BROUGHT A BIKE
AND A CAR.

NOW, MY BIKE IS A LOT OF FUN,
AND IT MIGHT NOT BE THAT FAST,

BUT IT MIGHT BE FAST ENOUGH
TO WIN A RACE OR TWO.

I PASSED?
OKAY.

AND THEN THE DRAGSTER,

I REALLY DON'T KNOW
WHAT TO COMPARE IT TO.

SO THIS IS THE TRACTOR.
- ALL RIGHT.

THERE ARE SOME NEAT ONES HERE.

THERE'S A COUPLE THAT I'M
QUITE CERTAIN WE'RE FASTER THAN,

AND THERE'S A COUPLE
I THINK ARE MUCH FASTER

THAN WE ARE
AND MUCH MORE

POLISHED AND FINISHED,
BUT I CAN TELL YOU THIS.

THEY DIDN'T BUILD THEM
IN 10 DAYS.

YEP.
- GOOD TO GO.

ALL RIGHT.
EXCELLENT.

- EASY-PEASY.
- THANKS, MAN.

- YOU'RE WELCOME.
- THAT WAS PAINLESS.

THERE HE IS!

HEY, I JUST MISSED TRYING
TO CATCH YOU UP THERE.

I'M MEL STULTZ FROM THE RACE OF
GENTLEMEN, ALSO KNOWN AS TROG.

I'M SUPER EXCITED, MAN.

IT'S GONNA BE A GOOD TIME.

WHAT AN INCREDIBLE JOB MEL DOES
AT PUTTING THIS THING ON

AND MAKING THIS THING HAPPEN.

HE PROVIDES THIS WONDERFUL EVENT
AND ROPED IN THE TOWN HERE,

AND THE MAYOR IS INVOLVED,
AND THE CITY IS SO BEHIND IT.

YOU WERE IN THE MIDDLE
OF THE BLOODY SCENE, I HEARD.

THAT WAS A LITTLE HAIRY,
BUT I THINK IT ALL ENDED

WELL, SO,
I MEAN, WELL ENOUGH.

YEAH.

EARLIER TODAY, A FRIEND OF MEL'S
THAT WAS SETTING UP FOR THE RACE

GOT A LITTLE ROWDY ON THE BEACH

IN HIS SIDE-BY-SIDE,
AND HE ROLLED IT.

IT WAS ONE OF THOSE
REAL-LIFE REMINDERS

THAT RACING ON THE BEACH
IS INHERENTLY DANGEROUS

EVEN IN A MODERN VEHICLE.

YEAH.

JUST AS YOU START TO
THINK YOU KNOW WHAT YOU'RE DOING

AND YOU GET THE GROOVE
OF RACING HERE ON A BEACH,

YOU KNOW, YOU'RE HANDED
ANOTHER DECK OF CARDS.

THANKS SO MUCH, MAN.

YES, SIR.

- GOT LITTLE PIPES ON IT.
- CRAZY HOW NOISY IT IS FOR...

- GOT 6-INCH PIPES ON IT.
- YEAH.

SO WE'RE HERE IN JERSEY,
AND WE'RE GETTING SET UP,

AND WE'RE GETTING READY
TO ACTUALLY GO OUT TO THE BEACH

AND ACTUALLY RACE TODAY,
AND I'M PRETTY EXCITED.

YOU CAN SEE ALL THE CARS
BACK HERE IN THE BACKGROUND.

WE'RE NOT ACTUALLY
RACING OUR DRAGSTER TODAY.

WE'RE JUST SHOWING IT OFF,
BUT AARON IS PLANNING

ON DOING AN EXHIBITION RACE
ON THE HARLEY.

I'M EXCITED ABOUT THAT ONE.

IT'S JUST... THIS IS AWESOME.

THIS IS THE COOLEST THING.

ALL THE RACERS HERE?

CAN YOU GUYS HEAR ME
IN THE BACK?

ALL RIGHT, LISTEN,
THIS IS CLEARLY TO TELL YOU

WHAT'S BEEN GOING
ON THIS YEAR, OKAY?

SO WE HAD A VERY GOOD FRIEND
OF OURS

THAT HELPS US PUT THIS RACE ON.

HE WAS INJURED
VERY BADLY YESTERDAY.

IT WAS A FREAK ACCIDENT, AND HE
LOST A CHUNK OF HIS SKULL.

- OH, WOW.
- OKAY?

HE'S OKAY.
HE'S OKAY.

THE BAD NEWS IS,
IS THAT WE HAVE TO BEHAVE.

IF YOU DON'T, THIS WILL BE
THE LAST YEAR, OKAY?

SO IF THERE'S AN INJURY,
TROG WILL BE DONE.

COOL?
EVERYBODY GOT THAT?

- YEAH.
- ALL RIGHT.

LISTEN,
IT'S A WHOLE NEW GAME.

YOU'VE ALL GOTTEN
PRETTY DAMN SERIOUS,

AND WE'VE GOT
REALLY FAST STUFF, OKAY?

I LOVE IT, BUT WE HAVE
TO MAKE SURE

THAT YOU GUYS GO HOME
TO YOUR FAMILIES.

WEAR YOUR SHOES...
- HELMETS.

...REAL HELMETS,
NO LEATHER HELMETS.

OKAY, LISTEN, WE'RE GONNA LOAD
BIKES IN FIRST!

CARS CAN GO IN SECOND, OKAY?

- WOO-HOO!
- LOOK OUT FOR EACH OTHER!

LET'S HAVE FUN!
- COOL.

- WOO!
- WOO, WOO, WOO, WOO, WOO!

WE'RE ALL HEADED
TO THE BEACH FOR THE RACES,

MOTORCYCLES FIRST, SO AARON
IS UP AHEAD WITH THE HARLEY,

AND I'M WAY BACK HERE WITH
THE CARS DRIVING THE MODEL A.

DRIVING OUR MODEL A ALONGSIDE
ALL THESE

OTHER TURN-OF-THE-CENTURY CARS
IS JUST INSANE.

IT'S COOL.
DON'T GET ME WRONG,

BUT I'M STARTING TO GET
A LITTLE CONCERNED.

- WOO-HOO!
- IT'S OBVIOUSLY GONNA TAKE

A WHILE TO GET ALL THESE CARS
ONTO THE BEACH,

WHICH MEANS A LOT OF IDLING,

AND WE DON'T HAVE
A RADIATOR SO...

WORRIED ABOUT IT GETTING HOT.

WE'RE ALL DOING OUR PULLING
TO THE BEACH,

AND SINCE THERE'S 95 CARS...

WE OBVIOUSLY
DON'T HAVE A RADIATOR.

ALL WE HAVE IS THIS BIG,
GIANT TANK.

IT HAS NOWHERE TO REALLY
GET RID OF HEAT,

SO HAVING TO LET IT
SHUT OFF IN HERE,

AND WE'LL SEE
IF IT'S GONNA RESTART.

OF COURSE.

ALL RIGHT.

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, IT'S TIME
FOR THE RACE OF GENTLEMEN.

IT'S A NEW DAY, THINK IT'S GOING
TO BE A GOOD RACE

FLYING DOWN 660 FEET.

AND AWAY THEY GO, FOLKS.

WE GOT TO PULL
THE STARTER OUT.

IT'S POSSIBLE WE DON'T
HAVE THE VOLTAGE

TO SPIN IT HARD ENOUGH.

BOTTOM LINE IS,
STARTER IS JUNK.

WE'LL SEE IF IT'S
GONNA RESTART.

COME ON!

IT LOADS THE PLUGS UP REAL BAD.

WOW.
THIS IS A LONG LINE.

IT'S LIKE RUSH HOUR HERE.

SITTING HERE WITH THE ENGINE
RUNNING AND NO RADIATOR,

WE'RE GONNA OVERHEAT.

AW, CRAP, OUR LITTLE WATER TANK
IS OVERFLOWING.

IT'S, LIKE, DRIPPING FROM
THE BOTTOM OF THE TANK.

OH, REALLY?

I CAN'T TELL WHERE
IT'S COMING FROM.

SO SITTING IN THIS BIG OLD
LONG LINE HERE IS JUST...

IT JUST MAKES A HOTBOX FOR US,
SO I JUST PULLED OVER

TO THE SIDE,
LET THE REST OF THE CROWD GO UP

SO I CAN MOVE
A LITTLE BIT QUICKER

AND NOT HAVE TO REALLY STOP.

NO, NOT AT ALL. I DON'T REGRET
NOT DOING A RADIATOR.

I THINK THE CAR
LOOKS WAY CLEANER,

AND WE'RE NOT GONNA...

THIS ISN'T THE ENVIRONMENT
THE CAR IS GONNA BE DRIVEN IN,

SO IT'S JUST PART OF A PARADE
TO PULL OFF TO THE SIDE HERE,

LET IT COOL OFF
FOR A SECOND.

AARON WILL BE
RACING THE HARLEY.

THE MODEL A ISN'T RUNNING
TILL TOMORROW.

WE'RE JUST DISPLAYING
THE CAR WITH EVERYBODY.

YOU KNOW, IT'S ALL
A GIANT PARADE TO TRY

AND GET DOWN IN HERE
WITH EVERYBODY.

AND NOW WHO'S READY
FOR A LITTLE RACING?

ALL RIGHT.

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,
THE SEVENTH RACE OF GENTLEMEN

HERE IN WILDWOOD, NEW JERSEY.

SO LET ME TELL YOU
ABOUT THE MOTORCYCLE RACE.

I LIKE RACING.

I LOVE MOTORCYCLES.

I REALLY ENJOY
MOTORCYCLE RACING.

WOW.
THERE IS PROBABLY $1 MILLION

WORTH OF MOTORCYCLES
AND PARTS HERE.

TAKE IT ALL AWAY.

RIDE OUT THEM RUTS AGAIN.

THIS IS AN EXHIBITION RACE.

IT'S TECHNICALLY JUST FOR FUN

AND AGAINST WHOEVER I HAPPEN
TO LINE UP NEXT TO,

BUT TO ME,
IT'S ACTUALLY MORE THAN THAT.

IT'S KIND OF A CULMINATION
OF 2-YEAR JOURNEY

JUST TO GET THIS DAMN HARLEY
ON THE SANDS AT TROG.

IT'S ALSO A GOOD PRACTICE
RUN TO MAKE SURE

THAT THE MOTORCYCLE AND ME
ARE IN TIP-TOP SHAPE

FOR THE RACES
THAT COUNT TOMORROW.

ALL RIGHT.

65 BIKE VERSUS THAT
151 OF AARON KAUFMAN'S.

HE BROUGHT A CAR AND A BIKE.

LET'S SEE HOW HE DOES
ON THE BIKE.

SHE DROPS THE FLAG,
AND WE TAKE OFF.

HE'S OUT OF THE HOLE.

IT LOOKS LIKE
HE'S MAKING MORE POWER.

THE BIKE MIGHT CATCH HIM.

HERE I AM GETTING IN
THE TOP OF THE FIRST GEAR,

AND YOU GOT TO REMEMBER,
I KIND OF GOT TO PICK MY SHIFTS.

I CAN'T SHIFT WHEREVER I WANT
BECAUSE IT IS BUMPY.

SO I PICK MY SPOT.

I SHIFT TWO.
FAILURE.

I SHIFTED ALL THE WAY TO THREE,

BUT I DIDN'T QUITE LET
THE CLUTCH BACK OUT,

SO I WAS ABLE TO DRAG IT BACK,
GET TO TWO, LET THE CLUTCH OUT,

RAN ALL SECOND GEAR ALL THE WAY
OUT THROUGH THE TRAPS,

THROUGH THE PYLONS.

PEOPLE ON THEIR FEET CHEERING,

PEOPLE THROWING GOLD COINS,
AND THERE'S WREATHS,

AND THERE'S FLOWERS AND ALL.

NONE OF THAT HAPPENED,
BUT I WAS PRETTY STOKED.

I HAD JUST WON ON
THIS LITTLE STOCK WLA.

COULDN'T BE MORE STOKED.
SURE.

IT WASN'T PART OF THE
BRACKET-RACING COMPETITION,

BUT I FELT LIKE A CHAMPION,

AND I REALLY KIND OF WANTED
TO JUST GO HOME THEN.

I RACED. I WON.
IT'S TIME TO GO HOME.

WHAT'S GOING ON?

BUT THERE'S STILL
A WHOLE OTHER DAY,

ANOTHER VEHICLE TO RACE
AND A CHAMPIONSHIP TO WIN,

WELL, COMPETE IN.

I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH TO MEET UP
WITH GENE WINFIELD AGAIN

AT A LOCAL DINER FRESH OFF
A COUPLE OF RACES OF HIS OWN,

AND ANY TIME I GET TO SPEND
WITH A 91-YEAR-OLD

WHO STILL RACES AT BONNEVILLE
IS TIME WELL SPENT.

WELL, YOU KNOW HOW TO HAVE
A SNACK, DON'T YOU, SIR?

YEAH, BETTER BELIEVE IT.
HAVE A SEAT.

OH, BUDDY.
SO HOW WAS YOUR RACE TODAY?

FIRST RACE WAS FABULOUS.

YEAH?
WHAT ABOUT THE SECOND?

SECOND, HE SMOKED ME.

- COFFEE FOR YOU?
- YES, MA'AM.

- OKAY.
- THANKS.

DID YOU RACE MUCH EARLIER
IN YOUR CAREER?

- OH, YEAH.
- YEAH?

- I'VE RACED ALL KINDS OF STUFF.
- YEAH?

I'VE RACED MIDGETS,
AND I HAVE A SPRINT CAR,

YOU KNOW, A LITTLE BIT
OF EVERYTHING, AND I LOVE IT.

I LOVE THE EXCITEMENT.

GENE WINFIELD IS NOT
JUST KNOWN FOR RACING.

HE'S ACTUALLY A WORLD-CLASS
AUTOMOTIVE CUSTOMIZER

WHOSE WORK WAS FEATURED IN SOME
HUGE FILMS AND TELEVISION SHOWS.

WE'RE TALKING "STAR TREK,"
"BATMAN," "BLADE RUNNER."

HE'S EVEN BEEN CALLED
THE KING OF CUSTOMS.

YOU KNOW, I LEARNED
EVERYTHING ON MY OWN.

I DIDN'T GO TO ANY SCHOOL.
- SURE.

AND THERE WAS HARDLY ANY PEOPLE
AROUND TO TEACH ME,

SO I HAD TO TRY
TRIAL AND ERROR.

YOU KNOW, FIRST,
I WAS BUILDING ENGINES.

I BOUGHT A LITTLE
BENCH GRINDER FOR $28.

I KEPT WORKING WITH THESE
FLATHEAD BLOCKS AND MOTORS

AND EXPERIMENTING
WITH THEM,

GETTING AS MUCH HORSEPOWER
OUT OF THEM AS I COULD,

YOU KNOW, SO I DID
ALL KINDS OF CRAZY STUFF.

- YEAH.
- SO...

THERE'S NO WAY OF TELLING
HOW MANY PEOPLE YOU INSPIRED.

YOU KNOW, IT'S, LIKE,
TO BE SITTING, YOU KNOW, SAY,

GENE AND I WEARING HELMETS
ON THE BEACH, RACING,

STAGED, YOU KNOW, IT'S, LIKE...
I WAS, LIKE...

YOU KNOW, IT'S, LIKE,
I NEVER THOUGHT

THAT WOULD BE MY LIFE.

I NEVER THOUGHT THAT
WAS AN OPTION.

YOU NEVER THOUGHT YOU'D BE
SITTING HERE IN A DINER...

- IN A DINER...
- ...IN NEW JERSEY,

APPLE PIE
WITH GENE WINFIELD?

THAT'S RIGHT, YOU KNOW,

AND WHAT A CRAZY TALE,
YOU KNOW?

- RIGHT.
- SO...

WE'RE GONNA GO OUT THERE
AND SIT FOR A MOMENT.

WE'RE NOT GOING RIGHT
TO THE START LINE.

-YOU GOT A FUZZY LENS.

, MAN.

SO TODAY IS OUR FIRST
MODEL A RACE,

BUT FIRST, WE HAVE A COUPLE
OF EXHIBITION RUNS SET UP

SO WE CAN SEE HOW IT PERFORMS,

AND THEN LATER WE GET INTO
BRACKET RACING

ON BOTH THE MODEL A
AND THE HARLEY.

SO MY BUDDY HERE HAS GOT
A HUDSON HORNET

POWERED '32 TRUCK-RAIL RACECAR.

IN AN EXHIBITION RACE,
YOUR COMPETITOR

IS WHOEVER IN YOUR CLASS
HAPPENS TO LINE UP NEXT TO YOU.

I THINK IT'S GONNA BE
A GOOD RACE.

LANE CHOICE IS PARAMOUNT HERE,
BUT IT'S A NEW DAY.

THE BEACH CHANGES HOURLY,

SO WE DON'T KNOW
IF WE'VE DONE WELL OR DONE BAD.

WE'LL FIND OUT IN 660 FEET.

ALL RIGHT.

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, IT'S TIME
FOR THE RACE OF GENTLEMEN.

WE'RE GONNA GET TO SOME
RACING ACTION

HERE FOR YOU TODAY.

GOT AN EXHIBITION RACE HERE
IN THE NEAR LANE.

SINCE I'M IN THE RIGHT
LANE, THE SAND ISN'T AS WET

OR AS DENSE AS IT
IS IN THE LEFT,

SO FOR ME TO GET
THE ONE-UP ON MY OPPONENT,

I'M GONNA HAVE TO
START OFF SLOW

SO I DON'T SPIN MY WHEELS
AT THE TAKEOFF

AND THEN OPEN IT UP
WIDE TO BEAT HIM.

AND AWAY THEY GO, FOLKS!

CRAZY UNCLE HARRY
IN THE FAR LANE.

CRAZY UNCLE HARRY SHOWING
WHAT IT TAKES HERE

AT THE RACE OF GENTLEMEN.

GET ON DOWN THAT FAST TRACK.

GIVE THEM A ROUND OF APPLAUSE,
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN.

COOL THING WAS IS,
THE GUYS THAT BEAT ME,

YOU KNOW,
WE WERE ABLE TO TALK,

AND WE WERE ABLE TO TALK ABOUT
SOME OF THE TRICKS THEY USE,

SOME OF THE THINGS THEY LEARNED,
YOU KNOW,

TO WIN, TO GET TRACTION,
TO GO FAST OUT HERE.

IT'S JUST DONE.

YEAH.

IT MIGHT JUST BE
AN RPM DEAL.

IT COULD BE.

WE GOT TO PULL
THE STARTER OUT.

THE STARTER IS JUST SPINNING,

SO WE'RE GONNA PULL IT OUT
AND TEST IT OFF THE CAR.

AY, YI, YI.

BRING BATTERY AND JUMPER
CABLES OVER HERE.

LET'S HIT IT REAL QUICK
AND JUST SEE.

- SO THAT'S GOOD.
- YEAH, IT SEEMS TO BE FINE.

IT'S ALL THERE.

WHOA.
THERE AIN'T NO STUD AT ALL.

OH.

OH, YEAH, SO THIS CRAP
IS ALL GONE.

YEAH.
- LOOK AT THE COM.

THE COM IS FREAKING...

THE BRUSHES
ARE ALL TRASHED?

YEAH.

ALL THE INTERNALS
OF THE STARTER ARE TRASHED.

DOESN'T HAVE ANY POWER.

THE WINDINGS
AND THE COMMUTATOR

AND THE BRUSHES
IN THE STARTER ARE BAD.

IN OUR CASE, WE HAVE TO START
AND STOP THE CAR SO OFTEN

BECAUSE WE DON'T
HAVE A RADIATOR.

IT GETS EVERYTHING THAT
MUCH HOTTER, SO IT GETS USED,

YOU KNOW, 10 TIMES MORE THAN
IT WOULD HAVE ORIGINALLY.

A THOUSAND THINGS ON THE CAR,
COULD'VE BEEN ANY OF THEM.

THAT JUST HAPPENED
TO BE THAT ONE.

THAT WAS THE ONE.

BOTTOM LINE IS,
STARTER IS JUNK.

YOU GUYS WOULDN'T HAVE TO HAVE
BROUGHT A SPARE STARTER,

WOULD YOU?
- YOU RUN A FLATTY?

YOU WOULDN'T HAPPEN TO HAVE
BROUGHT A SPARE STARTER,

WOULD YOU?

SUSHI MADE IT DOWN.

SUSHI HAS THE WIN.

UH-OH.

SUSHI GOT A LITTLE WASHOUT
AT THE END THERE.

IT DIDN'T LOOK VERY GOOD
DOWN THERE, SO JUST PRAY.

SO IN LESS THAN AN HOUR,

WE HAVE AN EXHIBITION RACE
WITH THE MODEL A,

BUT WE'VE HIT
AN UNEXPECTED SETBACK.

WE GOT TO PULL
THE STARTER OUT.

THE STARTER IS FAILING.

IT DOESN'T HAVE ENOUGH POWER
TO GENERATE THE RPMs

WE NEED TO START THE MOTOR.

OH.

SO IN SHORT,
THIS STARTER IS FRIED.

OH, YEAH, SO THIS CRAP
IS ALL GONE.

THE WINDINGS AND THE COMMUTATOR

AND THE BRUSHES
IN THE STARTER ARE BAD.

WE HAVE TO START AND STOP
THE CAR SO OFTEN

BECAUSE WE DON'T
HAVE A RADIATOR.

IT GETS EVERYTHING THAT MUCH
HOTTER, SO IT GETS USED,

YOU KNOW, 10 TIMES MORE
THAN IT WOULD HAVE ORIGINALLY.

A THOUSAND THINGS ON THE CAR,
COULD'VE BEEN ANY OF THEM.

THAT JUST HAPPENED
TO BE THAT ONE.

THAT WAS THE ONE.

BOTTOM LINE IS, STARTER IS JUNK,

SO I'M GONNA GO DO
A LITTLE WALKABOUT HERE

AND SEE
IF I CAN'T FIND A STARTER.

- YOU RUN A FLATTY?
- NO.

I NEED A STARTER
FOR A FLATHEAD.

OH, I DON'T...

NO.
YOU AIN'T GOT ONE.

THANKS.

YOU GUYS WOULDN'T HAVE HAPPENED
TO BROUGHT A SPARE STARTER,

WOULD YOU?

- SPARE STARTER?
- YEAH.

- WE DON'T.
- YEAH?

YOU WOULDN'T HAPPEN TO HAVE
BROUGHT A SPARE STARTER,

WOULD YOU?
NO WORRIES.

- NOT AT ALL.
- NO WORRIES.

OH, YEAH.

WE GOT LUCKY
AFTER ASKING AROUND.

ONE GUY KNEW ANOTHER GUY
AND JUST SO HAPPENED

TO HAVE A STARTER,
AND HOPEFULLY THIS ONE WILL FIT.

I TRY TO BRING AS MUCH
AS WHATEVER I CAN GRAB

COMING OUT OF THE GARAGE
BECAUSE SOMETHING ALWAYS GOES.

YEAH, OF COURSE,
AND WE WERE IN SUCH A DASH.

I EVEN LEFT MY...

SO I'VE GOT PARTS
AND SPECIAL TOOLS FOR MY '45.

- YEAH, YEAH.
- I LEFT IT ALL ON THE BENCH.

OH, THAT'S WHAT WE DID.

- THAT'LL DO IT.
- AWESOME.

ROCK 'N' ROLL.
THANKS.

HEARD SOMEONE
NEEDED A STARTER.

WE HAD ONE BACK AT THE CAR
AND WENT

AND GRABBED IT FOR THEM,
SO GLAD TO HELP OUT.

- AND WE'RE BACK IN BUSINESS.
- ALL RIGHT.

THE STARTER IS IN.
THE CAR IS READY TO GO.

I'VE GOT ONE MORE EXHIBITION RUN

RIGHT BEFORE
OUR FIRST BRACKET RACE.

IS THIS AN EXHIBITION?
YES.

AM I GONNA LEAVE ANYTHING
ON THE TABLE?

HELL NO.

AARON KAUFMAN IN THE FAR LANE
LINING UP

AGAINST JODI LOVETT
IN THE 15 CAR.

THE GUY
I LINE UP AGAINST

IN MY SECOND EXHIBITION RACE
WASN'T EVEN A GUY IN MY CLASS.

SARAH LINES THEM UP.

SO IT'S A V-8. AT LEAST, IT
LOOKS LIKE FROM MY SIDE.

I DON'T KNOW IF HE'S FAST
OR NOT,

SO IT'S ANYONE'S GUESS, RIGHT?

JODI LOVETT LAYING IT DOWN.

AARON IS LIKE, "THIS ISN'T
WHAT HAPPENS IN TEXAS.

I'M A WINNER IN TEXAS."

JODI SAYS, "HA-HA.
THIS IS MR. LOVETT.

YOU'RE IN JERSEY NOW,
TEXAS BOY."

WE LEARNED A LOT BY NOT WINNING,
DEFINITELY AN EDUCATION

IN HOW TO MAKE TRACKS
OUT HERE ON THE SAND.

IT'S A WORLD I DON'T LIVE IN.

THIS IS A NO-TRACTION-HAVING
PLACE.

EVEN WITH THAT HEAD START,
YOU COULDN'T TAKE IT, HUH?

NO, COULDN'T DO IT.

YOU WERE ABOUT THIS FAR FORWARD
ANY OTHER GUY.

JUST COULDN'T HANG ON TO IT.

THE BEST I CAN TELL,
SOME OF THESE OTHER CARS

JUST SPRINKLE TRACTION DUST
OR SOMETHING.

NO.
THAT WASN'T A BRACKET RACE,

TALK TO SEAN,
FIND OUT WHAT'S GOING ON.

THE CAR DOESN'T SEEM TO BE
HAVING ANY ISSUES RIGHT NOW.

THE ONLY ISSUE WE'RE HAVING OUT
ON THE TRACK IS THE FACT

THAT WE HAVE ZERO TRACTION.

YEAH.

SO I THINK YOU GOT TO RACE
CRAZY UNCLE HARRY.

OH, GOOD, GOOD, GOOD.
OKAY.

YEAH.
I'LL GO FIND HIM.

WE CALL IT A SPIN FEST
OUT THERE FOR US,

SO EVERY GEAR HE PICKS...

- WE GOT ANOTHER ONE.
- ...HE JUST BLOW THE TIRES OFF.

WE'RE FIXING TO ROLL.

YOU... ON THE CAR?

YEAH.

SO WE'RE GETTING READY
TO GO RACE AGAIN.

LOOKS LIKE I'M RACING
CRAZY UNCLE HARRY AGAIN.

THIS IS OUR FIRST REAL
BRACKET RACE.

ALL THE OTHER RACES UP TILL NOW
WERE PURELY FOR EXHIBITION.

THIS IS THE REAL DEAL TO SEE
WHO ADVANCES,

AND FOR OUR BRACKET RACE,
WE'RE MATCHED UP AGAINST

CRAZY UNCLE HARRY,
AND WOULDN'T YOU KNOW,

I RACED HIM IN MY FIRST TEST
RUN, AND I LOST.

HE'S A TROG INSTITUTION,
HAS HALF A DOZEN HOT RODS

HE'S RACED HERE OVER THE YEARS,
SO HE'S GOT A LEG UP.

MY FRAGILE EGO
CAN'T TAKE LOSING AGAIN.

YOU KNOW, HE'S JUST
BEEN HERE LONGER,

AND HE'S GOT IT FIGURED OUT.
HE'S MAKING POWER.

HIS CHASSIS IS WORKING.
HE'S GOT THE RIGHT TIRES.

IT'S, LIKE, WE JUST GOT TO DO IT
MORE TO FIGURE IT OUT.

OH, HERE GOES AARON.

BRACKET RACE HERE.

AARON KAUFMAN SPECIALLY BUILT
THAT CAR DOWN IN TEXAS

JUST FOR THIS RACE.

HE'S GONNA SHOW
HOW THEY DO IT BIG IN TEXAS.

BASED ON WHAT I LEARNED
IN THE EXHIBITION RACES,

I DECIDED TO LAUNCH IN A HIGHER
GEAR TO MINIMIZE WHEEL SPIN.

THAT HARRY, HE'S CRAZY.

TURNS OUT
YOU CAN LEAVE IN THIRD.

TURNS OUT CLUTCH IS
INCREDIBLY UNHAPPY ABOUT IT,

AND THE CAR IS NOT VERY FAST.

FOR THE CRAZY WIN,
CRAZY UNCLE HARRY.

CRAZY UNCLE HARRY
WHOOPED THE DOG SNOT OUT OF ME

AND KNOCKED OUR MODEL A
OUT OF THE TOURNAMENT.

SO I TELL YOU, SO IT DOESN'T
DO WELL IN THIRD-GEAR STARTS.

- I SAW THAT.
- YEAH.

AND THERE AIN'T NO ROOM
TO MAKE IT UP EITHER.

- NO.
- WHAT'S DONE IS DONE.

NO.
YOU'RE JUST OUT THERE

FOR A SUNDAY DRIVE AFTER THAT.
- YEAH.

WHILE I DIDN'T MAKE ANY WINS

AND I DIDN'T TAKE HOME
ANY TROPHIES,

WE'RE OUT HERE RACING
ON THE BEACH IN NEW JERSEY.

THE WEATHER IS GREAT.

NO MATTER HOW GOOD OR BAD
THE CAR RUNS,

NO MATTER HOW GOOD
OR BAD YOU RAN,

IF YOU WON,
YOU LOST, DIDN'T MATTER.

YOU'RE OUT HERE
WITH ALL THE PEOPLE

THAT ARE INTO
THE SAME THINGS YOU'RE INTO.

THAT'S WHAT IT IS. THAT'S WHAT
WE'RE DOING OUT HERE.

I'M GONNA GO FIND
SOMETHING TO DRINK.

THAT'S THE PLAN.

SO I LOST THE BRACKET RACE
FOR THE MODEL A,

BUT THE COOL THING IS,

THE MOTORCYCLE BRACKETS
ARE STARTING UP NOW,

SO THERE'S STILL A CHANCE
FOR ME TO WIN SOMETHING

WITH THE HARLEY LATER TODAY.

SUSHI LAYING DOWN.

RAMSEY ALLEN
IS NOT LETTING IT...

OH, ALLEN BACKS OFF
BECAUSE SUSHI HAS THE WIN.

UH-OH.

SUSHI GOT A LITTLE WASHOUT
AT THE END THERE.

OH, PUT HIS BIKE DOWN THERE
AT THE END.

WE'LL SEE HOW HE'S DOING,
FOLKS.

WE'LL GO CHECK ON HIM, FOLKS.

THERE WAS A BIT OF SOFT SAND
AT THE END THERE.

ALWAYS A LITTLE BIT OF A RISK
HERE INVOLVED WITH

THE RACE OF GENTLEMEN,
DON'T LIKE TO SEE GUYS

PUT THEIR BIKES DOWN,
GETTING HURT LIKE THAT.

HOPEFULLY, SUSHI IS OKAY,

SO WE'RE GONNA SEE
HOW IT PANS OUT HERE TODAY.

YOU'RE WELCOME TO STICK AROUND
AND WAIT FOR THOSE

MEDICAL PERSONNEL TO RETURN.

ALL RIGHT. MEL HAS GOT A FEW
WORDS FOR YOU, FOLKS.

SO, UM, HOPEFULLY SUSHI

IS GONNA BE OKAY,
AND WE'LL LET YOU KNOW, OKAY?

WE'LL LET YOU KNOW WHAT'S
HAPPENING, BUT PRAY FOR SUSHI.

IT DIDN'T LOOK VERY GOOD
DOWN THERE, SO JUST PRAY,

BUT THERE MAY NOT EVER BE
ANOTHER RACE OF GENTLEMEN,

SO YOU WITNESSED
THE LAST ONE POSSIBLY.

LOVE YOU.

YO, IF YOU HUNG OUT JUST
A LITTLE BIT, I GOT SOME NEWS.

SUSHI IS GONNA LIVE.

THIS LAST WEEKEND,
WE WERE HANDED SOME BAD CARDS,

SO IT WAS PRETTY TRAUMATIC
ON OUR HEARTS.

SUSHI HAS BECOME A FIXTURE.

HE'S A WILD JAPANESE FRIEND

THAT I MET AT A HOT-ROD
SHOW IN YOKOHAMA, JAPAN,

AND WE JUST CONNECTED
IMMEDIATELY.

HE'S GROWN TO BECOME OUR FAMILY.

NUMBER-SIX BIKE
SUSHI IN THE FAR LANE.

HE DOES HAVE A PROBLEM
WITH NOT LISTENING, YOU KNOW?

WE TELL HIM LIKE,
"OH, SLOW DOWN. BE COOL.

BE COOL," YOU KNOW,
AND HE ONLY KNOWS ONE THING,

AND IT'S JUST TO GO ALL OUT
AND GO FAST,

SO IT'S HARD, YOU KNOW,

TO KEEP HIM UP
ON TWO WHEELS SOMETIMES.

HOPEFULLY SUSHI IS
GONNA BE OKAY,

AND WE'LL LET YOU KNOW, OKAY?

I DON'T BELIEVE

RACING IS GOING
TO HAPPEN ANYMORE TODAY.

THERE MAY NOT EVER BE
ANOTHER RACE OF GENTLEMEN,

SO YOU WITNESSED
THE LAST ONE POSSIBLY.

WE'RE HERE IN WILDWOOD,
NEW JERSEY,

AND THE RACE OF GENTLEMEN
HAS COME TO A SUDDEN HALT.

ONE OF THE OTHER COMPETITORS,
SUSHI, TOOK A BAD CRASH

AT THE FINISH LINE
OF HIS MOTORCYCLE RACE,

AND NOW ALL RACING
HAS BEEN CANCELED INDEFINITELY,

WHICH MEANS I DON'T GET TO MAKE
MY BRACKET RUN ON MY '45 TODAY.

YO, IF YOU HUNG OUT JUST FOR
A LITTLE BIT, I GOT SOME NEWS.

SUSHI IS GONNA LIVE.
HE'S DOING GOOD.

HE'S CONSCIOUS.

WE DON'T KNOW ABOUT HIS EYE,
BUT YOU DON'T NEED TWO.

YOU GOT ONE, OKAY,
SO WE'RE REALLY, REALLY HAPPY.

THIS LAST WEEKEND,
WE WERE HANDED SOME BAD CARDS.

WE HAD A COUPLE ACCIDENTS,

AND WE'VE NEVER HAD
ANY ACCIDENTS BEFORE,

SO IT WAS PRETTY TRAUMATIC
ON OUR HEARTS.

WE HOPE THAT WE PUT A GOOD SHOW
ON FOR YOU, AND JUST PRAY.

LOVE YOU.

YOU KNOW, IT'S KIND OF WEIRD.

IT'S ALMOST LIKE, HEY,
ON ONE HAND,

IT'S LIKE I DON'T EVEN
WANT TO TALK ABOUT IT.

RACING IS INHERENTLY DANGEROUS,

AND EVERY YEAR,
THERE ARE MORE PEOPLE HERE,

AND EVERY YEAR,
THE CARS ARE FASTER,

AND THE BIKES ARE FASTER,
WHICH MEANS, EVERY YEAR,

THE CHANCE FOR ACCIDENTS
GOES UP,

BUT BELIEVE ME.
THEY'LL BE BACK.

I'LL BE BACK, AND YOU
CAN COUNT ON THAT.

I WANT TO TELL YOU,

I APPRECIATE WHAT Y'ALL DO
OUT HERE SO MUCH,

AND THIS IS
A WONDERFUL EVENT,

AND NOT TO MENTION
IT'S, LIKE, JUST TO BE HERE,

JUST CHOPPING IT UP NEXT
TO THE OCEAN, NEW JERSEY.

IT'S A... I CALL IT
A PERFECT STORM SOMETIMES.

- SURE.
- YOU KNOW, IT'S, LIKE,

ALL THE GREAT ELEMENTS
THAT COME TOGETHER

LIKE YOU SAID, YOU KNOW?

I CAME TO TROG. I GOT TO RIDE,
RACE A BIKE IN TWO RACES.

I GOT TO DRIVE A CAR, YOU KNOW,

WASN'T AS COMPETITIVE,
YOU KNOW, MAYBE NOT,

BUT WAS IT A LOT OF FUN?
ABSOLUTELY.

WAS IT SUCCESSFUL?
YEAH.

WE RAN MORE THAN
I EXPECTED TO RUN.

IT WAS GREAT, A REALLY, REALLY,

REALLY GOOD TIME
OUT HERE ON THE BEACH.

I HAD SOMEONE
TELL ME EARLIER.

IT'S LIKE, "OH, MAN,
IT'S DANGEROUS."

YEAH.
THIS IS SOME RENDITION

OF WHAT HAPPENED IN THE '40s.

THE TRACK IS, YOU KNOW,
IS YOUR COMPETITOR

AS MUCH AS THE GUY NEXT TO YOU
OR BEHIND YOU OR WHATEVER.

IT'S A BEACH.
IT'S NOT A PREPARED TRACK,

AND SO YOU COPE WITH IT.

THE GUYS THAT DID THIS LONG
BEFORE US,

THEY WERE TOUGH SONS OF BITCHES,
YOU KNOW,

BUT WE'RE KIND OF,
YOU KNOW, REENACTING, RIGHT?

IT'S LIKE WE'RE PRESERVING
SOMETHING THAT HAPPENED

IN THE '40s, YOU KNOW,
SOMETHING HAPPENING IN THE '30s,

AND WE'RE JUST TRYING
TO BE THAT TOUGH.

HEY, LISTEN.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR, HEY,
FOR NOT ONLY HAVING ME, MAN,

BUT, LIKE,
PUTTING THIS ON.

- THANKS, BROTHER.
- SO THANK YOU SO MUCH.

- ALL RIGHT.
- YEAH.

- IT'S BEER TIME, RIGHT?
- IT IS BEER TIME.

LET'S DO THIS.

IS THIS THE HIGHLIGHT OF,
YOU KNOW,

THE LAST 9 MONTHS-ISH OR SO?

I DON'T KNOW.
MAYBE, BUT I'LL TELL YOU THIS.

I'VE JUST BEEN ON THIS
CRAZY TRIP THE LAST 9, 10 MONTHS

AND GET TO DO
ALL THESE DIFFERENT THINGS

I ALWAYS WANTED TO DO,

AND I'LL TELL YOU
THE ONE THING ABOUT IT.

THEY WERE ALL EVEN BETTER THAN I
EVEN EXPECTED THEY COULD BE.

WELCOME, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,

TO KING OF THE HAMMERS.

IT'S, LIKE, GOING TO
KING OF THE HAMMERS, LIKE,

I WANTED TO GO FOR SO LONG,
AND, YOU KNOW,

AND IT'S JUST LIKE BUILDING
A VEHICLE TO GO DO IT

IS SUCH A BIG PROCESS.

- COME ON.
- THERE YOU GO. WE GOT IT.

WE DID STUFF IN A CAR

THAT I DIDN'T THINK
IT WAS EVEN POSSIBLE.

I DIDN'T THINK YOU COULD DRIVE A
VEHICLE OVER SOME OF THE STUFF.

THIS IS EVERY BIT WE GOT,
EVERYTHING WE GOT AT THE MOMENT.

BUT EVEN THOUGH
WE DIDN'T GO VERY FAR,

KING OF THE HAMMERS WAS
JUST MIND-BENDING COOL.

THEN, YOU KNOW, I HAD
A LOT OF FUN WITH THE SEMITRUCK.

HOW'D I MAKE IT THIS FAR
IN MY LIFE

WITHOUT ONE OF THESE THINGS?

AND I THOUGHT THAT WENT
REALLY WELL,

AND WE GOT THIS REALLY
CRAZY SEMI NOW,

AND DRIFTING A 12,000-POUND
TRUCK WAS PRETTY WILD.

WE GOT TO GO HANG OUT
WITH ALL OF MY FRIENDS,

AND SO WE HAD A GREAT TIME.

GOOD JOB, BUDDY!
GOOD JOB!

AND THEN I'LL SAY, GOING TO RACE
RALLY CARS IN THE NORTHWEST,

AS A DRIVER, I REALLY THINK
I'M SO MUCH DIFFERENT DRIVER

NOW THAN I WAS BEFORE
I STARTED BUILDING A RALLY CAR.

EVERYTHING IS ON OVERLOAD,
FULL TILT.

BOY, THAT WAS A BIG, BIG,
BIG EXPERIENCE FOR ME

IN SO MANY WAYS,
LIKE, EMOTIONALLY.

IN THIRD PLACE,
THE BEARDED WONDER

AND AARON KAUFMAN WITH
KRISTA SKUCAS AS CO-DRIVER.

AND THEN WE GET TO THIS.
WE BUILT A RAIL CAR.

WE DIDN'T BUILD A CAR
THAT WAS INCREDIBLY DIFFICULT.

WE JUST BUILT A CAR THAT WE
COULD GET TOGETHER REALLY FAST.

YOU KNOW, THE RACECAR
WASN'T THE EXPERIENCE.

IT WAS COMING HERE
AND HANGING OUT

WITH THESE PEOPLE
THAT WAS THE EXPERIENCE.

SUPER EXCITED, MAN.

WE GOT TO DO IT
WITH OUR FRIENDS.

WE GOT TO MAKE NEW FRIENDS.
THANKS SO MUCH.

AND WE HAVE THESE CONNECTIONS
WITH PEOPLE.

THEY'RE RIDING THE SAME HIGH
I'M RIDING, YOU KNOW?

THAT WAS A GOOD TIME, RIGHT?
- YEP.

YEAH.

AND SO WHY DO WE PUT OURSELVES
THROUGH THESE THINGS?

IT'S, LIKE, WHY GO BACK TO WORK?

WHY GO GET IN THE HOT, STINKY,
SWEATY SHOP, YOU KNOW,

AND, YOU KNOW, METAL
SHAVING TO GO HOME AT MIDNIGHT?

IT'S BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, IT'S,
LIKE, THAT'S THE ADVENTURE.

THAT'S THE DEAL.
IT'S, LIKE, WE BUILD THIS STUFF.

WE HAVE THIS AMAZING SENSE
OF SATISFACTION.

NOW I'M READY TO GO BACK,
AND LET'S BUILD SOMETHING ELSE.

LIKE, I'M MORE STOKED THAN EVER
TO GO DO THE NEXT THING,

SO THAT'S IT.

BEEN A GOOD RIDE.