Gas monkey

[Mike67]

who really built the cars?..who did the team always look to?

AK was a talent and an asset but like most companies, when talent leaves you replace it with equally or more talented staff...that's what GM has done..I would say they are probably more prosperous now that he is gone. I have a friend that knows AK on a semi regular type basis...he said he is a cool guy.
That being said, and of course my opinion is based on what I saw on the show, but it appeared to me that AK was envious of RR and the spotlight, he didn't mind the high life on Richards dime. After RR got a girlfriend which slowed the partying and girls coming around, as well as traveling & making big money deals with Dennis, AK seemed to realize that the Boss/Employee relationship had changed.
I also thought he wasted a lot of money on the builds by the way he was so flippant about changing directions...you don't see that kind of freedom now that he's gone, and the cars are just as good as they were when he was the lead mechanic.
You also don't see that now that he is spending his money either at his shop.
AK is a talented fabricator and I think his business will survive on that, but he is not a marketer , wheeler/dealer like Richard and will never become what GM has...

If you want to say an inheritance is the same....okay.
But that allowed him to do his thing.

I dont know what his financial situation was...someone else mentioned an inheritance.
As far as Boyd, he was a total dick....as a boss....but a hell of a visionary. I would say is is solely responsible for modern day hotrodding. He had a brand, marketed
it in our community and saw it take off.
Every modern day billet aluminum wheel/accessory company owes their success to Coddington.
American Hot Rod died off because Boyd died. Charlie left because Boyd didn't want him helping Foose an a one time special project ...Boyd was still pissed because Foose left him to go out on his own and felt betrayed...same with Charlie. Foose needs no mention about being successful, Charlie I hear has a 2-3 year back log.
What I'm saying is that no one is irreplaceable. There's always someone in line waiting to show that they are equal too or better than their predecessor....

 

[BeatersRus]

i totally agree with your assessment of aks budget builds lol..but
he was always trying to make the best car he could in his mind.
and to make the entire shop look better as well.
he deffo had an unrealistic approach to working with the paint shop side of gm,
as far as time limits for the builds,and btw huge props to the painters there.
they put up with some bigtime bs along the way and turned out breathtaking paint jobs.

im not sure where you got the envious part tho..?
when the show started,richard pointed out many times he couldnt do this without aaron.
it slowly changed and then went to bellyup,
again i think its more to do with the budgets as you pointed out,
than any partying relationships or girlfriends but? maybe it was the latter?

speaking of Dennis,whom i really liked on the show,as well as him saving rare vettes.
if you think about how richard treats dennis,even tho hes a friend,then you get a more complete picture of what type of person richard really is.

to me,he cares only about the bottom line money money money.

 

[Mike67]

im not sure where you got the envious part tho..?

When the women, booze and traveling stopped for AK and he was told to stay at the shop and finish a build...while RR & Dennis took to the road you (I) could see a change in AKs attitude and his approach to coming in. He became very negative, pissed and moaned about everything as well as stopped hei g a hands on guy. He started pointing out thing the others needed to do then woukd disappear...he would come in at the end or if the guys just couldn't get something....hurt feelings? Green monster? Dont know but there was an obvious tipping point @ GM that you could see on the show that AK had checked out...jmho.

 

[Slap Stick]

BeatersRus, I can't remember the name of the show but it had Iirc 5 different shops from around the country competing against each other. The Coddington segment Iirc was eliminated due to trying to pass off a clone.

 

[Budnicks]

most of the stuff is wrong
this isn't directed at any one specific

I'm not a big fan of the part he Richard Rawlings portrays on TV
you do all know
'that's all scripted Network BS, to get ratings & sell the TV show'
(Just like GYC's does)
to none car people, so they'll all watch,
network will be able to sell advertising time too
it's the business

I read he got a 'sort of' big sum of $$$
after getting severely injured, on the job
he was a fireman 1st

dealt in cars as a hobby

he made $$$ with his buddy Dennis too
who owns a Jeep specialty company Collins Brothers
buying & selling parts or cars

Dennis is the big bucks guy,
not Richard so much, he's earned most of his

him Richard (or Dennis) & his org. 1st mate
Arron Kaufman started Gas Monkey
(that's a whole different discussion altogether about that dynamics
& Kauffman's, scruples, style, ethics, spending RR's money etc.)
not too many years back, like 10 or so IIRC
he has grown it into a multi-million dollar business...

I don't/won't ever hold any of that against the guy...
His goofy *** show, on screen persona or not...

the name of the game is buy low sell high

he's grown that little piss-ant buss. building rat rods/hot rods
out of a tiny double door shop, with no lifts
he used to be in in to
now he's branded
selling T-shirts/swag
selling booze of his own label
selling die-cast cars
a successful sports restaurant
a successful concert/music venue
owns multiple houses
owns & runs multiple businesses
he's a far more than just Gas Monkey Garage

he's a true entrepreneur
he's a very generous man from some of the stuff I read
he helps servicemen & helps several charities
IIRC he started a fund to help fallen firemen spouses too
IIRC he has a scholarship fund for the kids too
lots of cash has been donated, to help others
he's helped a bunch of struggling automotive shops
to be successful/profitable for him & them

the car business is a cutthroat business
someone always has a beef or price problem
or problem if people do better than they deem necessary

I don't hold someone's success over their heads
it's what America is all about
he's tapped into that spirit, done damn well too

I don't begrudge him of anything,
he's done quite well, doing it his way
he's helped a bunch of people along the way too
I don't begrudge him 'anymore than'
I don't hate 'all the losers/whiners' that do nothing & bitch or moan
about people who are successful...
He worked hard & got a name for himself, branding
it works...

is it petty jealousy or envy ?
pissed they aren't Richard or don't have his skills or $$$
or someone like him or about his success ?
if so ?
that's sad **** right there

 

[not so famous bob]

most of the stuff is wrong
this isn't directed at any one specific

I'm not a big fan of the part he Richard Rawlings portrays on TV
you do all know
'that's all scripted Network BS, to get ratings & sell the TV show'
(Just like GYC's does)
to none car people, so they'll all watch,
network will be able to sell advertising time too
it's the business

I read he got a 'sort of' big sum of $$$
after getting severely injured, on the job
he was a fireman 1st

dealt in cars as a hobby

he made $$$ with his buddy Dennis too
who owns a Jeep specialty company Collins Brothers
buying & selling parts or cars

Dennis is the big bucks guy,
not Richard so much, he's earned most of his

him Richard (or Dennis) & his org. 1st mate
Arron Kaufman started Gas Monkey
(that's a whole different discussion altogether about that dynamics
& Kauffman's, scruples, style, ethics, spending RR's money etc.)
not too many years back, like 10 or so IIRC
he has grown it into a multi-million dollar business...

I don't/won't ever hold any of that against the guy...
His goofy *** show, on screen persona or not...

the name of the game is buy low sell high

he's grown that little piss-ant buss. building rat rods/hot rods
out of a tiny double door shop, with no lifts
he used to be in in to
now he's branded
selling T-shirts/swag
selling booze of his own label
selling die-cast cars
a successful sports restaurant
a successful concert/music venue
owns multiple houses
owns & runs multiple businesses
he's a far more than just Gas Monkey Garage

he's a true entrepreneur
he's a very generous man from some of the stuff I read
he helps servicemen & helps several charities
IIRC he started a fund to help fallen firemen spouses too
IIRC he has a scholarship fund for the kids too
lots of cash has been donated, to help others
he's helped a bunch of struggling automotive shops
to be successful/profitable for him & them

the car business is a cutthroat business
someone always has a beef or price problem
or problem if people do better than they deem necessary

I don't hold someone's success over their heads
it's what America is all about
he's tapped into that spirit, done damn well too

I don't begrudge him of anything,
he's done quite well, doing it his way
he's helped a bunch of people along the way too
I don't begrudge him 'anymore than'
I don't hate 'all the losers/whiners' that do nothing & bitch or moan
about people who are successful...
He worked hard & got a name for himself, branding
it works...

is it petty jealousy or envy ?
pissed they aren't Richard or don't have his skills or $$$
or someone like him or about his success ?
if so ?
that's sad **** right there

I didn`t read all these posts, not interested in the guy or his show. You can brag or say what u want , he`s still a punk to me , end of conversation ---

 

[BeatersRus]

so wait,
now if we dont agree with budnicks we are all losers and whiners?
thats some rude shiznit right there.
i was pretty sure this is a forum for Everyones opinions,
not a get up on your soapbox praising gm like hes jesus reborn and insult others.

maybe you should look at how me and Mike carried out our opinions and thoughts in the thread eyh?
because i Respect him and his opinion,like most others.
he managed to not only make me rethink several things,
but to start rewatching the show to see what i had missed.
and youll notice neither of us had to insult each other either....

perhaps you could rethink your statement bud or phrase it differently,
as i can agree to disagree,but i dont think you need to insult people to get Your point across.

 

[Larrry B.]

I like watching GM the first couple of seasons, it's when it turned into scripted bullshit drama that I tuned it out.
Same goes for Graveyard Cars and most other shows on tv, it's almost inevitable.

If I just want to watch "car stuff" I'll watch Powerblock tv.

 

[Budnicks]

I didn`t read all these posts, not interested in the guy or his show. You can brag or say what u want , he`s still a punk to me , end of conversation ---

so wait,
now if we dont agree with budnicks we are all losers and whiners?
thats some rude shiznit right there.
i was pretty sure this is a forum for Everyones opinions,
not a get up on your soapbox praising gm like hes jesus reborn and insult others.

maybe you should look at how me and Mike carried out our opinions and thoughts in the thread eyh?
because i Respect him and his opinion,like most others.
he managed to not only make me rethink several things,
but to start rewatching the show to see what i had missed.
and youll notice neither of us had to insult each other either....

perhaps you could rethink your statement bud or phrase it differently,
as i can agree to disagree,but i dont think you need to insult people to get Your point across.

I'm not bragging on him
just telling some background
for people to get a better perspective

who's the man, some background behind the character

It's no sweat off my balls
if anyone likes him or the show
or me for that matter
I tell it like I see it...
I'm not trying to blow anything up anyone's skirt...

I didn't call anyone out by name
as my 1st line said;
"It's not directed at anyone specific"
just an observation
if you want to think it was addressed to any of you
well so be it
I can't effect/affect someone else's thinking,
that was not the intent of the postings either,
now or then

Nope & I'm NOT calling anyone here
losers or whiners either
just stating or sharing some stuff or facts,
some people, may not know
& yes there are some that think he's (Richard Rawlings) a douche
I also do think his "on screen character", is too

like I said;
if you read my long as post/description & accounts
not just cherry pick one line or 2 lines of it

I don't care for his on air personality either
on that we can all agree

but after I found out more about the "real man"
not just what he does on TV, his acting &
not just the used car salesman persona, he portrays
"it's all an act for the TV/show viewers ?"

BUT;
it did changed my opinion some "of the man"
about his philanthropy, charitable background
& some of his personal history, him being a 1st responder
(I think he was a Fire dept. Paramedic, but don't quote me thou)
his life before or outside of the TV SHOW
I'm not trying to convince/sway anyone
that he's (Richard Rawlings) is better than anyone else
just sharing some background, facts of the man, who he is...

I actually took the time to read about some of his background...
Nothing more, nothing less !!
& then I shared it here....

there was no drama queen or argumentative BS intended
I wasn't calling anyone out for not liking him or his show...
& It wasn't an attempt to insult anyone either,
it's just the facts, people get bent out of shape...

Oh well...
To each their own, you can't please everyone...

see ya'

 

[Danny Boy]

Those who take risks deserve the rewards...

Richard takes risks and sometimes loses on his investments (autos/bars/merchandise) just like the stock market

Do we or are we willing to take the same risks?

Why do begrudge those who have done well?

Socialists believe in income equality (sharing your wealth with others) ultimately resulting in all being equally poor

Is this what we want?

 

[chtampa]

These are TV Shows, no different than the Soap Operas that we used to give women **** about watching. The stories are created by the Editors after the taping and have nothing to do with "Reality". I have done two Discovery shows and a National Geographic appearance that were supposed to be "Real". We taped and re-taped and they had me construct situations and afterwards the Editors spliced footage from unrelated scenes together with a Narrator making up stories about what was happening. Reality Shows are anything but real. If the drama is there the cast gets paid very well because of the value for marketing to sponsors. As far as the term "Net Worth", it is the same as the term "Value" on grocery items used to increase sales. It is a false claim. Don't get worked up about Television, it is just Media in a prettier package. Reality like this is also present in Disney World but you get lied to less.