Steve Magnante has been MIA, here is why. **UPDATE** He's back!

[Charger72]

 

[khryslerkid]

I just watched a rerun of Junkyard Gold. He really knows his stuff.

 

[dart4forte]

sure hope he keeps the altered Dart.

 

[66ChargerHI-PO]

sure hope he keeps the altered Dart.

I’m pretty sure he sold that already awhile ago even before his diagnosis

 

[Kern Dog]

His charity fund is just shy of $500,000 so I'd think he is probably able to hold off from selling much more.
I can't imagine what his medical bills are. Many people would default to bankruptcy to avoid paying the bills. Kudos to him for being responsible.

 

[Budnicks]

I just watched a rerun of Junkyard Gold. He really knows his stuff.

I DVR'd a couple of them old ones, to watch later, on MotorTrend network

it was destined to be canceled
not have many episodes after
when it was/or became "Roadkill's - Junkyard Gold"
after the 64 Galaxie 390 4 speed he picked out for Dave & Mike
what a disaster that car was or their choice/s of engine to buy

I did DVR a couple of Junkyard Gold
*the Birds & Bees one,
*the C-body's one
& another
*the right size MoPar A,B,C
there was another I missed, I wanted to DVR,
*the Chargers one

The guy is a encyclopedia on automotive stuff, just rambles off #s like crazy
it's amazing what he remembers & what he knows, all kept up there
(or used to)

Even his show on 'building Models' (name eludes me) is great full of information
on these older cars

 

[DeltaV]

An update from 4 days ago:

 

[66ChargerHI-PO]

Latest update from Steve posted 4 hours ago today….

 

[Richard Cranium]

Looks like he's coming along.

 

[Mopar Hunter]

He’s a fighter and sounds a lot better than he did last month, glad to see he’s recovering.

 

[66ChargerHI-PO]

Looks like Steve got out to a show yesterday, did any of our New England members make it? He comes on at 19:38….

 

[Richard Cranium]

Good for him. Looks like he's walking a bit stiff.

 

[Budnicks]

Good for him. Looks like he's walking a bit stiff.

encephalitis (something like that IIRC it's called) brain infection he has,
will never go away completely
he will have to deal with some affects/some new too, from it,
for the rest of his life

he said the other day on the BJ Auction in a short video he did, with Mike Joy
he may be back at the Jan. BJ auction 2025, he's out & about now & he's mobile...

he's missed, he's a wealth of automotive knowledge

disclaimer;
don't get my next statement wrong I wish him the best & a speedy recovery
I find a strange thing, he made good $$$, he was on TV
& published several great books too
it seems like (? I don't know)
that he didn't have medical insurance (?) a man in his 50's (or 60-ish) without any,
or not anywhere near enough (?)
(? is that true) he's a smart dude, I'm really surprised at the stuff
he has or was worked/working for big networks & a couple different publishers.
It seems he should have been covered 110% easily...

The ACA (un-Affordable Care Act) allegedly should have covered that type of crap,
if nothing else (? or is it only for the select few)

Anyway, just a curiosity deal...

Now;
With all the 'go fund me' stuff & donations
from very generous car/racing people community,
(we are a very helpful, very giving bunch, to 'a fault' at times)
we are seemingly getting him thru it...

 

[64BEL]

Bud - You bring up some valid observations. I think guys like Steve (and others like Geoff Stunkard) are kind of free lancers with a lot of the work they do. They bounce around with magazines and on TV shows from time to time - or even regularly, but I think they're essentially self-employed. So I don't know that they end up getting very financially secure through a company, but they stitch together jobs and make a living of it. Anyway, that's my assumption - which could be way off!

 

[gary h]

Very nice to see Steve in his Environment ! Looks to be a pretty big show. Wicked Pissa !

 

[Budnicks]

Bud - You bring up some valid observations. I think guys like Steve (and others like Geoff Stunkard) are kind of free lancers with a lot of the work they do. They bounce around with magazines and on TV shows from time to time - or even regularly, but I think they're essentially self-employed. So I don't know that they end up getting very financially secure through a company, but they stitch together jobs and make a living of it. Anyway, that's my assumption - which could be way off!

All good points too...

 

[66ChargerHI-PO]

Latest Update from Steve with Mike Joy of Barrett Jackson. Looks like he MAY return to BJ in January!