Search and Restore -Hot Rod Build- Season 2

Posted by pikesan on May 27, 2012 in Shows & Events | 4 comments

Tim Strange’s Hot Rod Reality TV  Season 2 Update

Back for season 2 is Tim Strange’s take on reality TV car building. Tim’s a unique guy not short on opinions and always telling it like it is. Sound like every other TV car show? It doesn’t to me.

I caught up with Tim and asked about Season 2 and the first build of a 55 Chevy Handyman Wagon. To catch up from Season 1, check out our other interview with Tim Strange.

Since I’m late getting this story up… watch the build of the 55 Handyman Wagon here

Heading into season 2 what was the biggest lesson learned from season 1?

Probably the amount of time it takes to set up the shots and set lights. I still get a little crazy when we’re trying to get a project done in four weeks, but we sometimes have to stop and set lights for different angles. In the long run, it’s worth it when the show is all done.

Also the amount of film they record and what they use. Each build gets almost 400 hours of film and edited down to basically an hour through the four half hour shows once the commercials and stuff are done. So a ton of awesome stuff gets cut, cause you got to make sure the sponsors get plugged.

Also the way all the TV world works… (most I can’t really talk about) and the way new parts work. The production company won’t really buy anything, so everything is donated to the show, which I also have to work hard to get. Luckily I have a ton of awesome friends and connections in the industry I have been in for so long so that’s not really that hard. The hardest part is getting legit, talented people to come in each week of the build. We have a lot of guys talk a big game then show up and can’t hang, or I also get no shows… then its me staying here till 4 AM to get stuff done.

You said, “I am very proud to say that Search and Restore teams are not building “TV” cars – but real hot rods.”

A lot of other TV cars are thrown together for a show, yes we are doing these in four weeks, but we get specialists to come in during the week. They are good at what they do and I try to get about 10 guys each week so stuff moves along at a quick rate. We concentrate to make these projects right and something for all of us that work on it to be proud of the outcome.

Some of the other shows filmed here at the production company are “how-to” style shows, so they concentrate on all the tech stuff. Say one month they do a tech on a rear end install, then it might sit for a couple months, until they got another company that wants to promote another section, then they drag it out and address that part. Some of the projects never get fully finished as they are always making the sponsors their first priority.

Like the 55 that aired 5/19/12, it has around 3800 man hours in 19 days! Yes we work long nights to get it done! Kinda makes me mad reading the haters online about thinking we are doing easy builds… well I think this season will change that thinking…

Why are you proud of this or why is this important to you?

I want everybody to be happy if they volunteer or donate parts. I want them to know the projects are top notch and something for all to be happy to be a part of. Not something just thrown together for TV sake. I am first a hot rod builder…

I’m facing the problem of too many projects to do on my Falcon wagon build. How do you arrange/manage what has to be done?

It’s pretty simple really… I guess this is one of the little things I take for granted after running (and still running a full time hot rod and resto shop for 20 years. I always know what needs to be done next or this item needs done before moving on to something else. And for most the years running my shop, it’s basically been me through the year with some part time buddies. I have always been a good manager of time, and I plan out the show this way:

• We get metal and mock up guys week one
• Body, prime and blocking and some painting week two
• Final paint and polish and some assembly week three
• And finish it all up week four.

So you know what’s going each week. Then I find volunteers who are bad-ass and their craft. I like this show to help give some guys I have always respected their work and style a little bit more exposure. Like right now filming build two is a traditional styled late 40s hot rod and I got some guys from Maryland Hot Rod Garage here helping. They build some of the baddest traditional styled hot rods out there, and it’s awesome to be able to work side by side with guys like them. Also, it’s cool to see how guys and shops all do things just a little differently… pretty cool.

I still get mini-submissions as comments in the first blog story we did about your show. It’s a dream come true! How do you guys select the cars to build? There’s got to be way too many folks facing rough times then you can handle…

Its sad sometimes going through some of the submissions, there a are ton of hurting people out there… I know a fresh hot rod don’t save the world, but it does make it a little more enjoyable.

The selection process is a little different from build to build. Sometimes we have a major sponsor that might want a muscle car or a truck so we search the data base for that. Or a location or a key word in their story or back ground. I do get tired of some of the haters about the show, most because they are upset they didn’t get picked… they have to realize the odds are almost like winning the lottery! There are over 250,000 applicants and we only pick four a year… soooo…

And we do take note by some peoples comments… Some people won’t be picked because of their actions. They get so crazy emailing and calling they have blocked some users from being able to email the production company!

Take me “behind the scenes” if you can…

There is a ton of footage that would be awesome for people to see and funny stuff, that can’t be used as the show has a G rating. Sometimes they do put some decent rated out takes or bloopers on the Searchandrestoretv.com web site. Last season Kevin Tetz, from the other Powerblock show Trucks! crawled up on a pole and sat and ate an apple like Chris Kattan from Saturday Night Live. There are a ton of funny Tommy Boshers stories that can not be repeated…

The one thing I try to laugh about is the stuff they try to get me to do made from people that are not really car people… For example, for the first build for season one, they actually gave me a print out of the build schedule. They had me painting the car week one and starting rust repairs week two… kinda funny and sad all together, so I wrote out an order we try to stick to on how to build a project, simple stuff for me again, but not for people that don’t build everyday.

Same goes with the TV part… I have learned a lot and a lot I wish I could forget… LOL

Be a part of Search and Restore and show your hot rod skills!

If anyone feels their talent and skills are up to it and want to come be on a show… hit me up and I will see if we can plug you into a show… again getting the volunteers is the hardest part. I like to tell possible volunteers this to see if they are ready….You might run or jog for fun or exercise, but think of you getting ready to run in the Boston Marathon… you better be ready to complete the task and with utmost confidence you can do it.  Think of volunteering just like that, and be ready to have a camera in your face the whole time… LOL

Still want to volunteer? Email Tim at the Show

To learn more about Tim Strange hot rod building, go to Strange Motion Rod and Custom and he’s got a “Strange Words” newsletter that covers the shop and a little about the show.

Finally, Tim’s a member here at MyRideisMe.com. Check out his garage for more builds: Strange Motion garage

Good luck with Season 2 Tim!