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On the Road with Hot Rod Chavik
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Oct 21, 2024
Welcome to JC Whitney's "On The Road" Podcast! Stay ahead of the curve, hit "Subscribe" and keep up with the latest! On this truly inspiring episode of "On the Road," we're joined by Daisy and Stanley Chavik. They sat down with us to talk about hot rods, dream cars, inspiration, and living the American Dream. Follow Hot Rod Chavik on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKdL4qtHYQZB5cC71C3hEkg #HotRod #AmericanDream #familybusiness 00:00 - Introduction 01:28 - Patent 02:24 - What inspired the move to Southern California? 03:43 - How did Stanley develop his skills? 05:22 - Working on art 06:00 - Where does Stanley’s inspiration come from? 06:48 - Family Involvement in the Company 09:21 - The Future of Hot Rod Chavik 11:45 - Stanley’s Defining Moment in a Car 12:15 - Stanley’s Favorite Car
View Video Transcript
0:00
Hello and welcome to J.C. Whitney's On the Road
0:08
I am your host, Angel Sala Belen, and today we have Hot Rod Chavik in the studio
0:13
Stanley and Daisy, how are you? Hi. All right. How are you
0:18
Hi, how are you? Well, yes, thanks for being here. So for our guests, I don't know, Stanley and Daisy are the owners and co-founders of Hot Rod Chavik
0:28
which was founded in 2000. 2003 in Bohemia Europe? Yes. Okay. And then you moved to Southern California in 2017 and formed your business in 2018 in SoCal? Yes. Okay
0:44
And you, Stanley, do all of the custom fabrication, modification, and innovation on these cars that you renovate at your company? Yes
0:53
It's mainly my hands. What you guys provide at your facility is OEM standards at the VIII
1:00
very bare minimum and then with your skill and your ability, you provide OEM plus parts for the
1:06
parts that can't be provided anymore or aren't being supplied anymore. Yeah, exactly. We're
1:10
customizing original parts or making same looking thing or better working parts actually. Okay
1:19
so from what I understand when we were talking off camera before we started recording
1:24
you guys own a patent, is that right? Yes. It's correct. Can you talk about that patent a little bit
1:29
Yeah, I figure actually hop for a very popular hard rod, which is 32-4, and you will be able to install Indie wheels with Kinman brakes, which are very rare brakes
1:45
So this kit allows for more clearance to allow those brakes to get into that classic hot rod
1:51
This setup actually to allow you use traditional car with traditional. brakes which they are very rare and you cannot find them and also you can install them with
2:08
a special knock-up style indie wheel from late 40s we can see oh yeah like a like a replica
2:17
wheel of the late 40s original too okay you can put a hilly brand wheel sick that's awesome what
2:23
inspired you to take that move from bohemia Europe to southern California
2:29
I was always a big fan of the USA and for sure it was typical American movies
2:35
And my parents actually raised me like that. They like music and style from USA
2:43
And when I was a little kid, I was riding motorcycles and building go cars or dirt bikes or dirt cars
2:53
That's why I move here or take my whole family and move here because the American car culture
2:59
You're pulling me here. Oh yeah. Oh yeah, you try to get out and you keep on pulling me back in
3:05
Oh, I love it. It's really the classic tale of the American dream, right
3:10
It's a big American dream. I feel like we did what so many people did
3:17
And we came here for it. I love the whole concept of USA
3:23
It's about freedom and about USA. We came here to be Americans. Yes
3:28
There's nothing more. American than hot rodding so you're right in line and we appreciate you and I'm
3:33
sure you've been welcomed with with open arms in the hot rod community oh very
3:37
blessed very blessed people we we have so many friends where did you gain the skills to allow you to do what you do I probably start very young like about eight nine years old When I first started building motorcycles which brother was older
3:54
and then he brings some motorcycle home, and I started helping him and working on it
3:59
The skill came from because we cannot buy nothing there. You have to everything make it
4:05
And when I was 15, it was easy to figure out it when I'm going
4:09
And I did like a school for automobile's repairs and moving on
4:16
I studying still because I like engineering. I learn new things now
4:22
And you can correct me if I'm wrong. But what I think I'm hearing was it was introduced to you pretty young and by your brother
4:30
And you learned through that until you got into the age where you can go to school and learn the property
4:35
And then you've just been doing it. Why I put their brother? because he was older and I was younger
4:40
and that's why I started very young because he already had this actually hobby
4:44
and that's why I started young when I was 15 I was way farther like he was
4:51
because I was I started when I was eight super young yeah yeah that's very convenient
4:56
for what you do now I just throw the bag in the corner from the school and go to the garage
5:01
whole my life I'm in garage that's my life yeah who needs those books
5:04
if we know we're going to be building cars exactly you need the book when you're fixing something
5:09
Yeah, unless it's a book about fixing the car. Yeah, exactly. Otherwise, it's just a book to hold up something
5:14
No Shakespeare. No Shakespeare. To be or not to be? Not to be. Yeah
5:20
All right. At what point did you stop working on cars and started working on pieces of art
5:26
Probably always. Always. Yeah. Because when I start the business, yes, I take the work
5:34
which was necessary to support support my business with money. That's mean I can do anything
5:42
But now we are in position that we're doing only what we won't do it
5:47
And that's why I say probably always working on the arts. All cars which we're building with small stuff, big stuff
5:54
it's always iconic stuff. It's very nice. Where does that inspiration come from
5:59
I mean, you cranked it off early, so it's got to come from somewhere. I want to know
6:04
It's probably because I like speed. Yeah. When I sit on the motorcycle or sit in the car, you can feel good vibration and good sound
6:14
My switching the head turn off and I love it this. And that's probably what they came
6:19
And also, yes, I was poor and I won't beat up the rich guys, which this was able to buy it
6:27
I have to build it. You know, there's a saying out there, built, not bought
6:32
Yeah. Yeah. You know, it's a badge of honor, you know. So it's easy to show up something you bought
6:38
It's a little bit harder to show with something that you built. That's the way how I can do it
6:42
I can build it. I can't buy it. Amen. Well, that's a blessing
6:47
How involved is your family with the company? When Stanley, back in Czech Republic, he was sick
6:54
So we didn't have time to be with him at home because we had lots of responsibility for the shop and everything
7:00
So he was sick in our office, actually, on the sofa. Actually, we lived on the up the..
7:05
shop above the shop yeah everything is around the cars everything is about the
7:10
business we we wasn't on the vacation I don't know how long 15 years it's it's
7:17
we never been in actually no our vacations are related to the Trica we go to
7:22
Arizona yeah for the car shows and that's our that's cool that's cool weekends car
7:27
shows and I try to be better and we can do it something else like go hike and stuff like that yeah we love to we love the nature and horses and stuff like that But it a second thing it true
7:40
Yeah, that's cool, man. And sure, Daisy working mainly, because without her, the business
7:45
mainly, I'm big. Yeah, because I just enjoy. I have fun. Yeah, yeah
7:50
No, seriously it is that without her, I'm big dreamer, and it's hard
7:57
Yeah, you know what? She has been pretty instrumental. She was speaking to our team and making sure that everything was lined up
8:04
Yeah, she's good. Yeah, she's good. Yeah, she's very good. Yeah, she's very good. I just want to make sure. And son, for sure. Yeah, he's, he has to work in. That's first thing. Second thing, he liked studying. That's why I am proud of him
8:20
Good. He's doing also something else that's normal. And I wish that he will be working in my shop and he will be taken
8:27
when I will be older. Yeah. Actually, he really like who knows
8:32
Robotic engineering, 3D modeling. Yeah, he did. He did 3d modeling. He did the robotic engineering
8:39
Yeah, it's just so, like the car industry and the automotive world is so vast
8:45
that like he could get into the automotive industry and just be in a completely different realm of automotive industry
8:52
Yes, he differently have a different point of view. Yeah. He's very talented
8:56
He has the ester. the eye and he see the shapes and he feel
9:01
He helping already with the advertisement with videos and music and he can do this
9:08
So he's earning it. Yeah, he's earning it. Great, great. That's what we love to see
9:12
That is the American spirit. We make sure our young people get out there
9:15
They've fallen off a little bit, but we'll get them back going
9:20
Where do you see your company going? Where do you envision it going in the next five years
9:26
I live in the dream. And I see our company and myself and my wife and my son be stable and building amazing stuff for individual customers
9:41
That's what I see. You're so serious. No, and also what I see is go in the Bonneville, have some records, you know, and show our name in this way that we can build something serious
9:54
Making something which will be put on our name somewhere will be oh yeah this is Cheveck thing
10:00
The 32 perhaps like 32 we're building which is a tribute ofzung
10:05
car. Okay okay but it's a roadster hardrath which is tribute in the car
10:10
Because we have a big indie car which we fabricate and it's something what not everybody has right
10:16
but if you build something what almost everybody have in the garage that's the challenge
10:20
and bring it totally different way and different point of view on that so that's our goal
10:24
The week what I built is an Indy car from 1933, which was crashed in 1935 and destroyed, and
10:31
I made the car again. And I made it in Czech Republic and bring here on the California
10:37
And the driver, which died 1935, he was 27 years old. He was from California
10:45
Was he buried in California? Yeah. With his mechanic together. Crazy. And I'm driving same car now on the PCH
10:54
That's some deep stuff. That's some deep stuff. Very serious stuff. Yeah, very serious stuff
10:58
And it's amazing. Yeah, so what it sounds like is the company's sticking around and you envision anything and everything
11:08
fantastic within means, within reach, you're going to grab and take whatever it is that fits
11:14
that dream of yours and that your wife allows you Yeah that the most Yeah He lucky that I don need anything I super lucky I don need expensive clothes I don need expensive cards and he lucky You spending money on the carburetors
11:28
Stuff like that. That's it ladies. That's it ladies and gentlemen. We don't know how Stanley did it, but he did it
11:36
He did it. I don't know how I did it too. I'm super happy
11:40
Yeah, I can see it. It's so good. I'm happy. I'm happy for you. Yeah, amazing
11:44
Do you have a defining? Do you have a defining moment in or around a car
11:48
that helps shape this person that you are right now? That's what when I was young
11:53
Very, yeah. I think that he feel the connection. That's what I have to say
11:57
That's the right answer would be that he feel connection with whoever drivers and whoever he was involved
12:03
in the car industry before and he felt deeply connected with those
12:08
There's some thing like that, yeah, probably. And get inspired and spurred in
12:12
Do you have a favorite driver? Do you have a favorite? car. Enjoy now Ken Myel
12:17
Okay. Yeah, and actually she's 60s. But maybe happened because it was the movie and this is what pulled me in it
12:25
And I was around these cars which was used for the movie because actually it's here
12:31
Everything happening here in California. And that's what is nice. But there's so many things
12:38
Probably the first one was Campbell, the British guy, which he set up the record 1920
12:43
record 1929 I think it was over 300 yeah I'm trying to remember the vehicle it was
12:49
a blue beard and I have big friend oh big friend I have I have I can say he's my
12:55
friend Danny Thompson and he's over 400 miles per hour guy and I just speak with
13:02
these guys you know it's amazing because when you are in the Czech Republic it's
13:06
everything far you see it on the TV and it's totally untouchable yeah you're here and
13:11
you're living and you see those people and most of the of them are very nice people
13:15
They are open and they are willing to share their experience, advice, and that's unbelievable
13:20
They are like that. There are a lot of people that are like that, but also they want to respond to people
13:25
that are actually in the same interests. And so for him to be able to recognize that within you
13:33
I feel like is just another way the universe sort of kind of saying
13:37
hey, you're doing the right things. How can people get in touch with hot rod
13:43
and both of you to get some business or to see what you guys are doing
13:47
Yeah, we have every year open house and you can see us over there
13:54
And it's usually posted on Sokal Calculture. We are located in Orange, 748 West Angus Avenue
14:01
It's in California, of course, our social media, Hudrat Cheevick. We have Facebook, Instagram, and our website are Hodretchevik.com
14:10
Or you can see me driving around the Indycar from 1930. 33 and just stop by
14:14
Here we go. Stop me and I will talk with you. We have lots of interesting projects open right now, so whoever wants to come and check it out, we'll give him a personal tour
14:23
That's it. You heard it right here. So if you see him riding down the street, go ahead and give him a wave
14:28
If you try to challenge him to a race, he's going to beat you or turn you down
14:32
Don't do that. Don't do it. Yeah, I take it though. Yeah. Stanley
14:38
Hey, very nice. Very nice. Daisy. Thank you very much for having us
14:42
Hey, thanks for hanging out. us today, until next time
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