Employee to Employer with Ron Hinshaw | S2 E8 Artwork

Gearheads n' Gasoline Podcast

The Gearheads n’ Gasoline Podcast brings you engaging, lighthearted yet informative conversations with market-leading Shop Owners from automotive aftermarket Restoration, Performance, Racing, and restyling Industries.

Join us as hosts Barry Alt from Motorhead Digital and our co-hosts delve into the journey of our guests, uncovering their achievements, challenges, and the driving forces behind their success and even failures.

Periodic Co-Hosts:

Jason Chandler - AMD
Eddy Cebreco - AMD
Katie Abraham - IRONMAN 4X4
Jesse Henke - JH Restorations
Sean Sawyer - Revved Automotive Consulting

By offering a unique - often explosive - behind-the-scenes look into the world of shop ownership, 'Gearheads n’ Gasoline' provides stimulating insights and stories that inspire and entertain. Whether you're a shop owner, aspiring shop owner, racer, professional, or hardcore enthusiast, this podcast is your pit stop for captivating discussions with influential figures from the automotive industry.

Our goal is to entertain and educate listeners with real-life stories, lessons learned, and practical advice that can be used by everyone.

Gearheads n’ Gasoline - “Fueling Your Success.”

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Gearheads n' Gasoline Podcast

Employee to Employer with Ron Hinshaw | S2 E8

July 10, 2025 • Barry Alt & Annette Bauer with Ron Hinshaw • Season 2 • Episode 8

0:00 | 55:36

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Supported by:
➡️ Red Line Synthetic Oil
➡️ Auto Metal Direct
➡️ POWERtube TV

In this episode, we sit down with Ron Hinshaw, the hands-on gearhead turned shop owner behind North Speed and Restoration. Ron takes us on a ride through his 30-year journey in the automotive industry—from BMX bikes and off-road trail rigs to managing a hot rod shop and eventually buying it outright. He opens up about what it takes to go from tech to owner, why relationship-building matters more than instant returns, and the lessons he’s learned while keeping a 40-year shop legacy alive.

Ron shares real-world advice on purchasing a shop, building trust with customers and employees, marketing through car shows and social media, and why your website does matter. Plus, he gives us a glimpse into his days of motocross, ice racing, and mud trucks, and how his love for off-roading and monster truck builds still shows up in his work today.

What You’ll Learn:

How Ron transitioned from side work and general repair to full-time hot rod building
Key considerations when buying an existing shop (equipment, name value, customer relationships, and more)
Why showing up at events like SEMA and Goodguys is critical for long-term success
The power of professional photography, solid branding, and clear client communication
Why Ron believes success is when his team thrives, like buying their first homes or new trucks

Guest Bio:
Ron has spent the last 30 years immersed in the automotive world, starting from the bottom at a oil change shop and working his way up through the ranks as a technician, manager, and now shop owner. By his late teens, he was already getting handed the vintage and custom jobs, and that passion never let up. From big shops to small local garages. In the larger shops, Ron always found himself in a leadership role. When he wasn’t working, he was off-road racing, building trail rigs, and wrenching on hot rods to fund his hobbies.

In 2016, Ron landed at a true hot rod shop, learned everything he could, and helped level up the business using the skills he’d honed over the years. By 2018 he was managing the shop, and in 2022 he bought it outright, continuing a 40-year legacy now known as North Speed and Restoration. Today, Ron’s building wild customs, tackling vintage restorations and showing that with the right mix of grit, gearhead passion, and hands-on hustle, you really can turn your side hustle into a full-time dream.

Guest:

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You can reach us at gngoperations@motorheaddigital.com