Minnoxide

Justin Starkey of VMP Performance joins the show to talk about building one of the most respected performance brands from the ground up over 25 years — from eBay side hustle to full supercharger development.We talk about the business, performance, and more.

Take your build up a whole new level with 6XD Gearbox: https://6xdgearbox.com

Code "Minnoxide5" for 5% off High Performance Academy: https://hpcdmy.co/Minnoxide

Use code "MINNOX" for 55% off ANY course

Use Code "MINVIP" for $300 of the MINVIP Package

Tuned By Shawn: https://www.tunedbyshawn.com

Code "Minnoxide" for 5% off! Ship With

Sure Thing Logistics: https://www.surethinglogistics.net

MORE BIGGER Turbo T-Shirts:  https://www.minnoxide.com/products/more-bigger-t-shirt

00:00 – Intro - Justin Starkey of VMP Performance

01:10 – The Origin Story: Selling parts to building the VMP brand

04:53 – From eBay to Engineering: Developing intercooler kits and early V6 mods

06:41 – Learning to Tune and the early SC days

11:54 – The First Dyno: Building a mobile tuning rig

23:50 – Entering the Supercharger World

30:50 – Building the Business: Mobile Dyno Days, Family Life & Growing the Team

37:30 – The Coyote Era & Launching VMP's Supercharger Line

40:50 – The Story Behind Teaming Up with Whipple

55:55 – R&D Philosophy: Intercooler Development, Testing Rigs & the LED Lid 01:04:47 – SEMA & Advocacy: Lobbying in DC to protect the automotive industry

01:15:29 – Government Scrutiny: Navigating EPA and emissions regulations 01:39:20 – Managing Expectations: The reality of owning a 1,000HP daily driver

Nick Plocienik returns to break down his rapid rise from grassroots racing into Porsche Cup cars, GT4/GT3 machinery, and his first IMSA experience at Daytona. He dives into the pressure of real race environments, the chaos of a last-minute car swap, and what it takes to compete at a higher level. We also get into his 1000HP Camaro build for Pikes Peak, sim vs real-world driving, and the mindset behind chasing a full-time racing career.

Take your build up a whole new level with 6XD Gearbox: https://6xdgearbox.com

Code "Minnoxide5" for 5% off

High Performance Academy: https://hpcdmy.co/Minnoxide

Use code "MINNOX" for 55% off ANY course

Use Code "MINVIP" for $300 of the MINVIP Package

Tuned By Shawn: https://www.tunedbyshawn.com

Code "Minnoxide" for 5% off!

Ship With Sure Thing Logistics: https://www.surethinglogistics.net

MORE BIGGER Turbo T-Shirts:  https://www.minnoxide.com/products/more-bigger-t-shirt

00:00 Intro and Racing Progress Since Last Appearance

01:10 From NASA to Porsche Cup Cars

04:00 Camaro vs Porsche: Learning Different Platforms

06:00 GT4 / GT3 Experience & Pro-Level Testing

10:30 Preparing for Pikes Peak and Getting Accepted

15:00 Sim Racing vs Real Life Racing

18:20 Learning New Tracks and Finding Speed

21:00 Pressure, Confidence & Race Mindset

24:00 Camaro Evolution + Race Build Progression

27:00 MoTeC, 6XD Sequential Gearbox & Build Complexity

30:00 Engineers, Data & Life Inside a Race Team

41:20 Daytona Experience and Race Day Chaos

50:30 Camaro Setup, Testing Plans & Truck Build

1:08:00 Future Goals, Sponsors & What’s Next

Jay Meagher of RS Garage joins us to break down engine building, fastener science, and what it really takes to build high-horsepower cars. From 2JZ setups and transmission choices to the reality of running a performance shop, this episode dives deep into both the technical and business sides of the industry.

Take your build up a whole new level with 6XD Gearbox: https://6xdgearbox.com

Code "Minnoxide5" for 5% off

High Performance Academy: https://hpcdmy.co/Minnoxide

Use code "MINNOX" for 55% off ANY course

Use Code "MINVIP" for $300 of the MINVIP Package

Tuned By Shawn: https://www.tunedbyshawn.com

Code "Minnoxide" for 5% off!

Ship With Sure Thing Logistics: https://www.surethinglogistics.net

MORE BIGGER Turbo T-Shirts:  https://www.minnoxide.com/products/more-bigger-t-shirt

00:00 Intro

00:55 The Future of the Car Scene

03:27 Modding Cheap Cars, Rust & Barrier to Entry

07:46 Best Platforms for Young Builders and Picking The First Build

13:43 Learning Cars Today (YouTube, ChrisFix, Info Access)

17:35 What Jay Is Still Learning (Business, Ethics & Hardware)

20:58 Engine Building vs Tuning

24:05 Fastener Science (Torque, Clamp Load & Failures)

32:13 Advanced Hardware, Materials & Engine Mistakes

34:49 The Supra Build: Starting Over

37:09 Transmission Talk, Liberty, Dog Boxes & Reliability

41:22 The “Fun Zone” for Power

44:02 Shop Growth: Hiring, Teaching & Paying Talent

01:07:40 Engine Break-In, Startup Process & First Run Philosophy

01:15:30 Data, Tuning Approach & Real-World Testing Mindset

01:24:26 Cooling Strategy, Power Delivery & Traction Reality

01:33:00 Compression Ratio, Fuel Choice & Engine Durability

01:58:00 ECU Control, Throttle Limiting & Managing Big Power

02:08:30 Business, Money & Long-Term Thinking in the Industry

02:17:11 Life Perspective & Closing Thoughts

Tom Taschner of Lucky 8 Performance joins the show to talk about moving from Austria to the United States to pursue drag racing and to build a performance shop . We dive into the differences between European and American car culture, drag & drive racing, and Tom’s twin-turbo Caprice build.

Take your build up a whole new level with 6XD Gearbox: https://6xdgearbox.com Code

"Minnoxide5" for 5% off

High Performance Academy: https://hpcdmy.co/Minnoxide

Use code "MINNOX" for 55% off ANY course

Use Code "MINVIP" for $300 of the MINVIP Package

Tuned By Shawn: https://www.tunedbyshawn.com

Code "Minnoxide" for 5% off!

Ship With Sure Thing Logistics: https://www.surethinglogistics.net

MORE BIGGER Turbo T-Shirts:  https://www.minnoxide.com/products/more-bigger-t-shirt

00:00 Intro

01:48 Moving from Austria to the U.S. + early shop life

06:06 Discovering Drag Week + Europe’s drag racing scene

10:06 Why Tom moved to America and building a performance shop

12:24 Tom’s first wild race car projects + dragster history

19:37 The Caprice build: LS combo, twin turbos, and drag-and-drive goals 31:49 Customer builds, wiring, trucks, and shop work

37:04 Lifted truck culture in Europe vs America

43:12 Favorite platforms, tuning, shop future, and long-term risk

49:33 Audi / VW talk and fast European builds

Kelly Aiken of Kelltrac joins us to break down suspension setup, traction, and why chassis tuning often matters more than horsepower. We dive deep into Mustang's, drag racing suspension theory, and the growing single-cab F-150 drag truck scene. If you want to understand how shock valving, spring rates, and geometry actually make cars faster, this episode is a masterclass. T

ake your build up a whole new level with 6XD Gearbox: https://6xdgearbox.com

Code "Minnoxide5" for 5% off

High Performance Academy: https://hpcdmy.co/Minnoxide

Use code "MINNOX" for 55% off ANY course

Use Code "MINVIP" for $300 of the MINVIP Package

Tuned By Shawn: https://www.tunedbyshawn.com

Code "Minnoxide" for 5% off! Ship With

Sure Thing Logistics: https://www.surethinglogistics.net

MORE BIGGER Turbo T-Shirts:  https://www.minnoxide.com/products/more-bigger-t-shirt

00:00 Intro

08:12 How Kelly Got Into Cars, Drag Racing & the Mustang Scene

16:34 From Side Hustle to BMR Suspension Development

24:41 The S550 Mustang IRS Revolution & Suspension Design

33:07 Building Performance Suspension Parts That Actually Work

41:56 Why Most Suspension Parts Are Copies (Industry Reality)

50:18 The Truth About Mustang IRS Lockout Kits

58:47 Suspension Setup vs Just Adding Power

1:07:30 Why Traction Beats Horsepower in Drag Racing

1:27:44 Single Cab F-150's and Making Suspension Setups Work

1:45:10 Shock Travel, Spring Rates & Compression Explained

1:54:18 Coilovers vs Traditional Spring/Perch Suspension

2:04:35 Road Course vs Drag Suspension Theory

2:15:12 Anti-Dive Geometry, Weight Transfer & Braking Physics

2:26:48 Controlling Wheelies With Suspension Valving

2:38:57 The Future of Performance Suspension Design

2:52:40 Final Technical Insights + Suspension Advice