Podcasts about forgeline

David Schardt is the President and CEO of Forgeline Motorsports, a premier manufacturer of custom, lightweight forged wheels for high-performance and racing applications. In 1994, David co-founded Forgeline in Dayton, Ohio alongside his twin brother, Steve Schardt — their passion rooted in the family's long-standing involvement in the wheel business. With decades of hands-on experience in both distribution and manufacturing, David has helped grow Forgeline into a respected name in motorsports and automotive customization. Beyond business, he's a fan of muscle cars, racing, and the movie Tommy Boy. In this episode… Innovation in automotive wheels has evolved from basic functionality to bespoke design and racing performance. With customer expectations rising and technology advancing, companies must deliver both aesthetics and durability. How do you create a product that meets the intense demands of professional racers and car enthusiasts alike? According to David Schardt of Forgeline Motorsports, the key lies in customization, precision, and relentless quality control. By developing fully forged wheels made-to-order for specific applications, Forgeline has filled a crucial niche in the racing and high-performance vehicle market. David also emphasizes the importance of staying hands-on and leveraging strong partnerships, such as the company's majority-stake acquisition by Lacks Enterprises, to scale responsibly. On this episode of Gain Traction, Mike Edge welcomes David for a conversation about the origins of Forgeline, lessons from the wheel distribution business, overcoming anxiety in leadership, and what's next for the brand. David also shares a behind-the-scenes story of a near-disaster with a high-end show car — and how his team saved the day just in time. Here's a glimpse of what you'll learn:  [03:13] The Schardt family's multi-generational roots in the wheel industry [09:50] Why Forgeline was created to meet the needs of grassroots racers [10:29] How David and Steve found complementary strengths as co-founders [11:19] Why Forgeline sold a majority stake to Lacks Enterprises [12:24] Future goals: Forgeline wheels on OEM limited edition vehicles [12:48] The power of the Forgeline website gallery as a sales tool [14:18] How Tommy Boy resonates with anyone in sales [16:45] The unforgettable story of a $300k custom Camaro getting rear-ended Resources mentioned in this episode: David Schardt Forgeline Forged Alloy Wheels Tire Discounters American Racing Dayton Wire Wheel Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway Mike Edge on LinkedIn Tread Partners Quotable Moments:  "Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway — that book changed my life and how I approach business decisions." "We started with one wheel style and one finish. Now we have nearly 200 and countless options." "My brother Steve is the sales guy, I'm the guy who runs the business — it just works for us." "We're aiming to have Forgeline wheels featured on limited edition OEM vehicles within five years." "The gallery on our website is our best sales tool — it shows people exactly what our wheels look like on their car." Action Steps:  Embrace discomfort in leadership: Use the “feel the fear and do it anyway” mindset to push through hesitation. Identify and complement team strengths: Build a business where co-founders and team members focus on their best-fit roles. Leverage product customization for growth: Offer personalized options to meet unique customer demands and increase value. Use digital galleries as a sales tool: Showcase real-world product applications to build credibility and drive conversions. Plan for strategic partnerships: Consider acquisitions or alliances that bring new resources and fuel business expansion. Sponsor for this episode... This episode is brought to you by Tread Partners.  At Tread Partners, we provide digital marketing for multi-location tire dealers and auto repair shops.  By using our strategy, branding, and marketing services, we help shops sell more tires and put more cars in bays. We've helped companies like Action Gator Tire, Colony Tire and Service, and Ulmer's Auto Care Center bring extreme growth in paid leads, ROI, and searches.  So, what are you waiting for? Visit www.treadpartners.com or email info@treadpartners.com to learn more.

Love them or hate them, Electric Vehicles (EVs) are here, so why not hammer the s%&t out of them on a race track just like we've been doing the old internal combustion engine (ICE) for years and years!Use ‘PODCAST75' for $75 off your first HPA course here: https://hpcdmy.co/hpa-tuned-inBattery degradation & performance, $600 'Bonus Module' for 2 seconds a lap improvement, trackside sharing and more with Jordan Priestley of ReVolting Performance as he runs us through this 2021 Model 3 Performance Tesla while competing at the Optima Batteries street car challenge.The car runs a number of Unplugged Performance suspension components and 4 point roll bar with JRi double adjustable shocks,  AP Racing brake package & square (same size front to rear) 19x11 Forgeline wheels wrapped in 305/30R19 Falkens.Interestingly the battery level does operate within certain 'sweet spots' in relation to charge, with Jordan noting a 40mph loss of speed climbing up the hill at Laguna Seca at lesser charges. He also touches on his trackside generator charging setup, a common question from those interested in how EV guys manage battery charge during track/race days.There is a long way to go with EVs to get them anywhere close to being the same when it comes to how a race weekend looks compared to someone just tipping E85 or similar in the tank, but racing is racing, and it's great to see some earlier adopters keen for some new challenges.

(Audio from our YouTube VlogCast) Now there is a lot that went into the making of this truck when considered that it is what Ford is considering a new take on what is commonly referred to as a Resto-Mod. Based on a 1978 F-100 pickup, the F-100 Eluminator concept features an all-wheel-drive system via two powerful electric motors shared with the 2021 Mustang Mach-E GT Performance Edition. Ford is saying that the F-100 Eluminator concept is a preview of how they are supporting customers as they go all-electric and embrace zero-tailpipe emissions performance, even for older vehicles. The all-electric F-100 Eluminator concept was designed and created by Ford Performance in collaboration with MLe Racecars and sits on a custom Roadster Shop chassis. It's painted in the popular Avalanche Gray with Cerakote Copper accents applied by Brand X Customs, while the interior features a billet aluminum dash by JJR Fabrication and avocado-tanned leather upholstery by MDM Upholstery. It's also equipped with custom 19x10-inch billet aluminum three-piece wheels by Forgeline that are able to accept OEM hubcaps, wrapped in Michelin® Latitude® Sport 275/45-19 high-performance tires. Globally, the vehicle performance parts and accessories industry generates approximately $50 billion annually, which covers hardware for everything from hot rods to off-road vehicles, and from mobile electronics to vehicle accessories. Ford Vehicle Personalization and Ford Performance Parts continue to add new choices for customers, like the Eluminator e-crate motor, as the shift to electric vehicles accelerates. It's the first of what will become a growing portfolio of performance parts and accessories for Ford electric vehicles. Over time, Ford Performance plans to develop a wider list of components for the Eluminator powertrain with some of the leading performance manufacturers, including battery systems, controllers, and traction inverters to close the loop on full turnkey aftermarket electrification solutions. The truck has also been reviewed by CNBC's Phil LeBeau joins Shep Smith to discuss an all-new concept truck from Ford, the F-100 Eluminator pickup, which has a body based on a design from 1978, but runs on new electric technology. #Ford #FordPerformance #ELuminator #ElectricF100 --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/thepartsandservicedesk/support

Welcome to the Show! Welcome to the Optima Search For the Ultimate Street Car Series Podcast! This show is produced twice-per-month show and will be a great way to keep people informed on everything going on, from rules discussions, to event coverage, and to feature interviews with competitors and people of interest! The show is […]

Welcome to the Show! Welcome to the Optima Search For the Ultimate Street Car Series Podcast! This show is produced twice-per-month show and will be a great way to keep people informed on everything going on, from rules discussions, to event coverage, and to feature interviews with competitors and people of interest! The show is […]

All aftermarket parts are not created equal. Sure, a set of rims can turn a plain Jane daily driver into a head turner, but when it comes to true performance, superior quality materials and engineering are where the rubber really meets the road. The same holds true for batteries, which run the gamut from practical to powerhouse. In this episode, Kevin and Willie nerd out over both in conversations with Forgeline’s David Schardt and ODYSSEY Battery’s Alan Kohler.  Learn more about your ad-choices at https://news.iheart.com/podcast-advertisers

Our V8 Radio hosts Kevin Oeste and Mike Clarke always enjoy learning the stories of how performance parts companies came to be, and today, Kevin recalls his recent visit to Forgeline Motorsports. Forgeline builds racing wheels that are also quite popular on the street in the Pro-Touring market, and Kevin shares the history asa well as the manufacturing techniques of this uniquely family-owned American racing wheel company. Oh yeah, and this is the longest trivia question segment to date, and Mike and Kevin apologize for that, but it just happened that way.

Our V8 Radio hosts Kevin Oeste and Mike Clarke always enjoy learning the stories of how performance parts companies came to be, and today, Kevin recalls his recent visit to Forgeline Motorsports. Forgeline builds racing wheels that are also quite popular on the street in the Pro-Touring market, and Kevin shares the history asa well as the manufacturing techniques of this uniquely family-owned American racing wheel company. Oh yeah, and this is the longest trivia question segment to date, and Mike and Kevin apologize for that, but it just happened that way.

Our V8 Radio hosts Kevin Oeste and Mike Clarke always enjoy learning the stories of how performance parts companies came to be, and today, Kevin recalls his recent visit to Forgeline Motorsports. Forgeline builds racing wheels that are also quite popular on the street in the Pro-Touring market, and Kevin shares the history asa well as the manufacturing techniques of this uniquely family-owned American racing wheel company. Oh yeah, and this is the longest trivia question segment to date, and Mike and Kevin apologize for that, but it just happened that way.

Our V8 Radio hosts Kevin Oeste and Mike Clarke always enjoy learning the stories of how performance parts companies came to be, and today, Kevin recalls his recent visit to Forgeline Motorsports. Forgeline builds racing wheels that are also quite popular on the street in the Pro-Touring market, and Kevin shares the history asa well as the manufacturing techniques of this uniquely family-owned American racing wheel company. Oh yeah, and this is the longest trivia question segment to date, and Mike and Kevin apologize for that, but it just happened that way.

David was born and raised in Ohio and has been there his entire life. Growing up, he was very active in outdoor activities and his dad was racing. By the time he was 18, he had his SCCA license and was racing pretty regularly. When he went to college, he started off in Accounting but changed it to HR and Psychology. During school, he wrote a business plan to distribute wheels in the Midwest. His dad owned Dayton Wire Wheels and he noticed there was a void in the market of distributing wheels. After working in a wheel & tire store after college, he decided to make his business plan a reality and begin distributing wheels. Steve (David's twin brother) and their dad originally had the idea for a custom welded 2-piece wheel that they could cater to the needs of their customers. This business also took off quickly and Steve brought David in as a partner to help manage the business. They now use their own skill sets to work together to continue to grow the company. David had to shut down the distribution business in 2007 because they couldn’t compete with the Chinese manufacturers who were selling wheels for much cheaper and consigning wheels to their customers. It was just not financially viable to continue to compete in that space so they closed the business to focus on the manufacturing wheels. Recently, they have begun using a carbon fiber barrel and their machined center section to make an extremely lightweight wheel. It drops about 10lb from their lightest wheel previously offered. These wheels are very enticing for electric car customers looking to change the look and performance of their vehicle.

Our first guest is Steve Schardt from Forgeline Wheels (@ForgelineWheels). Car season is in full swing, which is always good for business. Steve and Dan chat about SEMA, which is rapidly approaching, as well as some of the services offered by Forgeline.

Dave & Steve Schardt own and operate Forgeline Motorsports in Dayton, Ohio, a company that was founded in 1994. Steve is the Founder and Sales Manager and Dave is the President. It's there that these two brothers and a talented team manufacture the world’s finest custom made-to-order lightweight forged aluminum, street and racing performance wheels. For over 20 years Steve and David have applied their racing experience and passion for motorsports to meet their customers demands for quality products. Through high tech engineering, superior design, and unparalleled manufacturing, Forgeline provides quality, strength, safety, and durability. Both brothers are also life long motorsports enthusiasts who have raced since the 90s.

  Welcome to the Show! Welcome to the Optima Search For the Ultimate Street Car Series Podcast! This show is produced twice-per-month show and will be a great way to keep people informed on everything going on, from rules discussions, to event coverage, and to feature interviews with competitors and people of interest! The show […]

  Welcome to the Show! Welcome to the Optima Search For the Ultimate Street Car Series Podcast! This show is produced twice-per-month show and will be a great way to keep people informed on everything going on, from rules discussions, to event coverage, and to feature interviews with competitors and people of interest! The show […]