20 Things We Just Learned About Vegas Rat Rods

A truly unique show Vegas Rat Rods includes Steve Darnell and his team of WelderUp repairmen who take cars apart and put them back together into works of art. The garage is located in Las Vegas on the edge of the Las Vegas Strip and this is where the magic happens. It takes a bit of serious magic to be able to take a car and present it as a freaky Mad Max-inspired car that looks weird and vicious but runs like the wind.

And each assembly is not only time, man-hours and money investments. There are emotions associated with the creation of these one-of-a-kind beauties, often with sweat and tears. While the show primarily airs in Canada, there is a fair amount of it from the U.S. as a part of it, making it airplay and doing well in the domestic market.

And there are no trifles when it comes to building unique cars for unique clients, even if that means removing the gear and installing some wild piece of artistic imagination in its place, or removing the pedals and getting horseshoes for ranchers. owner. bizarre creations from Vegas Rat Rods came straight from the heart of the team, hoping to give the owner some lasting pride.

Here are 20 things we just learned about this amazing show. Vegas Rat Rods.

20 Steve Darnell has a heart of gold

Steve Darnell is the honorary leader of the entire WelderUp team. He is a man with an iron will who knows how to make a difference for the sake of the team. His friendship with manufacturing and working with metal began when he was in high school and has only grown stronger. His wrestling coach found out about Steve's abilities. The coach asked him to make a custom bike as he wanted to give his daughter something special for Christmas. Steve happily complied and sent the custom bike to his trainer. The bike was so durable that even today it is in great shape, and the coach's daughter still keeps it in her garage.

19 Darnell loves his roots

Steve Darnell draws inspiration from his ancestors, especially his grandfather. His grandfather was a World War II veteran who became a budding truck driver after his retirement. Steve's father also played a vital role in shaping Steve's life and career. In the 70s, he ran a steel mill. It was a time when the entire business community was overshadowed by the financial crisis. However, he was a tough man and handled it with flying colours. Steve's ancestors worked hard throughout their lives to make their dreams come true. That's exactly the mantra of Steve's life today.

18 The father-son garage bond is his mantra

Building on his love for his roots, Steve follows the same work ethic in his daily life and work. This spirit he inherited from his ancestors. In his case, the key to a prosperous life is hard work and family ties. He and his team, which also includes his two sons, are one strong family. His series is not just a car show, but something that reflects the family values ​​of the entire team. The idea was to send a message to viewers to help inspire fathers to let their kids join them in their garages. After all, it's hard work and family ties.

17 Once a star, always a star

via Motor Trend On Demand

Steve is never afraid to try new ideas. A career in television was never on his mind. But after success Vegas Rat Rodshe never looked back. Once he even expressed a desire to create a couple of new shows. In 2017, in an exclusive interview with Monsters & Critics, he stated that he would like to take part in a new show in the near future and that he is already thinking about three of them. He may have been hit by a TV bug after his successful debut. And now he is ready to enter the world of television much more widely.

16 Darnell is a big weakling

Steve Darnell is a soft hearted soul. In many of his interviews, he appears a little emotional, recalling and talking about certain life events. He even cried a little a few times in some of these interviews as the topics were quite emotional and close to his heart. WelderUp CEO Joe Jamanco had a two-year-old son who was battling childhood cancer. In characteristic WelderUp fashion, Steve gave Joe a unique build for his sick son: Rod "Rose". This shows that all members of the WelderUp family are special, and Steve shares a strong emotional connection with each of them.

15 Dieter is more than just a car enthusiast

Travis Dieter was literally born on the Las Vegas strip, that is, on the drag strip. He started his car journey at an early age. First, he played with drag bikes and cars. Then it was all about the automotive industry. Today he is known as an accomplished manufacturer and gifted artist who carved a niche for himself in the automotive world. And he is also a proud member of the WelderUp family. His craftsmanship is evident, as are all his creations, which are the perfect balance of car and art. According to Aussie Celebs, he is one of a kind designer who can turn ideas and fantasies into reality.

Vegas Rat Rods made a fortune from sponsorship money. FASS Diesel Fuel Systems, Portacool, XDP Diesel Power, NX Nitrous Express and Edwards Iron Works were some of the brands that found their target audience on this popular show. All these sponsors were satisfied with the exhibition as they were able to demonstrate their products in real situations. And they really benefited a lot from the sponsorship because they could also reach a wider range of automotive businesses. The scene was phenomenal for these sponsors and in turn made a lot of money for the WelderUp family.

13 Season 4 is dedicated to blue collars

4 Season Vegas Rat Rods was full of extreme builds. It had a lot of fun elements that viewers enjoyed throughout the season. It had two slots a week and new episodes aired on Mondays at 10pm and Tuesdays at 9pm. The best part of this season was that it was dedicated to all the hard working metalworkers on the planet. According to a car magazine, Steve grew up playing with Evel Knievel's toys as a kid, and he resurrected Knievel's Formula One dragster in the very first episode to prove it.

12 Johnson was hooked at the age of 7

Merlon Johnson was a child prodigy who is now famous for his magical shop experience. In fact, he successfully armed a go-kart with a 175cc engine. see when he was only seven years old. Johnson brings 40 years of know-how to the WelderUp family and is a key member of the team. He specializes in turbodiesel engines, especially Cummins 12-valve. He is a true enthusiast, able to inspire the younger generation of car fanatics. According to him, he ran into Steve at a car show, and this date changed his life forever, so it was an accident. His love and passion for extreme cars took wings.

11 Darnell's creativity is unlimited

Darnell is known as a creative soul who loves to take on multiple challenges that grab his attention and satisfy his passion. In 2013, FFDP recreated the magic of the 1964 classic with a song made famous by The Animals. The music video was titled "House of the Rising Sun" and featured a lot of radical hot rods. It was filmed in the middle of the desert so it was just pictured in Crazy Max. According to Autoevolution, Steve provided these Los Angeles metalheads with plenty of props and vehicles for the entire shoot.

10 WelderUp was a dream come true

The WelderUp family is rooted in ranching life in the high plains of Montana. Steve was originally a rancher before starting his automotive career. He opened a garage that catered to the needs of his fellow ranchers, mainly repairing their heavy machinery and farm equipment. Until 2008, he did not touch rat rods. But when he tuned his first car for a local car event, the praise was phenomenal. He became an overnight star and was featured in Hot Rod Magazine. The dream came true, gaining unprecedented fame in the hot rod community.

9 Customization doesn't come cheap

For every member of the WelderUp family, custom rat rods are a work of art, not just a modified car. All of them are passionate about their work and have many years of experience behind them. Each project is handled with great care so the end result is one of a kind. They take great pride in what they do as their builds are exceptional. It's like a designer model, unlike any other in the car dealership. That's why their builds cost over $100,000. They are supremely creative and the absolute best when it comes to build quality.

8 It started slow like any cool sleeper

Steve Darrell never intended to be on a TV show, for both good and bad reasons. He was passionate about engines and machines. WelderUp was his original childhood dream until he was approached by a Canadian production company to create a TV show. The show was for the Discovery Channel in Canada. Initially, the show had low ratings, but gradually it attracted more and more viewers. Steve's fortunes took on a new direction as the show gradually grew into a huge niche for the Discovery Channel. From Canada, it made its way to the US television network, and the series is now in its fourth season.

7 Kramer learned to weld at the age of 13

Justin Kramer is another pillar of the WelderUp team. He is known to his team as an outstanding welder as he is armed with incredible skills. He can weld any metal into anything. It turns out that he can design and build suspension and chassis for any car from scratch. That's why "Don't talk about it, be about it" is his life motto. It all started when he was only thirteen. He lashed out at his grandmother's welder in the shed and, out of curiosity, tried to learn the skills. He ended up destroying the entire barn in the process, but the welding error has since become firmly ingrained in his system.

6 Like father, like son(s)

Like their father, Cash and Chase Darnell are passionate about welding and mechanics. Both of his sons learn the tricks of the trade and are committed to continuing the WelderUp family legacy. They are new members of the team and the best of the best work with them as mentors. Just as Steve Darnell created the regime on his own, both of his sons are also keen to take things to a whole new level. The siblings seem to be part of the old block and seem poised to be the future producers of the WelderUp family, given that they strongly share their father's vision.

5 from model to car gal

According to TVOM, Twiggy Tallant was on the team as the producers had to invite a person from Canada to the show, and she was one of the three who fit the bill. It was indeed quite an interesting entry in Vegas Rat Rods because the show really tested her character when they let her become a full member of the garage. She never thought that she would become a TV star and was a budding model before diving into the world of TV. She was hired for a car show with rat rods on display, that's all. She changed her career goals and enrolled in an automotive technology course to become an apprentice. She calls it a "love at first sight" moment.

4 Barber Dave used to be a barber

He is legendary as Barber Dave more for his witty persona than for being the owner of a barbershop. But he was actually a barber, and Barber Dave is also the name of his barbershop. He is incredibly passionate about cars and has an amazing sense of humor. This Las Vegas native is also a craftsman by profession who loves the art of straight razors and clippers when he's not in the garage. Dave Lefleur has been on the show since day one and can be seen in his hair salon when the cameras are off. He believes that when you find your hairdresser and your workshop, they will become your refuge.

Steve Darnell wants his sons to continue the family legacy. He instills in them the same family values ​​as his ancestors. Steve got all his inspiration and perseverance from his father and ancestors. They were hardworking people with a "never say never" approach to life. All of them went through life's difficulties and always strived to be the best at all costs. Similarly, Steve looks after his sons. He began teaching his children the tricks of the trade when they were young, so that in the future they would follow in his footsteps and share a special bond with their father.

2 Many celebrities and stars want

When you are a popular family, everyone wants to hang out with you shoulder to shoulder. They want to share the spotlight in every possible way and take advantage of your success. That's exactly what's happening with vegas Rat Rods, too much. There are a bunch of reality shows on the air that have a huge following. The presence of the WelderUp team on any other TV show can certainly add more value to the show. Todd Hoffman of Gold rush, Wild Bill deadly catch, Thomas Wicks Failed Garageand Mike Henry from car counting there were some of the celebrities who wanted to collaborate with WelderUp and invite the team to their show. When this will happen, no one knows.

1 Airs in the USA, stars from Canada

Vegas Rat Rods originally aired in Canada, so the show had to have a certain number of characters from that country. It was inevitable that the Discovery Channel wanted to connect with local audiences on a more personal level. Later, with its growing popularity, it found a wider audience and reached the United States. Cheyenne Ruther, Grant Schwartz and Twiggy Tallant were the lucky few who became part of the WelderUp family. Now that the show has moved to the US network, the balance of US and Canadian actors has become a way of life for the show.

Sources: Monsters & Critics, Aussie Celebs, Automobile Magazine, Autoevolution and TVOM.