Ten Questions With: Troy Trepanier of Rad Rides by Troy

 

Series Intro by Bret Voelkel:

We are very proud to debut a new series of articles called “Ten Questions With…” Our first guest will be Troy Trepanier. I first met Troy in 1988 at the Street Machine Nationals in DuQuoin, Ill. He and his dad Jack stopped by the Auto Meter display where I worked at the time. They inquired about a choice parking spot for Troy’s first car build, a raspberry-colored 1966 Chevelle. Troy was just 16 at the time, but he already had a bundle of talent and energy. 30 years later, I am proud to call him a customer, the world’s finest car builder, and most importantly, a friend.

Look for RideTech’s weekly email every Thursday. While these “Ten Questions With…” articles may not be a weekly occurrence, we intend to feature this series on a regular basis, chatting with car builders, business owners, and other groundbreaking people in the hot rod industry!

 

Troy Trepanier, like most hot rod greats, started out building cars in his garage and showing them off at shows for all to enjoy.

RideTech: When you built your first cars, the 1966 Chevelle and “Pro Box,” the Sea Foam Green 1960 Impala, was it your goal to turn your hobby into a career?

Troy: I don’t know that it was, initially. I really wasn’t sure where it would lead. At the time, I was working for my dad during the day. I guess I was just having fun creating something of my own on the side. The other part of building those early cars for myself was getting to meet new people at the shows and talking about what we had built. One of my earliest connections in the industry was Bret Voelkel, who then was working for BDS (Blower Drive Service) or Auto Meter and now, of course, owns RideTech.

 

Remember the eBay “Fast Forward” Mustang? Like a lot of Rad Rides cars, it used RideTech Shockwaves (then Air Ride Technologies). The list of iconic Rad Rides builds is quite long and spans three decades.

RideTech: At what point in your career did you know your shop was going to be successful?

Troy: I think the recognition my first few cars received had a large part to do with the transition into a successful business. My first several builds were for myself, not for customers. Two of those cars were chosen as Hot Rod Magazine car of the year. Pro Box in 1990 and Bumongous (named by the late great Gray Baskerville) in 1992. Having such great exposure early on, I gained the attention of individuals like George Poteet who then asked me to build the Sniper for him. I think professionally, that was the point that I thought, “I can make a living doing this, and possibly be successful doing it.”

 

Agness, Wes and Vivian Rydell’s stunning 1940 Olds, won the 2016 Street Rod d’Elegance in Del Mar and other accolades. She gets driven hard then returns to Rad Rides by Troy for freshening.

RideTech: If you could build any car for yourself what would it be?

Troy: I haven’t had a hot rod of my own since the early ’90s. However, for quite a while I have wanted to build a 1955 Plymouth wagon. I envision it having a street-tuned version of the turbocharged four cylinder engine that we used for a couple of years racing our first land speed car “Blowfish.” Also, paying attention to suspension, ride quality, and stance without so much attention to paint. (Possibly using a car with a nice patina and leaving it that way).

 

The hot rod life consumes a lot of weekends and travel days, but Troy finds the time to be be with his family.

RideTech: What is your favorite activity outside of building cars?

Troy: Watching and coaching my three kids in their various sports. Between the three of them they have participated in football, soccer, volleyball, basketball, track, baseball, and softball. Currently, I love watching my daughter play division 1 softball at Valparaiso University in Indiana.

 

It takes a wide range of top-notch equipment to build cars from scratch. Rad Rides’ Manteno, IL shop is a metal fabricator’s dream come true with English Wheels, sheetmetal brakes, mills and more.

RideTech: If you could work with anyone, past or present, who would it be?

Troy: Well, he wasn’t necessarily a car guy, but probably Howard Hughes. His drive and determination along with his business sense and ingenuity were unparalleled. Working with someone like that, I think would be an awesome learning experience for anyone who admires those qualities.

 

Troy takes pride in the fact that his shop builds a wide range of  hot rods. This scratch-built, 32 foot long streamliner is a prime example. It’s powered by an angry small block Chevy.

RideTech: If you had your own TV series, what would you call it?

Troy: I think the obvious choice would be “Rad Rides.” We have never focused on a particular type of car. We have done street rods, customs, street machines, race cars, and even a specialty all-terrain camera kart for the movie industry. “Rad Rides” seems like a title that is all-encompassing.

 

RideTech: Is there a particular piece of any car you have built over the years that is your favorite?

Troy: I am more of a mechanical guy, so from a fabrication and an overall enjoyment standpoint, I love designing and building chassis for our race cars. When I see the Blowfish chassis or the Mariani’s Streamliner chassis I think, those are impressive pieces, but more that that they were fun to create with the guys in the shop. Aside from the chassis work, I love some of the machined parts we have done recently, specifically the wheels we have been making for our in-house builds. I think having the control to completely design, program and machine parts in house, has given us an opportunity tailor those pieces to the car and ending up with a great balance of form and function.

Blowfish wowed the custom car universe by delivering a level of fit, finish and detail not normally seen on race cars.

RideTech: If the world was coming to an end and you only had time to take one car for a drive, what would it be?

Troy: Blowfish. …our Bonneville record-holder Barracuda race car.   … at 300+ mph!

Jack Trepanier, with his omnipresent smile, was an integral part of Rad Rides’ success. He was a great ambassador for the world of hot rodding.

 

RideTech: I know there are many, but what is your favorite quote from Jack?

Troy: Whenever anyone would ask Jack what was Rad Rides’ greatest asset around the shop, he would answer “His dad!”

CNC machines and rapid prototyping have taken the world of high-end custom cars to stratospheric heights.

 

RideTech: If Rad Rides didn’t become successful, did you have different career in mind?

Troy: An astronaut. However, I think you need a pretty good education for that. I do have four years of college eligibility left though. Ha ha ha!

To learn more about Rad Rides by Troy, click HERE

6 thoughts on “Ten Questions With: Troy Trepanier of Rad Rides by Troy

  1. John McLeod says:

    Troy will always be a hero to me, his vision and drive have been a inspiration for me to continue to seek
    perfection. Troy has said and believes that it MUST be done right or not at all.

    Great Interview and for the Record, Bret and the Team at Ride Tech has again proven that Hard work and
    Quality Craftsmanship builds success.

  2. Jake Perry says:

    Troy, is one of the nicest people in the hot rodding business. Know him has been a good thing.
    Bret is a friend as well I met this both over 30 years ago and both are just awesome parents and builders.

  3. John Fetherling says:

    Dear Troy, I have lived in Manteno for some 24 years now. I have been on the Planning Commission and ZBA for 22 years, I was chairman for 10 years before I had open Heart like your Dad, I am also the Chairman of the Kankakee County Zoning Board Of Appeals for the last 4 years and on the Board for 12 years now. I also worked for Tile Works and More after my heart attacks and surgery. I ran the installations for Randy. And a crew of 24 guys. We did a lot of work in your showroom here in Manteno. I talked to you a few times then. My brother built a 30 model A, restored a 63 all original Corvette. I helped him a lot on both cars. I stick mostly to fishing and boats for now. I haven’t felt right since my quadruple bypass in 2002. Every one asks me if I have ever been in your shop for a tour, and I never have. Just a few politics victory party’s hosted by your dad years ago. I was really hoping to get my brother Bill and I a tour sometime. We are both retired so we can come during the day. My brother is always bugging me to call you and see the place in action. Or bring his car over for you to see. it’s a chopped 30 model A 3 deuces jet black beautiful all steel car. You could make my bucket list a little shorter if you could meet us. feel free to contact me on my cell phone John Fetherling 815-263-4033.

  4. JOHN NELSON says:

    TROY has always been very friendly when going to his shop. His cars speak for themselves the craftsmanship to detail is incredibly. I was very impressed when the cars in metal almost look to good to finish with paint because the detail is great. I have been to alot of shops all the way out to the west coast and would find it hard to find very many shops to have such high standards that shows how much pride TROY and there shop takes when building cars. I was fortunate to have met Jack at goodguys and he was very cheerful and knowledgeable about the cars that were built . HE will be missd but not forgotten.

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