It’s been said you can do anything as long as you have passion, drive, and focus.
Even then, when you’re starting out, it can seem like the deck is stacked against you. Sam Mahdavi, the successful host of Sam’s Garage on MotorTrend TV, can attest to those early career struggles.
Fortunately, the wisdom earned and the life lessons learned become invaluable as the years unfold. As he wraps up the 11th season of his popular syndicated show, it seemed like a good time to sit down with Sam and talk about his early years.
Especially those teenage days in the California hot rod scene, his transition to becoming a championship-level drag racer, and his emergence as a radio personality and TV host. Clearly, there is a lot to unpack here.
If you want to hear our full conversation with Sam, you can check out our podcast, “Sam Mahdavi, The Host Of Sam’s Garage, Shares His Remarkable Career.”
Looking Good & Sounding Good
Rod Worley – Editor – So, with all the success you’ve had in your career, did you always know you wanted to work in the automotive industry?
Sam Mahdavi – Host of Sam’s Garage – Believe it or not, this industry was just a hobby for me in the beginning. I grew up in California during the 80s in California.
Back then, we were going through the John Travolta stage, where it was all about looking good and sounding good. I started in this career because I had a car that mechanics would charge me to fix, but it would still break down.
It got me thinking that if others can’t fix my car, maybe I should learn how to fix it myself. And that’s what I did.
So, I bought myself a set of wrenches and started working as a mechanic for Goodyear in Alpharetta, Georgia. I quickly moved from changing the oil to alignment tech and finally to a technician.
Later, my father, brother, and I started Mahdavi Motorsports coincidentally on my birthday, April 12th, 1999. What set us apart was that we fixed the car instead of just throwing parts at the problem.
The client would tell us the problem; we would fix the car and save the client money. We also did performance upgrades and eventually went into engine swaps and turbo systems.
That’s what got us into racing.
NDRA Drag Racing Champion
Rod Worley – Editor – Sam, you’ve had considerable success in your career. For example, in 2004, you were on the winning team at the SEMA Installers Challenge.
But you’ve also had success behind the wheel, winning numerous drag racing championships and the “Pinks” competition on the Speed Channel. Can you shed some light on those accomplishments?
Sam Mahdavi – Host of Sam’s Garage – The 2004 SEMA Installers Challenge was a head-to-head competition where they would give you 48 or 72 hours to do your best modifications to the car they gave you.
Your team would work on the car all night and the next day to build the best car. Not only did we win against intense competition, but it was the first time I had a chance to be on TV with Sam Memmolo, whom I later partnered with on radio and TV.
What got me behind the wheel was the collaboration with Dan Woolley and Greased Lightning. We started off in 2005 with import car drag racing in the Nopi Drag Racing Association (NDRA) series.
From there, we went on to win two NDRA drag racing championships and many other NRDA podium appearances. That racing success has allowed Mahdavi Motorsports to develop a national reputation for building reliable trophy-winning horsepower for both imports and domestics.
Sam Memmolo
Rod Worley – Editor – Your radio show with Sam Memmolo from Shadetree Mechanic was a staple for many auto enthusiasts. It sounded like the two of you were having a great time every week.
Sam Mahdavi – Host of Sam’s Garage – We really did have fun doing that radio show. As you know, Sam Memmolo was a pioneer in automotive television.
Many of us remember Sam and his co-star Dave Bowman from the television shows Motorhead Garage, Shadetree Mechanic, and the Two Guys Garage series. At the same time, he had a popular syndicated radio show called Sam’s Garage.
In 2010, I was fortunate enough to get a phone call from Sam to be his co-host. We went on to do a live Saturday morning radio show together for ten years until he retired.
People would call in from across the country and even internationally with vehicle problems, and we would advise them. Some of these people were in rural America, where the closest dealership was hundreds of miles away.
They would call us and describe the problem, and we would advise them on how to fix it. The best part was when they would call back and thank us for solving the problem.
The audience had a chance to learn, and we did, too. I owe so much to Sam Memmolo for his friendship and mentorship and for that experience.
A Passion For Helping
Spend some time talking with Sam Mahdavi, and later on, you’ll find yourself out in the garage looking under the hood of your car. His confidence in automotive repair quickly rubs off on you.
Through the weekly radio show, it was easy to feel Sam’s genuine passion for helping others. The same holds true for his TV episodes.
If you haven’t tuned in, we suggest you click on one of the links below. You’ll undoubtedly pick up some automotive pointers and be entertained along the way.
Contact Information
Website: Mahdavi Motorsports
Where to watch Sam’s Garage: MotorTrend TV – MAVTV – REV’N
Social Media: Facebook – YouTube – Instagram
Podcasts: Apple iTunes – Google Podcasts
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