With the Good Guys show in town, MMI played host to the hot rod tour as one of their poker run stops. Participants got to tour the shop and visit with the MMI crew.

As is tradition, Mike Hamrick from ‪@WilwoodDiscBrakes‬ stopped by to hang out with Mike Maier and discuss the latest news. Thankfully he was willing to join us for our Friday Morning Coffee.

In this video we’ll talk about the long history between MMI and Wilwood, pull back the covers on why Wilwood loves working with independent shops, and talk about what’s on the horizon for this long-standing partnership.

Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and hit the notification bell to stay updated with our latest content. Have a topic you’d like Mike to discuss in future videos? Drop us a comment below!

Thank you for watching, and we look forward to bringing you more insightful conversations and automotive expertise!

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We’re back! It’s been a few extra weeks since our last video and we have a lot to catch up on. Grab your cup of coffee and join us for Fridays at MMI!

This week we’re catching up on lost time, from family vacations and vintage Ferraris to shop updates and production, and even new swag! We’ll also talk about our new team member at the shop and our plans for the rest of the year.

Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and hit the notification bell to stay updated with our latest content. Have a topic you’d like Mike to discuss in future videos? Drop us a comment below!

Thank you for watching, and we look forward to bringing you more insightful conversations and automotive expertise!

The post Friday Mornings at MMI – Ep. 6, Catching Up appeared first on Mike Maier Inc.

Carb or fuel injection? Chrome bumpers or plastic? The differences between modifying old cars versus new cars is endless. But if you were starting a project today, which should you choose? The old car that needs rust repair, or the new car with a mysterious check engine code?

In today’s episode, Mike walks us through his experience modifying two of the same car, only 50ish years apart (Old Blue & New Blue) and the trials and successes of each.

Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and hit the notification bell to stay updated with our latest content. Have a topic you’d like Mike to discuss in future videos? Drop us a comment below!

Thank you for watching, and we look forward to bringing you more insightful conversations and automotive expertise!

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The origins of our MOD1 product line start way back in the late 60s with the introduction of not only the Mustang, but two performance books written by early racers of the Boss Mustang. One of them, the “Boss 302 Chassis Modification Manual” laid out a step-by-step guide for a faster car. What followed was 50+ years of adaptation and innovation.

Mike walks us through the origins of the book, what it meant to Mustang racers, and how its chapters are still profoundly relevant today.

Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and hit the notification bell to stay updated with our latest content. Have a topic you’d like Mike to discuss in future videos? Drop us a comment below!

Thank you for watching, and we look forward to bringing you more insightful conversations and automotive expertise!

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Autocross season is upon us! In this video, Mike Maier walks Kyle through some of the key things to think about and work on during his first test n’ tune and race weekend.

They cover a variety of topics including:

• What to feel for in a practice session
• How to start dialing in your suspension and setup
• What you should expect during your first event of the season
• How you can use tools to improve your racing over time

Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and hit the notification bell to stay updated with our latest content. Have a topic you’d like Mike to discuss in future videos? Drop us a comment!

Thank you for watching, and we look forward to bringing you more insightful conversations and automotive expertise!

Looking for the racing sheets? Here you go!

Car Setup Sheet

Tire Setup Sheet

The post Friday Mornings at MMI – Ep. 3, First Event of the Season appeared first on Mike Maier Inc.

If you’ve been paying attention to our social media, you may have seen a few pictures of an old friend pop up… Ol’ Blue is back! Grab your coffee and join us for conversation about the return of a legend and what it’s meant for the Maier family.

In this video, Mike Maier shares his experience getting the car up and running after a 5-year hiatus along with some of the difficulties (both mentally and physically) with returning to a neglected project. He also weighs in on sharing the passion for old cars with his family, and suggests ways to get your family interested in your Mustang build.

Have a topic you’d like Mike to discuss in future videos? Drop us a comment below! Thank you for watching, and we look forward to bringing you more insightful conversations and automotive expertise!

The post Friday Mornings at MMI – Ep. 2, The Return of Ol’ Blue appeared first on Mike Maier Inc.

Grab your coffee and join us for an enlightening discussion on the complexities, challenges, and innovations surrounding ball joints in the automotive industry.

In this video, Mike Maier shares his extensive knowledge and firsthand experiences dealing with the trials and tribulations of ball joints. From the technical aspects and manufacturing challenges to real-world applications and the impact on vehicle performance, this conversation covers it all.

Have a topic you’d like Mike to discuss in future videos? Drop us a comment below! Thank you for watching, and we look forward to bringing you more insightful conversations and automotive expertise!

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Bill was born in 1939 to a family forged in the Great Depression. He grew up hearing “be thankful for what you have” and “don’t be wistful for anything.” But like most ambitious young men, this had the opposite effect. Bill dreamed of being a race car driver, wearing alligator skin boots and the hottest new sunglasses while driving his Lincoln and listening to Elvis on the radio. This wasthe antithesis of his upbringing.

After moving out of the family house, Bill joined the Air Force in the early 1960s. While stationed in the South, he grew to appreciate California values of equality and discovered street jazz in New Orleans. After his time in the South was done, he finished his service at Travis Air Force Base. He worked long shifts at Travis at night and then doubled up during the day, working for a guy named Auto in the Bay Area repairing cars. He had a knack for long working hours and grit.

During this time, he bought himself a 1955 Porsche. He entered autocrosses on weekends and started to rack up wins, revealing his next skill: he was a wheel man. As racing got its claws into Bill, he had his eye on two new things: upgrading his racer to the next faster option and the hot little blonde who lived across the street from his parents’ house.

Bill started out road racing his new Austin Healey and mastered the art of standing starts and keeping the brakes cool. On the off weekends, the hot little blonde, known as the Fox, would help him change plugs and bleed brakes. Seeing the new 1965 Hot Rod magazine centerfold changed everything. It was the new 1965 Shelby. All bets were off except for the blonde. Bill’s focus was now the Mustang. He traded in his daily driver, a Pontiac, for his first Shelby, the first of many moves in his love affair with the Mustang.

As Bill started to race his Mustangs, he noticed that there were very few parts available for these amazing cars. He built a relationship with Hayward Ford, and the cast was set. Mustangs needed parts, and the boys at Hayward Ford could be friends to lean on. Bill became known as the Mustang guy who road raced, unlike most others who drag raced. This drew attention to all the locals who were attracted to this new scene.

In 1967, Bill married the Fox, now Shirley Maier. In 1969, Bill gathered support from Shirley, Bill’s mother Margaret, and their future lifelong friend Jerry Lecatsas to start Maier Racing in the back of the Maier house garage. At the same time, Bill and Shirley had their first child, Charlie. In true Maier style, they were all in, racing their 1968 coupe, building a business, and raising a loving family surrounded by friends. And as they say, off to the races!

In 1973, Bill and Shirley had their second son, Eddie. As the business grew, so did the racing wins. In 1976, Bill won driver of the year in SCCA A sedan. In 1977, Bill and Shirley had their third son, Mike. The company was now in a building down the road, and a beautiful home was being built up in the hills of Hayward overlooking the bay. By 1979, Bill found himself with his crew traveling the entire circuit of the SCCA Trans Am series. He was the only one to complete the entire series that year.

In the early 1980s, Bill and Shirley bought the warehouse that would produce the majority of Mustang enthusiast aftermarket parts throughout the next several decades. They sold body kits to the studios that created famous Mustangs like the convertible from Interspace, the Elanor Mustang, and many others, including Vaughn Gittin Jr.’s RTR-X and the hit TV show Overhaulin’. Not to mention the countless customer builds that relied on Bill’s designs. Magazine editors from Peterson Publishing were a constant at the Maier shop looking for fresh content. Front covers, back covers, and multiple articles in between referencing the Maier name were now the norm.

Handcrafting parts with care, supporting the local community, and never giving up were Bill’s guiding principles. He knew that to achieve his goals, he needed to be healthy in mind and body. The whole family went to the local church every Saturday night at five, and youth group sports during the week. His children’s sports were of the utmost importance. He jogged three days a week, rain or shine, and lifted free weights the other three days a week to ensure that he could keep up with his busy lifestyle. Being a huge fan of Jack LaLanne, Bill started to build up equipment for his own gym in one corner of his warehouse. He was a huge fitness enthusiast. Everything came together to create the look he had always dreamed of, driving his Lincoln with his hot new sunglasses on, alligator boots on his feet, Elvis on the radio, and his little hot blonde by his side. Bill achieved his dreams. He dreamt of a scene where all sorts of cool parts were available at our fingertips, something that was not normal in his time. He dreamt of the life he wished to have: a race car driver, a loving dad, husband, and true friend. To achieve these goals, one must have a tenacious will, vision when others do not, and incredible self-belief. For this, I say that I am sorry for our loss. But the greatest loss would be if we were not inspired and thankful for his example.

The post Remembering Bill Maier appeared first on Mike Maier Inc.

We had several customers come by the shop to talk cars and hang out. It was great seeing you all and we hope to see you again next year!

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