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In this episode of Gearheads n’ Gasoline, Barry Alt and Jesse Henke from JH Restorations sit down with Karl Schulman, General Manager of Garret’s Rod Shop, for a conversation about cars, craftsmanship, career pivots, and the way life has a funny way of circling back around.

Karl shares how his love for cars and machining started early, thanks to the influence of his stepdad, Garret. What began as building homemade street rod parts on a mill and lathe eventually grew into a lifelong connection to the automotive world. From learning the trade at night school, to landing his first machining job at Creative Tool and Die, to later teaching the very class that helped launch his own career, Karl’s story is rooted in hands-on skill, persistence, and a willingness to follow the next open door.

The conversation also dives into Karl’s 18-year career teaching high school students machine trades, helping young people find real career paths in skilled labor, engineering, and the automotive industry. After stepping away from formal education in 2022, Karl joined Garret’s Rod Shop full-time, where he has worked to earn his place, support major build projects, and help guide the shop into its next chapter.

This episode is a thoughtful look at the intersection of family, trade education, hot rod culture, and the future of custom automotive craftsmanship. It’s a reminder that the skills, people, and experiences we pick up along the way often come back around when we need them most.

Key Takeaways:

• Every experience can come full circle
• Garret played a major role in Karl’s automotive foundation
• Machining became more than a skill
• Getting a start in the trades takes persistence
• Good relationships matter in business
• Teaching became an unexpected but meaningful chapter
• Trade education remains critical
• Joining the family business came with responsibility
• Garret’s Rod Shop is entering a new chapter
• The future of custom automotive work depends on skill transfer

Guest Bio:
Karl Schluman is the General Manager and face of Garret’s Rod Shop, where his lifelong passion for cars, machining, and craftsmanship comes full circle. Introduced to the trade by his stepdad, Garret, Karl built a career spanning machining, auto parts, and 18 years teaching high school machine trades before joining the family shop in 2022. Today, he helps guide Garret’s Rod Shop into its next chapter.

Guest:
Karl Schulman, Garret's Rod Shop

• garretsrodshop.com
• facebook.com/garretsrodshop
• instagram.com/garretsrodshop

Host:
Barry Alt, Motorhead Digital

• maximizesales@motorheaddigital.com
• motorheaddigital.com
• facebook.com/Motorhead.Digital
• instagram.com/motorhead.digital
• linkedin.com/company/motorhead-digital

Co-Host:
Jesse Henke, JH Restorations

• jhrestojesse@gmail.com
• Website: jhrestorations.ca
• Facebook: facebook.com/jhrestorations
• Instagram: instagram.com/jh_restorations

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