Vintage Air is one of the founding companies of the SEMA Hot Rod Industry Alliance (HRIA).
In this article, we take a moment to talk to Vintage Air president, Rick Love, on what long-term HRIA membership has meant for him and Vintage Air.
HRIA: What made you join HRIA?
Rick Love (Vintage Air Founder): Jack Chisenhall was involved with the SRIA (Street Rod Industry Alliance) and SRMA (Street Rod Marketing Alliance), and one of the founders of the HRIA, so we’ve been members longer than the HRIA existed! The industry is different from other sectors. The HRIA Council gives our segment of the industry a voice, a place to get our voices together and share concerns or things we need to communicate to the SEMA board.
One great example is when we were served with a potential lawsuit for Prop 65 in California years ago. I got this letter from a lawyer, so I started calling around to others in the industry. Steve Whipple from Edelbrock filled me in on what was going on. I got in touch with HRIA and, in turn, SEMA, because I felt like we weren't letting the membership know about the potential disaster with Prop 65. We were able to quickly spread the word about how important it was to start paying attention to the regulations in Prop 65. It was a fast way to help other businesses avoid the costs that Edelbrock and Vintage Air did.
HRIA: What encouraged you to stay a member of HRIA?
RL: One of the things HRIA brings to the table is Education Days. It gives us the opportunity to offer educational seminars for not just our customers, but also distributors, builders, and hot rod shops that attend these seminars.
HRIA: You’ve seen many changes in Vintage Air since you started. What were some of the biggest ones?
RL: The internet changed our business by allowing us to share updated information immediately and have it available for customers anytime. That was long before social media and YouTube, which have changed things even more. Back in the late 90s, everything was done through print, so there was a lag between the event and the time information reached people. You can get instantaneous feedback from customers and see what's going on in the marketplace in real time. It helps us decide on what kind of kits or new products to develop by seeing what builders are doing on YouTube or Instagram. It gives us insight into what's happening across the country and even around the world, immediately.
HIRA: What advice would you give a new hot rod company starting out in the industry?
RL: The best advice is to get training on how a business operates. Through HRIA, we’ve done mentorship programs in the past and continue to do more one-on-one work now. Putting together a business plan is crucial, whether you’re running a manufacturing business or a service. The business side is not the fun side, but it’s essential for staying afloat. Everyone should have access to a basic business class, even just for personal finance. Many people, even some politicians, don’t have a solid understanding of these topics.
HRIA: What advice would you give your younger self?
RL: Boy, how much time do you have? I’ve been so blessed. Looking back, I would tell my younger self to keep doing what you’re doing. Some of the mistakes I made, I learned the most from, and I was hardheaded enough to keep at it. I’ve been lucky to have a terrific wife, a wonderful son, and to make friends with people I admired growing up. My advice to my younger self would be to buckle up—it’s going to be a heck of a ride!