Hello, everyone, and welcome to the Eastwood Garage community!
I'm Bryan (Bryan@Eastwood), the editor of the Eastwood Garage blog. I'm excited to add discussion forums to the list of DIY resources contained on this "site within a site." This isn't the first time Eastwood has had discussion forums, but this latest iteration is now an integral part of a larger overall resource hub - The Garage Built by Eastwood®. I hope you'll help build this community as a resource for fellow DIY car enthusiasts and find it helpful in your own projects in time.
A little bit about myself first. I've worked in the automotive industry since 1991. I started out working at dealership, first in sales and eventually as a service manager. I later found myself managing an aftermarket accessories business and eventually opened my own shop in the early 2000s. I moved into automotive writing in 2004 when I joined VWvortex.com, which at the time was the largest automotive discussion forum on the web. I worked there for 9 years creating original content and working on several of the company's non-VW websites. I left VWvortex to launch my own print magazine, which debuted in 2016 and ran until the Covid pandemic forced its closure. I have a degree in marketing management and previously worked for an aftermarket auto parts manufacturer and also briefly managed a classic car restoration business with two shops. Today, in addition to my position here at Eastwood I occasionally contribute as a freelance writer to various automotive publications, primarily in the enthusiast/collector space.
Outside of work, I'm a lifelong car enthusiast and fervent DIYer. I was raised in a strictly-GM household, but my personal cars have been exclusively European. I started with a string of 7 consecutive VW Rabbits/Golfs/GTIs, with a Saab sprinkled in between the first two. Since then I've had a couple BMWs, a couple Volvos, a short-lived classic Mini project, and a handful of Land Rovers including my current full restoration project, a 1993 Range Rover. My current daily driver is a 25-year-old Porsche. Almost all of these have been older examples and I have either maintained, modified, or restored them all on my own. A couple have been full resurrections. I am, as one friend told me, an automotive masochist and a glutton for punishment. He was not wrong.
In addition to wrenching on my personal vehicles, I've also tackled some more challenging processes on my own. I've upholstered two complete vehicles from scratch; we're talking cut-and-sew projects from start to finish, including pattern-making. I also repainted one complete project in my home garage. And since I've worked for Eastwood, I've picked up powder coating and MIG welding skills as well. TIG welding is still eludes me, however.
Long before I worked for Eastwood, I worked with the company on various project cars. One of the first products I used was the Golden Cad Replica paint system to clean up the underhood appearance on one of my Volkswagens. Over the years I've integrated various Eastwood products into the projects I was creating with other publishers. It seemed only natural that when we moved to PA from Chicago many years ago that I would eventually end up working for the company.
So that's my story. I look forward to hearing your as well. Welcome to the Eastwood Garage community!
- Bryan
I'm Bryan (Bryan@Eastwood), the editor of the Eastwood Garage blog. I'm excited to add discussion forums to the list of DIY resources contained on this "site within a site." This isn't the first time Eastwood has had discussion forums, but this latest iteration is now an integral part of a larger overall resource hub - The Garage Built by Eastwood®. I hope you'll help build this community as a resource for fellow DIY car enthusiasts and find it helpful in your own projects in time.
A little bit about myself first. I've worked in the automotive industry since 1991. I started out working at dealership, first in sales and eventually as a service manager. I later found myself managing an aftermarket accessories business and eventually opened my own shop in the early 2000s. I moved into automotive writing in 2004 when I joined VWvortex.com, which at the time was the largest automotive discussion forum on the web. I worked there for 9 years creating original content and working on several of the company's non-VW websites. I left VWvortex to launch my own print magazine, which debuted in 2016 and ran until the Covid pandemic forced its closure. I have a degree in marketing management and previously worked for an aftermarket auto parts manufacturer and also briefly managed a classic car restoration business with two shops. Today, in addition to my position here at Eastwood I occasionally contribute as a freelance writer to various automotive publications, primarily in the enthusiast/collector space.
Outside of work, I'm a lifelong car enthusiast and fervent DIYer. I was raised in a strictly-GM household, but my personal cars have been exclusively European. I started with a string of 7 consecutive VW Rabbits/Golfs/GTIs, with a Saab sprinkled in between the first two. Since then I've had a couple BMWs, a couple Volvos, a short-lived classic Mini project, and a handful of Land Rovers including my current full restoration project, a 1993 Range Rover. My current daily driver is a 25-year-old Porsche. Almost all of these have been older examples and I have either maintained, modified, or restored them all on my own. A couple have been full resurrections. I am, as one friend told me, an automotive masochist and a glutton for punishment. He was not wrong.
In addition to wrenching on my personal vehicles, I've also tackled some more challenging processes on my own. I've upholstered two complete vehicles from scratch; we're talking cut-and-sew projects from start to finish, including pattern-making. I also repainted one complete project in my home garage. And since I've worked for Eastwood, I've picked up powder coating and MIG welding skills as well. TIG welding is still eludes me, however.
Long before I worked for Eastwood, I worked with the company on various project cars. One of the first products I used was the Golden Cad Replica paint system to clean up the underhood appearance on one of my Volkswagens. Over the years I've integrated various Eastwood products into the projects I was creating with other publishers. It seemed only natural that when we moved to PA from Chicago many years ago that I would eventually end up working for the company.
So that's my story. I look forward to hearing your as well. Welcome to the Eastwood Garage community!
- Bryan
Last edited: