It’s turbo speed ahead as Steve Darnell and his Welder Up’ gang return to Sin City for a second season of Vegas Rat Rods, featuring 10 killer new vehicles. Airing Thursdays at 9pm on Discovery (just before Megaspeed, another Canadian auto series that is also returning at 11pm), the 10-part original Canadian series from Toronto’s Proper Television (Canada’s Worst Driver and Masterchef Canada) follows Darnell and his crew at their custom car shop as they create rolling works of art from everyone else’s junk. This season showcases builds created in the spirit of rat rods that are bigger, badder and breaking the mold, and features newcomer Grant Schwartz of Bloomingdale, Ontario. Schwartz is a born fabricator and welder, opening his own fab shop at 19 years old and coming with more than 25 years of car-building expertise under his belt to the Las Vegas big leagues as he joins Steve Darnell and the Welderup clan.
CraveOnline: Tell us about Season 2 of Vegas Rat Rods.
Grant Schwartz: There are a few new cast members and some really neat cars that are crazy, in-your-face, out-there cars that you wouldn’t normally see.
What has it been like making the transition from small-town Canada, where you grew up and started working, to Las Vegas?
It’s been quite a shock. They’re all terrible drivers down there (laughs). The weather is one thing – it’s pretty hot. But I get along really well with the guys at the shop, which made things way better. They welcomed me so that was great. They’re good guys to deal with, so at that point it didn’t matter where we were.
What was it like adjusting to having the cameras and crew around?
It wasn’t bad. I quickly forgot about the cameras when working in the shop. It’s when they pull you outside with screens and lights and do interviews and producers and have cameras right in your face… that took some getting used to. But everyone soon realized that a few beers made those interviews go a bit better.
Will you watch the premiere on Thursday night?
It’s weird because we work so hard for eight months but it has yet to air. I’m anxious to see it air, but I have no expectations. I’m participating in the Toronto motorcycle show this weekend but I’m going to get 10 of us or so together at a local restaurant bar to watch it. I’m anxious for my friends to see it.
If you hadn’t gone into this business, what do you think you would’ve done?
I never ever would have thought I’d be on TV or on a show! But I love what I do, and I’m fortunate to get to do something that I love every day.
