Aaron Kaufman LEAVES gas monkey! Rawlings: "it came completely out of left field"

[LateralJeaz]

So I want to preface my post by saying; yes, I know most of the show, not unlike almost everything else on tv that claims to be 'reality', is about as from the hip as pro wrestling....THAT BEING SAID..

After catching the short preview of next season of fast-n-loud on discovery, I quickly dug this up online:

http://www.gasmonkeygarage.com/yes-aaron-the-bearded-wonder-is-leaving-gas-monkey-garage/

Along with this:

http://www.hotrod.com/articles/revealed-how-gas-monkeys-67-dart-beat-roadkill/

Followed by this journalistic jem, horrid punctuation in tow (not that mine is stellar):

http://liverampup.com/news/aaron-kaufman-vs-richard-rawlings-heart-gas-monkey-garage-might-leave-show.html

First off let me say, Being a native Texican myself and spending lots of time in the dfw area with family, I liked the idea and the personalities of this show from the get go. I don't watch it religiously. And yes, it has its ridiclous moments and the plots can sometimes be thin at best. But I must say, I'm entertained by it for the most part.

However, the episode(s)? about dave's general mayhem vs the GMG dart felt different to me. They contained palpable tension between GMG and Roadkill that I swore I felt even as I watched it on tv. And sure enough, looks like where there was smoke there was fire! And quite possibly it seems that those events contributed to Aaron's departure!

So I guess there's a dash of reality in reality tv after all! And I may just have to dvr this season, to take in some silly but generally fun automotive based TV, and....TO SEE THEM BICKER UNTIL AK QUITS! Lolol. mission accomplished discovery, ya got me. I hope Aaron gets his own show. Brillliant mechanic or not, you can tell he has a genuine love for wrenching. Thoughts?

[Ketzer]

Mr. Kaufman seems like a genuine hot rodder. Seems to be a really down to earth guy. The departure (for whatever personal reason) seems scripted out to gain veiwers and add tv drama...

[Rod P]

Aaron is good folks I have been privileged enough to call him a friend for a few years now....he is genuine....what many don't see is the REALLY long hours these guys truly put in...... the cameras and its crew slow down progress all day leave till they leave at 5pm and most every night we were there till 9 or 10 pm making up build time and then eating at 11pm or later just to get back up and be at the shop between 6 and 7 to get some stuff going again before the film crew gets in....I can't speak for Aaron but I do now there has been tension for a while, and the 15 hour days take there toll....not sure what he's doing he wouldnt say and neither did his girlfreind

http://i1195.photobucket.com/albums/aa393/RodneyProuty/monkeys/kc%20and%20I_zpsfiwuor4u.jpg (http://s1195.photobucket.com/user/RodneyProuty/media/monkeys/kc%20and%20I_zpsfiwuor4u.jpg.html)

http://i1195.photobucket.com/albums/aa393/RodneyProuty/monkeys/aaron%20b_zpsa3tnfk6k.jpg (http://s1195.photobucket.com/user/RodneyProuty/media/monkeys/aaron%20b_zpsa3tnfk6k.jpg.html)

[Grnova]

'm not sure but I think Aaron is working with his friend KC at KC paint and Restoration, according to KC's Facebook page.

[youthpastor]

I heard that was in the works for over a year.


He's a solid guy and will do well wherever he goes.

[TheJDMan]

While I'm not a big fan of GMG, it was apparent from the start that Aaron was the talented car guy and Rawlins was the self-promoter. I hope Aaron finds his happy place. I would love to see him bring his Falcon out to some autocross events someday. Maybe, if we are lucky, he will show up here on the pages of Lat-G or PT.com some day. Rod, if you see him again, point him in our direction.

[randy]

I was at the gas monkey car show 2 months ago and won an award. The shop guys were really nice asking about my car. My type of people. Shop is only 30min away. Hopefully they can make it out to some shows.

[Brewtal66]

So just to add to this...if it even matters, my buddy was on a Discovery Channel show that aired directly after Fast 'N Loud. He got to talking to the crew, which obviously Discovery that puts on Fast 'N Loud.

According to him/Discovery guys...Aaron and Richard have been on the outs for years. I guess they both would pretty much come in, do their shoots, then leave. He said that Richard was jealous that Aaron was gaining a lot of popularity and saw him as a threat to his kingdom. I don't know if that's true, but it sort of makes sense...let's face it, Richard is extremely full of himself.

Overall I enjoy the show if I happen to catch it. It's definitely not the worse one out there.

[clill]

A friend told me Richard does not know how to work on cars ? That he used to be a printer ?

[zz430droptop67rs]

Rod,

I often see cars in the background that were allegedly sold in previous episodes or even past seasons. What is the story on those?

Thanks.

[BMR Sales]

A friend told me Richard does not know how to work on cars ? That he used to be a printer ?

I know he used to be an EMT. I don't think he knows much about cars!

[BMR Sales]

'm not sure but I think Aaron is working with his friend KC at KC paint and Restoration, according to KC's Facebook page.

Another Show like Misfits!

[WILWAXU]

Another Show like Misfits!
Exactly what I was thinking... but better I hope :D

You can follow AK on instagram: thearclight

[Rod P]

Rod,

I often see cars in the background that were allegedly sold in previous episodes or even past seasons. What is the story on those?

Thanks.

the magic of television! shows are filmed out of sequence and voiced over, so you see things from different times sometimes months apart, and some customers receive the cars for the show but don't take delivery right away, because sometimes there not ready for the car so they get stored...it was the same on the other show Highway to sell....that one was all over filming out of sequence and had 5 cars completed at the same time but showed them stretched out over a 12 week series...so you can almost see the same car in the backgroud for the entire show!

http://i1195.photobucket.com/albums/aa393/RodneyProuty/monkeys/10915144_1015583735124150_8654075366819049409_n_zp ssryrlbs1.jpg (http://s1195.photobucket.com/user/RodneyProuty/media/monkeys/10915144_1015583735124150_8654075366819049409_n_zp ssryrlbs1.jpg.html)


http://i1195.photobucket.com/albums/aa393/RodneyProuty/monkeys/10351737_10206007254559593_6992254188154679722_n_z psfwcban4m.jpg (http://s1195.photobucket.com/user/RodneyProuty/media/monkeys/10351737_10206007254559593_6992254188154679722_n_z psfwcban4m.jpg.html)

[NOPANTS68]

If you ever want to know how cool Rawlings is....just ask him.

Good luck to Aaron. I was critical of the BS at the beginning, but after he built that Falcon I have much respect. Chatted with him for a bit at a show and he was very humble. Good people.

[Flash68]

If you ever want to know how cool Rawlings is....just ask him.

Good luck to Aaron. I was critical of the BS at the beginning, but after he built that Falcon I have much respect.

Nailed it.

[cpd004]

The Challenger giveaway car was won by a local guy near me. He brings it to cruise nights here and there. It's not at all perfect, but a great looking driver.

Not a fan of the cars either show builds, but I'd rather watch the Misfit guys than any of the Monkeys. Who doesn't like Tom?

[LateralJeaz]

If you ever want to know how cool Rawlings is....just ask him.

Good luck to Aaron. I was critical of the BS at the beginning, but after he built that Falcon I have much respect. Chatted with him for a bit at a show and he was very humble. Good people.

For the sake of facts, Unfortunately Aaron didn't 'build' the falcon. As the previous owner stated on the show when he came by to check it out after the monkeys finished it, "all they did was pull it apart and paint it". Then added little bits like the hood vents. And now it even sports a more powerful/beefed drivetrain. However that's neither here nor there to me and still takes nothing from Aaron. He could be a welcome addition to this place. But unfortunately I don't see him spending much time here if any.

[GregWeld]

I met Aaron at the USCA event in Fort Worth.... I really liked him. He's just one of us.

The other guy --- yeah --- I don't think we'd be hanging together.... and hell no I don't watch the show. I can't be bothered to be entertained with stupidity and drama....

[kwhizz]

I met Aaron at the USCA event in Fort Worth.... I really liked him. He's just one of us.

The other guy --- yeah --- I don't think we'd be hanging together.... and hell no I don't watch the show. I can't be bothered to be entertained with stupidity and drama....



X 2.......................

[NOPANTS68]

For the sake of facts, Unfortunately Aaron didn't 'build' the falcon. As the previous owner stated on the show when he came by to check it out after the monkeys finished it, "all they did was pull it apart and paint it". Then added little bits like the hood vents. And now it even sports a more powerful/beefed drivetrain. However that's neither here nor there to me and still takes nothing from Aaron. He could be a welcome addition to this place. But unfortunately I don't see him spending much time here if any.

With respect the original builder, what he had was a pipe rack with a modified Falcon body on it. It lacked every system required to make it run under its own power. Yes, Aaron didn't build the car from the ground up, but considering what he started with I will give him a whole bunch of credit.

[LateralJeaz]

With respect the original builder, what he had was a pipe rack with a modified Falcon body on it. It lacked every system required to make it run under its own power. Yes, Aaron didn't build the car from the ground up, but considering what he started with I will give him a whole bunch of credit.

Well said. He didn't weld the thing together but did almost everything else. which is obviously no picnic.:lolhit:

[SS Performance]

The show has slowly slipped from being about builds to being about Richard and his endeavors/antics. More about how much money he can throw around.

I think several years ago they ran out of new things to do. So they started doing weird builds and youtube commentary shows.

I hope this isn't a ploy to get viewers for next season.

I think Aaron has a lot of talent and in the right situation could turn out nice cars.

I haven't watched the show in several years.