Walter Gefrom

Project Manager in Civil Engineering

50-year-old classic car restoration shop destroyed in fire

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Nickels Automotive Woodworking (affectionately known as the ‘Woodie restoration shop’) has burned to the ground. A heart-shattering tragedy, the fire left the Nickels with only a couple of their prized vehicles. Walter Gefrom shares the details of this unfortunate tragedy:

Walter Gefrom Woodie Restoration Shop fire

A GoFundMe page has been established in support of the Nickels family, who lost their 50-year-old classic car restoration shop in September 2021.  An unexplained fire claimed nearly all of their automobiles, leaving only a 1983 Town and Country and a vintage ambulance project.  Along with the vehicles lost, the Nickels also lost all of their woodworking equipment, including tools, patterns, templates and machines.  What’s the most heartbreaking, however, is the loss of precious keepsakes and mementos.  Among those irreplaceable items included Mike Nickels’ parents’ WWII military uniform and nurse uniform from 1928, along with many other keepsakes.

Walter Gefrom encourages you to contribute to the GoFundMe page for the Woodie restoration shop and Nickels family, if you are in the position to do so.

Richard Hammond’s Workshop restarts engines on Discovery+

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Richard Hammond of Top Gear fame has just released an all-new car restoration series. Walter Gefrom was excited to take a look at the show’s first episode, which is available now to stream on Discovery+.

Sure, Squid Game may be all the rage. But Richard Hammond’s Workshop is going to be all the rev for classic car lovers!!  If you’re looking for something to binge watch on Discovery+, you won’t want to miss this series — especially if you’re a fan of antique cars and restoration. 

In the all-new TV series, Richard Hammond from BBC’s Top Gear welcomes viewers into his new garage.  But the series and the garage itself are just about the only thing new about Hammond’s new workshop, The Smallest Cog.  Unless, of course, you consider the new life the car collector and local mechanics will be breathing into classic car restoration projects featured on the show.  That’s right:  this series is all about giving viewers an up close look at the car restoration process — and everything that comes along with it.

Much like BBC’s Top Gear, Hammond’s Workshop will be pumped with personality. So expect all the laughs of Richard Hammond’s antics mixed with restoration of lovable antique cars. 

If you don’t have Discovery+ yet, you can get a taste for Richard Hammond’s Workshop in the teaser on the car critic turned car restorer’s YouTube channel: