David Ankin – ToyMakerz

By starrymag | May 1, 2019

By: Lisa Steinberg

 

 

Q) When did you realize you wanted to build various vehicles for a living?

 

A) I first felt “the itch” when I was a kid growing up in the heart of motor country in Indiana and Michigan. Watching my dad, a skilled car fabricator nicknamed “The Iron Man” for his impressive metalworking skills, I yearned to build my very own custom rides.  And so I learned to tinker and create my very first custom Toyz!

I’d modify my bike – once I extended the front fork by hammering together two regular bike forks – my very first Chopper! The funny thing is, even though my father is a welder, it didn’t occur to me to ask him to weld the forks together!  Trust me, that did not end well… Next up was a motorized dirt bike that I’d tune and modify with any spare dollars I could earn mowing lawns or helping in the garage. Naturally, this road led to fast cars, motorcycles and a passion for driving – a/k/a playing with (and breaking) my Toyz.

 

Q) What are some of the custom vehicles we’ll be seeing this season?

 

A) We did a build for Richard Petty mega-fan to overhaul a signature 70’s Charger “Petty Style” and setup the surprise of a lifetime – an appearance by The King himself.  We teamed up with Epic Moto Co where we strip weight and increase horsepower while converting an American V-Twin bagger into a street fighter to be revealed at the Capital City Bike Fest and Car Show in Raleigh, NC, one of our favorite annual events.  Then, my buddy Scott Sain challenged me to a VW Drag Race at the 2018 VW Germanaire drag race at the South Carolina Motorplex. We put the finishing touches on a remarkable new monster truck, The Kraken, and help our good buddy land-speed record holder Lee Shirts. Last, but not least, the ’41 Willys Coupe that can make tracks like no other car out there and is an assault for the senses!

 

Q) How did you decide on the custom creations for this season of “ToyMakerz?”

 

A) Honestly, I go back to my childhood and what initially got me excited about building Toyz.  There isn’t a handbook for the designs that we do, so everything I create is an expression of who I am and what I see in my heard.  I’m always looking to make something a little more different, over the top and insane.

 

Q) How much research goes into coming up with the design ideas for the vehicles?

 

A) Absolutely none. There’s no book or data that I can research about these design ideas as they’ve never been made. What I do is to nail down the look I’d like to create and then engineering a vehicle that will make it work under that design. It’s less about research and more about engineering and figuring out how do I make it work right, be fast, stop, turn and work right.

 

Q) You’re attempting the world’s fastest street dragster this season. What will it take to snag this incredible win?

 

A) To be the fastest everything needs to align and my reaction time needs to be spot on too!  I wanted to build a real streetcar that is respected in the streetcar-racing arena.  Many of the dragster’s you see are racecars, not streetcars that are extremely fast.  My goal with this dragster is to drive to the racetrack, for it to be world class fast and drive it home – not trailer it.

 

Q) What has been of the hardest custom projects you have worked on over the years?

 

A) With every build you do reach a point of question.  It’s the fabrication process that’s hard and making sure that each section works synergistically together.

 

Q) Do you have a preference for working on specific types of vehicles (cars, bikes, watercraft, etc.) over others?

 

A) Not at all, I love all toyz.  My passion lies is the industry itself and the people who I surround myself.  I love building all types of vehicles from Monster Trucks, to Bikes, to Go Karts – I love building them all!

 

Q) What advice would you offer someone wanting to start off custom building machines?

 

A) Make sure it’s what you love. Not just for builders, if it’s worth having and what you want in life go after it and don’t let anyone tell you “no.” You will always make mistakes. Believe in yourself and perceive you can do anything you want to do. My greatest thing in life is if my son can be a better man than I am. Everything I do is my son’s future.  Most people do this for the money and the fame. I do this because I love what we do and I love giving back.

 

Q) What are some of the hottest trends in custom vehicle designs these days?

 

A) Less is more is the biggest trend in custom vehicles right now. Clean builds with less chrome and more understated is where the industry is going.

 

Q) What do you think it is about “ToyMakerz” that continues make it such a fan favorite series for car collectors/lovers?

 

A) Now airing on HISTORY Channel and, FYI, in partnership with A&E Networks, “ToyMakerz” Season 3 has allowed us to take our toymaking to another level.

Our show caters to all vehicle lovers and we don’t just focus on one part of the industry, we cover it all.  I’m a ToyMaker at heart and love all toys with engines. Whether it’s a Chevy, Dodge, Monster Truck, Harley Davidson, Go Karts – “ToyMakerz” showcases them all and the industry and the people that live in it. Our fans love that about us!