In this episode, we sit down with Dave Pratte of Speed Academy for an in-depth look at his journey through the automotive media world—from his first car memories and grassroots racing roots to going full-time with Modified Magazine and launching Speed Academy. Dave opens up about building a brand with his co-founder Pete, the challenges of operating in Canada, collaborating with Canadian Tire, and how content creation has evolved in the age of algorithms.

Whether you’re an aspiring creator, a fan of import culture, or just love hearing how passion projects become careers, this episode is packed with valuable insights, behind-the-scenes stories, and real talk about the future of automotive content.

00:00 - Introduction & Reflections on Speed Academy's Impact

07:30 - Speed Academy's 2025 so far

10:50 - Trials of getting a dealer's license

14:18- Dave's first car memory (and where the Celica inspiration came from)

18:06 - Dave's introduction to grassroots motorsports

22:32 - Dabbling with automotive journalism

25:02 - Going full time with Modified Magazine

27:00 - The birth of Speed Academy

36:12 - Division of work between Dave and Pete

42:03 - Moving Speed Academy to the US

43:19 - Partnering with Canadian Tire

44:46 - Looking to other creators for inspiration

46:17 - The impact of the "chicken coop" to shop transition

52:37 - Do subscribers matter?

54:45 - What content would you make if the algorithm didn't matter?

56:30 - Content for content's sake vs. lead generation

1:00:05 - Business opportunities for micro influencers

1:03:21 - Advice for automotive creators starting in 2025

1:10:48 - Did you ever consider quitting?

1:14:19 - Why certain content performs better than others

1:19:29 - Are you still having fun?

1:27:30 - Balancing Speed Academy with home life

1:32:17 - Final thoughts