Image Credit: SUBMITTED/Wesley Karsten
September 18, 2021 - 2:45 PM
- This story was originally published Sept. 18, 2021.
After the host of a popular car restoration show announced he is selling his Tappen property and 500 cars, fans have been sharing fond memories and wishing him well.
Rust Valley Restorers host Mike Hall has been wanting to sell his property for years. He first became a local celebrity back in 2017 when he tried to sell his five-acre parcel of land in the Shuswap. The catch? It was filled with more than 500 cars Hall had collected in the last 40 years.
The History Channel show stars Hall, better known as the Rasta Blasta, and his crew of auto mechanics. Episodes focus on the team trying to restore broken-down cars to their former glory. Currently, they’re filming for season four and on Oct. 2, an auction will be filmed live at Hall’s property as he says goodbye to most of his cars.
Hall doesn’t know if the show will continue.
“It’s all up in the air. I’m turning 65… so I’ll keep 20 or 30 and see what happens but we’re still filming this year,” he said in a previous interview with iNFOnews.
Born in Saint Boniface, Manitoba, Hall moved to Kamloops as a kid after his dad got a job with CP Rail. A backyard in Kamloops is where his car collection first began to evolve.
He’s an encyclopedia of vintage cars, able to spew off makes and models and a boundless supply of vehicular trivia. Walking through his many rows of parked cars, he knows just what obscure part each needs for completion, be it a fender or rare hood ornament.
He also a rock blaster by trade, hence his nickname.
READ MORE: Hangs off cliffs, blows stuff up, and collects hundreds of classic cars: He's the Rasta Blasta
“Being a 31-year-old who's been a car guy since playing with Hot Wheels as a kid, this show was a joy to watch and was proof to the world that car guys are young at heart, and the car culture has a strong bond no matter what part of the world you're from,” said Wesley Karsten via email.
“The fact that I knew of this property prior to the show hooked me to it even more. This summer we were in the Shuswap and made a special trip to Rust Bros and were graciously met by Mike who was more than willing to talk to us, hear our story, tell us one and even take a picture.”
He wishes Hall well.
Hundreds of people also took to Facebook to offer their support for the show and show's host and shared photos of their family members posing with Hall.
Watch Rust Valley Restorers on the History Channel in Canada and Motor Trend in the U.S. Two seasons are also available on Netflix.
READ MORE: Rust Valley Restorers host finally selling his 500 cars, Shuswap property
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