How Alex Taylor Turned Her Love for Cars into a Career

Interview by Alex Lucas | Photography by Megan Taylor @megryanphotos

How Alex Taylor Turned Her Love for Cars into a Career

Interview by Alex Lucas | Photography by Megan Taylor @megryanphotos

If you follow the drag racing scene or are familiar with MotorTrend’s digital shows, you may recognize Alex Taylor from MotorTrend’s Hot Rod Garage show. But Alex’s passion for automobiles goes far beyond hosting a digital TV show – it’s been a part of her life since she was a child.

If you follow the drag racing scene or are familiar with MotorTrend’s digital shows, you may recognize Alex Taylor from MotorTrend’s Hot Rod Garage show. But Alex’s passion for automobiles goes far beyond hosting a digital TV show – it’s been a part of her life since she was a child.

Growing up in the automotive industry, Alex was surrounded by classic cars and the people who loved them. Her parents owned and operated a production fiberglass business, building and selling iconic cars like the ‘33, ‘40, and ‘41 Willys and ‘33 and ‘37 Fords. With her dad, Dennis Taylor, as a mentor and teacher, Alex quickly fell in love with everything about the world of cars – the creativity, the performance, and most of all, the people.

As she grew older, Alex knew that she wanted to find a way to turn her passion into her career. With the help of some amazing people and incredible opportunities, she has been able to do just that. Today, she’s not only a builder and drag racer, but also an automotive content creator and host of a popular TV show.

We hope you enjoy getting to know Alex and learning more about her journey in the automotive industry. It’s a testament to the power of following your passion and turning your dreams into reality.

Growing up in the automotive industry, Alex was surrounded by classic cars and the people who loved them. Her parents owned and operated a production fiberglass business, building and selling iconic cars like the ‘33, ‘40, and ‘41 Willys and ‘33 and ‘37 Fords. With her dad, Dennis Taylor, as a mentor and teacher, Alex quickly fell in love with everything about the world of cars – the creativity, the performance, and most of all, the people.

As she grew older, Alex knew that she wanted to find a way to turn her passion into her career. With the help of some amazing people and incredible opportunities, she has been able to do just that. Today, she’s not only a builder and drag racer, but also an automotive content creator and host of a popular TV show.

We hope you enjoy getting to know Alex and learning more about her journey in the automotive industry. It’s a testament to the power of following your passion and turning your dreams into reality.

Q: In your intro video on your website you hint at possibly getting involved in other motorsports, something other than or in addition to drag racing.  Can you tell us about what you’re considering?  Road course? NASCAR? Formula / Gran Prix?
A: I don’t have anything set in stone, and my heart will always be in drag racing. However, I love trying other driving forms. I feel like learning things from different disciplines helps have a better understanding of how a car reacts to different movements and inputs. I’ve had the chance to try autocross, road course, and drifting. I’m not great at road course but I do enjoy getting to take a car out every once in a while. We are also going to do land speed racing at El Mirage this year for Hot Rod Garage to tribute Hot Rod Magazine’s 75th anniversary – I’m REALLY excited for this!

Q: Do you have any interest in moving up to Top Fuel?
A: Never say never! I really like door cars though. And I have wanted to drive a ProMod since I first watched them race at an IHRA event. If I was to make a jump right now that’s where I would want to go. I had the chance to drive The Miller’s Bumblebee ProMod x275 car last year and I really enjoyed it. We’ll see where the path leads!

Q: Do you have a favorite drag car, if so, why is it your favorite?
A:Off the top of my head, I can’t think of a favorite car. If I had to choose something it would be from the 60s / 70s era when the cars had personalities and paint schemes and stories. This is one I would have to think on more!

Q: You obviously enjoy driving, but do you also enjoy wrenching on your cars as much?
A: For sure! I love the creativity that comes with this. Sometimes it can get redundant when you’re just doing maintenance on the same car again and again and that can get old. But, when we’re doing a fresh build and fabricating and things like that it’s really cool because you can see your idea come to life.

Q: How did you end up co-hosting Motor Trend’s Hot Rod Garage? What do you like best about that series or your favorite moment?
A: It was actually super random. They called me last February and wanted to do an interview. I didn’t know it was for HRG and I actually hung up from the call thinking it was a waste of time. They ended up calling me back a few weeks later and told me that the position was opening up to co-host HRG and asked me to come to LA to do a screen test. 

I really like the people and the place and the Hot Rod brand is really important to me. I started racing Hot Rod Magazine’s Drag Week when I was 16 and it just really felt like a full circle moment.

 They ended up calling me in April and said that they wanted me to be a part of the show if I wanted to be there – and that was of course a YES! I love getting to work with a show that has a great cast and crew. I get to go work with my friends every time we shoot. I enjoy getting to express creativity and teach on projects I might not normally work on. And it’s an honor to work with and help carry the HOT ROD name into the future.

Q: In your intro video on your website you hint at possibly getting involved in other motorsports, something other than or in addition to drag racing.  Can you tell us about what you’re considering?  Road course? NASCAR? Formula / Gran Prix?
A: I don’t have anything set in stone, and my heart will always be in drag racing. However, I love trying other driving forms. I feel like learning things from different disciplines helps have a better understanding of how a car reacts to different movements and inputs. I’ve had the chance to try autocross, road course, and drifting. I’m not great at road course but I do enjoy getting to take a car out every once in a while. We are also going to do land speed racing at El Mirage this year for Hot Rod Garage to tribute Hot Rod Magazine’s 75th anniversary – I’m REALLY excited for this!

Q: Do you have any interest in moving up to Top Fuel?
A: Never say never! I really like door cars though. And I have wanted to drive a ProMod since I first watched them race at an IHRA event. If I was to make a jump right now that’s where I would want to go. I had the chance to drive The Miller’s Bumblebee ProMod x275 car last year and I really enjoyed it. We’ll see where the path leads!

Q: Do you have a favorite drag car, if so, why is it your favorite?
A:Off the top of my head, I can’t think of a favorite car. If I had to choose something it would be from the 60s / 70s era when the cars had personalities and paint schemes and stories. This is one I would have to think on more!

Q: You obviously enjoy driving, but do you also enjoy wrenching on your cars as much?
A: For sure! I love the creativity that comes with this. Sometimes it can get redundant when you’re just doing maintenance on the same car again and again and that can get old. But, when we’re doing a fresh build and fabricating and things like that it’s really cool because you can see your idea come to life.

Q: How did you end up co-hosting Motor Trend’s Hot Rod Garage? What do you like best about that series or your favorite moment?
A: It was actually super random. They called me last February and wanted to do an interview. I didn’t know it was for HRG and I actually hung up from the call thinking it was a waste of time. They ended up calling me back a few weeks later and told me that the position was opening up to co-host HRG and asked me to come to LA to do a screen test. 

I really like the people and the place and the Hot Rod brand is really important to me. I started racing Hot Rod Magazine’s Drag Week when I was 16 and it just really felt like a full circle moment.

 They ended up calling me in April and said that they wanted me to be a part of the show if I wanted to be there – and that was of course a YES! I love getting to work with a show that has a great cast and crew. I get to go work with my friends every time we shoot. I enjoy getting to express creativity and teach on projects I might not normally work on. And it’s an honor to work with and help carry the HOT ROD name into the future.