Aaron Kaufman played a significant role in the success of Discovery’s car manufacturing reality show, Fast N’ Loud, which revolved around the activities of Gas Monkey Garage in Dallas, Texas, led by Richard Rawlings. Kaufman, serving as the lead mechanic, was instrumental in restoring classic cars featured on the show, making him the second most prominent figure after Rawlings.
However, in 2017, tensions arose between Kaufman and Rawlings due to personal and professional differences. Kaufman expressed dissatisfaction with the types of cars they were working on, suggesting they lacked ambition, and the tight deadlines, which diminished the enjoyment of their work together. Consequently, Kaufman decided to depart from the show to pursue a different direction, feeling that the last five years on Fast N’ Loud had been taxing and draining.
Following his departure, Kaufman embarked on new ventures. In 2018, he starred in two seasons of the show Shifting Gears for Discovery Plus, where he introduced his newly established Arclight Fabrication shop in Dallas, Texas. Despite finding some relief from the demands of television, he continued to face challenges.
Kaufman also delved into racing, participating in renowned events like the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb in Colorado. His fondness for the area eventually led him to relocate to Colorado. Interestingly, he shed his trademark beard, making him less recognizable to fans.
After moving to Colorado, activities at Archlight Fabrication seemed to wane, with the company becoming inactive on social media since 2020. However, Kaufman remains involved in the automotive industry, particularly in racing cars, with his current work centered at Magna Flow, a prominent manufacturer of high-end catalytic converters and performance exhaust systems.
In late 2023, Kaufman hinted at a new project, teasing a “nearly lifelong dream” he was pursuing. While details remain scarce, he shared a glimpse of a warehouse on his Instagram, indicating his commitment to investing time and resources into this mysterious endeavor.
