How it all began
The idea for the Under The Hood® car radio show came to Marie Nordstrom while doing custom windrowing on a John Deer tractor and listening to the radio. She felt that a radio show to help people with their cars was needed in their area and it was something that they could provide the talent for. Working with a local radio station they soon were ready for their first show. which would air from the Sioux Empire Fair. For the talent they would entrust their then 19 year old son Shannon with the job of answering the calls.
In 1990 Under The Hood® was founded by Nordstrom’s® Automotive Inc. on KSOO-AM in Sioux Falls, SD. as a half hour local program and quickly evolved to fill a one hour time slot. Shannon Nordstrom was the sole original host answering calls and giving out free automotive advice.
In 1998 after a great run of eight years we needed a change due to increasing complexity of vehicles and their systems. This is when Russ Evans joined the program. The addition of the new technical knowledge Russ brought with him was a welcome addition, but we found it added much more than that. There was an immediate on-air chemistry between Russ and Shannon that brought the program to a new level combining both humor and technical advice making it fun, informative, and entertaining for everyone and the Motor Medics® were born.
In 2003 the program moved to a new home on KELO-AM and we started moving forward through syndication with our first affiliate, KORN-AM in Mitchell, SD. At the same time Chris Carter a 20 year broadcasting veteran joined us facilitating calls and becoming a voice of the people. Since Chris is not a car guy he will often ask how things relate to the average car owner which adds to the entertainment value.
With the growing network the program needed professional production to give it that “local feel” wherever it aired so producer Doug Mashek of Prairie House Productions was asked to join the team. The program slowly grew over six years to 13 stations by word of mouth alone and was hindered by the lack of marketing. The dream was strong but with the full time automotive businesses Shannon and Russ run they did not have time to do much more.
In 2009 it was decided to start looking for someone to knock on some doors and we were blessed to have Vic Jacquot walk into our shop. Vic had been a long time listener and loyal fan who believed in the program and felt he could be beneficial in spreading the word of the program and that he did. Vic joined us as our affiliate sales liaison and helped us quickly expand to 34 affiliate stations in eleven states in just a few short months. The program also started crossing format lines running on, country, oldies, talk, classic rock and christian radio.
In 2010 to continue our growth of the program we added the second hour of Under the Hood®
Under The Hood® has become what it is today with the help of the many great people who are instrumental in its growth. From its humble beginning as a half hour local car show to its current form we owe it all to our faith and the friends we have made along the way.
What will the future hold? We can’t say for sure but we know it will be a lot of fun.
