It's a quirky little story for the "Cult" segment of Germany's most watched automotive show.

Santa Cruz, California - the surf and hippie capital of America, and a great place to work if you're a car artist...

Mike Leeds has always built big, crazy cars as a hobby, with an emphasis on "big". His creations are blown out of all proportions. They take on a cartoonish, yet awe-inspiring look and feel.

Mike shot to fame 8 years ago when he helped to build Jay Leno's famous "Tank Car", built around an original US Army tank engine. When we meet him, he's about to finish his latest creation - the Rocket, a 20 foot long trike, that looks and drives - well, like a rocket. We get introduced to Big Bertha, Mike's favourite car of all time, and we get to take them both out for a joyride along the Pacific Coast Highway... stunned onlookers gaze at Mike's machines as they coast along on this beautiful Saturday afternoon, with the famous California coastline as a backdrop.

Client: ams TV     Airdate: 03/01/09    TRT: 5:50 min
Producer: Johannes Wiebus
Camera: Peter Krajewski
Editor: Kathleen O'Heron