Meta description: Derek Bieri biography covers his Vice Grip Garage YouTube channel, the MotorTrend series Roadworthy Rescues, its 32 episodes, and his move from Minnesota to Tennessee.
Derek Bieri Biography: The Vice Grip Garage Creator Who Became a MotorTrend Host
Who Is Derek Bieri?
Derek Bieri is an American mechanic, YouTuber, and television host known for the Vice Grip Garage channel and the MotorTrend series Roadworthy Rescues. He describes himself as an old-school DIY mechanic, husband, and father of 3 boys.
IMDb lists him as known for Vice Grip Garage, Roadworthy Rescues, and Hooptie World Championship.
What Is Vice Grip Garage?
Vice Grip Garage is Derek Bieri’s YouTube channel about car rescues and repairs. He describes the content as budget builds, rescues, and how-tos for the common folk.
Suggest reported in 2022 that the channel had nearly 1.2 million subscribers and close to 240 million views. IMDb dates the Vice Grip Garage series to 2018. Suggest reports that the account joined YouTube in 2007.
His related channels and sites include Vice Grip Lodge on YouTube and vicegripgarage.com.
What Is Roadworthy Rescues?
Roadworthy Rescues is a MotorTrend reality series hosted by Derek Bieri. It premiered on September 27, 2022, and follows Bieri as he finds abandoned cars from America’s past and gets them running again.
The series ended after 3 seasons, with the last episode airing on February 26, 2025. Each episode runs about 45 minutes.
The table below lists the 3 seasons of Roadworthy Rescues by season, air period, and episode count.
| Season | Air Period | Episodes |
|---|---|---|
| Season 1 | September 2022 to November 2022 | 8 |
| Season 2 | September 2023 to December 2023 | 12 |
| Season 3 | December 2024 to February 2025 | 12 |
| Total | 2022 to 2025 | 32 |
What Is Derek Bieri’s Career Timeline?
Derek Bieri’s career moved from auto repair to a corporate job to online video. A Sick The Magazine profile traces his path from auto technician to corporate employee to YouTuber.
The table below lists 7 career milestones by year and event.
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 2018 | Vice Grip Garage listed as a series on IMDb |
| 2021 | Hooptie World Championship credited to Bieri |
| 2022 | First drag-and-drive event, Sick Week, in one of his own cars |
| 2022 | Roadworthy Rescues premiered on MotorTrend on September 27 |
| 2023 | Returned to Sick Week with a Monte Carlo and a 1971 Chevelle |
| 2025 | Roadworthy Rescues season 3 ended on February 26 |
| 2026 | Announced as a special guest at the Iola Car Show |
Where Did Derek Bieri Grow Up and Where Does He Live?
Derek Bieri grew up on a farm in Minnesota and Wisconsin. He discussed his youth, his early shop days, and the creation of his YouTube channel on the Tales of a Gearhead podcast in May 2024.
He and his family lived and worked in Minneapolis, Minnesota, with shops in Minnesota and Wisconsin. They later moved to Tennessee. Weather was the main deciding factor, since freezing temperatures can limit his videos.
Who Is in Derek Bieri’s Family?
Derek Bieri’s family includes his wife, Jessica Bieri, and their sons. He describes himself as a father of 3 boys. Jessica and Derek explained the move to Tennessee together in a video.
What Is Derek Bieri Doing in 2026?
In 2026, Derek Bieri continues to post on Vice Grip Garage and Vice Grip Lodge. He is also a special guest at the Iola Car Show 2026.
What Do People Also Ask About Derek Bieri?
What is Derek Bieri known for?
He is known for the Vice Grip Garage YouTube channel and the MotorTrend show Roadworthy Rescues.
What is Vice Grip Garage?
Vice Grip Garage is a YouTube channel about budget car builds, rescues, and how-tos.
When did Roadworthy Rescues premiere?
Roadworthy Rescues premiered on MotorTrend on September 27, 2022.
Is Roadworthy Rescues still airing?
The series ended after 3 seasons, with its last episode on February 26, 2025.
Where does Derek Bieri live?
He moved from Minneapolis, Minnesota, to Tennessee.
Who is Derek Bieri’s wife?
His wife is Jessica Bieri.
Who Is Derek Bieri in Summary?
Derek Bieri is a mechanic, YouTuber, and host from Minnesota who now lives in Tennessee. He created Vice Grip Garage, hosted 32 episodes of Roadworthy Rescues across 3 seasons on MotorTrend, and continues to appear at car events in 2026.