Keepers of the Vibe
Ali Sedaghat
@fix_break_repeat
What's up, I’m Ali.
If you’re here, you probably want to know what I’m about, what I do, and why I do it. So, let’s get into it...
First off, I’m a father of two and a husband, artist and car enthusiast with a regular 9-5 gig. Somewhere between all that, I find time for Fast Friends, Rigged For Dirt, and some ambitious builds. It's not easy, but I make it work because this isn’t just a hobby—it’s a lifestyle.
I’ve been hooked on cars for as long as I can remember. My dad had a ‘64 1/2 Mustang, which became my first car in high school. And I've been drawing or creating art in some shape or form for about the same amount of time. From graffiti, to comics to painting to drawing it's been one of the few things I've had that was "mine".
My mom hated the Mustang, so my parents (foolishly but generously) got me a ‘95 Honda Civic, which was my real introduction to the project car world.
Back then, I was part of a small street racing crew out of La Habra called Big Brother Racing, a tight-knit group where I learned to wrench, lay carbon fiber molds, swap engines, and push the limits on those canyon runs. This was back before D1 and Formula D hit the U.S., when we were all trying to drift FWD cars because Initial D made it look too damn cool. I legit think we were one of the first dumbasses talking about drifting at SEMA back in like 2000.
Career-wise, while I was trying to get my life figured out post-highschool I started my first company, Good Ink Clothing, which really laid the foundation for my skills in screenprinting (which I had learned in high school - RIP MR. DIBBS!) using a computer to design with and a lot more graffiti. Outside of getting busted a couple times for graffiti and not feeling great at it I started looking into leveraging my skills for financial gain.
My love of street art, graffiti and good ol hip-hop led me to work for WMG (Wu Music Group) and I had the total honor to be instrumental in the creative direction for various assets around the Wu Tang Clan's 20th Anniversary Reunion. Being validated by another creative in the realm of the RZA helped validate aspects of my art I was always unsure of.
From there I kept my love of cars intact and dipped in and out of the industry, eventually landing roles with D1 Grand Prix Japan in every function from operations, to marketing, merch design, course creation/ management (and my personal favorite of being one of the only American's to be authroized by both the Japanese side of the company and the drivers themselves to operate their vehicles as needed during transit), Apex Integration, and later Tilly's and 5.11 Tactical.
Then came a turning point: a family adventure gone wrong in 2017, where we got stuck in the mud on a back road in Wrightwood. That experience led me to build my first overland rig—a Jeep I named Kate. I got recoverd by a rad Jeep on that backroad and decided then and there I needed something tougher. FULL STORY.
Since then, Kate’s been my ticket to SEMA, Overland Expo, and the gateway to a whole new community. I’ve been lucky to work with brands like KC HiLiTES, helping push their marketing forward and diving deeper into the off-road world. Along the way, I launched a podcast, Rigged For Dirt, with my buddy Frank Martinez. We made it about five years before life got busy and priorities shifted.
Fast forward a bit, and you’ll find me at Makita USA and now Jenson USA, where I’m driving their creative direction. Along the way, I pulled off a dual Subaru Crosstrek build with a friend, Eric Dalcin. We took those Crosstreks from stock to fully kitted overlanders with some top-tier gear, keeping them light but capable.I’m also wrenching on a ‘71 Suburban 3-Door—a project I’m building with my family, one bolt at a time, with hopes of taking it across National Parks someday. This one’s special because it’s not about the show; it’s about the slow grind, learning patience and precision with the people I care about most.
Beyond the builds, I’m committed to giving back. I’ve donated thousands to Tread Lightly!, taken part in trail cleanups, and even sponsored the lower trails in Lytle Creek with the USDA Forest Service which is now officially adopted by yours truly, 7ast 7riends. Protecting the fun is as important as having it.
So, that’s me. I love crawl, drive fast, drift and have fun on anything with wheels (generally 4). I started Fast Friends because I wanted something real that reflects the raw, gritty side of off-road and overland—something that’s about more than just the gear. It's about the people, the trail, the shared stories, and those moments that turn strangers into family.
I've never been part of a group of people that connected faster than what I've witnessed in this industry. If you’re the kind of person who lives for the adventure, who wants gear that’s as real as the road you’re on, then you’re in the right place and I'm happy to have you.
Feel free to follow along @fastfriends.fun on IG or my personal account... @fix_break_repeat
Thanks for stopping by. See you out there 7riends.