Thanks to a regular appearance on Discovery Channel’s hit TV show Fast N’ Loud, Yu-Lan Haiso Martin – known the world over as “Sue” – has become the most recognizable figure in auto upholstery.
Fans of the show tune in each week to revel in her witty humor and relentless bashing of costars Richard and Aaron of Gas Monkey Garage. However, it’s not just her charismatic personality that keeps viewers coming back for more. Sue is, in fact, a talented trimmer who always manages to breathe new life into the “junk” interiors that customers bring her.
Of course, Sue’s success cannot be simply attributed to a television show. On the contrary, she has earned her stripes the old fashioned way: hard work.
Sue founded her shop, ASM Auto Upholstery, 23 years ago after immigrating to the United States from Taiwan and teaching herself the craft. Since then, she has worked day and night – sometimes even sleeping in her garage – to build a strong reputation for quality and dependability.
Sue’s hard work has certainly paid off. Today, she operates a busy nine-person auto upholstery shop in Dallas, TX; stars in a hit reality TV show about the auto restoration industry; and is revered by peers and car enthusiasts alike. As her website states, “Sue is an example of the true American dream.”
We are proud to interview Sue of Fast N’ Loud and ASM Auto Upholstery for the sixth installment of our “10 Questions” series.
1. How long have you been an auto upholsterer for? How and where did you learn the craft?
23 years, a friend introduced me to the industry. I learned the craft by working side by side with my first employee, Adan De La Rosa, who has since passed away.
2. How did you link up with the fellas of Gas Monkey Garage and get involved in the whole Fast N’ Loud project?
Richard’s shop was down the street when he came by and saw our quality work and decided to use us. That was 12 years ago and we’ve had a business relationship since.
3. Your catch phrase on Fast N’ Loud is: “Why you always bring me junk?” Do Richard and Aaron of Gas Monkey Garage really always bring you junk?
Yes, since most of their vehicles are restorations, we get their projects at there worst.
4. Gas Monkey Garage brings you a lot of classic restorations and custom work. Is that the bulk of your business or do you mainly do general repairs?
The bulk of our business is not restorations. It’s general repairs with some restorations and custom projects.
5. Often times on Fast N’ Loud, the fellas of Gas Monkey Garage will bring you a vehicle that needs a total interior overhaul and give you a ridiculously short deadline for when it needs to be complete. How real are those deadlines? And if they’re real, how do you manage to complete a full interior restoration that quickly?
Due to the fact that Richard’s vehicles are often scheduled for sale at auctions, the deadlines are real and we manage by putting several employees on their projects and working late.
6. How do you find the time to shoot scenes for Fast N’ Loud while running a fully operational auto upholstery business?
Luckily we have two sides to our shop. When discovery comes over to shoot, we’re still able to work on the other side.
7. Your role on Fast N’ Loud has cast ASM Auto Upholstery into the spotlight. Has the show impacted your business? And if so, how?
Since we are already a busy upholstery company before the show, with our accounts with many car dealerships, the business side hasn’t changed with the show, but we now have a lot of fans from across the world.
8. There aren’t many auto upholstery shops that receive as much international attention as yours does right now. Do you feel a sense of duty to the craft to represent it in any particular way?
I think since it’s a reality show, you don’t see what the craft is really about. We do a lot of different things that aren’t on the show. It would be nice to redo only hot rods and be able to make a living at my shop, but that’s not the way it is.We work all day everyday on variety of projects from furniture to marine and even airplane upholstery.
9. If there’s one thing that you’d like car enthusiasts to know about our industry, what would it be?
One man’s junk can be turned into another man’s treasure.
10. It seems that you started off as a guest character on Fast N’ Loud, but because of your funny and outgoing personality you’ve been highlighted a lot more. Is this a sign of you taking on a more regular or leading role in the show?
You’ll just have to watch the show and see. But yes, Richard, Aaron and I have been filming more together. It’s been a lot of fun.
BONUS QUESTION: What does the future hold for Sue and ASM Auto Upholstery?
We’re just gonna keep on trimming.
11. is your daughter single? lol
only joking Sexy Sue, keep up the good work and grilling the monkeys!
. . . AND, IT WAS A TV PROGRAM. SO,WHAT’S WITH ALL OF THE QUESTIONS ?
The interior is just as important as the exterior. Keep it up Sue!
I agree the interior is just as important as the exterior. It is frustrating when a customer pays tens of thousands on the exterior of a car restoration. Then wants to budget the cost of the interior. I don’t think upholsterers are appreciated as much as we should be! Just my opinion. Thanks Eric
Eric, 100% on target!
A REAL HOT ROD OWNER COULD CARE LESS IF THE INTERIOR IS NICE SIMPLY BECAUSE IF THEY PUT 2 GRAND IN THE INTERIOR THAT’S 2 GRAND LESS THAT THEY CAN PUT INTO THEIR MOTOR, BUT I USED TO HAVE A 1963 CHEVY C10 LONG BED STEP SIDE WHICH IS THE ABSOLUTE BEST VERSION OF THE 1963 MODEL PICKUPS NO EYEBALL HOODS THOUGH THEY SUCK, LOOKING AT THE 1963 LONG BED STEP SIDE FROM THE SIDE YOU WILL SEE WHY I SAY ITS THE BEST OF THAT BODY SHAPE SINCE THE DISTANCE FROM THE BACK OF THE CAB TO THE FRONT END IS EXACTLY THE SAME AS FROM THE BACK OF THE CAB TO THE TAILGATE. IT IS AN ACTUAL SYMMETRICAL BEAUTY, SADLY I GOT TIRED OF GETTING GREASY FROM WORKING ON MINE & SOLD IT FOR $500 37 OR 38 YEARS AGO THE GUY THAT BOUGHT TALKED ME INTO FINDING WHAT HAD BROKEN IN THE MOTOR BEFORE HE TOOK IT, SO I PULLED THE FRONT OF THE MOTOR APART TO LEARN THAT I HAD SIMPLY TRASHED THE TIMING GEARS SO AN EASY FIX BUT I DID LOVE THAT TRUCK ONCE IS WHY I AGREED TO FIND THE PROBLEM, BUT IT WAS THE FACTORY 250 STRAIGHT 6 CYLINDER ENGINE WHICH HAD A TON OF LOW END TORQUE, LOL BUT I DID HAVE A DAM GOOD CAM IN IT & I HAD TO INSTALL THE SCREW IN ROCKER ARM BOLTS GETTING RID OF THE FACTORY PRESSED IN CRAP SINCE THE CAM & MY FOOT POPPED THE FACTORY PRESSED IN ONES OUT A FEW MONTHS AFTER THAT ENGINE REBUILD, I DID ALSO HAVE HOOKER HEADERS & A CLIFFORD RESEARCH INTAKE MANIFOLD FOR A 4 BARREL CARBURETOR BUT THE SMALLEST HOLLEY 4 BARREL CARBURETOR WAS STILL WAY TOO MUCH AIR TO FULL RATIO, SO I PLAYED AROUND WITH A COUPLE 2 BARREL TO 4 BARREL ADAPTERS & A 2 BARREL CARB OFF A 460 OLDSMOBILE SINCE A FRIEND HAD LOTS OF THEM & I GOT 1/2 WHAT HE HAD WHICH WAS 4 OF THEM FOR $150 BACK IN 1980 THAT WAS A VERY GOOD PRICE FOR ME ANYWAY A FRIEND OF MY DADS WAS A HOT RODER FROM THE 1950’s & HE RACED AGAINST THE OLD TOP RACERS, ANYWAY HE LOOKED AT MY 2 BARREL TO 4 BARREL ADAPTER STACKING & TOLD ME I HAD MADE A TUNNEL RAM OUT OF ADAPTERS & THAT 2 BARREL CARB WAS AS CLOSE TO A PERFECT SETUP FOR THE CAM & EVERYTHING ELSE & IT WOULD RUN LIKE A BAT OUT OF HELL, LOL THE ENGINE HAD SO MUCH TORQUE I SHEARED THE BOLTS FROM THE CRANKSHAFT TO THE FLYWHEEL MULTIPLE TIMES SIMPLY BECAUSE I LOVED TO BURN OUT & I DID ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS WHITE SMOKE MY TIRES THE ENTIRE LENGTH OF THE 1/8TH MILE TRACK @ CEDAR CREEK RACEWAY SIMPLY TO HAVE FUN SINCE I DIDN’T WANT TO BRAKE TRACTION IF I WAS IN A SERIOUS RACE, BUT THAT WAS BEFORE I HAD TO GROW UP, BUT I DID ENJOY THE HELL OUT OF MY YOUTH. ALSO RICHARD IF YOU WERE TAUGHT YOU CAN FIND DIAMONDS IN A GOATS ASS YOU WERE LIED TO, 5THE BEST HOPE OF FINDING ONE LIKE THAT WOULD BE IN MURFREESBORO, ARKANSAS WHERE THE ONLY DIAMOND PIPE ON US SOIL IS LOCATED THERE ARE MANY MORE BUT THE US GOVERNMENT DOESN’T WANT THAT DATA IN THE PUBLIC HANDS IT WAS SIMPLY BECAUSE IF THERE IS ANOTHER WORLD WAR TO HAVE THAT DIAMOND RESOURCE AVAILABLE BUT NOW THEY GROW THEM WITH ACETYLENE GAS & A SUBSTRATE OF DIAMOND TO BEGIN THE PROCESS TO ALLOW THE CARBON ATOMS & IONS SOMETHING TO GROW FROM, ITS SOMEWHAT LIKE HOW THEY MAKE CARBON NANO RIBBON WITH ACETYLENE GAS, BUT THE DIAMOND PIPE IN ARKANSAS IS ONE OF 30 TO 50 THAT GO ACROSS THE USA THEY ARE ALL IN THE CARCASSES OF SUPER VOLCANO’S LIKE YELLOWSTONE , & THE ONE AT YELLOWSTONE & THE ARKANSAS ONE CAN HELP TO LOCATE ALL THE OTHERS THERE ARE 4 OR 5 IN TEXAS, & SEVERAL NORTH OF ARKANSAS, DECADES AGO I WAS TEACHING MYSELF GEOLOGY & SAW ALL THOSE LONG EXTINCT SUPER VOLCANO CARCASSES IN A VIDEO I CANT REMEMBER THE NAME TO IT BUT IT WAS A REALLY GOOD SHOW ON CHANNEL 13 IN DALLAS BACK IN THE LATE 80’s & EARLY 90’s BUT I HAD TO STOP MY SELF TAUGHT GEOLOGY SINCE THE BOOKS WERE OUTRAGEOUS 2 TO 4 HUNDRED PER BOOK BUT I SHOULD HAVE JUST GONE TO A LIBRARY & CHECKED THEM OUT BUT THE BOOKS I WAS STUDYING WERE NOT BOOKS THE LIBRARY LENDS OUT, BUT BY 1993 I HAD TO CEASE ALL THAT & CONCENTRATE ON PROVIDING FOR MY WIFE & NEW BORN DAUGHTER WHO IS ALL GROWN NOW & MARRIED LAST YEAR & BOUGHT A HOUSE BACK IN AUGUST OF 2020 I AM VERY PROUD OF BOTH MY DAUGHTERS BUT THEY BOTH HAD MY STEPSONS TRAGIC LIFE TO SHOW THEM EXACTLY WHAT NOT TO DO & EASILY AVOID BECOMING A 18 YEAR OLD LOCKED UP IN HUNTSVILLE PRISON, BUT HE CHOSE HIS PATH & DID WHAT HIS FATHER DID SINCE HIS DAD SPENT HIS TEENS IN HUNTSVILLE PRISON ALSO. LOL I SIMPLY WORKED MY ASS OFF FROM THE AGE OF 6 TILL MY SPINE GAVE OUT AT AGE 34, BUT BEING SWATTED BY A FORK LIFT WITH A CARPET POLE ON IT & FLYING INTO A WALL BREAKING THE WALL LOL I CAN NOW REMEMBER THAT HAPPENING VIVIDLY BUT WHEN IT HAPPENED I HAD A SEVERAL THOUSAND SQUARE FOOT HARDWOOD INSTALLATION TO GET TO SO I PULLED MYSELF OUT OF THE WALL & SAID I’M OK WHICH I COULDN’T HAVE BEEN OK SINCE THE HUMAN BODY ISN’T BUILT TO ADSORB THAT KIND OF TRAUMA PERIOD BUT I SIMPLY FOCUSED ON MY WORK & PUSHED THE THOUGHT OF THAT HAPPENING OUT OF MY HEAD, FUNNY I FINALLY REMEMBERED IT HAPPENING IN VIVID DETAIL A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO BUT I THINK ITS WAY TO LONG FROM THE TIME OF THAT INJURY TILL TODAY TO DO ANYTHING LEGAL ABOUT IT, BUT I DO REMEMBER THE CARPET STORE OWNERS OLDEST SON WAS THE ONE DRIVING THE FORKLIFT & NOT LOOKING BUT I ALSO REMEMBER THAT WAS WHEN THAT STORE HAD COCAINE SIMPLY OOZING OUT OF THE SALES STAFF & THE INSTALLATION MANAGER, BUT IF I WOULD HAVE TRIED ANYTHING LEGAL TO DO WITH THAT BS I WOULDN’T HAVE GOTTEN THE WORK I WAS GETTING THERE, I COULD GO ELSEWHERE & DID A FEW MONTHS LATER BUT BY THEN I HAD COMPLETELY MENTALLY BLOCKED THAT TRAUMA. FAIR WARNING FOR ALL WHO READ THIS ALWAYS GO SEE A DOCTOR AFTER AN INJURY LIKE THAT, IT WAS AGE 34 WHEN MY SPINE GAVE OUT COMPLETELY I TRIED THE SURGERY & THE SURGEON WANTED TO DO 4 TO 6 MORE SURGERIES FROM THE FRONT TO DEAL WITH MY BACK BUT HE ALSO WANTED TO INSTALL HARDWARE & i HAVE A METAL HYPERSENSITIVITY DISORDER THAT WILL NOT ALLOW THE USE OF ANY HARDWARE, I USED TO CALL IT A METAL ALLERGY BUT ITS WAY MORE THAN AN ALLERGY.
LOL a Hick Friend of Mine when I was younger called garages car holes so in his Hick ease mixing a bit of Sue Gas Monkey he would surely actually call Gas Monkey Garage
🙂 ASS MONKEY CAR HOLE (-:
LOL
WHAT DID THE TURKEY SAY WHEN THE HUNTER MISSED ?
OLOLOLOLOLOLO
HA HA I STILL FIND THAT INSANELY FUNNY BUT WORKING OUT IN THE DEEP COUNTRY DECADES AGO I HAD TO TURN OFF A NOT MAINTAINED BY THE COUNTY ROAD DRIVE DOWN IT 35 MILES THEN TURN AGAIN & 5.5 MORE MILES I WOULD PULL UP TO THEIR DOOR, BUT TURNING OFF THAT NOT MAINTAINED ROAD ONTO THOSE PEOPLES PRIVATE ROAD THERE WAS A LONE OAK TREE THAT HAD TO BE 4 & 1/2 FOOT TO 6 & 1/2 FOOT OAK TREE THAT HAD A SOMEWHAT OVAL BASE BUT IT WAS MASSIVE & THERE WAS A LONE TOM TURKEY UNDER THAT TREE WITH 15 TO 20 HENS & THAT OLD TOM TURKEY HAD TO BE AT THE VERY LEAST A 140 POUND TURKEY SINCE IT WAS EASILY 1 TO 2 FEET TALLER THAN ME & I AM 6′ TALL & ITS BODY LOOKED TO BE AS BIG AROUND AS 4 TO 5 FOOT AROUND, I MENTIONED IT TO THE CUSTOMER & HE SAID YEA I LEFT IT THAT ONE OAK TREE WHEN I CLEARED THE PROPERTY A DECADE AGO & THAT TURKEY IS DEFIANTLY WILD SINCE IT TAKES ITS HENS UP TO STEAL MY CATTLE FEED EVERY TIME I PUT ANY OUT FOR MY COWS HE ALSO SAID HE HAD JUST BEGAN ADDING SEVERAL POUNDS MORE FOR THE TURKEYS & HE SAID HE HAD TAKEN 4 OF THE OLDER HENS OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS BUT THEY WERE COMING CLOSE TO THE TOM’S SIZE & HE DID ADD THEY WERE THE BEST TASTING TURKEY THAT HE HAD EVER TASTED BUT HE SAID IF THEY HAD BEEN ALL STRINGY HE WAS GOING TO CULL THE WHOLE GROUP BUT THEY ARE ALL GROWING FAT & TASTY OFF HIS CATTLE FEED & THE ACORNS OFF THAT OLD OAK, HIS PROPERTY WAS SURROUNDED ON ALL SIDES WITH OAKS & PECAN’S & A FEW APPLE & PEACH TREES SO THOSE TURKEYS HAD LOTS TO EAT.
hi is there any way i could get a autograph photo from sue ,thamk you.
“cheap charlie” = priceless!
would like to know how sue found 9 trimmers in texas now thats amazing considering there are few coming into the trade
i think sue is great need to see more of her
My favorite thing Sue does is say for lunch she is serving Monkey Soup! She fits in this show great! And I want to know if Sue is single.
Greetings from Poland. In our country Gas Monkey Garage is in each village :)- we are still repairing and junks from all European countries:)
But Sue is inimitable. God bless you and your family.
autograph photo from sue thank you
Sue, I would sacrifice body parts to work for you! Hire me! I think you’re awesome!
“YOU NO GAS MONKEY,YOU ASS MONKEY!=BINGO,JET OUT!!! SUE HAS THE ONE LINERS FOR SURE.
great show and great bunch of people.we can relate to their situations. always looking forward to Monday pm.keep the shows on please because that is the only day we look at leaving the shop early.thank you
Harley
sue’s new saying,youv’e got monkey gas coming out of youre monkey ass.
Sue, I would love to see Richard, Aaron and you become in a heated argument and then you karate chop and kicked the shit out of them and grab Aaron by the beard. Sue, that one job the seats were so screwed up and you had to redo the seats. Did somebody actually screw up that bad?
You are funnier than ,Hell,on Christmas Eve,I am sure the advertising / and kickbacks are worth The Drama,from,Ass Monkeys,you seem to be really good.Do you do motorcycle,seats/Leather,?? Without stitching holes that let water,(RAIN),in?No wet ass,Monkey,like simple designs, 2-3 color,????.I did 2 bikes in my life,that shit is not easy,but mine looked showroom new,replacement covers of course,still kind OF DIFFICULT,for a white boy.Can you send info to / mikeb714@comcast.net,Love, thank you,!!!!!!!!!
Love Sue! Love the genuine honesty.
The world would be better with more Sue.
I just saw an old movie, Cadillac man, the Japanese waitress in it could be Sue in her younger days, same voice, same kind of character!
You do good, Sue. Keep up the good work turning Richard’s junk into trophy cars. I hope Richard pays you well.
Sue you are GREAT you need your own show
how can I get a tee shirt from sue that says why you always bring me junk I love yalls show
Sue I have really gotten a kick out of seeing you, and your interaction with Ass Monkeys, and Fired Up. I always look for you when I watch either of the shows, and am disappointed when you don’t have an appearance. I agree with an earlier post: You need your own show. You’d be great, and you’d have a regular viewer in me.
Hello Sue your awesome! I love you! you have that drive that is very rare in a person, you have accomplished so much in your life. Are you married? wishful thinking on my part.
I LOVE WHEN YOU CALL HIM ASS MONKEY WOULD YOU FIX MY 1985 SUPRA
I like the show of the volkswagen bus you id a really good job sue. I never saw somone do as good as you at upholsterey.
Congratulations Sue!!!! Thank you for all your hard work all these years. The American Dream is alive and well in Dallas TX. Don’t take any crap from those Gas Monkey nut jobs!
Hello Sue, enjoy every appearance. You do GREAT work and speak the truth. You always bring a smile when you appear. Would like to meet you some day. I think it would be worth the trip from Michigan. Thank you for being you.
Why do you give your work away?
Sue you’re the reason I watch Gas Monkey. Do you sell t-shirts.I’m Sue too.Your fan.
I would love to work under Sue and learn some of the things she knows. Can I have a job?
How much for an autographed photo of you sue I love your attitude and personality you are awesome
Hoe can anyone especially Richard Rawlins argue with Sue and get away without her injuring him?
I am Ed Campbell owner of Campbell Upholstery woodbury Pa. do not know if this is the proper spot to ask but here it goes. Anybody know where I can order original foam forms for back seat and backrest for 1959 T.Bird. Any suppliers phone numbers would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.
It seems that Sue’s workmanship is excellent. However… I have seen many episodes of Fast and Loud, and Misfit Garage. My opinion is Sue needs an attitude adjustment. She is rude, abrasive, and ignorant. Maybe this is all a “put on” for the show. If she thinks the way she treats people is acceptable or funny she is sadly mistaken.
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