DRIVE starring Mike Vallely: Roots (2008)DRIVE starring Mike Vallely: Roots (2008) Season Three | Episode Six In episode 6, Mike Vallely visits his hometown of Edison, New Jersey. First, Mike meets up with childhood friend Al Batagliotti at his skate shop Central Jersey Skate Shop. Al takes Mike to the backyard skatepark of the Nolan family, where they skate with a new generation of Edison kids. Another of Mike’s early childhood friends, Mike Schwartz, stops by to see Mike, and along with Al, they reminisce about growing up in Edison. From there, Mike heads over to meet up with his childhood mentor Rodney Smith, who took Mike under his wing when he first started skating and exposed him to the world of skateboarding outside of Central New Jersey. They head to New York City to visit Rodney’s skate shop, Shut Skateboards, and the infamous Brooklyn Banks, Mike’s favorite all-time favorite skate spot. Mike shares with Rodney how vital his friendship and mentorship have been to him all these years. Mike goes on to skate a demo at the public Edison skatepark and, in front of a hometown crowd, presents Rodney with a gift to thank him for always believing in him, a 2008 Jeep Wrangler. The show and season end with Mike returning home to his family in Long Beach, California.