023 | My Mustang Was Slashed… Then This Happened at Laguna Seca
About this episode
Chris shares a wild story about his Mustang being vandalized overnight in his gated community and how he dealt with the damage. The episode also dives into Courage's ongoing mini bike project, detailing engine swaps and upgrades. They discuss the joys and challenges of tent camping near Temecula, including family bonding moments like kids catching their first fish. Additionally, a tragic incident at the Laguna Seca raceway is touched upon, highlighting unexpected dangers off the track. The conversation blends personal stories, mechanical insights, and outdoor adventures for a varied and engaging listen.
In this episode of Cool Cars with Chris, I walk out to find my Mustang’s rear tire completely slashed — inside a gated community. I break down how we discovered the sidewall damage, changed the tire with my son, and dealt with the frustration of random car vandalism.
We also continue the mini bike build with a brand-new 98cc engine swap. We talk through intake upgrades, mounting challenges, throttle setup, and what it really takes to bring a small engine project back to life.
Then I finally modernize the Mustang with an Apple CarPlay stereo upgrade and backup camera install, and we get into some car audio nostalgia from the 6-disc CD changer era.
To close it out, we break down the Laguna Seca red flag crash involving a tractor and two Nissan GT-Rs during a track day event. We discuss track safety rules, liability, and how track insurance works when something unexpected happens.
If you’re into Mustangs, project builds, track days, motorsports news, or DIY car upgrades — this one covers it all.
🔗 Follow & Connect
🌐 Website:
https://coolcarswithchris.com/
📸 Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/cool_cars_with_chris619/
▶️ YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/@CoolCarswithChris619
🎥 Courage’s YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/@TheDriveNDad22
In this episode of Cool Cars with Chris, we dive into a Mustang tire slashed incident, car vandalism in a gated community, diagnosing sidewall tire damage, changing a flat tire, and emergency tire repair. We also cover a 98cc mini bike engine swap, small engine upgrades, carburetor and intake mods, DIY project bike builds, and where you can legally ride a minibike. Plus, I break down a Mustang Apple CarPlay install, stereo upgrade, backup camera retrofit, and car audio nostalgia from the 6-disc CD changer era. Finally, we analyze the Laguna Seca track day accident, red flag racing rules, Nissan GT-R crash details, track safety procedures, track day liability, and how track insurance works in motorsports incidents.
00:00 – 🚨 Intro: Mustang Slashed & Laguna Seca Tease
02:05 – 🏕️ Camping Trip Recap
06:40 – 🔥 Cold Night, S’mores & First Fish
09:50 – 🏍️ Mini Bike Project Update
14:10 – 🔧 98cc Engine Swap Explained
19:20 – 🛠️ Intake Mods, Carb Talk & Build Challenges
23:40 – 🚚 Big Trucks, Width & Parking Struggles
28:18 – 💔 Discovering the Slashed Mustang Tire
31:05 – 🔍 Sidewall Slash & Vandalism Realization
33:40 – 🛞 Changing the Tire with My Son
35:55 – 😑 The Donut Tire Was Flat Too
37:30 – 🎵 Changing the Mustang Radio
41:20 – 📲 Apple CarPlay & Backup Camera Upgrade
45:30 – 🎶 6-Disc CD Changers & Car Stereo Nostalgia
49:10 – 🏁 Laguna Seca Race Accident Begins
52:00 – 🚜 Tractor Crash Under Red Flag
56:30 – ⚖️ Who’s at Fault? Track Rules Breakdown
1:02:30 – 🛡️ Track Insurance & Liability Debate
1:08:00 – 🎙️ Final Thoughts
1:10:45 – 🎬 Outro
#Mustang #LagunaSeca #TrackDay #GTR #CarVandalism #EngineSwap #MiniBikeBuild #AppleCarPlay #CarUpgrade #Motorsports
Ford Mustang
"...zy because something horrible happened to the new Mustang. Nobody crashed it quite yet. Nothing like that...."
The Ford Mustang is a famous sports car that many people love because it looks cool and goes fast. It's been around for a long time and is well-known for being fun to drive. They might be talking about a problem or something unusual that happened with a new Mustang.
The Ford Mustang is an iconic American muscle car known for its powerful performance and sporty design. It has a rich history dating back to the 1960s and remains a popular choice among car enthusiasts. The mention likely refers to a recent issue or event involving a new Mustang model.
project car
"what it is, it's a project car after all. And then topping it off, you know, those raceways"
A project car is a car that needs fixing or changing, and people work on it to make it better or run again. It's like a car you build or fix up as a hobby.
A project car is a vehicle that someone buys with the intention of repairing, restoring, or modifying it over time. It often requires significant work before it can be driven regularly or shown off.
glamping
"If you're doing the glamping as a way to go, I mean, it's like, you get the camping experience with like the, the luxuries of like, you know, a normal like room-ish, I guess, so to speak."
Glamping means camping but with more comfort and nice things like a real bed and electricity, so you don't have to rough it outdoors.
Glamping is a style of camping with amenities and comforts not usually associated with traditional camping, such as beds, electricity, and sometimes even Wi-Fi. It combines the outdoor experience with luxury accommodations.
Ford F350
"Just kind of the regular like, you know, F 350."
The Ford F-350 is a big truck that can pull heavy trailers or campers. People use it when they need a strong vehicle to tow things behind it.
The Ford F-350 is a heavy-duty pickup truck often used for towing trailers, motorhomes, and other heavy loads. It is part of Ford's Super Duty lineup and is known for its strong towing capacity and durability.
Class A license
"I guess you would ultimately have to get a class A license to then do it, but I know that they do rent those out too."
A Class A license is a special driver's license you need to drive very big vehicles like large trucks or big RVs. It means you have extra training to handle bigger and heavier vehicles safely.
A Class A license is a commercial driver's license required in many regions to operate large vehicles such as tractor-trailers or large RVs like Class A motorhomes. It permits the holder to drive vehicles over a certain weight and with multiple trailers.
mini bike
"Yeah. I got to take the mini bike out next. Actually, well, I probably can. So, okay. So, so fill everybody in. You got handed a mini motorcycle bike called a mini bike."
A mini bike is a tiny motorcycle that is easy to ride and usually used for fun. It has a small engine like a lawnmower and is good for riding around in small areas.
A mini bike is a small, lightweight motorcycle typically used for recreation or short-distance travel. They usually have small engines similar in size to lawnmower engines and are popular for fun riding in yards or small tracks.
carburetor
""...how about the, the carburetor, the things taken apart now. So I actually, so I've gotten a new engine for it...""
A carburetor is a part that mixes air and gas to help the engine run. It's used in older cars before newer fuel systems were made.
A carburetor is a device in older internal combustion engines that mixes air and fuel for the engine. It controls the engine's air-fuel ratio before fuel injection became common.
WD-40
""...the clutch, W 40, W 40. That thing, give it a gas bath. Literally all you would hear is probably just like screeching...""
WD-40 is a spray that helps fix stuck or rusty parts in cars. It also helps keep metal parts from getting rusty.
WD-40 is a popular penetrating oil and water-displacing spray used to loosen rusted parts and protect metal from corrosion.
shock suspension
"you can do like a front suspension upgrade where you kind of upgrade the handlebars and actually have like, you know, sort of shock suspension. Oh, like those mountain bikes do a little bit."
Shock suspension is like springs and cushions that help the bike or vehicle absorb bumps so the ride isn't too rough.
Shock suspension refers to shock absorbers that help dampen the impact from bumps and uneven surfaces, improving ride quality and control.
50 CC
"the one my dad had might have been 50 or 49. It looks like it was probably like that, like a 50 CC or something of that sort."
50 CC means the size of the engine is 50 cubic centimeters, which is very small and usually found in little bikes or scooters.
50 CC refers to the engine displacement of 50 cubic centimeters, commonly used to describe small engines like those found in mopeds or small motorcycles.
98 CC
"The one, the motor down replacement was a 98 CC. Okay. Slow down turbo."
98 CC means the engine is bigger than 50 CC, so it can make the bike go faster or have more power.
98 CC refers to a larger engine displacement of 98 cubic centimeters, which generally provides more power than a 50 CC engine in small motorcycles or scooters.
NOS
"Hey, I guess the question the audience wants to know is, are you planning to get NOS for this thing or can get up?"
NOS is a special system that puts a gas called nitrous oxide into the engine to make the bike or car go faster for a short time.
NOS stands for Nitrous Oxide System, a performance upgrade that injects nitrous oxide into the engine to increase power output temporarily.
piston
"You can actually get in there and upgrade like the piston and, and you know, change the valves. Yeah. Change the valves and all of that."
The piston is a part inside the engine that moves up and down to help make power for the bike or car.
The piston is a moving part inside the engine cylinder that compresses the air-fuel mixture and transfers force to the crankshaft, essential for engine function.
valves
"Change the valves and all of that. Like I doubt I'm going to get that crazy, but I do have a, I did install an intake on it though."
Valves are parts that open and close to let air and gas in and out of the engine so it can run properly.
Valves control the flow of air and fuel into the engine and exhaust gases out, and changing them can affect engine performance.
intake
"Like I doubt I'm going to get that crazy, but I do have a, I did install an intake on it though. Cause you can, you can take off the stock air box, just like on a car, like you got the stock, like, you know, air box on the side."
The intake is where the air comes into the engine. Changing it can help the engine breathe better and work stronger.
The intake is the part of the engine system that allows air to enter the engine; upgrading it can improve airflow and engine performance.
stock air box
"Cause you can, you can take off the stock air box, just like on a car, like you got the stock, like, you know, air box on the side. And so I just got like one of those"
The stock air box is the original part that cleans the air before it goes into the engine. Taking it off or changing it can make the engine sound different or work better.
The stock air box is the original air filter housing on a vehicle, designed to filter air entering the engine; removing or replacing it can affect performance and sound.
breather filter
"basically like breather filters and you just get an adapter that adapts onto it. There's a couple hoses that you got to kind of reroute because like the fuel tank had a breather hose that went through it."
A breather filter is like a small screen that lets air in and out of parts of a vehicle but keeps dirt and dust from getting inside.
A breather filter is a component that allows air to enter or exit a system, such as a fuel tank or engine crankcase, while filtering out contaminants like dust and dirt to prevent damage.
breather hose
"There's a couple hoses that you got to kind of reroute because like the fuel tank had a breather hose that went through it. You can just kind of get a separate breather hose for it."
A breather hose is a small pipe that helps air move in and out of parts of a car so everything works smoothly.
A breather hose is a tube that allows air to flow in and out of a vehicle's fuel tank or engine components to equalize pressure and prevent vacuum buildup.
emissions
"And there's no like emissions like a car. There's no like, um, you know, uh, like smog. Right."
Emissions are the dirty gases that cars can put out, and there are rules to keep these gases from polluting the air too much.
Emissions refer to the pollutants released into the air by vehicles, which are regulated by laws to reduce environmental impact.
K&N filter
"I did the same thing on my quad. I had a, uh, I ripped out the air box and put a, uh, like a K and N, you and it, but the K and you and I had had the K and filter,"
A K&N filter is a special kind of air filter that helps a vehicle breathe better and keeps dirt out.
A K&N filter is a popular brand of high-performance air filter that uses oiled cotton gauze to improve airflow while filtering out contaminants.
Ford Explorer
"...e Z did fit in that garage. And then my ex-wife's Explorer fit in the spot behind the garage. Cause he gave..."
The Ford Explorer is a big car that can carry lots of people and stuff, making it good for families. It's easy to drive around town or on trips. Here, they talked about how it fits in a parking spot or garage.
The Ford Explorer is a midsize SUV known for its versatility and family-friendly features. It offers spacious seating and is often used for daily driving and road trips. The context suggests it was mentioned in relation to parking space or fitting in a garage.
Ford F-150
"But like having a Ford F one 50 sounds great. But one thing I always hear everybody playing about is parking the thing in normal tight parking spaces."
The Ford F-150 is a big truck that can carry heavy stuff and do tough jobs. Because it's big, it can be hard to park in small spots.
The Ford F-150 is a full-size pickup truck widely used for its capability, durability, and versatility. It's known for being larger and wider than many vehicles, which can make parking in tight spaces challenging.
Ford F
"...ike, man, like this works now, but like having a Ford F one 50 sounds great. But one thing I always hear ..."
The Ford F-100 is an old-style pickup truck that many people like because it looks classic and works well. It's different from the newer trucks you see today. They were probably talking about how it compares to newer trucks like the F-150.
The Ford F-100 is a classic pickup truck model from Ford's F-Series, produced primarily in the mid-20th century. It is beloved by collectors and vintage truck enthusiasts for its durability and classic styling. The context suggests a comparison with newer models like the F-150.
Ford Bronco
"...And if you imagine if you had like a Raptor or a Bronco Raptor, man, those things become really hard. The..."
The Ford Bronco is a strong, tough car made to drive on rough roads and trails. There's a special version called the Bronco Raptor that's even better for hard driving. They were probably talking about how hard it is to handle these big, powerful trucks.
The Ford Bronco is a rugged off-road SUV that has been revived recently to compete with other off-road vehicles like the Jeep Wrangler. The Bronco Raptor is a high-performance variant designed for extreme off-road capability. The mention likely compares it to other tough trucks like the Raptor.
Dodge Ram
"...ularly with the Raptor with the, I think like the Ram TRX as well. Those front lights, like they have ..."
The Dodge Ram is a big truck that can carry heavy loads and go off-road. There's a special fast version called the Ram TRX. They were probably talking about how the front lights look on these trucks.
The Dodge Ram, now known simply as Ram trucks, is a line of full-size pickup trucks known for their power and capability. The Ram TRX is a high-performance off-road truck that competes with the Ford Raptor. The discussion likely focused on design features like the front lights.
Tesla Semi
"...s in the middle of the vehicle somewhere and the semi trucks have it on the hood, on the roof, you know..."
The Tesla Semi is a big electric truck used to carry heavy loads on highways without using gas. It has special cameras and sensors to help it drive safely. They were talking about where these sensors are located on the truck.
The Tesla Semi is an all-electric Class 8 semi-truck designed to revolutionize freight transport with zero emissions and advanced technology. It features a unique design with sensors placed around the vehicle for safety and automation. The discussion likely involved the placement of these sensors.
donut tire
"so we dig into the trunk, find the donut tire, find the little wing nut thing, unscrew that, get the tire out of the trunk."
A donut tire is a small extra tire that you use only when your regular tire is flat. It's just to help you drive safely to fix the flat tire.
A donut tire is a small, temporary spare tire designed to get you to a repair shop after a flat tire. It is not meant for long distances or high speeds.
jack
"And below that is the jack and the tools you need in the little, the wrench you need, the lug nut wrench to get the thing off."
A jack is a tool that helps lift the car up so you can take off a flat tire and put on a new one.
A jack is a mechanical device used to lift a vehicle off the ground so that a tire can be changed or repairs can be made underneath.
lug nut wrench
"And below that is the jack and the tools you need in the little, the wrench you need, the lug nut wrench to get the thing off."
A lug nut wrench is a tool that helps you take off the nuts holding the tire so you can remove the flat tire.
A lug nut wrench is a tool used to loosen and tighten the lug nuts that secure a wheel to the vehicle.
run flat tires
"Technically like the tire, the stock tires are considered like run flat tires. And so they, they, they can assume you could like theoretically pump the tire up enough to get somewhere."
Run flat tires are special tires that let you keep driving for a little while even if they get a hole or go flat, so you don't have to stop right away to fix them.
Run flat tires are designed to resist the effects of deflation when punctured, allowing the vehicle to continue to be driven for a limited distance at a reduced speed without needing an immediate tire change.
Nissan 300Zx
"...n I was in college with my, with my Z actually my 300ZX, where somebody had broken like the, the back qu..."
The Nissan 300ZX is a sporty car from the 1990s that many people liked because it looked good and was fun to drive. Someone was telling a story about when their car got damaged.
The Nissan 300ZX is a sports car from the 1990s known for its sleek design and strong performance. It is part of Nissan's Z-car lineup and remains popular among enthusiasts. The mention likely refers to a personal story involving damage to the car.
auxiliary button
"It even has an auxiliary button on the radio. Great. Which is funny because it does not have an auxiliary like port anywhere in the car."
This button lets you play music from other devices through the car's speakers if you plug them in.
An auxiliary button on a car stereo allows the user to select an external audio source, such as a phone or MP3 player, connected via an auxiliary input port.
auxiliary port
"It does not have an auxiliary like port anywhere in the car. And they didn't come out with the port until 2007, even though it was built into the radio."
This is a place where you can plug in your phone or music player to play music in the car.
An auxiliary port is a physical input on a car stereo that allows external audio devices to be connected and played through the car's speakers.
Apple CarPlay
"I want to hardwire the apple car play directly to the stereo because it'll sound better. I don't have to bounce around from different radio stations."
This lets you use your iPhone with the car's screen to play music, get directions, or make calls.
Apple CarPlay is a system that allows iPhone users to connect their phone to the car's infotainment system to access apps, navigation, music, and calls more easily and safely.
backup camera
"it's going to work flawlessly and they can use a backup camera when he backs up in the place."
A backup camera is a small camera on the back of a car that shows you what's behind when you are backing up, so you don't hit anything.
A backup camera is a rear-facing camera installed on a vehicle that displays the area behind the car on a screen, helping drivers see obstacles and improve safety when reversing.
Laguna Seca
"at a raceway, popular raceway, Laguna Seca. What happened at Laguna Seca and who crashed into who"
Laguna Seca is a well-known race track where people race cars. It's famous because it has tricky turns and hills that make racing exciting.
Laguna Seca is a famous raceway located in California, known for its challenging turns and elevation changes. It hosts various motorsport events including track days, professional races, and time attack events.
time attack
"maybe like a time attack situation is usually not like an actual like race. It's, it's, you know, they usually kind of have trying to keep gaps between cars"
Time attack is a type of car event where drivers try to drive the fastest lap around a track. They don't race side-by-side but try to get the best time.
Time attack is a motorsport event where drivers compete to set the fastest lap time on a track, rather than racing wheel-to-wheel. It emphasizes precision and speed with rules often limiting close racing and passing.
red flag
"happened on a track where it was a red flag and everybody had to, had to stop. And so, you know, people were stopping on the track"
In racing, a red flag means everyone has to stop right away because something unsafe happened on the track.
A red flag in racing signals that the session must be stopped immediately due to a dangerous condition on the track. All drivers must slow down and stop safely.
Nissan R32
"...ou know, one guy in this really, really beautiful R32 GTR, you know, he's just sitting in the car and ..."
The Nissan Skyline is a famous fast car from Japan that many people love because it looks great and drives really well. The R32 GTR is a special version that is very popular. They were probably talking about how nice the car looks and how cool it is to see.
The Nissan Skyline, especially the R32 GTR model, is a legendary Japanese sports car famous for its performance and tuning potential. It has a strong following worldwide and is often featured in car culture discussions. The context suggests admiration for the car's beauty and presence.
Lucid Air
"...And then once it got rolling, then I'll turn the air on or whatever, but I have to like get that out a..."
The Lucid Air is a fancy electric car that can drive very far on a single charge and has lots of cool features. It's quiet and smooth inside. They were probably talking about using the air conditioning or how comfortable it is.
The Lucid Air is a luxury electric sedan known for its impressive range, advanced technology, and high performance. It represents a new wave of electric vehicles competing with Tesla. The mention might relate to climate control or comfort features inside the car.
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