20 Years In Automotive Journalism: Jason Cammisa’s Most Insane Assignment 20 Years In Automotive Journalism: Jason Cammisa’s Most Insane Assignment — Carmudgeon Ep. 244

A guaranteed value insurance policy is coverage where the insurer and owner agree on the car’s value ahead of time. That agreed value is used after a covered loss, reducing disputes over what the car was “really worth.”

A 1983 Cadillac limousine is a long-wheelbase luxury vehicle, and the segment treats it as the centerpiece of a chaotic, high-stakes assignment. The hosts use it to set up a story about a major rally and how many things can go wrong when you’re relying on a specific car for a demanding event.

The “Babe Rally” is described as a 1,000-plus mile rally from New York to New Orleans. It’s the kind of long-distance, high-stress event that tests cars and crews over many days.

A 1,000-plus-mile rally is a long-distance endurance-style event where the car must survive sustained driving, not just short performance runs. Over that distance, small issues can snowball into major breakdowns.

Ann Arbor, Michigan is a city in the U.S. known for the University of Michigan and a strong local car culture. In the segment, it’s where the host started his journalism career and where the police incident happened.

The Porsche Boxster is a mid-engine roadster from Porsche, known for its balanced handling and strong driving feel. In this story, it’s the car Derek was driving when he got pulled over in Ann Arbor.

An “org chart” is a diagram that shows how an organization is structured and who reports to whom. In this context, it’s used to explain the speaker’s reporting lines across print and online teams.

Gene is referenced as a senior figure in the speaker’s workplace chain of command, including a “boss’s boss” relationship. In this segment, Gene functions as an organizational anchor for how the speaker’s role and reporting lines worked.

A “dotted line” is an organizational reporting relationship where someone has a secondary, less direct responsibility to a different manager or department. It’s common in matrix organizations where roles span multiple functions (e.g., brand vs. day-to-day operations).

The Volkswagen Golf is a compact car that’s popular for being versatile—available as different body styles and trims, including performance-oriented versions. In the podcast, it’s mentioned through a driver trying a four-door GTI and finding it cool, which points to the Golf’s role as a practical daily car with a sportier option. That’s why it comes up: it’s a common reference point for “fun but usable” driving.

“Road rage” is aggressive or hostile behavior toward other road users, usually involving yelling, blocking, or unsafe driving. In the segment, the speaker corrects themselves because the other person is on a bicycle rather than in a car.

A recumbent bicycle is a bicycle where the rider sits in a reclined position, typically with the pedals in front. It can be harder for drivers to judge speed and distance compared with an upright rider.

A press fleet is a set of cars a manufacturer provides to journalists for review and media events. It’s meant to ensure multiple outlets can test the same vehicles without each publication having to buy them.

The BMW E30 is the 3 Series generation from the early 1980s to the early 1990s, and it’s famous for being a simple, driver-focused platform. In enthusiast circles it’s especially known for its balance, tuning potential, and huge aftermarket support.

“Facebook marketplace machine” is a casual way of referring to using Facebook Marketplace as a source for quickly finding and acquiring cars. It’s not a specific automotive technology, but it describes a practical sourcing channel for used vehicles.

“OTS” is commonly used in automotive contexts to mean “on the showroom floor,” i.e., cars currently available at a dealership for immediate access. Here, it’s used as a shorthand for driving whatever cars are on hand.

The Volkswagen Scirocco is a compact, front-engine coupe/hatchback-style car known for its sporty character and European enthusiast following. Shipping a Scirocco to Germany to drive it is a classic “use the car” story, because it’s the kind of car people often keep and enjoy for long-term ownership.

The Mercedes R129 is the chassis code for the late-1980s to 2000s generation of the Mercedes-Benz SL roadster. In this segment, they’re talking about doing a story specifically on the R129’s popularity and variants, including a 300 SL with a six-cylinder engine.

The speaker is describing a Chrysler LeBaron convertible that was kitted to resemble an R129 Mercedes SL. The key point is the “LeBaron” name here refers to a Chrysler model, and the story is about cross-brand styling kits that tried to recreate the R129’s look.

A “body kit” is aftermarket bodywork (bumper covers, fenders, skirts, etc.) that changes a car’s exterior appearance. Here, “R129 body kitted” means the Chrysler LeBaron was modified with parts intended to make it look like an R129 Mercedes SL.

“Double sticker price” refers to paying far above the car’s manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) due to hype and limited availability. The host is saying the R129 SL was so in-demand at launch that buyers were paying roughly twice the listed price.

The Ford Mustang is a popular American sports coupe/convertible known for its strong aftermarket support and wide range of trims. In the podcast context, it’s mentioned alongside other cars as something people can modify heavily—turning it into a look-alike of a more expensive style. That kind of discussion usually comes up when talking about customization, parts availability, and how easily a car can be transformed.

The Mazda MX-5, commonly called the Miata, is a lightweight, affordable roadster focused on simple, fun handling. The podcast mentions putting a body kit on a Miata to make it resemble a different, more expensive-looking car. That’s a common reason it’s discussed: it’s a popular platform for styling and customization.

The host compares the look of the “current SL” to a Porsche 911, using the 911 as a shorthand for a particular design vibe. This is a styling comparison rather than a technical specification, but it’s still a notable car reference because it frames how they perceive the SL’s design evolution.

The Mercedes-Benz 300 SL is a classic Mercedes sports car known for its distinctive “gullwing” doors and its high-performance reputation for its era. In this segment, the host specifically mentions doing a burnout in the 300 SL, which highlights how dramatic and difficult it can be to get the car to spin its tires on demand.

A burnout is when a driver intentionally spins the tires while the car is stationary or moving very slowly, usually to generate smoke and heat. In performance-car photography, burnouts are used to create dramatic visuals and to demonstrate how much traction the car can lose.

“Front wheels” refers to the wheels at the front axle, which matters because traction and drivetrain layout determine which wheels can spin during a burnout. The host’s point is that the LeBaron was spinning its front wheels, implying the front axle was losing grip.

The “Texas Mile” is a drag-style speed event where cars run a measured mile (1,609 meters) to see how fast they can go. It’s a common bucket-list venue for high-speed, straight-line performance testing and record attempts.

“Corvette 01” refers to a Chevrolet Corvette from the 2001 model year. In this segment, it’s used as the example of a specific car Jason and Don Sherman drove for an experience-focused assignment.

“Big Easy” is a nickname for New Orleans, used here as the destination half of the “babe rally” acronym (“Big Apple, Big Easy”). It identifies where the rally ends after several days of driving.

“Big Apple” is a nickname for New York City, used here because the “babe rally” acronym is explained as “Big Apple, Big Easy.” It anchors the rally’s starting location in New York.

“24 Hours of Le Mans” is the famous endurance race in France where cars compete over a full day (24 hours). Jason compares the rally’s nonstop, eventful nature to Le Mans, emphasizing the long-duration chaos and breakdown-prone reality of endurance-style events.

“24 hours of lemons” refers to the “Lemons” style of racing—intentionally cheap, unreliable cars competing for laughs rather than pure performance. The comparison suggests the rally had the same spirit: low budgets, frequent issues, and a focus on entertainment.

The Ford GT is Ford’s mid-engine supercar built for high-speed performance and track credibility. Here it’s mentioned as part of a pattern of “wrecked a lot of cars,” tying the story to the kinds of exotic, expensive cars that can get damaged.

The Lotus Elise is a lightweight British sports car known for its simple, driver-focused design and agile handling. It’s name-dropped here as another car that was involved in unfortunate events, reinforcing the “lots of incidents” theme.

The Lotus Exige is a track-oriented Lotus derived from the Elise platform, typically tuned for sharper, more aggressive driving. In the transcript it’s uncertain whether the car was an Exige or something else, but it’s still used to illustrate the kind of performance car that was getting into trouble.

The Toyota Camry is a mainstream midsize sedan known for comfort and everyday practicality. The podcast calls out a “Camry Longtermer” and mentions unfortunate events, which suggests it was part of a longer-term ownership or testing story. That kind of mention typically focuses on real-world issues that can come up over time with a common daily driver.

A 1983 Cadillac Stretch Limo is a late-1970s/early-1980s full-size Cadillac limousine stretched for extra passenger space. In this story it’s notable because the hosts are treating it like a daily-driver test—checking whether a long, older limo can survive thousands of miles without breaking.

A “shake-down” is a short, intensive test period where you drive a vehicle to uncover problems early—especially after buying something unfamiliar or after repairs. The host is using it to mean “drive it hard enough to prove it won’t break during the trip.”

A Brillo pad is a steel-wool-like abrasive kitchen scrubber. The host uses it to describe the limo’s paint condition—scratched up as if someone repeatedly scrubbed it with a harsh abrasive.

Rust-Oleum is a consumer paint brand commonly used for DIY coating jobs, including rust-inhibiting or protective finishes. Here it’s used as a practical workaround because they couldn’t get spray paint, so they rolled it on to make the limo’s black paint look better on camera.

The brake pedal is the driver’s control for the hydraulic braking system. When it’s “on the floor,” it usually indicates a loss of brake pressure—often from a leak or failed brake line/hoses—so the car may not stop reliably.

The Ford F-350 is a heavy-duty pickup truck used here as a tow vehicle. In towing situations, the point is that it can pull large trailers and heavy cars that wouldn’t fit on a normal setup.

Brake hoses are flexible lines that carry brake fluid from the master cylinder to the rest of the braking system. If a brake hose pops, brake fluid can leak out, causing a soft pedal or a pedal that drops to the floor and leaving you with little or no braking.

Brake calipers are the components that clamp brake pads onto the brake rotor to create stopping force. If a caliper “pops a hose,” it suggests the brake line/connection at or near the caliper failed, which can rapidly cause brake fluid loss.

Staten Island is a borough of New York City, and the speaker uses it as the setting for the rally. The mention is more about location and vibe than automotive technique, but it frames where the towing and breakdown chaos happened.

Trailer ramps are the hinged or removable boards used to drive a car up and down from a flatbed trailer. If the ramps aren’t secured, they can detach and become a serious hazard on the road.

“Two by eights” are dimensional lumber boards (about 2 inches by 8 inches nominal size) used here as improvised ramp material. The key point is that they’re using common construction lumber as a temporary mechanical solution for loading/unloading a heavy vehicle.

A stretch limo is a limousine that’s been lengthened—usually by adding body sections—so it has a much longer wheelbase and more interior space. In this story, the “$250 stretch limo” is used to emphasize how extreme the size and attention-getting factor was.

Wheelbase is the distance between a car’s front and rear axles. A longer wheelbase generally means more interior space and a different ride/handling feel, which is why a stretch limo’s wheelbase can make it seem dramatically larger than typical SUVs.

The Range Rover is a luxury SUV line from Land Rover, commonly used as a size reference in car talk. In this segment, it’s referenced to compare wheelbase length—specifically mentioning a roughly 100-inch station-wagon-like baseline for context.

Air conditioning (A/C) is the climate-control system that cools and dehumidifies the cabin. The hosts mention it because the limo had no A/C, making the heat unbearable and adding to the “death trap” discomfort.

Seatbelts are the primary restraint system that keeps occupants secured during sudden stops or crashes. This segment treats the lack of seatbelts as a major safety issue, especially in a long, improvised vehicle where occupants might be more exposed in an accident.

“K-walls” are the concrete barrier walls used along highways and bridges. Their job is to keep vehicles from crossing into opposing lanes or off the roadway, and they also create a narrow, unforgiving driving environment when you’re trying to maneuver or stop.

The throttle is the driver-controlled input that regulates how much air (and therefore fuel) the engine can use. When the speaker says the car “wouldn’t accept any throttle,” they’re describing a failure where pressing the accelerator doesn’t translate into engine power.

Backfire is an engine event where unburned fuel ignites in the exhaust or intake rather than smoothly inside the cylinders. The speaker links it to trying to start and to hitting the gas pedal, which often points to a drivability problem like misfire, fuel/air issues, or ignition problems.

Idling is when the engine is running at low RPM while the car is stopped. The speaker describes the car as “barely idling” before it suddenly lurches forward, suggesting unstable engine control or a transmission/drive engagement issue.

A “lurch” is a sudden, jerky movement of the vehicle, often caused by abrupt changes in engine torque delivery or drivetrain engagement. In a breakdown scenario, it can indicate problems with engine control, fuel/ignition stability, or how power is being transmitted to the wheels.

The HT4100 is a specific Cadillac V8 engine family with a 4.1-liter displacement. The host highlights that it was “all aluminum,” which matters for weight and heat management compared with cast-iron designs.

The Oldsmobile 307 refers to an engine displacement and model used by Oldsmobile—here, it’s the engine that was actually installed in the Cadillac. Swapping in a different brand’s engine is a big deal because it changes fitment, wiring, fuel delivery, and parts compatibility.

QuadraJet is a carburetor brand/model used on many GM V8s. Carburetors meter fuel and air mechanically, and the QuadraJet is known for having multiple circuits that help it run well across different throttle positions.

A fuel line is the hose/pipe that carries gasoline from the tank to the engine’s fuel system. In a carbureted setup, issues with the fuel line (clogs, leaks, or incorrect flow) can cause hard starting or flooding.

A “lift” is a vehicle hoist used to raise a car so mechanics can inspect the underside and work on components. Here, it’s central to the diagnosis because the crew checks for structural failure while the car is elevated.

“Quadrijet” refers to a four-barrel carburetor used on some older V8 engines. It meters fuel into the intake based on throttle position and engine demand, so swapping or rebuilding it can dramatically change drivability.

A “fuel pump” supplies pressurized fuel from the tank to the engine. In carbureted/older setups, a failing or disconnected fuel pump can cause sudden no-start or stalling, which is why they keep swapping lines/pumps and repeatedly get “no fuel.”

A “body on frame” vehicle uses a separate structural frame (like a ladder) with the body mounted on top. If the frame is missing or badly repaired—as described here—the car can’t be safely driven because the structure that controls rigidity and crash loads is gone.

A fuel filter traps dirt and debris before fuel reaches the engine. When the fuel filter is clogged, fuel flow drops and the engine can run poorly or stall; replacing it can restore normal operation.

A rubber hose is a flexible fuel line component used to route fuel in place of rigid tubing. In a modified setup, using a rubber hose with a filter can be a temporary or improvised fix, and it may clog or degrade over time.

A temperature gauge (temp gauge) shows engine coolant temperature, helping drivers avoid overheating. If the temp gauge doesn’t work, you lose an important warning signal when the engine is running too hot.

The heater core is a small heat exchanger inside the dashboard that uses hot engine coolant to warm the cabin. If it’s bypassed, the car may run cooler inside but you lose normal cabin heat.

The right lane is the lane closest to the curb/shoulder on a multi-lane road in countries that drive on the right. It matters here because the speaker describes their position while being pulled over.

Mirrors are driver visibility aids (rearview and side mirrors) used to check traffic around the vehicle. The speaker says they had no mirrors, which contributed to them not noticing the police car behind them.

A speedometer is the instrument that displays vehicle speed to the driver. In this story, the speaker is using it as evidence for their speed when questioned by the police.

The steering wheel is the driver’s input control for the steering system. The speaker describes moving it and finding the steering wasn’t connected, implying a serious steering linkage issue.

The Chevrolet Caprice is a full-size American car line known for body-on-frame durability and big, roomy dimensions. In this story, the “wagon” is being modified on the fly—roof cut to create a convertible—showing how these cars were popular platforms for chaotic, custom projects.

The Holden Caprice is a large, full-size sedan/wagon from Holden, typically aimed at comfort and everyday usability. In the podcast, it’s referenced as a big Caprice wagon used for a practical errand (going to Home Depot), which highlights its “family/utility” role rather than performance. That makes it relevant in conversations about what cars people actually use for hauling and daily tasks.

eBay is an online marketplace where people can list items for sale, including vehicles, often using timed auctions. In this story, the hosts use eBay’s auction timing to line up the sale with their travel schedule.

An auction is a sales format where buyers bid against each other, and the highest bid wins when the auction ends. Here, the hosts mention a “10 day” auction so the listing would finish at a specific time.

A Cadillac stretch limo is a long-wheelbase limousine built on a Cadillac platform, typically with a major body extension for rear-seat space. In this segment, the hosts are describing how they had to sell a “piece of shit” car via eBay, and the buyer would instead end up with a fully vetted 1983 Cadillac stretch limo after covering roughly 1,500 miles.

“Nav units” refers to in-car navigation devices (GPS-based systems) that provide turn-by-turn directions. Early units were often standalone devices rather than integrated infotainment.

A driveshaft is the rotating shaft that transfers power from the transmission to the differential/axles. If it’s too low or misaligned, it can contact the ground and cause loud clunks or damage.

A chassis is the vehicle’s main structural frame that supports the body and drivetrain loads. The host’s point is that this limo didn’t have a proper chassis, so the body flexed/bowed under extreme weight, leading to driveline contact and glass separation.

Laminated glass is windshield/side glass made of layers bonded together, so when it breaks it tends to stay in place rather than fully falling apart. That matters for safety when a vehicle’s body flex or impact could crack the glass.

The Chrysler Town & Country is a minivan built for carrying families and passengers comfortably. The podcast describes a setting with “houses on wheels,” and the Town & Country is mentioned in that context, likely as part of a travel or living arrangement. That makes it relevant because minivans are often used for flexible, multi-person road trips.

“AAA towing distance” refers to the idea that once you’re within the towing coverage range of AAA, you can stop worrying about getting stranded. It’s a practical threshold for when roadside assistance becomes likely.

Suspension is the system of springs and dampers that controls how the tires stay in contact with the road. Here, the host describes how the road’s bumps create a vibration that the suspension can’t control, leading to bouncing and loss of stability.

Shocks (shock absorbers) damp the suspension’s motion so the car doesn’t keep bouncing after hitting bumps. The host says there were “no shocks,” which explains the severe bouncing/heaving and the car leaving the ground.

Spring rate is how stiff a spring is, usually described as how much force it takes to compress it a certain amount. Different front vs rear spring rates can make the car’s ride and bounce behavior uneven, which the host links to the “bam, bam, boom” oscillation.

Wheel lock-up happens when the tires lose rotation and slide instead of rolling, usually due to excessive braking force or loss of traction. The host’s description suggests the car was struggling for grip during the bouncing/impact cycle.

A “stick-on mirror” is an aftermarket auxiliary mirror attached to existing glass or trim to improve visibility. It’s a practical workaround when visibility is compromised, such as when towing or when the driver’s sightlines are poor.

“No frame” is shorthand for a unibody (monocoque) construction, where the body itself provides the structural strength instead of a separate ladder frame. In a unibody design, adding lots of weight or people can stress the structure and lead to cracking or deformation. The host is warning that this limo’s structure isn’t meant to carry that kind of load safely.

Welding a frame in refers to adding a separate structural chassis/ladder frame to a body that originally didn’t have one. This is a major structural modification that changes how loads are carried and can dramatically improve safety if engineered correctly. The host treats it as a “problem solved” fix, but in real life it would require proper engineering, reinforcement, and inspection.

A tow is when a vehicle is pulled by another vehicle (or a tow truck) because it can’t safely drive under its own power. In this story, the car breaks down and needs towing specifically to reach the border crossing.

Contingency plans are backup strategies prepared in advance for different failure scenarios. In automotive road-trip terms, it often means having a plan for towing, rentals, and logistics if the car breaks down.

The Ford F-150 is a full-size pickup truck widely used for hauling and road trips because of its practicality and availability. The podcast mentions renting an F-150 with a trailer to handle travel logistics, which underlines its role as a go-to towing vehicle. That makes it relevant when the conversation is about planning, breakdown contingencies, and moving equipment.