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212 - The Korean Evangelist (Bob Miller)

212 - The Korean Evangelist (Bob Miller)

Track Walking Nov 03, 2025 71 min
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About this episode

Bob Miller, a passionate motorsport enthusiast, shares his journey from rural Indiana to becoming a notable figure in autocross and time attack events, particularly with Korean cars. He discusses his experiences with various vehicles, including a Hyundai Elantra and a Kia Rio, and recounts his epic road trip to Laguna Seca for a Gridlife event. The conversation touches on the challenges and joys of motorsports, the camaraderie within the community, and the unique thrill of competing in a car that defies expectations. Bob's humorous anecdotes and insights make for an engaging listen.

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Technical Too Afraid to Ask
Term

rear-wheel drive

"I grew around there and I got to learn how to drive real-world drive cars on gravel roads the correct way, which is sideways."

In rear-wheel drive cars, the back wheels get the power from the engine, which helps them handle better when driving fast or turning. It's often found in sports cars.

Term

front-wheel drive

"And front-wheel drive cars, dad taught me the finer points of, you know, car control by yanking the emergency brake mid-corner."

In front-wheel drive cars, the front wheels are responsible for both steering and moving the car. This setup is popular because it can save space and is often easier to handle.

Car

Dodge Caravan

"They were the only front-wheel drive cars we owned. We had bought my grandmother a Dodge Caravan because she had bad knees."

The Dodge Caravan is a type of minivan made by Dodge. It's designed to carry families and their stuff, making it a popular choice for people with kids.

Car

Mercury Topaz

"...we had an 88 Mercury Topaz automatic. If you've ever driven one of those, they have got to be the slowest vehicle on the planet with the AC on."

The Mercury Topaz is a small car that was made in the late 1980s. People often found it to be very slow, especially when the air conditioning was turned on, making it less enjoyable to drive.

Car

Ford Tempo

"was an 84 Ford Tempo five speed. That made the bestest jays in the school parking lot ever."

The Ford Tempo is a small car that Ford made in the 1980s and 1990s. It was designed to be affordable and useful for everyday driving.

Car

Buick Park Avenue

"the car I bought to drive when I turned 15, I bought a Buick Park Avenue."

The Buick Park Avenue is a large, comfortable car that Buick made for many years. It's known for being a nice car to drive, especially for long trips.

Part

injector pump

"...the Park Ave blew an injector pump literally a month before I got my license."

An injector pump helps send fuel to the engine so it can run properly. If it fails, the car may not start or run well.

Car

Honda Civic

"on a gravel road. It made an STS Civic seem stable in corners. So here comes the SCCA ta..."

The Honda Civic is a small car that many people like because it's dependable and saves gas. It's also fun to drive, especially when going around corners, which is why it's often talked about in racing circles.

Term

five speed

"2002 Elantra sedan, GLS car, five speed."

A five-speed means the car has a manual gear system with five different speeds you can shift through. It gives you more control over how the car drives.

Car

Hyundai Elantra

"I bought my first Korean car. 2002 Elantra sedan, GLS car, five speed."

The 2002 Hyundai Elantra is a small car that was popular for being inexpensive and reliable. It was one of the earlier models from Hyundai that started to gain a better reputation.

Car

Chevrolet Cavalier

"we were looking at, you know, something in that size range, you know, the ZX2 at the time, the Cavaliers, they were all trash."

The Chevrolet Cavalier is a small car that was made by Chevrolet for many years. It was known for being cheap and practical.

Car

Ford ZX2

"we were looking at, you know, something in that size range, you know, the ZX2 at the time, the Cavaliers, they were all trash."

The Ford ZX2 is a small car that was made by Ford. It was designed to look sporty and was popular in the late 1990s and early 2000s.

Term

10 year/100,000 mile warranty

"Like, yeah, but like the 100 the 10 year 100,000 mile warranty, like was the reason people bought those cars."

A 10 year/100,000 mile warranty means that if something goes wrong with the car, the company will fix it for free for up to ten years or until the car has been driven 100,000 miles. This makes buyers feel safer about their purchase.

Car

Ford Focus

"the Cavaliers were just the the escort or focus or whatever happened to be."

The Ford Focus is a small car that many people enjoy driving because it's fun and easy to handle. It's also practical for everyday use.

Car

Ford Escort

"the Cavaliers were just the the escort or focus or whatever happened to be."

The Ford Escort is a small car that was made for many years and was known for being affordable and practical for everyday use.

Term

clutch

"It was they were they were small undersized. Three clutches in that car."

A clutch helps you change gears in a car. If it's too small or weak, it can wear out quickly, especially in powerful cars.

Term

torquey

"And that era of Hyundai engines were torquey. So they were they they made a decent enough amount of power..."

If an engine is described as torquey, it means it has a lot of power available at low speeds. This helps the car move quickly without needing to rev the engine high.

Term

manually operated transmission

"...the ones that allow people that can't drive a man of transmission to look like they can drive a man of transmission. Yeah, they're terrible on clutches."

A manually operated transmission is a type of car transmission where you have to change gears yourself using a stick and a pedal. It gives you more control over how the car drives.

Term

autocross

"It was a great autocross car. It really was."

Autocross is a type of car racing where you drive through a course marked by cones. Each driver goes one at a time, and the goal is to complete the course as quickly as possible without hitting any cones.

Term

STF

"Um, STF was a class that they had for about six years. It was so good."

STF is a category in autocross racing for certain types of cars that are modified but still can be used on the road. It allows drivers to compete in a fun and challenging way.

Concept

SCCA

"...I started to do autocross with the Indy region SCCA and then, uh, Kevin Butterfield..."

The SCCA is a club for people who love cars and racing. They organize events where you can race your car and meet other car enthusiasts.

Car

Suzuki Swift

"...my last woman in my old Suzuki Swift, but that got me into autocrossing big time..."

The Suzuki Swift is a small, budget-friendly car that is fun to drive, especially for activities like racing on closed courses.

Car

Toyota Corolla

"...I co-drove with Brian Harmer in his old Corolla that very first year..."

The Toyota Corolla is a small car that many people buy because it's dependable and gets good gas mileage.

Car

Chevrolet Corvette

"...But I bought the Corvette and went decided that I should have a Corvette and the wife was like,..."

The Corvette is a fast sports car made by Chevrolet. It's known for being powerful and stylish, making it popular among car enthusiasts.

Car

Kia Forte

"...to go when we're getting rid of the truck. So the Forte went and I missed that car for for many, many yea..."

The Kia Forte is a compact car that looks good and has a lot of useful features. It's a great option for people who want a reliable car without spending too much money.

Term

foot pounds of torque

"The TPI was making three hundred and forty five foot pounds of torque because it didn't make horsepower."

Foot pounds of torque measures how much twisting force an engine can produce. It's important because it affects how quickly a car can accelerate.

Term

four plus three transmission

"And then it still had that was the last year of the four plus three transmission, which was basically a T10, a super T10, with a dugmash two speed overdrive behind it."

A four plus three transmission has four regular gears and an extra two-speed option for better fuel economy when driving fast. It helps the car use less fuel on the highway.

Car

Chevrolet C10

"...n front of me in 2017. Yeah, but I had bought the C10 that year. So that was that was out, unfortunatel..."

The Chevrolet C10 is an older pickup truck that many people love for its strong build and good looks. It's often restored by fans who enjoy working on classic cars.

Car

Kia Rio

"is the real to 13 to 2013. Kia Rio SX SX manual. What an only year that happened."

The Kia Rio is a small and affordable car that's great for getting around town. It's known for being reliable and has a lot of features for the price, making it a smart choice for many drivers.

Car

Mazda Miata

"...nd, Scott and Becky, needed somebody to tow their Miata down to NOLA in November of 2020."

The Mazda Miata is a small sports car that has two seats and can have its roof taken off. People love it because it's really fun to drive, especially on winding roads.

Car

Bentley Bentayga

"...rked out front of Caesars. Parked between Bentley Bentayga and whatever the newest Land Rover Range Rover th..."

The Bentley Bentayga is a very expensive and luxurious SUV that has a lot of fancy features and a powerful engine. It's made for people who want the best of the best in a vehicle.

Car

Land Rover Range Rover

"...ntley Bentayga and whatever the newest Land Rover Range Rover thing is. That's where we were literally sandwich..."

The Land Rover Range Rover is a fancy SUV that can go off-road and is very comfortable inside. It's popular among people who want a stylish vehicle that can handle rough terrain.

Car

Honda That Honda

"...cond gear all the times. That was I will tell you that Honda fit power with Kia Rio gearing is a combination"

The Honda That's is a small car made for city driving in Japan. It's easy to park and uses less gas, making it a practical choice for people who drive in busy areas.

Car

Honda Fit

"...gear all the times. That was I will tell you that Honda fit power with Kia Rio gearing is a combination"
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