{"version":"1.0.0","episode":{"title":"Beyond the Wheel – Tom’s Triumphant Journey through Classic Cars and Life’s Crossroads","url":"http://getcarcurious.com/episodes/beyond-the-wheel-tom-s-triumphant-journey-through-classic-cars-and-life-s-crossroads","audioUrl":"https://www.buzzsprout.com/2316026/episodes/15843696-beyond-the-wheel-tom-s-triumphant-journey-through-classic-cars-and-life-s-crossroads.mp3","description":"Click here to share your favorite car, car story or any automotive trivia!Tom’s story is an odyssey of resilience, with cars as the constant companions through his life’s ups and downs. He begins with fond tales of his first car, a 1972 Oldsmobile Cutlass, and his long-held preference for silver paint jobs – little did he know how significant “silver” would become in his journey. Tom then shares an almost unbelievable chapter: trading his wheels for a U.S. Navy aircraft carrier at least in responsibility! During military service, he experienced life without a personal car, piloting massive ships instead of cruising in a Chevy Silverado. When Hurricane Katrina struck, Tom embarked on an epic road trip in his truck to help rebuild New Orleans, illustrating how deeply automotive culture and duty to others intertwined for him.Tom's favorite episode of our podcast is from our very first season - \"Shifting Gears – Adam’s Modded Imports and Track Day Tales\" https://pod.link/1733902541/episode/8eddefd1724ff29d934da24090b0d2f2The episode doesn’t shy away from hardships – Tom opens up about losing his childhood home (and beloved first car) to a fire, battling addiction, and overcoming homelessness. Through each challenge, the theme emerges that cars and the car community were therapeutic and grounding forces in his life. By the end, Tom has listeners cheering as he finds stability and joy again, eventually behind the wheel of a 2015 Silverado that symbolizes how far he’s come. This powerful, emotionally charged episode transcends typical car talk; it’s about the human spirit, the drive to survive, and how the love of cars can steer us through even the darkest roads *** Your Favorite Automotive Podcast - Now Arriving Weekly!!! *** Listen on your favorite platform and visit https://carsloved.com for full episodes, our automotive blog, Guest Road Trip Playlist and our new CAR-ousel of Memories photo archive. Don't Forget to Rate & Review to keep the engines of automotive storytelling—and personal restoration—running strong."},"annotations":[{"startTime":319.52,"endTime":327.2,"type":"car","title":"Chevrolet Silverado","url":"/cars/chevrolet/silverado","image":"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/04/2022_Chevrolet_Silverado_1500_Z71.png","quote":"And Tom was actually sitting on the tailgate of his 2015 Silverado truck. He was sitting on a tailgate at a tailgate playing his bongo drums until his thumb turned blue...","canonicalId":"car:chevrolet:silverado","priority":0.5,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-4o-mini","data":{"explanation":"The 2015 Chevrolet Silverado is a full-size pickup truck known for its strong performance, towing capacity, and comfortable interior. It offers a range of engines and configurations, making it a popular choice for both work and leisure.","simplifiedExplanation":"The 2015 Chevrolet Silverado is a big truck that can carry heavy loads and is often used for work. It's known for being reliable and comfortable to drive.","imageAttribution":"LukaCali (CC BY-SA 4.0)"}},{"startTime":393.72,"endTime":400.44,"type":"car","title":"Oldsmobile Cutlass","url":"/cars/oldsmobile/cutlass","image":"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/07/1969_oldsmobile_cutlass.jpg","quote":"...my first car was a 1972 Oldsmobile Cutlass. Two door. Big hunk of metal...","canonicalId":"car:oldsmobile:cutlass","priority":0.5,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-4o-mini","data":{"explanation":"The Oldsmobile Cutlass is a mid-size car that was produced by Oldsmobile from the 1960s to the 1990s. The 1972 model is part of the first generation of the Cutlass, known for its classic styling and performance options.","simplifiedExplanation":"The Oldsmobile Cutlass is a car that was made by the Oldsmobile brand. The 1972 version is considered a classic car, meaning it's older and often appreciated by collectors.","imageAttribution":"Larry D. Moore (CC BY 4.0)"}},{"startTime":906.4,"endTime":914.2,"type":"car","title":"Chevy Cavalier","url":"/cars/chevrolet/cavalier","image":"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7c/CHEVROLET_CAVALIER_China.jpg","quote":"I didn't have another car until the I bought a 2005 Chevy Cavalier. So until 2005, I didn't have a car.","canonicalId":"car:chevrolet:cavalier","priority":0.9,"confidence":0.9,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-4o-mini","data":{"explanation":"The Chevy Cavalier is a compact car that was produced by Chevrolet from 1982 to 2005. It was known for its affordability and practicality, making it a popular choice for budget-conscious buyers.","simplifiedExplanation":"The Chevy Cavalier is a small car made by Chevrolet. It was popular because it was inexpensive and good for everyday use.","imageAttribution":"Dinkun Chen (CC BY-SA 4.0)"}},{"startTime":1488.6,"endTime":1491.1,"type":"term","title":"moonroof","url":"/glossary/moon-roof","quote":"...I think it comes with a, with a moonroof. I have crank windows.","canonicalId":"term:moon-roof","priority":0.5,"confidence":0.85,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-4o-mini","data":{"explanation":"A moonroof is a type of sunroof that is made of tinted glass and can be opened or tilted to allow fresh air into the vehicle. Unlike a traditional sunroof, a moonroof usually has a sliding panel that can be retracted to expose the sky above.","simplifiedExplanation":"A moonroof is a glass panel in the roof of a car that can open to let in light and air. It’s different from a regular sunroof because you can see through it even when it’s closed."}},{"startTime":1491.1,"endTime":1492.5,"type":"term","title":"crank windows","url":"/glossary/crank-windows","quote":"...I have crank windows. I had an ashtray, like it was old.","canonicalId":"term:crank-windows","priority":0.5,"confidence":0.9,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-4o-mini","data":{"explanation":"Crank windows refer to manually operated window mechanisms in vehicles where the driver or passenger must turn a handle to raise or lower the window. This feature was common in older cars before the widespread adoption of power windows.","simplifiedExplanation":"Crank windows are windows in a car that you have to turn a handle to open or close. They are not automatic like power windows, which you can control with a button."}},{"startTime":1544.2,"endTime":1546.92,"type":"car","title":"Kia Sedona","url":"/cars/kia/sedona","image":"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/73/2000_Kia_Sedona_KV-II_20221009.jpg","quote":"...I traded it in for a van, a 2006 Kia Sedona,...","canonicalId":"car:kia:sedona","priority":0.9,"confidence":0.9,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-4o-mini","data":{"explanation":"The Kia Sedona is a minivan known for its spacious interior and family-friendly features. It offers a comfortable ride and is often chosen for its practicality and affordability.","simplifiedExplanation":"The Kia Sedona is a type of family car called a minivan. It's designed to have a lot of space for passengers and cargo, making it great for families.","imageAttribution":"Ethan Llamas (CC BY-SA 4.0)"}}],"speakers":[{"id":"s1","name":"Carly","role":"host"},{"id":"s2","name":"Doug","role":"host"},{"id":"s3","name":"Dave: Classic Car Experts","role":"host"},{"id":"s4","name":"Motorsports Enthusiasts","role":"host"},{"id":"s5","name":"Automotive Storytellers","role":"host"}],"transcripts":[{"url":"http://getcarcurious.com/episodes/beyond-the-wheel-tom-s-triumphant-journey-through-classic-cars-and-life-s-crossroads/transcript.vtt","type":"text/vtt"}]}