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C7 Corvette, Porsche 930 & Car Trailers: Towlos Startup 🏎️🔧

C7 Corvette, Porsche 930 & Car Trailers: Towlos Startup 🏎️🔧

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About this episode

From Chicago C7 Corvette stories to the Porsche 930’s “Widowmaker” reputation, the conversation blends driving dynamics with real-world cold-weather traction lessons. They dig into why throttle lift can rotate a 911, why bridges ice faster, and how analog driving feels when you’re waiting on turbo lag. The episode then pivots to practical car logistics: building a Turo-style trailer marketplace (TOWLOS), vetting unusual listings, and booking trailers on mobile.

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Car

Delorean DMC-12

"...d review, because he lives in Maryland, review my DeLorean. And I got to go along with him and kind of see t..."

The DeLorean DMC-12 is a sports car made by DeLorean. It’s known for its unusual stainless-steel look and doors that open upward. The podcast mentions it because someone wanted to review or see one in person.

Car

Chevrolet Camaro

"... helping her with her refinish her late Father 69 Camaro, which was gonna be a father-daughter project. Sh..."

The Camaro is a sporty American car, and the 1969 version is especially well known. The podcast mentions it because someone is restoring their dad’s old Camaro with their family. It’s a project that helps keep the car’s history alive.

Car

Porsche 930

"That might be uh I'm kind of a wannabe Porsche driver, but I have a bunch of buddies who love their Porsches and I've they you know I've gotten to drive a bunch of their cars and everything from... the 993s, the 964s, the 930. I have a good buddy who has a really cool 930 turbo."

The Porsche 930 is an older 911 Turbo. It uses a turbocharged engine, so it feels punchy and loud in a very classic way.

Car

911 930 Turbo

"...he 930. I have a good buddy who has a really cool 930 turbo. Nice that's just that's a fire breathing dragon."
Car

Ferrari F50

"One of the new one of my buddies has an F40, an F50, and one of those new Daytona, Ferrari Daytona SP3s, I think, you know."

The Ferrari F50 is a classic Ferrari supercar from the 1990s. It’s known for a naturally aspirated V12 that revs high and feels very special to drive.

Car

Ferrari F40

"And so the yeah, it seemed but but I mean I I've become I've friends with several, I have a couple buddies who who have F40s around here and and a bunch of supercars, you know."

The Ferrari F40 is a famous old-school supercar. It’s known for being fast and exciting, with a turbo engine and a very hardcore feel.

Car

Ferrari Daytona Ferrari

"One of the new one of my buddies has an F40, an F50, and one of those new Daytona, Ferrari Daytona SP3s, I think, you know."

The Ferrari Daytona SP3 is a very modern, very limited Ferrari supercar. It’s known for a big naturally aspirated V12 and a special, collector-style design.

Car

Mazda MX-5 / Miata

"...ns, maybe in California, and uh he went from a uh Miata set up for the track to a Cayman and rented a box..."

The Miata is a small, lightweight sports car made by Mazda. It’s popular because it’s easy to drive and fun, especially for people who want to try track driving. The podcast references it as a starting point for someone who later moved to other cars.

Car

Porsche Cayman

"he went from a uh Miata set up for the track to a Cayman and rented a boxter, I think it was 2020 on Turo."

The Porsche Cayman is a Porsche sports car with the engine in the middle. That layout helps it feel balanced and fun to drive.

Car

boxter

"he went from a uh Miata set up for the track to a Cayman and rented a boxter, I think it was 2020 on Turo."

The Porsche Boxster is a Porsche roadster with the engine in the middle. It’s basically the open-top version of the Cayman and is meant to be fun in the twisties.

Term

Flat six

"It was a fun time, but it had the four-cylinder, just not my thing. Flat six is the way to go."

A flat-six is a type of engine with six cylinders arranged in two sides. People like it because it can feel smooth and helps the car handle better.

Term

spool up

"[622.0s] And then, you know, is that it has that big turbo on it that just takes forever to spool up. [628.6s] And then once that power hits at at whatever 5,000 RPMs, and it just then it just really goes."

“Spool up” means how long the turbo takes to get going. If it takes a while, the car feels lazy at first, and then it suddenly pulls hard once the turbo is producing boost.

Term

boost

"[628.6s] And then once that power hits at at whatever 5,000 RPMs, and it just then it just really goes. [633.9s] And so by the time by the time that hits, you know, I think that's I guess why why that car has been dangerous"

Boost is the turbo’s “extra push” that forces more air into the engine. More boost usually means more power, and if it comes in late, the car can feel like it lunges forward.

Term

lift off the gas in a corner

"If you if you you're pushing it and you lift off the gas in a corner, it it just a little bit, it could spin right around."

That phrase is about what happens when you let off the gas while you’re still turning. Sometimes the car’s rear loses grip a bit and the car starts to rotate or spin more easily.

Term

whale tail

"So yeah, he the the isn't is it kind of the famous, it's the whale tail is kind of the famous one, but then my buddy was calling the one he has is called what do you call it?"

A “whale tail” is a big rear spoiler. It helps press the back of the car down so it sticks better to the road, especially when you’re going fast or turning hard.

Concept

traction

"it was just kind of cool to hear his story and the you know, the traction that they've gotten."

Here, traction just means tire grip. More traction lets you go faster and turn harder without the car sliding.

Term

late break

"he really kind of gave us the confidence, both kind of in the classroom, and then when we went out onto the track for that first time, he he was the I I really credit him a lot with giving us the confidence of being, you know, being able to late break and be on the gas."

“Late braking” (the speaker says “late break”) is a driving technique where you brake later than usual to maximize time at higher speed before slowing for the corner. It’s often taught in track instruction because it requires good judgment and consistent braking performance.

Car

Chevy S10

"My very first car was a Chevy S10. Okay, but it was brown, and I think it had like a 2.5"

The Chevrolet S-10 is a small pickup truck. The hosts are using it as a starting point to talk about what engine it probably had and how that engine showed up in other cars too.

Term

inline four cylinder

"Okay, but it was brown, and I think it had like a 2.5 liter, I think it was an inline four cylinder, probably. Iron G the iron powered."

An inline four-cylinder engine is a simple engine design with four cylinders lined up in a row. It’s common because it’s compact and usually not too complicated.

Term

Iron Duke

"Iron G the iron powered. That's what they used to call it. Really? So many cars had that engine, Jeeps, Furos, yeah. ... The Iron Duke, yeah. Iron Duke, yeah."

The Iron Duke is the nickname for a GM four-cylinder engine family. People called it that because it was built with a lot of cast iron, and it showed up in a bunch of different vehicles.

Car

Jeep Wrangler

"And they sold it to Jeep. A AMC was buying it, Wranglers had it for a long time. Yeah."

The Wrangler is a Jeep SUV designed for off-road driving. The podcast mentions it because it was part of a longer ownership story and eventually ended up with Jeep. It’s the kind of vehicle people choose when they want a tough, capable SUV.

Car

Toyota Celicas

"Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. [949.2s] Your grandma, I was gonna say, I my grandma's never had Toyota Celicas."

A Toyota Celica is a sporty Toyota from Japan. Here it’s just mentioned as a car your grandma didn’t own.

Term

cold weather

"And since we've been talking about weight transfer and all these other things and cold weather, Cago, but if you could share with the listeners. [1001.0s] Oh, yes, my with that S10."

Cold weather can make tires grip worse and roads more slippery. That’s why the same route can feel fine one way and dangerous the other way.

Term

weight transfer

"And since we've been talking about weight transfer and all these other things and cold weather, Cago, but if you could share with the listeners. [1001.0s] Oh, yes, my with that S10."

Weight transfer means the car’s weight moves around when you brake, turn, or speed up. If the road is slippery, that weight shift can cause some tires to lose grip.

Term

manual

"It was a manual, so you have to learn, you know, had to learn the third pedal. And that was kind of where I learned to drive."

A “manual” car is one where you shift gears yourself. The “third pedal” is the clutch pedal, which you press to change gears.

Car

C7 Corvette 2018

"It's a C7 Corvette 2018. And so the story here is this was many, many people could probably relate."

This is a Chevrolet Corvette from the C7 generation, and the speaker says it’s a 2018. They’re using it as the sports car they decided to buy.

Term

naturally aspirated engine

"One, it needed to be a naturally aspirated engine, because we all know that those are those are we're not gonna be able to s know how to say naturally aspirated here in about five or ten years."

A naturally aspirated engine doesn’t use a turbo or supercharger to push air in. The engine has to “breathe” on its own, which can feel more straightforward to drive.

Term

Mesger engine

"drives a nine nine seven boo GT3 RS which is kind of the last isn't that one of the last analog manual with the still have the Mesger engine. So yeah four liter yeah three point eight I think his is a three point eight"

“Mezger” is a nickname for a Porsche engine family that’s known for being built with a more race-inspired design. The speaker is saying their friend’s car still has that kind of engine.

Car

Ford Mustang

"...een a Corvette guy before and so I was looking at Mustangs Caymans Corvettes what else would fall into the i..."

The Mustang is a performance car from Ford that’s been made for many decades. The podcast brings it up because someone was considering it alongside other sports cars. It’s a well-known choice for people who want a fast, classic-style car.

Car

Corvette Grand Sport

"...d so I mean I just kind of landed on this on this grand sport the C7 Grand Sport. So for for people who don't k..."
Term

forced induction

"There's no forced induction but then they have some of the upgraded arrow and tires and suspension that the Z06s have. [1430.3s] So there's a little bit of that kind of that that hybrid."

Forced induction means the engine uses a turbo or supercharger to cram more air into the cylinders. That extra air can help the engine make more power.

Term

Road America

"So he he had done some a little bit of professional racing on on oval tracks as a teen teenager in early 20s and so he he was you know familiar with just you know how to slide cars around um and so he's like hey have you ever you know have you ever tracked your car would you ever want to and I was like no that isn't I mean it sounds awesome but I don't think I could ever do it he's like hey we're going to Road America"

Road America is a famous race track. It’s where people go to drive their cars on a course safely, instead of doing it on public roads.

Term

brake fluid

"he's like hey we're going to Road America you know in a couple months you you should come with us we just need to we'll swap out your brake fluid other and you're and then you're basically like set to go you just need to get a helmet"

Brake fluid is what makes your brake pedal actually squeeze the brakes. On a track day, it can get very hot, so people often swap it to help braking stay consistent.

Term

helmet

"we just need to we'll swap out your brake fluid other and you're and then you're basically like set to go you just need to get a helmet [1546.4s] I I wish there was more stuff to do like that in Maryland."

A helmet is safety gear for track driving. If something goes wrong, it helps protect your head, and track events usually require one.

Topic

midOhio

"we were like all right we would love to get to midOhio get to NCM get to VIR you know get to Daytona"

midOhio is a sports car race track in Ohio. The speaker is saying they wanted to travel to tracks like this more often.

Topic

NCM

"we were like all right we would love to get to midOhio get to NCM get to VIR you know get to Daytona"

NCM refers to a race track the speaker wants to visit. They’re listing multiple tracks to explain why they needed a way to transport cars without putting too many miles on them.

Topic

VIR

"get to midOhio get to NCM get to VIR you know get to Daytona get to Rhode Allan you know all these"

VIR is a well-known race track in Virginia. The speaker mentions it as one of the destinations that made trailer transportation more appealing.

Concept

double car hauler

"we were personally we were looking for a double car hauler because my buddy had an F 450 so very capable truck that could basically you know they can haul a mountain. And so we we were looking for a double car hauler one whose fenders were low enough so you could open the doors over the top right"

A double car hauler is a trailer made to transport two cars at once. They’re talking about the practical loading details—like clearance—so you can actually get the cars on and off without trouble.

Car

Ford F450

"we were personally we were looking for a double car hauler because my buddy had an F 450 so very capable truck that could basically you know they can haul a mountain."

The Ford F-450 is a heavy-duty truck built for towing. The speaker is using it as an example of a truck capable of pulling a big trailer.

Concept

two-sided marketplace

"And so that's when that kind of that concept of a two-sided marketplace kind of entered my head and I we kind of thought about is there a way that we could serve two different populations and provide value to do two different customer sets."

A two-sided marketplace is a service that brings together two types of people. In this case, it connects trailer owners with people who need a trailer for a trip.

Brand

Turo

"And so you know that's the whole Airbnb or that you mentioned Turo. You know that's we we patterned a lot of our design and our our peer-to-peer marketplace platform after Turo."

Turo is a peer-to-peer car rental platform where private owners can rent out their vehicles. The speaker says their trailer marketplace is patterned after Turo’s “look and feel,” using the same idea of monetizing an asset you already own.

Concept

utility trailer

"these are things I wouldn't have thought of utility trailer gooseneck toy hauler boat trailer"

A utility trailer is a general-purpose trailer for hauling different kinds of stuff. The speaker is saying their site covers more than just car trailers.

Concept

gooseneck

"like browse trailers by type car hauler dump enclosed horse trailer these are things I wouldn't have thought of utility trailer gooseneck toy hauler boat trailer"

A gooseneck trailer is a type of trailer hitch design. It helps the trailer sit more securely on the truck, and it’s one of the trailer styles people can rent through their platform.

Concept

enclosed trailer

"browse trailers by type car hauler dump enclosed horse trailer these are things I wouldn't have thought of utility trailer gooseneck toy hauler boat trailer We tend to focus on more of those utility trailers the car haulers the enclosed trailers"

An enclosed trailer is a trailer with walls and a roof. It keeps the car or items protected during transport, which is why it’s popular for hauling vehicles.

Car

Toyota Camry

"“...not some U-haul hauler that's meant to haul a Toyota Camry...”"

The Toyota Camry is a very common family car. The host is using it as an example of a vehicle that a basic rental trailer might be meant to carry.

Brand

U-haul

"“...not some U-haul hauler that's meant to haul a Toyota Camry...”"

U-Haul is a company that rents trucks and trailers for moving. The point here is that renting the wrong kind of trailer isn’t ideal for hauling cars.

Term

mechanical linkages

"“...you can actually see the mechanical linkages on the on the gear shift right...”"

Mechanical linkages are the physical parts inside a car that move together to make something happen. In this case, they’re the visible pieces that help move the gear shifter.

Term

gear shift

"“...mechanical linkages on the on the gear shift right...”"

The gear shift is what you use to change gears in the car. It helps the car use different gear ratios for acceleration, cruising, or engine braking.

Brand

Pagani

"Yeah well said I don't think I've ever seen a pagani that wasn't gorgeous. You know what I mean when they're not moving and the attention to detail yeah you look at them and you're just like wow that is like that's a piece of art."

Pagani is a luxury supercar brand from Italy. The point here is that their cars are made with a lot of care and detail, so they feel like art.

Term

carbon

"it it truly is a piece of art it just happens to be Made of, you know, titanium and carbon and all those other components rather than a canvas."

Carbon fiber is a lightweight material that’s also very strong. Expensive performance cars use it to keep weight down while improving strength.

Term

titanium

"I mean it's no wonder that those things are two hundred million dollars or two two two million dollars you know but it's it's I think it's the reason is is because there's just such care attention to detail it it truly is a piece of art it just happens to be Made of, you know, titanium and carbon and all those other components rather than a canvas."

Titanium is a strong metal that’s also relatively light. Car makers use it when they want parts to be tough without adding a lot of weight.

Term

turbo lag

"and you feel the mechanical, the analog, you know, the gear shifts, and then you wait for that turbo lag to kick in. That's a piece of art in a different way, and you get to actually experience that."

Turbo lag is the short delay before a turbo starts making strong power. In this story, that delay is part of what makes the car feel dramatic and engaging.

Car

Oldsmobile Cutlass

"...u know, it could be from anything from the old 86 cutlass, like we talked about pre-recording, to, you know..."

The Oldsmobile Cutlass is an older American car model made by Oldsmobile. The podcast mentions an “86 Cutlass,” which is a specific year people often talk about. It’s brought up because it’s part of classic car history and restoration conversations.

Concept

barn find

"…you gave me some ideas about how to get my next barn find home because I don't have a trailer."

A “barn find” is a car that’s been sitting unused for a long time, usually in a barn or garage. People get excited because it might be a rare car, but it may also need a lot of work to get running again.

Concept

rock crawling

"…we have some buddies… do rock crawling out out in Moab, you know, and they're not driving their jeeps across the country, they're hauling them."

Rock crawling is off-roading where you drive slowly over rocks and rough terrain. People often tow their vehicles to the trail because it’s tough to drive them there normally.

Concept

towlos startup

"…Anybody can email me at matt at tolos.com… I can see that happening in 2026, not too far away."

A “startup” in this context refers to a new business being launched around a specific service—here, helping people move cars using trailers. The episode frames it as lowering the practical barrier to acquiring and transporting vehicles like barn finds.

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