Car Pro Radio Show July 4 26 Hour 3

Frozen lasagna, medium power, 15 minutes.

Sounds like Ojo time. Let's play!

Feel the fun at PlayOjo.net

with all your favorite slots and casino games like Jungle Beast and Sugar Rush,

plus exclusive ones you won't find anywhere else.

I just won! Woohoo!

Feel the fun, play Ojo!

Honey, forget about lasagna. Let's celebrate!

Open to all players 18 and older. This is not a gambling site. Please play responsibly.

It's time for the CarPro Show,

where you always get straight talk and honest answers about everything automotive

from Jerry Reynolds the CarPro,

two-time winner of USA Today's Dealer of the Year,

six-time winner of the Texas Auto Riders Association Award

for Best Radio Show in Texas,

and a member of the Texas Radio Hall of Fame.

Todd Chambliss is Jerry's co-host.

He's a noted voiceover guy

and a celebrated Tibetan throat singer.

So get ready to either call in with your question for Jerry

or a song request for Todd on the CarPro Show.

Welcome to a very special edition of the nationally syndicated CarPro Show.

I'm Jerry Reynolds the CarPro,

and for this hour we're doing something a little different.

We're calling it the CarPro Show Road to 250

as we celebrate America's 250th birthday today.

Now we're still going to talk about cars, trucks, the auto industry, incentives,

and the things you expect from us every week,

but today we're also going to take some time to celebrate this country,

the people who built it, the people who defend it,

and the everyday Americans who keep it moving.

And I'll tell you right up front, I'm very patriotic,

and I will not apologize for that.

I love this country.

I love what America stands for.

I love the fact that even with all our problems and all our disagreements,

this is still the greatest place on earth to chase a dream,

build a business, raise a family, serve others, and make a better life.

When I think about America, I don't just think about Washington, D.C.,

or the big moments in the history books.

I think about those small towns, the big cities, farms, factories,

schools, churches, police stations, firehouses, military bases,

car dealerships, service departments, repair shops, truck shops,

and all the places where real life happens every day.

I think about the people who get up before daylight, go to work,

take care of their families, they pay their bills, they help their neighbors,

and they try to leave things just a little bit better than they found them.

Those people don't always get the attention,

but they are the backbone of this country.

Joining me, as always, is my good friend and my co-host, Todd Chambliss.

We call him the old roadmaster.

Yes, you do.

Todd, happy 4th of July to you.

Happy birthday to America, and welcome to the Car Pro Show Road to 250.

Thank you, Jerry, and happy 4th to you.

I'm so glad we're doing this because 250 years is a milestone worth stopping for.

You know, we all get busy, we have schedules, responsibilities, bills, problems,

plenty of things competing for our attention, but every now and then,

it's good to pause and remember just how blessed we are to live in this country.

America's never been perfect, but it's always been a place of possibility.

That's what stands out to me, it's a country where people from all kinds of backgrounds

have been able to work hard, take chances, start businesses,

serve their communities, and build lives they may not have been able to build anywhere else.

And when you look around the country, you see the American spirit everywhere.

You see it in the farmer working land that may have been in the family for generations.

You see it in the small business owner who unlocks the front door every morning,

hoping to make payroll and take care of customers.

You see it in the police officer, the firefighter, the nurse, the teacher, the mechanic,

the truck driver, and the military family that quietly sacrifices more than most of us will ever know.

Also think about how much we still have in common, even though it doesn't always feel that way.

Most people want the same basic things.

They want their kids and grandkids to have a chance, they want safe neighborhoods,

they want good schools, they want honest work, fair opportunity, and the freedom to live their lives.

And that is why this 250th birthday matters.

It reminds us that America is not just a place on a map, it's an idea.

And an idea that survived because generation after generation has believed it was worth protecting.

Boy, you got that right, Todd.

And one of the things I wanted to do with this special show was make it personal.

We can talk about American big sweeping terms, and there's a place for that.

But for most of us, patriotism starts much closer to home.

It starts with the people who raised us.

It starts with the flag in front of a school or a courthouse.

It starts with standing for the national anthem at a ball game.

It starts with learning the Pledge of Allegiance.

It starts with seeing a veteran and understanding that person gave part of his or her life in service for the rest of us.

Now for me, it also comes from the car business.

I know that may sound unusual, but stick with me here because I spent most of my life in and around dealerships.

And I saw firsthand what free enterprise really means.

I saw people start at the bottom and work their way up.

I saw salespeople become managers, technicians build lifelong careers, young people buy their first cars, families buy minivans,

parents buy trucks for their kids heading off to college, and retirees finally buying the car they always wanted.

This is America.

It's not always glamorous, and it's not always easy, but it is opportunity in action.

It's the people working hard, solving problems, serving customers, and building something.

And I've always believed there's dignity in that.

We talk a lot on this show about the right way to do things, treating people right, and helping folks make good decisions.

Those ideas matter the most in the car business, but they matter in this country too.

Trust matters, honesty matters, and keeping your word matters.

Most of all, respect matters.

Yeah, Jerry, and I think that this is why the show fits so well with the 250th birthday theme.

The car pro shows always been about more than metal, horsepower, monthly payments, and window stickers.

Those things are a part of it, of course, but the bigger mission has been helping people.

Cars and trucks are tied to almost every part of American life.

They get us to work, kids to school, families on vacation.

They carry tools, groceries, wheelchairs, sports equipment, Christmas presents, and sometimes everything a young person owns when they leave home for the first time.

The automobile gave Americans freedom in a very practical way.

It lets people live farther from work, travel farther from home, see more of the country, and build lives that were not limited to one small area.

You could argue that the car and truck helped shape modern America as much as almost anything.

And even now, with all the changes in technology, electric vehicles, hybrid safety systems, and all the things we talk about every week, that basic freedom is still there.

People still want to get in a vehicle and go where they want to go, and sometimes they need to go with the people they love.

So when we talk about America turning 250, I think the car business has a real place in that conversation.

Boy, you got that right, Todd. That was very well said.

So let's get this special edition started. This is the car pro show, Road to 250, celebrating America's 250th birthday.

And along the way, we'll be honoring the people who made it possible and reminding all of us that even after two and a half centuries, this country is still worth celebrating.

Absolutely right.

I know. If you're listening today with family or friends, maybe on the way to a Fourth of July gathering, maybe headed to take your people to the lake, fire it up the grill, or maybe just sitting there with a cup of coffee, wondering why your neighbors started shooting fireworks at midnight last night.

Oh boy, that's a form of freedom, although I'm not sure the dog sees it that way.

So here we go. Stay with us. We're just getting started.

You don't have to go out alone when you buy your next vehicle. The car pro will help you for free.

Call the Chase.com car pro listener line now at 1-800-926-7777.

Welcome back to this special edition of the nationally syndicated car pro show now airing on 141 stations from sea to shining sea.

We call this the road to 250 as we celebrate America's 250th birthday, which is going on today.

I gotta tell you, one of the things that is really hitting me, Todd, is the World Cup that's going on.

But you know what? There's a theme with all the people all around the world who are coming to America.

They tell us what we forget. They all say the same thing. We heard bad about America and everyone of them says this is the greatest place ever.

Think about this for just a minute. If we've got millions of visitors with us right this minute for the World Cup and they see how great America is, why can't we see the same thing?

Jerry, I think this is a real good time to premiere the brand new song you just wrote inspired by what you've seen with all the visitors for the World Cup.

It's a song called Why Can't Everybody See It?

They came from every corner with their colors and their flags, suitcases through airports, jerseys hanging from their bags.

They filled up all our stadiums, they walked our downtown streets, took pictures of our sunsets, bought hot dogs and found their seats.

I've heard them say it's beautiful, I've seen it in their eyes.

That wide open field of freedom underneath these American skies.

They came here for a soccer game but found a whole lot more and I keep wondering what some folks here have been looking for.

Why can't everybody see it? Why can't everybody know?

We're living in a country where the seeds of freedom grow.

No, it ain't always perfect but it's still a precious thing.

Stand here with the choices that so many never see.

250 candles still burning bright and true.

Why can't everybody see it like those visitors do?

They marvel at our mountains, our highways and our plains.

Our little towns with courthouse clocks and cities built on dreams.

They notice simple kindness, the kind we pass right by.

A welcome from a stranger, a flag against the sky.

Sure we'd stumble plenty and we've had our share of wrongs.

But this is still the place the world keeps dreaming of.

Maybe we've been here so long, we forget what we've been shown.

Like a man who owns a diamond and thinks it's just a stone.

Why can't everybody see it? Why can't everybody know?

We're blessed beyond the measure of the headlines on our phones.

No, it ain't always perfect but I'll gladly take my stand.

For the dream that's still alive here in this one of a kind land.

250 candles still burning bright and true.

Why can't everybody see it like those visitors do?

Maybe it's time we count our blessings before the moment's gone.

Why can't everybody see it? We've been standing in it all along.

That's why can't everybody see it, talking about all the World Cup visitors who have come to our country and love what they've seen.

We've got a lot more coming up on the road to 250 right here on The CarPro Show.

Welcome back to this special edition of the nationally syndicated CarPro Show, The Road to 250.

And as we celebrate America's 250th birthday, I've been thinking a lot about what this country has meant in my own life.

I love America and the opportunities this country gives people.

I love the fact that if you're willing to work hard, treat people right, keep your word, obey the laws and get back up when life knocks you down.

You can build a pretty wonderful life here.

That's really my story and in a lot of ways it's the story of this show.

I spent almost my entire life in the car business and I still believe it's one of the greatest American industries out there.

Cars and trucks are tied to freedom in a very real way.

They take us to school, to work, to church, to the grocery store, family vacations, to doctor's appointments, and sometimes to a brand new chapter in life.

And helping people with that decision is something that I truly love.

I know buying a vehicle can be intimidating. It's a big purchase and there's a lot of moving parts and for many people it can feel overwhelming.

And it's especially true for the ladies who are making that first solo car purchase.

Maybe they've lost a spouse. Maybe they're newly single.

Maybe they've always had someone else handle it for them or maybe they've just never had a dealership experience where they felt completely comfortable.

Those are the people I think about a lot.

Nothing makes me happier than hearing from someone who says,

CarPro, I was nervous but your dealer treated me with respect, explained everything, and made it easy.

And that's what this show is all about.

At its best, the CarPro show is about more than just cars, it's about confidence.

It's about trust and it's about helping people make good decisions and making sure they're treated the way they deserve to be treated.

To me, this is part of the American dream too.

Honest work, fair dealing, helping your neighbor and leaving people better than you found them.

And I think if we all take just a little bit of time and say, I want to do that, I want to leave things better,

I think this would be a better place.

Welcome back to this special edition of the nationally syndicated CarPro show, The Road to 250, Jerry and I continuing to celebrate America's 250th birthday.

Man, there's some songs that just stop you in your tracks and Ray Charles' version of America the Beautiful is certainly one of them.

It is not just a performance, it's almost a prayer. You can hear pride in it, gratitude, struggle, and hope too.

As we celebrate 250 years in America, this is one of those great songs that reminds us that even with all of our challenges, this country is still beautiful,

is still strong, and is still worth loving.

Ladies and gentlemen, the great Ray Charles with the song America the Beautiful.

In liberating strife

Who more than self, health, country, love

And the mercy more than life

America, America

May God thy gold refine

Till all success

Be nobleness

And ever again divine

And you know when I was in school we used to sing it something like this, listen here.

A beautiful life

Far spacious skies

Far amber waves of grain

A purple mountain

Majesties

Rubber the fruited plain

But now wait a minute, I'm talking about America

Sweet America

You know, God don't shed His grace on thee

He may be crowned by good

Yes, He did, heavy brotherhood

From sea to shining sea

You know, I wish I had somebody to help me sing this.

America, America

I love you America

You see, my God, He don't shed His grace on thee

You are loving for it, cause he, he, he, crowned by good

He told me He would, heavy brotherhood

From sea to shining sea

I thank Him on, shining sea

Boy, nobody did that song like Ray Charles.

Every time I hear it, it gets to me.

There's another patriotic song that's been a lot to millions of Americans for a decade.

Mr. Lee Greenwoods, God bless the USA.

He's been played at celebrations, memorials, military events, ball games,

and moments when Americans needed to stand together and remember who we are.

Kind of like 9-11, for instance.

Sure.

It's a song about pride, gratitude, freedom, and the blessing of living in this great country of ours.

On a show celebrating America's 250th birthday, it absolutely belongs here.

So now, here's Lee Greenwood with God bless the USA.

If tomorrow all the things were gone, I'd work for all my life

And I had to start again with just my children and my wife

I'd thank my lucky stars to be living here today

Cause the flag still stands for freedom, and they can't take that away

And I'm proud to be an American, where at least I know I'm free

And I won't forget the men who died, who gave that right to me

And I gladly stand up next to you and defend her still today

Cause there ain't no doubt I love this land

God bless the USA

From the lakes of Minnesota to the hills of Tennessee

Across the plains of Texas

From sea to shining sea

From Detroit down to Houston

And New York to LA

Well, there's pride in every American heart

And it's time we stand and say

That I'm proud to be an American, where at least I know I'm free

And I won't forget the men who died, who gave that right to me

And I gladly stand up next to you and defend her still today

Cause there ain't no doubt I love this land

God bless the USA

And I'm proud to be an American, where at least I know I'm free

And I won't forget the men who died, who gave that right to me

And I gladly stand up next to you and defend her still today

Cause there ain't no doubt I love this land

God bless the USA

In a few minutes

As we continue celebrating the 250th birthday of our wonderful country

I wanted to include one of the most recognizable pieces of patriotic music ever written

You know, it's just something about stars and stripes forever that just feels like America

Proud, bold, upbeat, and impossible to set still through

It reminds me of parades, flags, marching bands, small towns

Big celebrations in the spirit of America

So here's the United States Marine Band with stars and stripes forever

In a few minutes

Buick Roadmaster

Porsche 911

About this episode

Original notes