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CarCast - Reacher star Alan Ritchson’s motorcycle altercation. Dodge’s 2026 Durango R/T 392, Nissan Z NISMO gets a manual transmission and more.

CarCast - Reacher star Alan Ritchson’s motorcycle altercation. Dodge’s 2026 Durango R/T 392, Nissan Z NISMO gets a manual transmission and more.

CarCast Mar 26, 2026 34 min
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About this episode

Garage talk turns into hot-button debate as the hosts discuss Alan Ritchson’s Reacher motorcycle altercation, then pivot to performance-car news. Fuel quality comes up after a Cobra dislikes old race gas, followed by a long argument about judging viral clips without full context—especially once body-cam footage shows the neighbor entering the rider’s path. The rest of the show covers manual-transmission drama (Tremac’s C8 option, Nissan Z NISMO finally offering a stick) and new V8 hardware: Dodge’s 2026 Durango R/T 392. They also spotlight a GNX El Camino on Cars & Bids.

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Technical Too Afraid to Ask
Term

race fuel

"Well, I threw some race fuel in the Cobra two days ago. [350.8s] It did not like it. [352.8s] Really?"

Race fuel is a special kind of gas meant for performance engines. If you put the wrong kind in, the car can run badly because the engine may not be set up for it.

Term

detonation

"[378.1s] There wasn't crap in it. [379.8s] There wasn't anything. [380.7s] It smells exactly like race fuel. [383.5s] When it was detonated, it smelled like race fuel coming out of the out of the carpet."

Detonation is when the fuel ignites in a rough, uncontrolled way instead of smoothly. It can be harmful, especially when the engine is hot or being pushed.

Term

octane

"[412.9s] Also the difference. [414.2s] I mean, is the difference in octane just a difference in octane? [418.1s] So if it wasn't good, maybe it pushed it down from 114 to 100"

Octane is basically how “hard” the fuel is to ignite the wrong way. Higher octane helps prevent the engine from pinging or knocking when the car is working hard.

Car

Chevrolet Camaro

"... Like you can take any production car, Corvette, Camaro, Challenger, whatever. And you can do your track..."

The Camaro is a performance car from Chevrolet, usually built for quick acceleration and sporty driving. It’s often used as an example of a production car that can be driven hard on a track day. The discussion is usually about how it handles and what it needs to keep performing well.

Term

motorcycle

"So, so the guy does this interview with TMZ and he's a little bruised up... he was like, I, I kind of came out him and I was upset that he was riding the bikes out there... And he's like, won't let and Alan immediately like moves and crashes because there's a guy standing in front of him."

A motorcycle is a two-wheeled bike you ride. Because it’s smaller and faster to react to, if someone suddenly steps in front of it, the rider can have to swerve or brake immediately to avoid a crash.

Term

body cam

"So the vest that Alan was wearing was a body cam. So he didn't say anything. He didn't put anything on social media and cops said they were going to investigate it."

A body cam is a small camera that records what someone sees while they’re wearing it. Here, it means there’s video evidence from Alan’s perspective.

Term

22 miles an hour

"That body cam footage leading up to that incident, he's going 22 miles an hour. [775.1s] His two little kids are on little motorcycles behind him. [777.8s] He's going 22 miles an hour."

They mention a specific speed—22 miles per hour. In a neighborhood, even moderate speeds can be risky because you can’t stop quickly if someone steps out.

Term

wheelies

"[996.8s] And he was riding in front and the kids were following and honestly, like, I don't can't say, like, in the weeks prior, were they zipping up and down the street? [1007.6s] I don't know. [1008.8s] You know, how many times have you seen kids popping wheelies, hauling ass in dirt bikes up and down the road?"

A wheelie is when the rider lifts the front wheel up while riding. It’s usually associated with aggressive or showy riding.

Term

helmets

"[1018.3s] It wasn't doing any of that. [1019.3s] He wasn't doing that. [1020.1s] The opposite. [1020.8s] He was responsible. [1021.7s] He was wearing helmets."

Helmets protect your head if you fall or crash. The speaker is pointing out that the rider was wearing helmets, which is a good safety sign.

Term

low gear

"I can tell he's doing 25 down the road, but he's doing it in a low gear. This is making a lot of noise."

A low gear means the engine is spinning faster. That can make the car sound louder even if you’re not going very fast.

Term

blower

"I'm going to see how difficult it would be to place the blower on the 392 crate motor. Have a little bit more fun with that truck."

A blower is a forced-induction device that pushes more air into the engine. More air usually means more power, but it has to be set up correctly so the engine can handle it.

Term

transaxle

"But Tremac brought a C8 to SEMA last year with a manual transmission. And they said, we're doing our transaxle for the aftermarket, right?"

A transaxle is basically the drivetrain “middle unit” that combines the gearbox and the rear differential together. It’s especially common in mid-engine cars because it helps fit everything neatly.

Term

DCT transmission

"And we're going to do the DCT transmission if we get the tuning calibrated for the right engines and all that stuff. So, and they had one of each of those there."

DCT means the car uses two clutches to shift quickly. You still get automatic shifting, but it’s usually quicker than a normal automatic.

Car

C8 Corvette

"So, and so they brought a C8 Corvette out with the manual transmission and Tremac said, this has the same bolt pattern as the DCT and the C8."

The Chevrolet Corvette C8 is the newer Corvette with the engine in the middle. Here it’s being used as an example of drivetrain parts that can be adapted for different transmission setups.

Term

SEMA

"And then everyone's like, what, what about at SEMA? What about at SEMA? And Tremac said, we have a manual transmission that will basically bolt in."

SEMA is a big car show in the U.S. where companies show off performance parts and new ideas. People often look there to see what might come to production next.

Term

shifter and the linkage

"They say bolt in, but obviously you got to figure out the shifter and the linkage and how it goes through the dash and, you know, like, and I'm starting the console, center console, all of that stuff."

The shifter and linkage are what turn your gear lever movement into the transmission actually selecting gears. When converting to a manual, getting this to fit and line up correctly is crucial.

Term

manual transmission

"...wish Tremac didn't go to SEMA with a manual transmission C8... but you can go to Tremac and go, I do want to put a manual transmission in."

A manual transmission is the kind of car where you shift gears yourself using a clutch pedal and a stick. Some car fans like it because it feels more connected and gives you more control.

Term

naturally aspirated

"My guess is go to somebody like Lingenfelter and say, I want to, I want to naturally aspirated, you know, all on the motor Corvette with a manual transmission."

Naturally aspirated means the engine doesn’t use a turbo or supercharger to force air in. Many people like them because the response to the gas pedal can feel more direct.

Concept

rolling through the gears

"But there's nothing like rolling through the gears in any car. It's just, it's not. And you can't get that feeling of the guys like us who really enjoy it."

“Rolling through the gears” is a shorthand for the tactile, sequential experience of driving a manual transmission—choosing gears, matching revs, and feeling the car respond. The speaker contrasts this with automated transmissions that remove some of that driver involvement.

Term

automatic

"Like you get the Z, you can get it with a manual and automatic. You get the Nismo."

An automatic transmission shifts gears by itself. It’s usually easier to drive day to day, while a manual is more hands-on and fun for enthusiasts.

Car

Dodge Durango RT 392

"So Dodge has come back with the Dodge Durango RT 392. ... But now they're going, all right, we got a Dodge Durango RT 392."

This is a high-performance Dodge Durango SUV. It uses a big 6.4-liter V8, so it’s meant to feel quicker and more exciting than a normal family SUV.

Company

Pirelli

"You're getting a 295 series tires, you know, with Pirelli's all the way around."

Pirelli is a major tire brand known for performance-oriented street and track tires. Specifying Pirelli tires suggests the Durango RT 392 is tuned for better grip than typical all-season SUV tires.

Company

Cars and Bids

"So what we're looking at is, is up on cars and bids. There is an 84 El Camino with a grand national conversion on it."

Cars and Bids is a website where people auction cars to enthusiasts. They’re bringing it up because the car they’re discussing is listed there for sale.

Concept

body work

"And now it's a little funky, but somebody did a pretty good job doing this. Like the body work, the interior, it's got the right engine."

“Body work” refers to repairs and modifications to a car’s exterior panels—things like fixing dents, aligning panels, and preparing surfaces for paint. In a conversion project, good body work is often what makes the swap look believable and “done right.”

Concept

stock interior

"“And it's, I guess it's just a lot of the stock interior.” ... “That's just like for the grand national interior.”"

They’re saying the inside of the car is mostly the original factory stuff. That can make the build cheaper and more familiar, even if it doesn’t match everyone’s taste.

Term

horsepower

"[2228.5s] Got to have the right look. [2230.5s] They got it tuned up for a little extra horsepower. [2233.0s] I think it's about 470 horsepower."

Horsepower is a measure of an engine’s power output. When the host says it’s tuned for “extra horsepower,” they mean the engine management and setup were adjusted to produce more power than stock.

Term

dino sheets

"[2271.7s] Yeah. [2272.4s] You've got dino sheets, build sheets. [2274.3s] It's got all this good stuff on it."

“Dyno sheets” are results from a testing machine that measures how much power the car makes. They’re like proof of what the tune is producing.

Term

MapQuest

"[2297.6s] If you enjoy waiting and guessing and inefficient routes, [2301.5s] or you could use MapQuest. [2303.7s] MapQuest is back with live directions, real-time traffic and faster routes."

MapQuest is a phone navigation app. It helps you find the best route and can update based on traffic so you miss fewer turns.

Term

live directions

"[2301.5s] or you could use MapQuest. [2303.7s] MapQuest is back with live directions, real-time traffic and faster routes. [2308.8s] It moves when you move."

Live directions means the app keeps guiding you in real time. If traffic changes or you miss a turn, it can adjust your route.

Term

real-time traffic

"[2303.7s] MapQuest is back with live directions, real-time traffic and faster routes. [2308.8s] It moves when you move. [2310.3s] Best of all, no printer needed, no paper, no more missed turns."

Real-time traffic means the app knows what roads are busy right now. It uses that info to try to get you there faster.

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