Driven Radio Show #337: Ted Taormina of Taormina Motorsports
About this episode
Brett and Mark welcome Ted Taormina, founder of Taormina Motorsports, to discuss his passion for high-performance and exotic cars. Ted shares his journey from a young car enthusiast to a V12 specialist, detailing his experiences with iconic brands like Ferrari and Lamborghini. The conversation dives into his unique projects, including the stunning Cobraari, a custom Cobra with a Ferrari V12 engine. Ted emphasizes the importance of driving engagement and the emotional connection to cars, contrasting classic vehicles with modern technology. Listeners will enjoy his insights on automotive culture and the thrill of speed.
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Dodge Newport
"...there is a 1962 Dodge Newport that's been on it's been on Facebook for a while. It has too many wheels."
The Dodge Newport is a large car made by Dodge that was popular in the 1960s. It had a lot of room inside and came with different types of engines.
The Dodge Newport was a full-size car produced by Dodge from 1961 to 1981. It was known for its spacious interior and was often available with a variety of engine options.
low rider
"...but it is, it's definitely a Mexican blanket kind of, kind of low rider. Okay."
A low rider is a car that sits lower to the ground than usual, often with special wheels and paint. It's a style that started in certain communities and focuses on how the car looks while driving slowly.
A low rider is a type of car that has been modified to have a lowered suspension, often featuring custom paint jobs and unique wheels. This style originated in the Latino communities of the American Southwest and emphasizes aesthetics and cruising rather than performance.
Craggers
"...the fact that it has some really good looking Craggers on it, nice tires and I'm like, you know, if it would cost me 1500 to get nice Craggers with decent tires..."
Craggers are a brand of wheels that people put on cars to make them look cooler and perform better. They are especially popular with muscle cars and custom vehicles.
Craggers, or Cragar wheels, are a brand of aftermarket wheels known for their classic designs and are often used on muscle cars and hot rods. They are popular for their aesthetic appeal and performance characteristics.
Thunderbird
"...the big white walls that are on the T-Bird right now, you know, would it be really that much more..."
The Thunderbird is a car made by Ford that has been around for a long time. It's known for being stylish and is often considered a classic car.
The Ford Thunderbird is a classic American car that was produced from 1955 to 2005, known for its stylish design and performance. It has gone through several generations, each with distinct features and characteristics.
Harley Heritage
"Let's, let's get through garage business here real quick one, that 1990 Harley heritage that I've been working on for Dave Sider."
The Harley Heritage is a type of motorcycle made by Harley-Davidson. It's designed for comfortable long rides and has a classic look that many people love.
The Harley Heritage is a classic motorcycle model from Harley-Davidson, known for its vintage styling and comfortable riding experience. It often features a classic cruiser design with a focus on touring capabilities.
body work
"...we're doing all the body work."
Body work is the process of fixing the outside of a car, like repairing dents or scratches. It's important to keep the car looking good and safe to drive.
Body work refers to the repair and restoration of a vehicle's exterior, including fixing dents, scratches, and rust. This process is essential for maintaining the vehicle's appearance and structural integrity.
V12
"...the quality and plus a V12."
A V12 is a powerful engine that has twelve cylinders. It's known for being very smooth and providing a lot of power, which is why it's often used in luxury cars.
A V12 engine is a type of internal combustion engine with twelve cylinders arranged in a V configuration. This engine type is known for its smoothness and high power output, often found in luxury and high-performance vehicles.
Mercedes
"...I'm not a Mercedes guy, but riding in that thing. It's like, you know, my ass said you should be."
Mercedes is a car brand that makes luxury cars known for being comfortable and high-tech.
Mercedes is a well-known luxury automotive brand, famous for its high-quality vehicles that often feature advanced technology and comfort.
velocity
"...that velocity coming off of an entrance ramp. Yeah, that's fun too."
Velocity means how fast something is going, especially when talking about cars and how quickly they can speed up.
Velocity refers to the speed of something in a given direction, often used in automotive contexts to describe how quickly a vehicle can move.
Mercedes-Benz W140 S600
"Oh, that's the GeForce. If you go back and you look up the old road test on those W140 S600s, they are as fast from 50 to 70 as they are from 30 to 50."
The W140 S600 is a high-end Mercedes sedan from the 1990s. It has a big V12 engine, making it very powerful and luxurious, often considered a top choice for those wanting a premium car.
The Mercedes-Benz W140 S600 is a luxury sedan known for its powerful V12 engine and advanced technology for its time. It was produced in the 1990s and is part of the S-Class lineup, which represents the brand's flagship models.
Honda S600S
"...k and you look up the old road test on those W140 S600s, they are as fast from 50 to 70 as they are from..."
Honda S500
"... Anyway, he's got a 2000 W220 platform, Mercedes S500, that I told him I would help him sell."
Mercedes-Benz S500
"Anyway, he's got a 2000 W220 platform, Mercedes S500, that I told him I would help him sell."
The Mercedes-Benz S500 is a fancy car that's part of the S-Class series, which is known for being very luxurious. The W220 is just the name for the specific version of this model made between 1998 and 2005.
The Mercedes-Benz S500 is a luxury sedan that belongs to the S-Class lineup, known for its high-end features, performance, and comfort. The W220 platform refers to the generation of the S-Class produced from 1998 to 2005, which was notable for its advanced technology and safety features.
Tarmina Motorsports
"Ted is the founder and driving force behind Tarmina Motorsports, a highly specialized auto repair and fabrication shop dedicated to high performance and exotic automobiles..."
Tarmina Motorsports is a shop that fixes and customizes high-end sports cars and luxury vehicles.
Tarmina Motorsports is a specialized auto repair and fabrication shop that focuses on high-performance and exotic automobiles.
Bonneville salt flats racing
"Ted has had a lifelong pursuit of speed after early exposure to Bonneville salt flats racing."
Bonneville salt flats racing is when cars go really fast on a flat area covered in salt in Utah, which is perfect for racing.
Bonneville salt flats racing refers to high-speed racing events held on the flat, hard salt crust of the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah, known for its ideal conditions for speed records.
1955 Chevrolet Pickup Truck
"...then I'd sit in my dad's 55 pickup truck that had a manual heater fan..."
The 1955 Chevrolet Pickup Truck is an old-style truck that many people love for its classic look and strong build. It's often used for both work and fun activities.
The 1955 Chevrolet Pickup Truck is a classic vehicle known for its distinctive styling and robust performance. It was part of the first generation of Chevrolet's Task Force trucks, which were popular for both work and leisure.
Fast and the Furious
"...you know, there's many times where I'm like, you know, I got a car in the garage that would be way more attractive than the car they've got on TV for this, you know. Like Fast and the Furious and stuff like that."
'Fast and the Furious' is a movie series that focuses on cars and racing. It's famous for its exciting car chases and has made many cars popular among fans.
'Fast and the Furious' is a popular film franchise centered around street racing, heists, and espionage, featuring a variety of high-performance cars. The series has significantly influenced car culture and has a dedicated fan base.
Chevrolet Corvette
"...turned me on on the Fast and the Furious was the Corvette Coupe that was all flared out. There you go."
Oldsmobile F-85 Jetfire
"First car was a 66 Oldsmobile F-85 Jetfire. Cool. Yeah."
The Oldsmobile F-85 Jetfire is a car from 1966 that was special because it had a turbocharged engine, which was rare back then. It was a compact car with a distinctive look.
The Oldsmobile F-85 Jetfire was a compact car produced by Oldsmobile in the mid-1960s, notable for being one of the first production cars to feature a turbocharged engine. It was known for its unique styling and performance characteristics during its time.
Datsun 620
"And then after that, it was a it was a little Datsun 620 pickup truck that had, you know, mini truck days."
The Datsun 620 is a small pickup truck made by Nissan in the 1970s. It was popular for being dependable and useful for various tasks.
The Datsun 620 is a compact pickup truck produced by Nissan under the Datsun brand in the 1970s. It was known for its reliability and practicality, making it popular among mini truck enthusiasts.
L series engine
"I decided to pull that L series engine out and put another L series engine in it."
The L series engine is a type of engine made by Nissan that was used in many of their cars and trucks. It's known for being strong and reliable.
The L series engine is a family of inline-four and inline-six engines produced by Nissan. Known for their durability and performance, these engines were commonly used in various Datsun models.
Ferrari GTC4
"my uncle purchased a 72 Ferrari GTC four"
The Ferrari GTC4 is a luxury sports car made by Ferrari, designed to be fast and comfortable for four people.
The Ferrari GTC4 is a four-seater grand tourer produced by Ferrari, known for its combination of luxury and performance. The 1972 model is part of Ferrari's rich heritage.
Weber carburetors
"My Datsun had three webers, three twos on it, webers."
Weber carburetors are parts that help mix air and fuel for the engine. They are used in some fast cars to help them perform better.
Weber carburetors are high-performance carburetors often used in racing and performance vehicles. They are known for their ability to provide better fuel atomization and increased power output.
firing order
"But the cool thing about it was the firing order for the Datsun on the six cylinders was the same firing order on the Ferrari on each side."
Firing order is the order in which the engine's cylinders fire. It helps the engine run smoothly and efficiently.
Firing order refers to the sequence in which the cylinders in an engine fire. It is crucial for engine balance and performance, especially in multi-cylinder engines.
distributors
"Ferraris Lamborghinis always ran two distributors, two fuel pumps, two coils."
Distributors are parts in a car that help send electricity to the engine's cylinders so they can fire at the right time.
Distributors are components in an ignition system that direct the electrical current from the ignition coil to the correct cylinder at the right time. They are essential for engine performance.
Ferrari 812S
"...ctly, exactly. And to this day, even some of the Ferrari 812s, the F12s and the 599 GTBs, they're running two ..."
Bosch
"they're very simple ECUs or Bosch, you know, it's not a big deal."
Bosch is a company that makes parts for cars, including important computer systems that help engines run well.
Bosch is a leading global supplier of technology and services, including automotive components like ECUs and sensors, known for their reliability and innovation.
W16
"...I've driven the W16s and I've driven the cool V10s and they're really cool, but nothing, nothing like a V12."
A W16 engine has sixteen cylinders and is designed to produce a lot of power. It's used in very high-performance cars like the Bugatti Veyron.
The W16 engine is a sixteen-cylinder engine with a unique configuration that combines two V8 engines. It's known for its extreme power and is famously used in models like the Bugatti Veyron.
Ferraris 288
"I had to put in my two weeks notice and then I worked for him for 24 years. So it was, wow, we were importing Lamborghinis from Italy, Ferraris, 288 GTOs, Boxers, because none of those cars were USA cars."
Pontiac Gtos
"... importing Lamborghinis from Italy, Ferraris, 288 GTOs, Boxers, because none of those cars were USA car..."
Shelby Cobra
"...ed out for Al. What was your first exposure to a Cobra? The Cobra, when I was a kid, I was walking home..."
Chrysler Daytona
"...he pallet. Finest Connor, we were working on his Daytona coupe. And Finest Connor came over with Phil Hil..."
Ferrari 250
"... So I took an Aston Martin from the 60s and 50s, Ferrari 250 Testarosa's, Cobra, and I laid them all over eac..."
Mercury Mountaineer
"...here on this show. Darrell is working on Mercury Mountaineer. Yeah."
Dodge Custom
"Yours. And a 64 Dodge custom 880. Neither of ours anymore."
Lamborghini Qutosh
"...n a few cars out there over 200 miles an hour, a Lamborghini Qutosh and I was hooked. I was hooked on going fast. So..."
Ferrari 456 Ferrari
"...got really, really, really light. So working on a 456 Ferrari, in the back of that car, there's no wing on tha..."
Rolls-Royce Phantom
"...at Sun Valley Tour de Force, which is just before Phantom Hill, I looked at my speedometer and it was swee..."
Jaguar Etype
"boring. Forget all the automated everything. Let's go back to analog. Let's go back to three pedals and send that person out in a car whether it's a Cobra, an E-Type, a Qantas, a BMW 2002, whatever it is, grab the stick shift, push the third pedal to the floor and go out and have fun."
Mclaren 720S
"...let's look at another picture. You take a McLaren 720S and the guy is out breaking all the rules in the..."
Datsun 240Z
"...ophic. Yes. To where we were in our little Datsun 240Z and we slid off the road and we screwed up the u..."
Ferrari Sp3 Daytona
"...9% of them that have a La Ferrari, Enzo, the new SP3 Daytona, these are all super, super, super cars. You know..."
Lamborghini Diablo
"...a Cobra, a Daytona GT40, a BMW 2002, Lamborghini Diablo, something like that. I'll try and suit you into ..."
Porsche 928
"...pressionable experience, and it was in a Porsche 928, I think, okay, well, maybe I'll get them into a ..."
Ferrari Ff
"...black version of that Cobraari. And it'll have a Ferrari FF V12 in it. So that'll be super fun because the Fe..."
Chevrolet Express
"...e dream vehicle you've always wanted. At Hot Rod Express, they listen. They figure out how to make it happ..."
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