0:00 / 0:00
Driving 1000 Miles In A 70-year old car  — Carmudgeon Show Jason Cammisa & Derek Tam-Scott — Ep. 193

Driving 1000 Miles In A 70-year old car — Carmudgeon Show Jason Cammisa & Derek Tam-Scott — Ep. 193

The Carmudgeon Show May 12, 2025 62 min
0:00
0:00

About this episode

A thrilling recount of the California Mille, a 1,000-mile rally featuring cars over 70 years old. Hosts Jason Cammisa and Derek Tam-Scott share colorful stories of their experiences driving a 1956 Alfa Romeo Giulietta Sprint Veloce through stunning California roads. They discuss the event's history, the camaraderie among participants, and the challenges of driving vintage cars, including roadside repairs and unexpected breakdowns. The episode captures the spirit of adventure and the unique charm of rallying in classic automobiles.

Filter:
|
Technical Too Afraid to Ask
Company

Viper Industrial

"...we are sponsored by Viper Industrial, the makers of the Viper chairs. This thing right here. It's on the table that is decidedly not a Photoshop..."

Viper Industrial makes tools and equipment, like chairs that are strong and useful for people who work on cars in garages. They focus on making high-quality products.

Term

restoration

"...funny looking at restoration and voices for cars that come out of the shops that my business partners father started because it'll be like bring 485 pieces to platter for clear cat gold cat and black oxide..."

Restoration is when you fix up an old car to make it look and work like it did when it was new. It can involve a lot of different repairs and improvements.

Car

Porsche GT4

"...they're giving away a 2021 Python green Porsche GT4 for every $5 you spend at Viper industrial.com. You get entered for a chance to win the GT4 plus $15,000 in cash."

The Porsche GT4 is a sporty car that's designed for performance, especially on racetracks. The 2021 version has a powerful engine and is known for being fun to drive.

Car

Dodge Viper

"...4 plus $15,000 in cash. Four rules and details at Viper industrial.com and that's VYPER industrial.com. B..."

The Dodge Viper is a super-fast sports car that has a really big engine and a unique look. It's loved by car fans for its power and speed, but it's also known to be a bit tricky to drive.

Car

Mercedes-Benz W201

"...the W201 and the W202 both the hottest versions of technically minds not the Evo 2 would have been the hottest version of the 201 available at the time that they were produced..."

The W201 is a model of a Mercedes-Benz car made between 1982 and 1993. It's known for being well-built and popular among car fans.

Car

Mercedes-Benz W202

"...the W201 and the W202 both the hottest versions of technically minds not the Evo 2 would have been the hottest version of the 201 available at the time that they were produced..."

The W202 is another model of a Mercedes-Benz car that came after the W201, made from 1993 to 2000. It was designed to be more comfortable and had better technology.

Car

Mercedes-Benz C43

"And the C43, which is one of the most underrated and undervalued and undervalued Mercades, which is good."

The C43 is a sportier version of the Mercedes-Benz C-Class. It's designed to be faster and more fun to drive than regular models.

Concept

Mille Miglia

"...which was an event that ran until 1957 in Italy and it was like a real race. But then it got resuscitated in 1991 in California as more of a sort of casual drive rally event."

The Mille Miglia is a famous car race in Italy that used to happen every year. Now, it's more of a fun event where people drive classic cars along the same route.

Car

Chrysler Indy car

"...weird 1100 CC Fiat's and eight cylinder Chrysler Indy cars and all manner of Alfa Romeo's and stuff like that."

Chrysler Indy cars are special racing cars made for the Indy 500 race. They are built to be very fast and are used in professional racing events.

Car

Suzuki SX4

"...this is TurboTarge Suzuki SX-4."

The Suzuki SX4 is a small car that can be used for city driving and some light off-roading. It's known for being practical and versatile.

Car

Mercedes 300 SLR

"driving a Mercedes 300 SLR. That's why we have Mercedes here."

The Mercedes 300 SLR is a famous racing car from the 1950s, known for being very fast and successful in races. It was designed to be lightweight and powerful.

Car

Mercedes 300 SL

"you could run on any 300 SL, Alpha Julietta's."

The Mercedes 300 SL is a classic sports car famous for its unique doors that open upwards. It was made in the late 1950s and is known for being very stylish and fast.

Car

Mercedes-Benz SL

"So 300 SL's, because they were made from 57 to 63. You coul..."

The Mercedes-Benz SL is a fancy convertible car that's been around for a long time. It's known for being stylish and comfortable, making it a popular choice for people who want a luxury driving experience.

Car

Jaguar XK

"Well, compared to some of the other stuff, they're non-expensive. Jag XK's, because those are also relatively inexpensive."

The Jaguar XK is a line of luxury sports cars that are known for being stylish and fast. They are generally more affordable compared to other high-end sports cars.

Car

Porsche 356S

"Porsche 356's. You know, for people who want to make it, you do it in a German car. So 356's."

The Porsche 356 is an old sports car that many people love. It was made a long time ago, but it's still popular because it's fun to drive and looks great.

Car

Fiat 1100

"...a car that used to belong to Mr. Martin Swig who started the event is competing or participating this year as a Fiat 1100, which was extremely well driven and hilarious to watch in the true spirit of the event."

The Fiat 1100 is a small car made by the Italian company Fiat. It was popular a long time ago and is known for being practical and fun to drive.

Car

Ferrari 250

"Ferrari 250 was the featured car. And so, quite a fair few of those materialized..."

The Ferrari 250 is a line of sports cars made by Ferrari, known for their performance and beauty. They were built in the 1950s and 1960s and include some very famous models.

Term

gearbox

"And that night they pulled the gearbox out, it's got stuck in reverse. That night they pulled the gearbox out and took the gearbox apart unstuck it."

The gearbox is like the part of the car that helps it change speeds. It connects the engine to the wheels and lets you go faster or slower.

Term

clearance

"unstuck the reverse gear, which had insufficient clearance."

Clearance is the space needed between parts so they can move freely. If there's not enough space, parts can get stuck and cause problems.

Term

reverse gear

"They pulled the gearbox out that night, disassembled it the next morning, unstuck the reverse gear, which had insufficient clearance."

The reverse gear is what lets a car go backward. It's important for parking and turning around.

Term

differential

"And then another one, the differential failed. That was not repaired in time."

A differential helps your car's wheels turn at different speeds when going around corners, which makes driving smoother and safer.

Concept

rally

"And he has a habit of not completing rallies in various cars."

A rally is a racing event where drivers compete on different types of roads, often in challenging conditions. It's about speed and skill in navigating the course.

Car

Citroen ID

"There was a Citroen ID, which came out of a nine year restoration."

The Citroen ID is an old French car that was made many years ago. It's famous for its unique shape and cool technology that was ahead of its time.

Term

shift linkage

"Although it did a, had an issue with the starter, which required just the strategic use of a hammer to make it start. And then the shift linkage failed at one point."

The shift linkage is the part that connects the gear stick to the transmission. If it breaks, you might not be able to change gears properly in a manual car.

Term

column shift manual

"And then the shift linkage failed at one point. It was a column shift manual."

A column shift manual is when the gear stick is on the steering column instead of between the front seats. This was common in older cars and helps save space inside the car.

Car

BMW 328S

"...there's, so there used to be a lot of pre-war cars on this event. You know, there's a lot of interesting pre-war sports cars, BMW 328s,..."

The BMW 328 is an old sports car made by BMW in the 1930s. It's famous for being lightweight and fast, making it popular among collectors today.

Car

Bentley

"Jaguar SS100s, Alpha 8Cs, and 6Cs, Bentley's, all the sort of competition cars of that era."

Bentley is a brand that makes very fancy and powerful cars. They have been around for a long time and are known for their quality and luxury.

Car

Alfa Romeo 8C

"Jaguar SS100s, Alpha 8Cs, and 6Cs, Bentley's, all the sort of competition cars of that era."

The Alfa Romeo 8C is a beautiful and fast sports car that has been made in different versions since the 1930s. It's very popular among car collectors.

Car

Jaguar Ss100S

"Jaguar SS100s, Alpha 8Cs, and 6Cs, Bentley's, all the sort of competition cars of that era."

The Jaguar SS100 is an old sports car from the 1930s that is famous for being fast and stylish. It helped make Jaguar a well-known car brand.

Car

Honda Accord

"The person, the woman who in the Honda Accord who hit it was in the center lane."

The Honda Accord is a well-known car that many people trust because it's reliable and comfortable. It's been around since the 1970s and is popular for families.

Car

Alfa Romeo Giulietta

"...we were in a 1956 Alfa Romeo Giulietta Sprint Veloce. And this is, you know, I had a spider of Veloce, which you drove. And this car is a good athletic agile car, which likes to go around tight corners."

The Alfa Romeo Giulietta Sprint Veloce is a classic car from 1956 that is known for being fun to drive and good at taking tight turns. It's a lightweight sports car that many enthusiasts admire.

Car

Volkswagen Tiguan

"...uddenly, it seems quite practical. The Volkswagen Tiguan, packed with premium features like available mass..."

The Volkswagen Tiguan is a small SUV that's great for families and everyday use. It has a roomy interior and lots of nice features, making it a practical choice for many drivers.

Car

Jeep Cherokee

"...ame reliable. I was reading, I think it was an XJ Cherokee when I was doing research. And I was reading car ..."

The Jeep Cherokee is a type of SUV that can handle rough roads and off-road adventures. It's known for being dependable and is a great choice for people who like to explore outdoors.

Car

Mercedes-Benz 190E

"...hout incident, it went very poorly for me with my 190E in Europe. And..."

The Mercedes-Benz 190E is a smaller luxury car that was made in the 1980s and early 1990s. It's known for being well-built and comfortable, making it a good option for everyday driving.

Car

Porsche 911

"It's one of the most... It's one of the more in your 9-11. Yeah, I know."

The Porsche 911 is a famous sports car that has been around for many years. It's known for being fast and fun to drive, and many people love it for its unique shape and high-quality build.

Car

Lancia Aurelia

"like, I would be, Lancia Aurelia Fiat Ottovu. There was one Fiat Ottovu there with..."

The Lancia Aurelia is an old Italian car that was made in the 1950s. It's special because it was one of the first cars to use a V6 engine, making it quite unique for its time.

Car

Shelby Cobra

"... be pretty interesting, which is the car that the Cobra was re-engineed to become the Cobra, with a Ford ..."

The Shelby Cobra is a classic sports car from the 1960s that is famous for being very fast and lightweight. It's a favorite among car collectors and racing fans because of its exciting history.

Car

Volkswagen Cabriolet

"that I'm like, I'm really genuinely considering pulling out the transmission out of the cabriolet,"

The Volkswagen Cabriolet is a convertible car based on the Golf model. It's loved for its open-top driving and classic look, making it a favorite among car fans.

Car

Mazda Cosmo

"I was at a Mazda Cosmo. It's incredibly unreliable car."

The Mazda Cosmo is a classic car that was made by Mazda. It is famous for having a special type of engine called a rotary engine, which is different from regular car engines.

20 cars featured

Request an Explanation

Heard something you'd like explained? We'll add it to this episode.

Sign in to request explanations for terms you heard.

Want to learn more?

Browse our glossary for plain-English explanations of automotive terms, jargon, and concepts.

Explore Terms

Help improve this episode

See something that's not quite right? Our annotations are AI-generated and can sometimes miss the mark. Click the flag icon on any annotation to suggest a correction.

Report incorrect info
Suggest better explanations
Flag missing cars