0:00 / 0:00
Ferdi Porsche wants everyone to go racing

Ferdi Porsche wants everyone to go racing

The Smoking Tire Oct 14, 2025 72 min
0:00
0:00

About this episode

Ferdy Porsche, great-grandson of Ferdinand Porsche, joins the Smoking Tire podcast to discuss his new venture, Fat International, which focuses on making motorsport more accessible for youth through karting. The conversation covers the launch of a new karting league aimed at democratizing racing, the excitement of ice racing, and Ferdy's experiences growing up in a car-centric family. They also delve into the unique aspects of Porsche culture, the importance of driving dynamics, and the potential of electric vehicles in motorsport. This episode is packed with insights on racing, architecture, and the future of motorsport.

Filter:
|
Technical Too Afraid to Ask
Car

Bentley Arnage

"And the first thing we noticed was that you were using an Arnaj as a merch booth, which is one of the best uses of a Bentley Arnaj possible."

The Bentley Arnage is a fancy car that is very luxurious and expensive. It's known for being stylish and powerful, often seen as a status symbol.

Term

daily driver

"...just bought one to use as a daily driver. They're just working out okay."

A daily driver is a car you use every day for things like going to work or shopping. It's usually a car that's dependable and easy to drive.

Car

Porsche

"...your fun car. Yeah, in this case, your Porsche. In other people's cases, you see some other things. My case, Porsche as well. But yeah, dude, I really thought Willow did..."

Porsche is a famous car brand from Germany that makes fast and stylish sports cars. They're known for their quality and performance.

Concept

Willow Springs International Raceway

"...I really thought Willow did... It looks great. The buildings look great. Track looks great. It's fun. It's amazing."

Willow Springs is a well-known racetrack in California where cars can race and be tested. It's popular among car enthusiasts and has a lot of history.

Car

Porsche 718 Spider

"It is nice, unless you leave the top down for 90 minutes in your 718 Spider and you come back to find just a..."

The Porsche 718 Spider is a sporty convertible car that is fun to drive. It has a powerful engine and is designed for performance on the road.

Concept

press launch

"On the 718 Spider RS press launch, I had to take the top up and off and put it back on..."

A press launch is an event where car companies show off their new cars to reporters. It's a chance for journalists to drive the cars and write about them before they go on sale.

Car

Petersen

"...we designed a version for the Petersen, then like how the Petersen could look if it would be redone and like just for the fun of it, right?"

The Petersen is a famous car museum in Los Angeles where you can see many different cars and learn about their history. It's a popular place for car lovers to visit.

Concept

historic ice races

"...kind of stumbled across this ice race, because my dad had bought a car that used to race in the, in the historic ice races. So from the 50s to the 70s, in Salamzee in Austria, they had, they were racing on the frozen lake..."

Historic ice races are car races that take place on frozen lakes. They were popular many years ago and featured different types of cars racing on the ice.

Porsche 550
Car

Porsche 550

"...they had like 550s and like three, five, sixes and all different sorts of cars. And it was like 10,000 people there..."

The Porsche 550 is a classic sports car made by Porsche in the 1950s. It's known for being fast and successful in races.

Car

BMW 550S

"...were racing on the frozen lake and they had like 550s and like three, five, sixes and all different sor..."

The BMW 5 Series is a nice car that's comfortable and fun to drive. It's popular for people who want a mix of luxury and performance in their everyday vehicle.

Car

Daihatsu K truck

"can I buy this? And it's like a fucking Daihatsu K truck. I'm like, no, no, no, no, I must have this."

The Daihatsu K truck is a small truck that is great for carrying things around town. It's very popular in Japan because it's easy to drive and park.

Car

Porsche 959

"we've got a picture up of what looks like a 959 or some type of Porsche rally car towing a skier, which that's the best version of ice racing..."

The Porsche 959 is a super-fast sports car from the late 80s that was really advanced for its time. It had features like all-wheel drive and a powerful engine.

Car

Lamborghini Miura

"...drift a Miura that might otherwise have been like absolutely not because it's such a low risk environment, but it ends up looking really cool..."

The Lamborghini Miura is a famous sports car from the 1960s. It's known for its beautiful looks and fast performance, making it one of the first supercars ever made.

Car

Manx

"...the only thing about my Manx that's like less than perfect is that the seats are not waterproof... Manx is the greatest. Manx is the shit."

The Manx is a fun, lightweight buggy made from a Volkswagen Beetle. It's great for driving on sand and off-road adventures.

Term

all weather covers

"...I'll have to put the all weather covers on the seats..."

All weather covers are special covers for car seats that protect them from dirt and water. They help keep the seats looking nice and clean.

Term

electric spec tires

"Okay, obviously the electric spec tires would be you do wheelies. Yeah, that'll be fun."

Electric spec tires are tires made for electric cars. They help the car grip the road better and can make driving more fun, especially in special conditions like racing on ice.

Car

Porsche Taycan

"The Taycan speaking of electric, the Taycan is one of the most fun cars for ice race."

The Porsche Taycan is a fast electric car that looks like a sports sedan. It's known for being fun to drive and has a lot of modern technology.

Concept

Porsche Ice Experience

"Let's go to Finland. Cool. Port to Porsche ice experience."

It's a special driving event where you can learn to drive Porsche cars on ice. You get to experience how these cars handle in slippery conditions.

Car

Porsche 718 Cayman GT4

"Yeah, I got to drive GT4 all the time..."

It's a special version of the Porsche Cayman that is designed for high performance and racing, making it very fun to drive.

Car

Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS

"Yeah, I drove GT4 RS club sport on spikes and it was the greatest."

It's an upgraded version of the GT4 that is even faster and better for racing, with special features to help it perform on the track.

Term

turbocharger

"They have that cool, like the, the turbocharger. You've seen the giant like truck thing GT thing."

A turbocharger is a part that helps an engine get more air, which makes it more powerful. It helps cars go faster and use fuel more efficiently.

Car

Tesla Semi

"...thing GT thing. No, no, no. They're they're huge semi truck that they use to charge the things. They ca..."

The Tesla Semi is a big electric truck that helps carry goods. It's designed to save money on fuel and be better for the environment, which is why it's getting a lot of attention.

Car

Porsche 918 Spyder

"So the coolest thing they had when I was there was a 918 sick at a 918 on spikes..."

The Porsche 918 is a really fast sports car that uses both gas and electricity to go super fast while being more efficient. It's one of Porsche's coolest cars.

Concept

Le Mans

"...looked through all the Le Mans winning cars of Porsche because I figured maybe like Ice Race, I would find something with heritage..."

Le Mans is a famous car race that lasts for 24 hours. Cars from different categories race together, making it a unique and challenging event.

Car

Porsche 912

"...that started from like the nine 12s and people like modifying them. And like, we won't punish people who like,..."

The Porsche 912 is a vintage sports car that was made in the 1960s. It looks a lot like the more famous Porsche 911 but is generally less expensive and has a smaller engine.

Car

Porsche 911

"And I think all of that means it just has a more powerful magnet for everyone to be a fan of it doesn't matter what generation they're a fan of. Yeah. And the cars, you know, if you, if you, I think if you have a 911 for the weekends..."

The Porsche 911 is a famous sports car that has been around for a long time. It's known for being fun to drive and has many fans because of its history and unique style.

Car

Porsche Panamera

"..., you're likely to get a Macan or a Cayenne or a Panamera for every day because you enjoy interacting with..."
Car

Porsche Cayenne

"... the weekends, you're likely to get a Macan or a Cayenne or a Panamera for every day because you enjoy in..."
Car

Porsche Macan

"you're likely to get a Macan or a Cayenne or a Panamera for every day because you enjoy interacting with that type of machine."

The Porsche Macan is a smaller SUV made by Porsche. It's designed to be fun to drive while still being useful for everyday tasks like carrying passengers and cargo.

Car

Volkswagen Golf

"not to shit on them too much, but like the Volkswagen Golf R has a fabulous driving position."

The Volkswagen Golf R is a sportier version of the regular Golf, built for better performance and handling. It's popular among car enthusiasts.

Car

Volkswagen Tiguan

"...f R has a fabulous driving position. The fucking Tiguan does not, you know what I mean? Like, and so, lik..."

The Volkswagen Tiguan is a smaller SUV that's good for driving around town. It has a comfortable inside and is easy to use for daily activities.

Car

Porsche 924

"...there's like a 924 with a bunch of shit hanging off it that's been there for like 40 years."

The Porsche 924 is an older sports car from Porsche that was made to be a bit cheaper than other models. It has a unique look and is fun to drive.

Car

Chevrolet Corvette

"... the factory where they build the engines for the Corvette Z06's and I found that the people who hand build..."

The Chevrolet Corvette is a fast and stylish sports car that many people love. The Z06 version is even more powerful and special, which is why it often comes up in conversations about exciting cars.

Concept

Formula One

"...like 1.6 billion people watch the sport, like Formula One now. Um, but 20 people competed it. Exactly."

Formula One is a type of car racing that involves very fast cars competing in races around the world. It's considered the top level of motorsport and has a lot of fans.

Company

Williams

"...Rob like obviously had spent 25 years of his life in Formula One. So he like brought some of his like co engineers at Ferrari or Williams or wherever to his team..."

Williams is a well-known racing team in Formula One, which is a top-level car racing series. They have a long history of building fast cars and competing in races around the world.

Company

Ferrari

"...Rob like obviously had spent 25 years of his life in Formula One. So he like brought some of his like co engineers at Ferrari or Williams or wherever to his team..."

Ferrari is a famous car company from Italy that makes fast and expensive sports cars. They are also well-known for their success in car racing, especially in Formula One.

Car

Rolls-Royce Phantom

"... cool. Yeah. Yeah, this is called the Porsche 850 Phantom. It's cool. I like it. Someone in Porsche, let m..."

The Rolls-Royce Phantom is a super fancy car that is really expensive and luxurious. It's known for being very comfortable and having a beautiful inside, making it a favorite among rich people.

Car

Porsche 356

"... mind about Porsche was the first time I drove a 356 because I'd only driven like cars from the 50s. I..."

The Porsche 356 is an older sports car that many people admire for its looks and how it drives. It was one of the first cars made by Porsche and helped the brand become famous.

Car

Rolls-Royce Wraith

"...Not a specter if you could do it in one, but like Wraith, Starfield, Ceiling, you know, most expensive st..."

The Rolls-Royce Wraith is a really beautiful and fancy car that’s made for people who want to travel in style. It’s powerful and has a lot of attention to detail, making it a very special car.

Car

Porsche Carrera T

"... rather, I would, I'm like, I'd like a rear drive Carrera T rally car with a stick and a good mechanical dif..."

The Porsche Carrera GT is a really fast and powerful sports car that was made a while ago. It's special because it’s built for serious driving enthusiasts and is now very rare and valuable.

Car

Chrysler Pacifica

"Yes. Of other people, of course. Pacifica Coast Highway. Most underrated PTS color may not..."

The Chrysler Pacifica is a roomy minivan that's great for families. It has lots of space for kids and their stuff, and it even comes in a version that uses less gas.

Car

BMW M5

"...eah, yeah, yeah. They just go surfing with their M5 before work. The board out the sunroof, you know..."

The BMW M5 is a fancy car that goes really fast and feels sporty to drive. It's a more powerful version of the regular BMW 5 Series, so it’s great for people who want both comfort and excitement.

21 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