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Larry Chen

Larry Chen

The Smoking Tire Sep 04, 2025 101 min
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About this episode

Larry Chen joins the Smoking Tire podcast to discuss his new book, 'Life at Shutter Speed,' which chronicles his journey as a car photographer over the past two decades. The conversation dives into his experiences, including a remarkable trip to Brunei where he met the Sultan and explored the royal car collection. Chen shares insights on the evolution of his photography style, the significance of storytelling in car culture, and the excitement surrounding upcoming car events. The episode is filled with anecdotes about his adventures and the vibrant car community he engages with.

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Car

Ford Mustang

"...hotos that I published in this book was with your Mustang. Yeah. Yeah. And that's some grainy, awesome shit..."

The Ford Mustang is a classic American car that people love for its speed and cool looks. It's been around for a long time and is often seen as a symbol of fun driving.

Term

machine gunning

"...if you're shooting you know motorsport you know you might be machine gunning. You know if you're chasing a drifter around full track you might you might machine gun 2000 frames you know no problem..."

Machine gunning in photography means taking a lot of pictures really quickly, like when you're trying to catch fast-moving cars or action scenes.

Car

Porsche 911

"...but then I did a shoot with your safari 911 and that was probably 2500 photos because there was a lot of drifting there was a lot of sunset running back and forth a lot of dust..."

The Porsche 911 is a famous sports car that many people admire for its speed and unique shape. It's been around for a long time and is loved by car enthusiasts.

Car

Aston Martin Vantage Roadster

"I was street drifting this car right off the bumper of the camera car which is an Aston Martin Vantage Roadster..."

The Aston Martin Vantage Roadster is a fancy sports car that you can drive with the top down. It's known for being powerful and stylish.

Car

Nissan 240Z

"I shot that with my 240Z..."

The Nissan 240Z is an older sports car from the 1970s that many people love because it's fun to drive and looks great.

Car

Datsun 240Z

"... and probably this with yes well that was with my 240Z so that was before I got my so do you I mean do y..."

The Datsun 240Z is an old sports car that many people love for its stylish look and fun driving experience. It's considered a classic and is sought after by car collectors.

Car

BMW M2

"...when you and I were at grid life in the BMW M2..."

The BMW M2 is a sporty car that is fun to drive and has a powerful engine. It's designed for people who love performance cars.

Term

drift cars

"...we were chasing around the drift cars in this car just going we have our own private view of this action..."

Drift cars are cars that are built to slide sideways around corners. They are modified to make it easier to lose grip on the back tires while still being able to steer the car.

Term

press car

"...they'll take the nose off of your press car they'll take the complete front end off..."

A press car is a car that car companies lend to journalists so they can test and write about it. It helps the company get publicity for their new models.

Term

counter steer

"but it actually is very difficult to do on the steering wheel because sometimes I have to counter steer"

Counter steering is when you turn the steering wheel the opposite way to where you want to go, especially when the back of the car starts to slide out. It helps you stay in control while driving fast.

Car

Toyota Supra

"...y going as fast again I mean I know you love your Supra but I wonder if if we were starting from zero and..."

The Toyota Supra is a fast sports car that many people admire for its power and style. It's known for being fun to drive and has a lot of fans who love to modify it for even better performance.

Car

Porsche 911 Turbo

"I think you actually want an all-wheel drive car like a like a 9.11 turbo"

The Porsche 911 Turbo is a fast sports car that has a turbo engine, which gives it extra power. It's designed to handle well at high speeds and is great for driving on tracks.

Car

Nissan R35 Gtr

"I think the two would be 9.11 turbo turbo S or R35 GTR yeah but R35 GTR fucking boring those cars stink"

The Nissan GT-R (R35) is a super fast car known for its technology and performance. Some people think it's not as exciting to drive as other sports cars, though.

Car

Porsche 911 Turbo S

"...behind people I think the two would be 9.11 turbo turbo S or R35 GTR yeah but R35 GTR fucking boring those ..."
Brand

Lamborghini

"...that's like the one of my Lambo outside you can that shop..."

Lamborghini is a famous car brand that makes fast and stylish sports cars, often seen as a symbol of luxury.

Concept

rally

"...because of Ken yeah it's a great shot so rally this is a rally in Spain rally..."

Rally is a type of car racing that takes place on different kinds of roads, where drivers have to follow a specific route and face various challenges.

Term

donut

"...they had to do a donut around this roundabout and then continue on..."

A donut is when a car spins in a circle while driving, making the tires squeal and sometimes creating smoke.

Company

Nismo

"...he commissioned Nismo to build him like a perfect spec sure..."

Nismo is a part of Nissan that makes cars faster and more exciting. They create special versions of Nissan cars that are designed for racing and performance.

Concept

restoration

"...one of their like restoration things yes but this one was taken down to bare metal..."

Restoration is when someone fixes up an old car to make it look and work like it did when it was new. This can involve a lot of work, like repairing the engine and painting the body.

Term

bare metal

"...this one was taken down to bare metal acid dipped sealed all that..."

Bare metal means the metal of the car is completely clean and shiny because all the old paint and rust have been taken off. It's what you see before a new paint job is done.

Term

acid dipped

"...acid dipped sealed all that which makes it like I think they call it a fine spec..."

Acid dipping is a method used to clean a car's body by soaking it in a special liquid that removes rust and old paint. This helps prepare the car for repairs or a new paint job.

Car

Chevrolet C5

"I don't think they were built that badly compared to like what a 2000 American I had a C5 Corvette homie yes I get that..."

The C5 Corvette is a model of sports car made by Chevrolet from 1997 to 2004. It's known for being fast and having a sleek design.

Term

rust

"there was a lot of rust on the shock towers and it was just because Nissan didn't..."

Rust is what happens to metal when it gets wet and starts to break down. It can make car parts weak and cause problems if not fixed.

Company

Car Gurus

"...folks we got to take a quick break for car gurus look if you're looking for some super classic enthusiast car we know where to go for the spots..."

Car Gurus is a website that helps people find good deals on cars. It shows you different cars and their prices to make buying a car easier.

Part

brakes

"...like we just upgraded the brakes are 35 breaks it even feels better now I don't by the way mean new like..."

Brakes are what help a car slow down or stop. When someone upgrades their brakes, it means they are replacing them with better ones to make the car stop more effectively.

Company

Z1 Motorsports

"...I'm starting to source things little by little from Z1 motorsports for whatever reason..."

Z1 Motorsports is a company that sells parts and upgrades for certain Nissan cars. They are known for having a lot of options for enthusiasts looking to improve their vehicles.

Car

Nissan R34

"...a bunch from Z1 motorsports for whatever reason okay they stock a lot of R32 to R34 panels..."

The Nissan R34 is a later model of the Skyline GT-R, which is also known for being very fast and popular among car enthusiasts.

Car

Nissan R32

"...a bunch from Z1 motorsports for whatever reason okay they stock a lot of R32 to R34 panels..."

The Nissan R32 is a model of a car that is famous for being fast and popular in racing. It's part of a series of cars known as the Skyline GT-R.

Concept

The Quail

"...I showed my car at the quail which is so crazy talk talk about a huge ride of passage..."

The Quail is a fancy car show that happens during Monterey Car Week. It's known for having really special and expensive cars on display, making it a big deal for car fans.

Concept

Monterey Car Week

"...I drove that all the way up to Monterey car week and I showed my car at the quail which is so crazy talk talk about a huge ride of passage..."

Monterey Car Week is a big event in California where people show off their cool cars. It's like a festival for car lovers, with lots of different activities and car displays.

Brand

Ferrari

"...like the Paganiwara and leverage any this and Ferrari I don't even know how to pronounce some of these names..."

Ferrari is a famous car brand from Italy that makes very fast and luxurious cars. They are well-known for their racing history and are considered a status symbol.

Brand

McLaren

"...Ferrari Lambo McLaren Pagani..."

McLaren is a British car company that makes very fast sports cars. They are known for their racing success and innovative designs.

Brand

Pagani

"...Ferrari Lambo McLaren Pagani..."

Pagani is a luxury car brand from Italy that makes very special and expensive sports cars. They are known for their artistic designs and high performance.

Term

horsepower

"...I get that you can make a thousand horsepower who cares..."

Horsepower is a way to measure how powerful a car's engine is. More horsepower usually means the car can go faster and perform better.

Car

Nissan Skylines

"...in early college what are we doing Nurburgring no skylines that was like the thing and then you drive it and..."

The Nissan Skyline is a cool car that many people admire for its speed and technology. It's especially popular among car fans who like to modify and race their vehicles.

Car

Pontiac Firebird

"it's pretty 125 dollars it's pretty and you should buy it it's it's available firebird rules this white firebird..."

The Firebird is a type of car made by Pontiac that was popular for its sporty look and powerful engine. It’s considered a classic American muscle car.

Concept

Formula Drift

"I did a meat at the Queen Mary the day before formula drift 1750 cars showed up and yeah it was it was really how many were you expecting..."

Formula Drift is a racing series where drivers intentionally make their cars slide sideways around corners. It's all about style and skill, and it's very popular with fans of car culture.

Car

BMW E36

"... blood he bought just like a regular three series E36 325 I yeah at a royal auction registered to the p..."

The BMW 3 Series is a stylish car that offers a mix of comfort and sporty driving. It's popular among people who want a nice car that feels good to drive.

Car

Toyota Corollas

"whatever they can get right and we we're talking about just Toyota Corolla's that are barely holding together and then they'll do their absolute best to put it back together or it could be supercar hypercar whatever like"

The Toyota Corolla is a small car that many people trust because it's reliable and gets good gas mileage. It's a great option for anyone looking for a simple and affordable vehicle.

Car

Shelby Cobras

"... even like even yeah you know some of the replica cobras and stuff like that I mean there's there's a lot ..."

The Shelby Cobra is a famous sports car that is loved for its speed and classic design. It's a symbol of American muscle cars and has a lot of history in racing.

Car

Porsche Cayenne

"...here yeah sounds good I don't know anything about cayenne hybrids Timay says this morning the Nissan and Ze..."

The Porsche Cayenne is a fancy SUV that drives like a sports car. It's designed for people who want a lot of space and comfort but still enjoy a fun driving experience.

Car

Porsche 911 GT3

"...do H PDE at in the south we'll be trailing uh new GT3 from Boston over the course of a week and a half ..."

The Porsche 911 GT3 is a super-fast version of the classic Porsche 911. It's built for people who love racing and want a car that can perform really well on the track.

Car

Mazda Miata

"...ing sad yeah that's a good time at Daytona in the Miata that's a lot of full throttle it was fun how did ..."

The Mazda Miata is a small, fun sports car that people love to drive because it feels very responsive and light. It's also known for being a great value for a sports car.

Car

Lexus GX 550

"...nce to go to the Tahara um where they do like the GX 550 and the LC250 Lankerser plant in Japan I also had..."

The Lexus GX 550 is a fancy SUV that can handle rough terrain while keeping you comfortable inside. It's great for people who want a nice vehicle that can also go off the beaten path.

17 cars featured

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