Max Maddox, Head of Creative at Donut Media
About this episode
Max Maddox, head of creative at Donut Media, shares insights from his experiences at Laguna Seca during Car Week. He discusses driving the new Corvette ZR1 and the Cadillac Vistic, highlighting the differences between electric and traditional performance cars. The conversation also dives into Donut Media's evolution, including new hosts and popular series like 'Hy Low' and 'Unclapped.' Max reflects on his personal car collection, including old BMWs and a recent impulse buy of a $850 Porsche, while emphasizing the community aspect of automotive culture.
Alex sits down with Max Maddox, the new Head of Creative at Donut Media, at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca during Monterey Car Week 2025.
With an aural background of vintage race cars on track and fresh off a test drive of the new 1,064-horsepower C8 Corvette ZR1, Max talks about two run-ins with Horacio Pagani; a brief IQ test; branded soap; Car Week traffic; the mystery Hella air dam on his E30; sage advice regarding BMW window regulators; the Porsche 911 he bought on BaT for $850; a new flagship show for the channel; whether "more expnesive is more better"; a daring take on Y2K-era spinners; the Great Host Departure of 2024; becoming a Civic liker; tailoring Donut for a TV audience; and whether he'll turn into a roof tent guy now that he's got a diesel Cayenne.
Links for things mentioned in this episode:
9:15
Formula 1 at 75 display at Laguna Seca, old and new
15:35
The $850 BaT Porsche purchase
We Bought the World’s Cheapest Porsche 911 Donut on YouTube
Dennis Collins, cbjeep on BaT
33:56
Sportscar Vacationland by Overcrest
36:57
Max Maddox on Instagram
Got suggestions for our next guest from the BaT community or One Year Garage episode? Let us know at [email protected]!
Chevrolet Corvette
"...So you just came back from what sounds like a rad Corvette drive. You guys are uh getting to drive some new ..."
Cadillac Escalade
"...he Cadillac Vistic, it's one size smaller than an Escalade. It's a three row electric SUV. Not exactly my pr..."
Cadillac Lyric
"the other one? >> There's a Lyric or something a couple of those other ones for the..."
Honda S2000
"...censed through uh Honda and Acura and so we had a S2000 as well as an Integra Type R."
Acura Integra
"Acura and so we had a S2000 as well as an Integra Type R. >> Cool."
Ford Mustang
"...O Randy is in this run group right now out in his Mustang. So these are these are cars that sound good with..."
Porsche 911
"... all like these super cars and you see, you know, 911s and whatever driving by 356s, but then"
Porsche 356
"you see, you know, 911s and whatever driving by 356s, but then >> you'll just see some like I saw a"
Ferrari F50
"...t texted me some guys just cruising around in his F50 using it as his car, you know."
Nissan 350Zs
"for example, the first season we did Nissan 350Z's. One gets modified with cheap parts and one with expensive"
Subaru WRX
"...t into drag cars, which was very cool. Uh, Subaru WRXs as well. So, yeah, that's a really fun series. Uh..."
Mazda MX-5 / Miata
"...Uh, I love that car. We also built a little rider Miata. >> It's like a retro Pimp My Ride almost."
Honda Civic
"new cars are very, very good. But our Civic is sick. >> As much as I love the old Civics, my ..."
Subaru Svx
">> in a truck or a modified car? >> A Subaru SVX. >> Oh, I love SVXs. He has owned this car"
Porsche Cayenne
"out of my fleet cuz I just bought a Cayenne diesel which uh is something to look out for for ..."
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