Mike Fernie - Leaving DriveTribe and Going Solo
About this episode
Mike Fernie shares his journey from being head of video at DriveTribe to launching his own YouTube channel focused on car engineering and culture. He discusses his experiences working with automotive legends like Clarkson and Hammond, the challenges of creating engaging content, and his plans for future projects, including a unique V10 MX-5 build. Fernie reflects on the evolution of car media, the importance of community, and the balance between creative freedom and audience expectations. His passion for cars shines through as he explores the intricacies of automotive engineering and storytelling.
Ford Fiesta
"[1341.0s] And that is the new Ford Fiesta, the new key."
The Ford Fiesta is a small car made by the company Ford. It’s known for being easy to drive and not using too much gas, which makes it a good choice for city driving.
The Ford Fiesta is a compact car produced by the American automaker Ford. It has been popular in Europe and other markets for its small size, fuel efficiency, and affordable price.
drive-trade
"...drive‑trade essentially fell out with every single press office in the industry, because people would rate three articles..."
Drive‑trade means a company gives cars to people who write or film about them so they can talk about the car online. It’s a way to get more people talking about the vehicle.
Drive‑trade is a marketing strategy where automotive dealers or manufacturers trade vehicles to media outlets, influencers, or journalists in exchange for coverage, reviews, or promotional content.
Mercedes
"...I know Mercedes were also the happiest back in the day, and there was a couple of others that had to kind of been duped..."
Mercedes is a famous car company from Germany that makes fancy, high‑end cars. They’re known for good safety and smooth driving.
Mercedes-Benz is a German luxury automotive manufacturer known for its high-quality engineering, advanced technology, and prestigious brand heritage.
Subaru
"on the same trip and the bunker was up at Scotland and we built Richard's Grand Tour Subaru to be a bit more monster"
Subaru makes cars that can drive well in many weather conditions because they have power on all four wheels.
Subaru is a Japanese automaker known for its all-wheel-drive vehicles and boxer engines.
5600 horsepower
"we built Richard's Grand Tour Subaru to be a bit more monster and we got it up like 5600 horsepower"
Horsepower tells you how strong the car’s engine is. 5600 horsepower means it can do a lot of work and go very fast.
Horsepower is a unit of power that measures how much work an engine can do over time; 5600 horsepower indicates a very high-performance vehicle.
boost hose
"the super in the EVO the Subaru was just an absolute tank and virtually I think it it popped one boost hose once ..."
The boost hose is a tube that sends hot, pressurized air from the turbo to the engine. If it breaks, the car can lose power.
The boost hose carries pressurized air from the turbocharger to the engine’s intake manifold. A burst or leak can cause loss of power and potential damage.
MG Rover
"MG rovers outside this house there's two basically as as a kid growing up the classic car in the family it was an MG an MGC from the 1960s not meant my the first car I wanted"
MG Rover was a UK car maker that made several popular cars in the 90s and early 2000s, but it went out of business in 2005.
MG Rover was a British automotive company that produced cars from the 1990s until its collapse in 2005, known for models like the MG ZR and Rover 75.
MG Motor
"1-800-contacts was an MG and at that time the little hatchback you could get to the MGZR"
MG Motor is a car brand from the UK that makes budget-friendly cars with sporty looks.
MG Motor is a British automotive brand known for producing affordable, stylish cars and recently re-entering the market with modern hatchbacks.
BMW M5 Touring
"but yeah that M5 touring like you can get a five liter naturally aspirated V8"
It’s a BMW car that looks like a regular sedan but has extra power and can pull off sporty moves. Think of it as a fast family car with a big engine.
The BMW M5 Touring is a high-performance, five‑door wagon version of the BMW 5 Series, known for its powerful engine and sporty handling.
Jaguar XJS
"I feel like the hype for the Jaguar XJS is starting to creep..."
The Jaguar XJS is a fancy old car from the 1970s and 80s that people still love for its smooth ride and classic look.
The Jaguar XJS is a classic luxury grand tourer produced by the British automaker Jaguar from 1975 to 1986, known for its elegant styling and powerful inline-six engines.
Jaguar AJ 16 straight-six engine
"I have an engine that I'd like to the Jaguar AG 16 they're straight six it started off as a diesel and then midway through development they swapped to it being a petrol..."
This engine is a strong, six‑cylinder power plant that was first made for diesel cars but later changed to run on gasoline. It’s built tough and gives a lot of power.
The Jaguar AJ 16 is a 3.6‑liter inline‑six engine originally designed as a diesel but later converted to petrol; it is known for its robust construction and high torque output.
Jaguar AG 16
""...attaching it to a Jaguar AG 16 and having basically a big turbo XGS...""
Jaguar AG 16 is a special, fast version of a Jaguar car that was made for racing. It has a very strong engine and is used by people who like high performance cars.
The Jaguar AG 16 is a high‑performance version of the Jaguar XJ sedan, originally built for racing and known for its powerful V8 engine.
V12 car
"like a V12 car so suddenly it was like this collection of cars that you know nobody cared about"
A V12 car has an engine with twelve cylinders in a V shape, which makes it very smooth and powerful.
A V12 car refers to a vehicle powered by an engine with twelve cylinders arranged in a V configuration, offering smooth power delivery and high performance.
two-liter V10 engine
"and it basically we're developing this two-liter V10 um you can lift it up like with your own"
A two-liter V10 engine is a very small engine with ten cylinders, designed to be powerful but not too big.
A two-liter V10 engine is an unusually small displacement engine with ten cylinders, aiming for high efficiency and performance.
dyno
"[4303.1s] going to be on the dyno in like the common reach yeah running properly by January"
A dyno is a machine that tests how much power a car’s engine can make by putting a load on it. It helps people see if the engine is working as expected.
A dyno, or dynamometer, is a device that measures the power output of an engine by applying resistance to its crankshaft. Engineers use dynos to tune engines and verify performance claims.
Red Bull Racing
"[4647.8s] love to be in there at that point for example like Red Bull are building that RB17 hypercar right now [4654.3s] they drew a one they've opted for I think it's a four liter V10 thousand horsepower"
Red Bull Racing is a racing team that builds fast cars for competitions like Formula 1.
Red Bull Racing is a Formula 1 team known for its innovative engineering and high-performance cars.
non-turbo
"sort of airflow do we need turbo non-turbo right okay but just all those like really like simple"
Non-turbo means the engine pulls air in on its own without any extra fan or compressor.
Non-turbo refers to engines that do not use a turbocharger and rely on naturally aspirated airflow.
Cosworth
"...Matti Remak has gone to Cosworth and be like I want the V16 lands"
Cosworth is a company that builds powerful engines for racing and high‑performance cars.
Cosworth is a British engineering company specializing in high-performance engines and racing technology.
naturally aspirated
"...a V16 well it's going to have to be this displacement and it's going to be naturally aspirated"
Naturally aspirated means the engine takes in air from the atmosphere without extra pumps or turbochargers. It gives a smooth power delivery.
An engine that relies on atmospheric pressure for air intake, without forced induction like turbocharging.
Group E rally cars
"old Group E rally cars and if you listen to this thing on YouTube it screams it's like a 10,000"
Group E rally cars were special race cars from the 1980s that could be heavily tuned and had a lot of tech for speed.
Group E was a class of rally cars in the 1980s that allowed highly modified, production-based vehicles with advanced technology.
V12 engine
"when Ashton came along and said can you build us a V12 for the Valkyrie they basically went into their cupboard"
A V12 engine has twelve cylinders in a V shape, which makes it very powerful and smooth for high-end cars.
A V12 is an engine with twelve cylinders arranged in two banks of six, offering smooth power and high performance.
exhaust port
"one cylinder blanked off they've literally got tissue paper shoved in the exhaust port of this"
The exhaust port is a hole that lets the hot gases from the engine leave the car, helping it run smoothly.
The exhaust port is the opening where exhaust gases exit the engine’s cylinder head into the exhaust system.
Aston Martin
"yeah that everyone's laughing it's bespoke made by aston Martin yeah yeah but you you learn that the engine industry whenever someone says bespoke engine you can immediately call"
Aston Martin makes fancy, fast cars that are often seen in movies and on the road.
Aston Martin is a British luxury car manufacturer known for high‑performance sports cars and grand tourers.
Porsche
"but the challenge is that the guys like Porsche have to face because they need their"
Porsche makes fast, fancy cars that many people admire for their speed and style.
Porsche is a German luxury sports car manufacturer known for high-performance vehicles like the 911 and Cayenne.
supercharger
"that's not going to be some silly thing in America that's got a super charger the size of a fiesta"
A supercharger helps a car’s engine make more power by squeezing extra air into it, which can make the car faster.
A supercharger is a device that forces more air into an engine’s combustion chamber, increasing power output.
combustion engine
"sounds insane do you think we've seen the end of a sort of standard manufacturer combustion engine"
A combustion engine is the type of engine that burns gasoline or diesel to make a car move; it’s what most cars use today.
A combustion engine burns fuel inside cylinders to create power, the traditional internal combustion engine used in most cars.
high speed runs
"hearing Andy Wallace talk about doing high speed runs and then you know I can't if you went up"
High speed runs are when drivers take a car to very fast speeds, usually on a track or closed road, to see how it handles and how fast it can go.
High speed runs refer to driving a vehicle at very high speeds, often on closed tracks or test courses, to evaluate performance and safety limits.
Michelin
"[5672.9s] what are they Michelin because that's always been the huge factor as well the tires"
Michelin makes car tires that help cars grip the road and stay safe. They’re famous for racing tires that give good speed and control.
Michelin is a French multinational tire manufacturer known for producing high-performance tires used in racing and everyday vehicles.
Bhagati
"...bhagati bhagati just seemed to be seeing so much cooler stuff now then it was cool but I think..."
Bhagati is a company that makes very fast, fancy cars in India. They’re famous for building unique, high‑speed vehicles.
Bhagati is an Indian luxury automotive manufacturer known for high-performance, custom-built cars such as the Bhagati Vayu and Bhagati Vayu 2.0.
F1 V10
"building up one of their f1 v10s and so start with it like all over the floor"
An F1 V10 is a special kind of engine that has ten cylinders in a V shape. It’s used in racing cars and can make a lot of power very quickly.
A V10 engine used in Formula 1 racing, featuring ten cylinders arranged in a V‑shape. These engines are high‑performance, lightweight, and produce very high power outputs.
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