Phil Bazell AKA @crocgt4: The Man, The Myth, The Legend - DWA! Podcast Ep. #931
About this episode
A heartfelt re-air of DWA! Podcast Ep. #377 honors Phil “crocgt4” Bazell, longtime GT4 Don Patrol icon and beloved community member who recently passed after cancer. The hosts reflect on his Highway 1 rituals, his Porsche obsession, and the surreal timing of his assisted-suicide decision. The conversation then jumps into the original Carmel/Monterey Car Week recording: Laguna Seca camping impressions, Phil’s GT4 miles and mods, car-buying philosophies, and lively debates on soul vs. appliance cars, plus standout racing sounds and a deep dive on the new Singer/RWB-style Roof CTR prototype.
On this episode we talk a little bit about our friend Phil Bazell who just lost his battle with cancer, before re-airing episode #377 which first aired on 8/23/2018. This episode features Phil(@crocgt4) and Paul Kramer@autokennel), and it was recorded at Phil's house in Carmel, CA during Monterey Car Week in August 2018.
We love you Phil!
Chevrolet Corvette
"...ta camera? Egas idle vehiculum. There's no doubt Corvettes are fast, but I'm riding dirty right now. The cr..."
The Chevrolet Corvette is a sports car made for speed and fun driving. People bring it up because it’s known for being very quick. It’s the kind of car you’d choose when you want performance, not just transportation.
The Chevrolet Corvette is a performance sports car known for strong acceleration and a driver-focused layout. The podcast references Corvettes being fast, which is a big part of why they’re discussed in car conversations. It’s also mentioned in a context that suggests the speaker is talking about how it feels to drive and how it fits into their own experience.
driving this the wheels off
"But he's famous for Dom Patrol and driving this the wheels off of this GT4 Porsche he had. And he moved to Carmel about 10 years ago."
“Driving this the wheels off” is an idiom meaning using the car hard and frequently rather than treating it gently. In car culture, it often implies the owner truly enjoyed performance driving and put real miles on the car.
passion project
"...DWA is strictly started and we do it for fun. Yeah, it's a passion project and it only makes sense when you have people like this..."
A passion project is something you do because you genuinely love it. Here, they’re saying DWA is about the car community and fun, not just making money.
A passion project is an activity you do primarily for enjoyment and personal meaning, rather than for profit. In the context of DWA, it frames the show/meetups as community-driven car culture rather than a money-first operation.
concours
"So this is a DW podcast post Carmel concours and post Laguna Sanka camping trip."
A concours is a fancy car show where cars are judged. People bring their best, most carefully maintained cars and compete for awards.
A concours (short for concours d’elegance) is a formal car show where vehicles are judged for condition, originality, and presentation. It’s a big part of enthusiast culture because it rewards meticulous restoration and upkeep.
consignment
"almost 15 years ago, started Auto Kennel, which is a dealership that focuses strictly on consignment, mostly Porsches, but a lot of other stuff"
Consignment is when a seller places a car with a dealer/broker to sell, but the dealer typically doesn’t take ownership until it sells. This can affect pricing, timelines, and how much control the owner has over the listing.
Ferrari
"And you had a Ferrari when I was there last. Oh, that’s right. Yeah. Yeah. I"
Ferrari is an Italian brand known for supercars. If a dealership has Ferraris, it usually means they deal with very special, high-end cars.
Ferrari is an Italian supercar and performance brand with a reputation for high-end engineering and collectability. Mentioning Ferrari in the context of a consignment dealership signals the shop may handle very desirable, high-value cars.
Toyota Camry
"I've got the most discreet daily you can imagine. A white on gray Toyota Camry. Oh, yeah. What year? 2007."
The Toyota Camry is a very common, practical car. It’s the kind of daily driver people pick when they want something comfortable and dependable.
The Toyota Camry is a mainstream midsize sedan known for comfort, reliability, and low drama ownership. Calling it a “discreet daily” highlights how the speaker uses a practical commuter car alongside their Porsche GT4.
Laguna Seca
"[1255.0s] start? Laguna Seca. You guys are both part of this. I guess. I don't know. I think so. Yeah."
Laguna Seca is a well-known race track in California. People love it because it’s challenging and it hosts lots of racing and car events.
Laguna Seca is a famous road course in Monterey, California, known for its challenging layout and the iconic “Corkscrew” corner. It’s a major venue for sports car racing and enthusiast events, so it often comes up in discussions about track days and race weekends.
rev limiter
"...you just pan it the whole way. Yeah, you just bounce off that rev limiter. That's the goal."
The rev limiter is like a safety cutoff that stops the engine from spinning too fast. “Bouncing off it” means you’re holding the engine right at that maximum RPM.
A rev limiter is an engine control feature that prevents the engine from exceeding a safe RPM. When you “bounce off” it, you’re intentionally keeping the engine at the maximum allowed speed to stay near the top of the powerband.
2003 Jaguar S type R
"It is a exciting, it's, it's an old Jaguar. So you say that people go, wow, but it's old and irrelevant way. It's a 2003 Jaguar S type R, which is kind of like an XJR"
The 2003 Jaguar S-Type R is a Jaguar sedan that’s been tuned to feel more like a performance car than a normal family sedan. It’s the “R” version, so it’s the sportier trim.
The 2003 Jaguar S-Type R is a performance-oriented version of the S-Type sedan, known for its V8 power and more aggressive tuning compared with standard S-Types. In this segment, it’s also described as sharing a platform relationship with the XJR.
over 10 years old, over 100,000 miles
"My sweet spot for daily drivers is over 10 years old, over 100,000 miles or near it. That's well maintained because that's the point where if everything's done, they're actually pretty decent cars."
They’re saying their favorite kind of daily driver is an older car with higher miles, as long as it’s been maintained. The idea is that good maintenance makes it feel stable even after lots of driving.
The speaker’s “sweet spot” is an older, higher-mileage daily driver—specifically over 10 years old and around/above 100,000 miles—arguing that if maintenance is done, the car can stay reliable and predictable. This is a common enthusiast approach: buy used, ensure service history, and drive it long-term.
PDK
"Because that's a really good automatic. It's like PDK, right?"
PDK is Porsche’s type of automatic transmission. It shifts quickly and feels sporty, without you having to manually change gears.
PDK stands for Porsche Doppelkupplung (German for “dual-clutch”). It’s Porsche’s dual-clutch automatic transmission system designed for fast, smooth gear changes and strong performance feel.
turbo vs NA (naturally aspirated)
"Some say it's turbo, some say it's an NA, you know,"
Turbo engines use a device to push extra air into the engine, usually boosting power. Naturally aspirated engines don’t use that boost, and they often feel more direct and predictable as you press the gas.
“Turbo” refers to forced induction, where a turbocharger increases air pressure into the engine for more power potential. “NA” (naturally aspirated) means the engine makes power without a turbo, often emphasizing linear throttle response and a different sound/feel.
custom wrap
"the trick, now the discussion is to keep it and actually do a custom wrap on it just to give it a whole new identity."
A custom wrap is a vinyl film applied over a vehicle’s paint to change its appearance without repainting. In the segment, it’s presented as a way to “re-identity” the car visually so it feels like a different vehicle.
paint to sample
"[2119.1s] red. Okay. Like arena? Paint to sample. Nope. It's a color I'd never heard of. It's a paint to sample [2124.5s] color. Hey, Orga. And I have to show it to you."
Paint to sample means you can order a custom color instead of picking from the usual factory colors. The shop/maker matches the color you choose and applies it to your car.
“Paint to sample” (PTS) is a custom paint option where the buyer chooses a specific color—often from a swatch or even a custom reference—and the manufacturer matches it. It’s commonly used for rare or one-off colors that aren’t part of the standard palette.
Nürburgring
"[2140.7s] Those are nice. That's awesome. Back to Rensport real quick. Do you think they're going to bring the [2146.4s] Nürburgring? Oh, I hope so."
The Nürburgring is one of the most famous race tracks in the world, in Germany. It’s known for being tough and for being a place where people try to set impressive lap times.
The Nürburgring is a famous German motorsport circuit, especially known for the Nordschleife (“the North Loop”), which is often used as a benchmark for lap times. When people talk about bringing events “to the Nürburgring,” they’re usually referring to high-profile track action and record attempts.
time attack
"[2154.8s] Fast lap. Yes. It's like time attack. Portion of the time attack. Yeah. Right. If they hear it, [2159.7s] it'd be disappointing if they didn't do it."
Time attack is when the goal is to set the quickest lap time. It’s more about speed and consistency on track than racing wheel-to-wheel for hours.
Time attack is a motorsport format focused on achieving the fastest single-lap time (or timed runs) rather than long-duration endurance strategy. The speaker compares the “fast lap” idea to time attack, implying a record attempt rather than a full race.
F1
"[2168.2s] It could be an F1. It would be an F1 car. I think it'd be an F1. You're just throwing that out [2171.5s] there. No, I think it would be. I think it would."
F1 is Formula 1, the highest level of open-wheel racing. People compare other cars to F1 because F1 cars are engineered to be extremely fast.
F1 refers to Formula 1, the top tier of open-wheel racing. In this discussion, F1 is used as a benchmark for ultimate speed and lap-time potential, with comparisons to prototype race cars.
regear it
"[2198.5s] No, I can get the stats on it. But they should bring it. They should regear it, [2202.9s] and they should try to beat the lap record."
Regearing means adjusting the transmission’s gear ratios so the car’s engine hits the right RPM range at the right times. For a record attempt, that can make the car faster on that specific track.
“Regear it” means changing the gear ratios (typically via different ring-and-pinion ratios) to better match engine power/torque to the track’s speed profile. For lap records, the goal is often to keep the engine in its optimal power band for acceleration and top speed.
lap record
"[2202.9s] and they should try to beat the lap record. What is the lap record? Like 110? Oh, no. I think it's [2209.1s] actually a minute, under a minute."
A lap record is the quickest time anyone has driven around a track. Beating it usually requires the car to be set up perfectly for that track.
A lap record is the fastest officially recognized lap time for a given track configuration and vehicle class. The conversation centers on whether a specific prototype could beat existing records and what it would take to do so (setup, gearing, and track-specific tuning).
F1 rules
"[2241.3s] And all F1 cars are still like, they have rules, you know? So it's a minute five"
F1 has strict rules that limit what teams can build. That’s why cars from different years can look and work very differently.
Formula 1 cars must comply with a constantly evolving rule set covering engine layout, energy storage, aerodynamics, and gearbox design. Those rules strongly shape what technology teams can use.
energy recovery system
"[2316.8s] ...lithium ion battery in the energy recovery system. [2324.0s] Yeah. With a seven speed..."
An energy recovery system captures energy during driving events (commonly braking) and stores it for later use. In modern F1, ERS is a major part of how teams manage performance across a race.
Porsche 914
"[2358.3s] ...Here's your budget. [2358.3s] How about a Porsche V4? That's interesting. I'll drop that in my 914."
They’re joking about putting a modern race-style engine idea into a Porsche 914. The 914 is known as a fun car to modify.
The speaker jokes about dropping an F1-style V4 concept into a Porsche 914. The 914 is a mid-engine Porsche from the late 1960s/early 1970s era, and it’s a popular platform for engine swaps.
Porsche 944
"[2363.9s] Oh, yeah. Put that in a 944. Might actually sound good."
They’re also joking about putting that engine idea into a Porsche 944. The 944 is a popular car for people who like to tinker and upgrade.
The speaker continues the engine-swap joke by mentioning a Porsche 944 as another possible recipient for a “V4” idea. The 944 is a front-engine, transaxle Porsche that’s also commonly modified in the enthusiast community.
mid-engine car
"And I fell in love with the flat six and a mid-engine car."
A mid-engine car puts the engine closer to the middle of the car. That usually helps the car feel more balanced when you turn.
A mid-engine car places the engine near the center of the vehicle, typically behind the driver and passenger. This improves weight distribution and can make handling feel more balanced and responsive.
flat six
"And that did it to me. And I fell in love with the flat six and a mid-engine car."
“Flat six” describes an engine configuration where six cylinders are arranged horizontally in two banks, like a boxer. Porsche is famous for using flat-six engines, and enthusiasts often associate the layout with smoothness and a distinctive feel.
H&R
"And then the whole suspension, H&R, springs and bars and fab speed exhaust and name it, you know."
H&R is a company that makes performance suspension parts. Springs and sway bars help the car handle better by keeping it flatter in corners.
H&R is an aftermarket suspension brand best known for springs and sway bars. In this context, it sounds like the car was upgraded with H&R suspension components to improve handling and reduce body roll.
light flywheel
"But we also did the light flywheel and the competition clutch and then the whole intake and exhaust side was done"
A light flywheel helps the engine spin up faster when you rev. The car can feel more responsive, but it can also feel a bit less smooth at low speeds.
A light flywheel reduces rotational mass, which can make the engine rev more quickly and feel more responsive. The tradeoff is that it can sometimes make the car less smooth at low speeds and may increase driveline sensitivity.
frame
"...he broke the shock, cracked the frame."
The frame is the car’s main skeleton. If it’s cracked, the car may not be safe and can be very expensive to fix correctly.
The frame is the vehicle’s main structural foundation that suspension and body components attach to. Cracking the frame is serious because it can compromise alignment, safety, and the car’s ability to be repaired to original strength.
rear wheel drive
"not normal if you drive a rear wheel drive car. It doesn't mean they're bad. They're just different."
Rear-wheel drive means the back wheels do the pushing. That changes how the car grips and turns, especially on wet or slippery roads.
Rear-wheel drive (RWD) sends power to the back wheels, which changes how the car behaves when you accelerate and when traction is limited. Compared to front- or all-wheel drive, it often feels more “tail-in” and can show different balance issues like understeer or oversteer depending on setup and tires.
understeer
"it was a little wet out and it would understeer, which most Porsche guys hate, but it would have this insane, you could early apex something and it would just grab and claw its way out of a corner."
Understeer is when you turn the steering wheel and the car doesn’t rotate enough—it tends to go wide. It usually happens when the front tires lose grip.
Understeer is when the car turns less than you expect—typically the front tires lose grip first. It’s often discussed as a “bad” feel for performance driving, but whether it’s desirable depends on the car’s balance, tires, and driving style.
flush mounted door handles
"flush mounted door handles. And when they pop them out, it has this really nice like aluminum."
Flush door handles are built so they sit almost flat with the car’s body. They look sleeker and can help the car move through the air more smoothly.
Flush mounted door handles sit nearly even with the bodywork instead of protruding. This usually improves aerodynamics and gives a cleaner, more modern appearance, especially on custom or coachbuilt cars.
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