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Sebring the oldest track in the country

Sebring the oldest track in the country

The Car Doctor Podcast Feb 15, 2026 58 min
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About this episode

Exploring the historic Sebring International Raceway, the episode captures the excitement of the Pistons and Props event, featuring both racing and vintage planes. John Paul shares his experience watching time trials and reconnecting with racer Steve Fitzgerald, who showcased his modified BMW. The episode highlights the advanced telemetry used in racing, amusing anecdotes about Brad Pitt's speed restrictions during filming, and the impressive setups of various racing teams. Listeners will appreciate the insights into the racing culture and the behind-the-scenes action at one of America's oldest tracks.

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Technical Too Afraid to Ask
Concept

12 Hours of Sebring

"...One of them is 12 Hours of Sebring. They've been running that, I think, since it began."

The 12 Hours of Sebring is a long car race that lasts for 12 hours, where teams of drivers compete to see who can cover the most distance. It's a famous event in the world of sports car racing.

Car

BMW 3 Series

"He has a BMW three series. Pretty much is not a lot of BMW left in it."

The BMW 3 Series is a type of car made by BMW. It's known for being fun to drive and is often chosen by people who like sporty cars.

Term

400 horsepower

"It's running about a 400 horsepower engine. Pretty amazing car."

Horsepower is a way to measure how powerful an engine is. If an engine has 400 horsepower, it means it can produce a lot of power, making the car go fast.

Car

Porsche 911

"...but he also races a Porsche 911. He actually has two teams."

The Porsche 911 is a famous sports car that many people love for its speed and unique shape. It's been around for a long time and is known for performing well in races.

Part

brakes

"They were replacing the brakes in his 911."

Brakes are parts of a car that help it slow down or stop when you press the pedal.

Term

telemetry

"I asked them what the telemetry was like in some of these cars. And they literally know when they, you know, when they apply the brake, how much brake on all four wheels..."

Telemetry is like a high-tech way for cars to send information about how they're performing. It helps teams understand things like speed and braking so they can make the car better.

Term

g-force

"how much not just acceleration and g-force and yaw and all of that stuff. Plus, you know, spark and fuel and the telemetry part was fascinating..."

G-force is a way to measure how heavy you feel when a car speeds up, slows down, or turns. It helps understand how the car is handling and how it affects the driver.

Term

yaw

"how much not just acceleration and g-force and yaw and all of that stuff. Plus, you know, spark and fuel and the telemetry part was fascinating..."

Yaw is about how a car turns left or right. It's important for knowing how stable the car is when going around corners.

Term

ABS

"including when the ABS kicked on. It was a lot of stuff going on."

ABS is a system in cars that helps prevent the wheels from stopping completely when you brake hard. This way, you can still steer the car and avoid skidding.

Term

150 miles an hour

"...his job was to keep Brad Pitt from going too fast. Apparently in Brad Pitt's contract, when he was behind the wheel of this race car, he was not supposed to go up more than 150 miles an hour. So it was this other guy's job..."

150 miles an hour is a speed limit that was set for Brad Pitt while he was driving a race car in a movie. It means he couldn't go faster than that for safety reasons.

Term

sixth gear

"So what they did electronically was lock out sixth gear in the vehicle, which I thought was kind of an interesting way to do it. That way he could only go so fast."

Sixth gear is the top gear in a car's transmission, which helps the car go faster and save fuel. Sometimes, a car can be set up to not use this gear, which means it can't go as fast as it normally could.

Car

Ford Falcon

"There was everything from a 64 Falcon that was very competitive in the historic races"

The Ford Falcon is a classic car that Ford made in the 1960s. The 1964 version is popular in racing events because it's fast and has a lot of fans who love it.

Term

open trailer

"...and he had an open trailer and his car was on the open trailer..."

An open trailer is a flatbed trailer that doesn't have walls or a cover, so you can easily see what's on it.

Car

Ford Expedition

"...there was a guy in a Ford, maybe an Expedition, and he had an open trailer..."

The Ford Expedition is a large SUV that can carry many people and has a lot of space for luggage or equipment.

Concept

Daytona 500

"Got the Daytona 500 and the Arca race was yesterday, I think."

The Daytona 500 is a famous car race that happens every year in Daytona Beach, Florida. It's a big event in NASCAR, where many of the best drivers compete for a chance to win.

Car

Chrysler Daytona

"And last year, he ran the Craftsman Truck Race and then an hour later ran the Arca race, which, you know, driving for that long on Daytona's track has to be exhausting. I'm not quite sure how he managed to pull it off in a guy in his 60s."

The Chrysler Daytona is a sporty car that was made for people who like fast driving. It has a history in racing and is known for its fun performance.

Car

Toyota Camry

"...recently brought my 2025 Camry to the dealer for a 15,000 mile service. Well, there the service person told me it is their policy to suggest fuel injector cleaning for $170 during this particular service."

The Toyota Camry is a well-known car that many people drive because it's dependable and gets good gas mileage. The 2025 version has updated features to keep up with modern driving needs.

Term

fuel injector cleaning

"Well, you know, the dealership might recommend it, but looking in the Toyota owners manual, all data, Mitchell, there is no scheduled recommended service that includes fuel injector cleaning."

Fuel injector cleaning is a service that helps keep your car's engine running smoothly by cleaning parts that spray fuel into the engine.

Brand

Hyundai

"Unlike, for instance, Kia and Hyundai, about every 24,000 miles, I think they actually do recommend adding a fuel injector cleaner to the fuel tank."

Hyundai is a car brand that makes models like the Elantra and Tucson, and they are known for their long warranties.

Brand

Kia

"Unlike, for instance, Kia and Hyundai, about every 24,000 miles, I think they actually do recommend adding a fuel injector cleaner to the fuel tank."

Kia is another car company that makes vehicles like the Sportage and Forte, known for being budget-friendly.

Part

throttle body

"But usually, as part of that, it's also listed as a throttle body cleaning, which is kind of odd because you can't really, it's not like a mechanical throttle body where you could open up the throttle and clean inside there..."

The throttle body helps manage how much air goes into the engine, which is important for performance. In newer cars, it's often controlled by electronics instead of a cable, which makes cleaning it a bit tricky.

Term

top tier fuel

"...What I would recommend is use top tier fuel."

Top tier fuel is a type of gasoline that has extra cleaning ingredients. These ingredients help keep your engine clean and running well, which can save you money on repairs in the long run.

Term

combustion chamber

"And it helps keep combustion chambers cleaner. Typically it's brand names, but not always."

The combustion chamber is the part of an engine where fuel burns to create power. Keeping it clean helps the engine run better.

Term

fuel injectors

"And that will help keep the fuel injectors clean cleaner and keep the combustion chamber cleaner."

Fuel injectors are parts of an engine that help deliver gasoline into the engine's combustion chamber. They make sure the engine gets the right amount of fuel to run smoothly.

Term

87 octane

"But it's in the, you know, 87 octane has the same amount of cleaner in is premium. So, you know, it's not like some of the advertisements."

87 octane is a measure of how much compression fuel can handle before it ignites. Higher numbers mean the fuel is better for high-performance cars, but 87 is standard for many regular vehicles.

Term

Tecron

"And but I still a couple of times a year throw a bottle of Tecron in my cars because Tecron's been around since almost I have."

Tecron is a cleaning product for your car's fuel system. It helps keep the engine running smoothly by removing dirt and buildup that can happen in the fuel injectors.

Car

Volkswagen Jetta

"...it was a 16 Jetta, a GLI. And it's got around one hundred and seven of one hundred and seventeen thousand miles."

The Volkswagen Jetta GLI is a performance version of the Jetta, which is a compact car. It has a more powerful engine and sportier features compared to the regular Jetta.

Car

Ram 1500

"...named Kenny. Kenny says, I have a 2008 Dodge Ram 1500 quad cab. The bottom of all four doors are rustin..."

The Ram 1500 is a big truck that people often use to carry heavy loads or tow trailers. It's known for being comfortable and having lots of features that make driving easier.

Car

Dodge Ram

"...I have a 2008 Dodge Ram 1500 quad cab. The bottom of all four doors are rusting away..."

The Dodge Ram 1500 is a big truck that people use for work and everyday driving. The 2008 version is known for being tough and having different choices for engines and styles.

Car

Dodge Charger

"...lly did that jump scene is the guy that drove the charger in bullet. Oh, okay. Which I read, like I said, ..."

The Dodge Charger is a large car that looks sporty and can go really fast. It's popular for its powerful engine and is often seen in movies and TV shows.

Car

Ford Mustang

"..., you know, Steve McQueen, you know, driving the Mustang or, you know, Brad Pitt in the Formula One car or..."

The Ford Mustang is a famous sports car that many people love for its speed and cool looks. It's been around for a long time and is often seen in movies.

Car

Ford Flex

"...ou know, the stuff you see advertised on TV, the flex seal, I've seen people try to undercoat with that..."

The Ford Flex is a big family car that has a lot of room inside for people and stuff. Its unusual shape makes it stand out from other SUVs.

Car

Byd Seal

"...ow, the stuff you see advertised on TV, the flex seal, I've seen people try to undercoat with that. I r..."

The BYD Seal is a new electric car that looks modern and can drive a long way on a charge. It's part of a growing trend of electric vehicles that are becoming popular.

Car

Lucid Air

"...lyzer and battery tester and we'd check people's air in the tires and all that stuff. And, um, and, uh..."

The Lucid Air is a fancy electric car that can go really far on a single charge. It's known for being high-tech and luxurious.

Car

Chevrolet Silverado

"...ve never heard of it. And you know, I own a 2000 Silverado and a 2013 Silverado. Yeah. Now, I think Chevy's ..."

The Chevrolet Silverado is a big truck that people use for work or to carry things. It's known for being tough and has a lot of features to make driving easier.

Car

Toyota Tundra

"...right. Go ahead. So I just wanted to say I had my tundra undercoated by this guy, O'Hanley in Taunton. An..."

The Toyota Tundra is a large truck that people use for heavy work or outdoor activities. It's known for being dependable and having a lot of space inside.

Car

Honda Civic

"...I have a 2008 Honda Civic. It has 360,000 miles on it. These have always done the oil changes..."

The Honda Civic is a small car that many people drive because it's reliable and saves gas. The 2008 version is known for lasting a long time if you take care of it.

Car

Toyota Corolla

"...? Mr. Paul, I just wanted I got a 25 2025 Toyota Corolla and I was shocked when I was reading the owner's..."

The Toyota Corolla is a small car that many people drive because it's reliable and saves on gas. It's a good choice for getting around town.

Car

Toyota Prius

"...eah, I mean, it was first, it was first used in a Prius. And then they started using it in some other ve..."

The Toyota Prius is a special car that uses both gas and electricity to drive, which helps it save a lot of fuel. It's popular with people who want to be more environmentally friendly.

19 cars featured

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