{"version":"1.0.0","episode":{"title":"Special Guest: Ray Kawata, MotorWeek’s Longest-Serving Videographer","url":"http://getcarcurious.com/episodes/special-guest-ray-kawata-motorweek-s-longest-serving-videographer","audioUrl":"https://motorweek.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/RAY-KAWATA-PODCAST.mp3","description":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tWe have another special guest on our podcast to celebrate 45 years of MotorWeek! In this episode, we are joined by a member of our staff who served his time behind the camera. Ray Kawata began filming MotorWeek back in 1982 and was part of our crew until he retired in 2016. John and him talk about the difficulties of filming vehicles, how the profession has changed, and a story of how he avoided an international incident while filming a Volvo on the border of Norway and Russia…\n\n\t\t\t\t\t                "},"annotations":[{"startTime":459.3,"endTime":465.4,"type":"concept","title":"Bowling Green","url":"/glossary/bowling-green","quote":"...we were at Bowling Green at the Corvette factory. Oh no. And the wind just picked up like you wouldn't believe...","canonicalId":"concept:bowling-green","priority":0.5,"confidence":0.9,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-4o-mini","data":{"explanation":"Bowling Green is known for being the location of the Corvette manufacturing plant, where Chevrolet produces its iconic sports car, the Corvette. It's a significant site for automotive enthusiasts and the American car culture.","simplifiedExplanation":"Bowling Green is a city in Kentucky where the Chevrolet Corvette is made. It's important for car fans because it's where this famous sports car comes from."}},{"startTime":459.34,"endTime":465.4,"type":"car","title":"Chevrolet Corvette","url":"/cars/chevrolet/corvette","image":"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7f/Chevrolet_Corvette%2C_BAS_24%2C_Brussels_%28P1170387-RR%29.jpg","quote":"...we were at Bowling Green at the Corvette factory. Oh no. And the wind just picked up like you wouldn't believe...","canonicalId":"car:chevrolet:corvette","priority":0.5,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-4o-mini","data":{"explanation":"The Chevrolet Corvette is a high-performance sports car known for its sleek design and powerful engine. It has a rich history and is considered an American automotive icon.","simplifiedExplanation":"The Chevrolet Corvette is a fast and stylish sports car made by Chevrolet. It's famous for its performance and looks, making it popular among car lovers.","imageAttribution":"Matti Blume (CC BY-SA)"}},{"startTime":1216.06,"endTime":1224.46,"type":"car","title":"Ford Rangers","url":"/cars/ford/ranger","image":"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/28/Ford_Ranger_%28T6%2C_P703%29_Wildtrak_IMG_7320.jpg","quote":"...o we were shooting along the road  and California Rangers stopped by and wanted to see permits and stuff. A...","canonicalId":"car:ford:ranger","priority":0.5,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-4o-mini","data":{"explanation":"The Ford Ranger is a compact pickup truck that has been popular for its versatility and capability. It is known for its rugged design and off-road capabilities, making it a favorite among outdoor enthusiasts and those needing a reliable work vehicle.","simplifiedExplanation":"The Ford Ranger is a smaller truck that you can use for carrying things or going off-road. It's popular because it's tough and can handle different types of driving, like on rough trails or for everyday tasks.","imageAttribution":"Alexander-93 (CC BY-SA 4.0)"}},{"startTime":1372.5,"endTime":1378.9,"type":"brand","title":"Volvo","url":"/glossary/volvo","quote":"...we had these jackets that were emblazoned with Volvo on the back. So they knew kind of what we were doing there...","canonicalId":"brand:volvo","priority":0.9,"confidence":0.9,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-4o-mini","data":{"explanation":"Volvo is a Swedish automotive manufacturer known for its focus on safety and durability. The brand has a strong reputation for producing reliable vehicles, particularly in harsh weather conditions.","simplifiedExplanation":"Volvo is a car company from Sweden that makes safe and reliable cars. They are known for their sturdy vehicles that can handle tough weather."}},{"startTime":1567.86,"endTime":1575.08,"type":"car","title":"Buick Rendezvous","url":"/cars/buick/rendezvous","image":"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a5/02-03_Buick_Rendezvous.jpg","quote":"... kind of interesting. So we show up at the at the rendezvous. And of course,  its Greenpeace personnel are dro...","canonicalId":"car:buick:rendezvous","priority":0.5,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-4o-mini","data":{"explanation":"The Buick Rendezvous is a mid-size crossover SUV that was produced from 2001 to 2007. It is known for its spacious interior and family-friendly features, making it a practical choice for those needing extra room and comfort.","simplifiedExplanation":"The Buick Rendezvous is a type of SUV that has a lot of space inside, making it great for families or people who need to carry a lot of stuff. It was made for several years and is designed to be comfortable and easy to drive.","imageAttribution":"IFCAR (Public domain)"}},{"startTime":1734.3,"endTime":1742.6,"type":"car","title":"Land Rover","url":"/cars/land-rover/defender","image":"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/88/Land_Rover_Defender_110_First_Edition_2020_-_rear.jpg","quote":"But the big one was the the Land Rover jungle course that we were doing a story on. And we show up there and we're, you know, we impact as as much kind of bad weather gear as we could think of, as the jungle course is just pretty much that,","canonicalId":"car:land-rover:defender","priority":0.5,"confidence":0.9,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-4o-mini","data":{"explanation":"Land Rover is a British automotive brand known for its luxury SUVs and off-road vehicles. The brand is synonymous with ruggedness and capability, particularly in challenging terrains.","simplifiedExplanation":"Land Rover is a brand that makes tough and luxurious vehicles, especially designed for driving off-road, like in jungles or mountains.","imageAttribution":"DeFacto (CC BY-SA 4.0)"}}],"speakers":[{"id":"s1","name":"Television's Original Automotive Magazine","role":"host"}],"transcripts":[{"url":"http://getcarcurious.com/episodes/special-guest-ray-kawata-motorweek-s-longest-serving-videographer/transcript.vtt","type":"text/vtt"}]}