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This Is a STREET-LEGAL Formula Car (Yes, Really) — RYN Motors Founder EXPLAINS Everything

This Is a STREET-LEGAL Formula Car (Yes, Really) — RYN Motors Founder EXPLAINS Everything

Full Throttle Talk Jan 10, 2026 62 min
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About this episode

Caleb Borkstrom, founder of RYN Motors, shares his journey of creating a street-legal Formula car, a dream for many enthusiasts. This episode dives into the engineering challenges, regulatory hurdles, and the unique features of the car, including a lightweight chassis and a high-revving motorcycle engine. Caleb discusses the pricing strategy, customization options, and the excitement surrounding the pre-order launch. With a focus on delivering a true driver's experience, this episode highlights the passion and innovation behind a groundbreaking automotive offering.

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Technical Too Afraid to Ask
Concept

Formula 3

"...this guy who's claiming he can sell a formula three car for the road and I'm like, I like racing. I used to work in any car team."

Formula 3 is a type of racing that features small, fast cars with open wheels. It's a place where many race car drivers start their careers before moving up to bigger racing series like Formula 1.

Concept

street legal

"...not only is it real, but these things are going to be street legal. And so here's what I want all of you to open your minds to..."

A street legal car is one that you can drive on regular roads without getting in trouble with the law. It has to follow certain rules to be safe and not too noisy or polluting.

Car

Porsche 911

"...you wouldn't, as you put fancy suspension on your 911 or fancy suspension on your Miata, thinking it's..."
Term

suspension

"And so you wouldn't, as you put fancy suspension on your 911 or fancy suspension on your Miata, thinking it's me a race car for the road."

Suspension is the part of a car that helps it ride smoothly over bumps and turns. Upgrading it can make a car handle better and feel more stable when driving fast.

Car

Mazda Miata

"And so you wouldn't, as you put fancy suspension on your 911 or fancy suspension on your Miata, thinking it's me a race car for the road."

The Mazda Miata is a small sports car that is fun to drive and easy to handle. Many people like to change parts on it to make it go faster or handle better.

Concept

formula car for the street

"...about kind of having a formula car for the street. It's just kind of like something that's been talked about. It's been a dream that a lot of people have had."

A formula car for the street is a type of car that has racing features but is made to be driven on regular roads. They are built to be very fast and exciting, similar to race cars you see on tracks.

Part

custom fabricated parts

"It was a mix of a lot of custom fabricated parts. And then also a lot of kind of parts that are currently existing..."

These are parts made specially for a project instead of being bought off the shelf. They are created to fit a specific purpose or design.

Concept

prototype

"because the goal with the prototype was to kind of create it, actually kind of build something up with materials..."

A prototype is a first version of something that is made to test how it works. In cars, it's usually a model built to see if the design and features are good before making more of them.

Concept

F4 cars

"as well as like a lot of parts from like F4 cars at F 1000s. That's a really common thing..."

F4 cars are a type of race car used in beginner racing leagues. They are made for new drivers to learn and compete before moving to faster, more advanced cars.

Concept

F1000s

"as well as like a lot of parts from like F4 cars at F 1000s. That's a really common thing..."

F1000s are a type of race car used in a specific racing series. They are known for being fast and lightweight, making them great for racing on tracks.

Part

carbon fiber

"...this is a carbon fiber and a tube chassis. Get into the get into the high nerd stuff just so that people listening..."

Carbon fiber is a strong and light material used in cars to make them faster and more efficient. It's often found in parts like the frame and body of high-performance vehicles.

Term

chassis

"And so what we did to the chassis will kind of back and forth. OK, do you do steel tube, which is really cost effective, a space frame steel tube chassis, do you do a full carbon monocoque?"

The chassis is like the skeleton of a car. It holds everything together and affects how the car drives and feels on the road.

Concept

Coda

"There's some awesome tracks around Austin. There's Coda. How difficult will it be for me to literally arrive and drive?"

Coda is a famous racetrack in Austin where car races happen. It's a place where people can go to watch races or even drive their own cars on the track.

Company

Bilstein

"I mean, the current kind of supplier that we have locked in right now is Bilstein."

Bilstein makes parts that help cars handle better by controlling how the suspension moves, especially during high-speed driving.

Term

front nose lift

"the limiting factor might be a lack of a front nose lift. Have you looked at look into doing something like that?"

A front nose lift is a system that can raise the front part of a car. It's helpful for avoiding damage when driving over bumps or steep driveways.

Term

motor

"All right, now let's do a big reveal. Let's talk about the motor."

The motor is another word for the engine, which makes the car go by turning fuel into energy. It's a key part of how a car works.

Term

transmission

"Let's talk about the transmission."

The transmission is what helps the car move by sending power from the engine to the wheels. It can change gears automatically or manually, depending on the type.

Term

cc

"...it's going to actually have an 1100 cc..."

CC, or cubic centimeters, is a way to measure how big an engine is. A higher number usually means the engine can produce more power.

Term

horsepower

"four cylinder motorcycle engine that has 220 horsepower and weight. And the motor itself, the reason we chose that, I'll dive into in a second."

Horsepower tells you how powerful an engine is. The higher the horsepower, the faster and more powerful the car can be.

Term

RPM

"But yeah. And yeah, 220 horsepower and a 13000 RPM red line. And I think that the motorcycle engine was perfect"

RPM shows how fast the engine is spinning. A higher RPM means the engine is working harder and can produce more power, especially at higher speeds.

Term

zero to 60 time

"It's fast. I mean, the zero to 60 is about 2.8 seconds. It's it's really, really quick."

Zero to 60 time tells you how fast a car can go from a stop to 60 miles per hour. A lower number means the car is quicker off the line.

Term

paddle shifters

"...have integrated them with paddle shifters. So kind of the aim has systems were able to integrate the shifter to actually function with paddle shift."

Paddle shifters are levers on the steering wheel that let you change gears in a car without using a clutch. They make it easier to shift gears quickly while driving.

Term

brake bias

"...of bias that goes to front or rear brakes, which is really that's one of the things that you see formula car drivers, especially formula one drivers doing active..."

Brake bias is how much stopping power goes to the front wheels versus the back wheels. Changing this can help a car stop better depending on the situation, like going around a turn.

Concept

kick car

"So you register as a kick car and that's fine, depending on where you're at. A little bit of a lengthy process, pretty time consuming."

A kick car is a type of car that you build yourself from a kit. You have to make sure it meets local laws to drive it on the road.

Part

six point harness

"...substantially less safe than a six point harness, but you can't use the six point harness. And I think a lot of it comes to being able to pull someone out..."

A six point harness is a special seatbelt used in race cars. It has more straps than a regular seatbelt, which helps keep you safer in case of an accident.

Car

Ford Mustang

"...mall manufacturers that are making cars, Ravology Mustang and all these other guys that are making basical..."

The Ford Mustang is a popular sports car that people love for its powerful engine and cool looks. It's been around for a long time and is often seen as a symbol of American cars. Many car enthusiasts talk about it because it has a rich history and a strong following.

Car

Tesla Roadster

"...have to give their $50,000 deposits for the Tesla Roadster? Was it $50,000?"

The Tesla Roadster is a fast electric sports car that can go really far on a single charge. It's important because it shows that electric cars can be exciting and powerful, not just practical. People are talking about it because it's getting a new version that will be even better.

Car

Tesla Cybertruck

"...'t even know it was $50,000 deposit. I think the Cybertruck was $100. Yeah, but think about this."

The Tesla Cybertruck is a futuristic-looking electric truck that stands out because of its unusual shape. It's designed to be tough and useful for work while being environmentally friendly. People are excited about it because it offers a new take on what a truck can be.

Car

Mclaren 720

"...ultimate driver's car? Now it's like, oh, it's a McLaren 720 here. It's a Ferrari speciale."

The McLaren 720S is a super-fast sports car that is built for speed and performance. It's known for being very light and easy to handle, making it a favorite among car lovers who enjoy driving. People talk about it because it's one of the best cars you can buy if you want an exciting driving experience.

6 cars featured

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