0:00 / 0:00
Vaughn Gittin Jr - Full of Surprises

Vaughn Gittin Jr - Full of Surprises

The Smoking Tire Apr 14, 2026 105 min
0:00
0:00

About this episode

Vaughn Gittin Jr. swings from off-road weirdness to Ford collaboration strategy, explaining how RTR’s spec Mustangs and Rover Bronco are built to be usable, not just dyno queens. He compares RTR’s Spec 5 to the GTD, talks painted widebody production scaling with Fox Factory, and details a turbo Mustang ecosystem co-developed with Ford (including Dark Horse chassis bits and an “anti-lag” strategy). The conversation also dives deep into drifting’s modern grip/horsepower reality, EV skepticism, and the mental side of driving, plus stories from his first car and his upcoming “Ready to Rock” book.

Technical Too Afraid to Ask
Company

Off the Record

"This episode is brought to you as always by Off the Record. We love Off the Record, and you guys do too, because you keep sending me your screenshots..."

Off the Record is a service that helps you contest a traffic ticket. Instead of handling it alone, they connect you with a lawyer in the area where you got the ticket.

Sign in to suggest edits or report issues
Concept

moving violation

"If you guys get pulled over for any kind of moving violation, don't plead guilty, get Off the Record."

A moving violation is a traffic offense that happens while the vehicle is in motion, such as speeding or running a red light. These tickets can affect driving records and insurance rates, so how you respond matters.

Sign in to suggest edits or report issues
Company

Avants

"I've known about Avants for a long time. My red car was even on the cover of their magazine, and now they've got a new membership program allowing you to save money on things that you're buying anyway, like tires."

Avants is an auto website and events company. They also sell a membership that gives you discounts on things like tires.

Sign in to suggest edits or report issues
Brand

Michelin

"Avants members get 10% off a discount tire, plus an additional 10% off all Michelin and BF Goodrich. So if you spend 1,500 bucks on a set of cup twos..."

Michelin makes tires. In this ad, they’re saying members get extra money off Michelin tires.

Sign in to suggest edits or report issues
Term

Formula Drift

"I've known him for 20 years now, and I've watched this gentleman go from Formula Drift to Ultra Four to Off-Road to Car Building..."

Formula Drift is a pro drifting competition in the U.S. It’s where drivers are judged on how well they slide and control the car.

Sign in to suggest edits or report issues
Term

gel coat

"[299.7s] It's a 12 layer gel coat. [301.5s] It's deep. [302.0s] Oh, really?"

Gel coat is a shiny protective coating, usually on fiberglass. It helps the surface look glossy and stay protected from wear.

Sign in to suggest edits or report issues
Porsche 911
David Villarreal Fernández (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Car

Porsche 911

"Hey, you know, everyone has their own style, bud. It's the single most options 9-11 I've ever seen in my entire life."
Sign in to suggest edits or report issues
Term

brake calipers

"[431.0s] It's insane. [432.0s] And the brake calipers too. [434.5s] It's fucking great."

Brake calipers are the parts that squeeze the brake pads onto the spinning brake disc. They’re what actually makes the car slow down, and sometimes they’re upgraded or painted so you can see them.

Sign in to suggest edits or report issues
Term

roof rack

"Like you don't need the Rover package, which is the roof rack and all the protection and stuff."

A roof rack is a set of bars on the roof to carry gear. They’re saying one package includes a roof rack plus extra protective stuff.

Sign in to suggest edits or report issues
Concept

horsepower

"[503.7s] and the spec five is like 50 horsepower, [506.4s] but more importantly, a GTD-esque body kit ... [538.9s] and the horsepower, you know, [541.0s] it has more horsepower than a GTD"

Horsepower is a number that describes how much power the engine makes. More horsepower usually helps the car accelerate harder, especially when paired with good tires and gearing.

Sign in to suggest edits or report issues
Term

manual gearbox

"It's fucking fast. But you get a manual gearbox still."

A manual gearbox means you shift gears yourself using a clutch and a stick. Some drivers like it because it feels more connected and gives you more control.

Sign in to suggest edits or report issues
Concept

trunk

"And you still get to use a trunk, which if you actually want to use your fast Mustang as a car is a benefit, right?"

A trunk is the storage space in the back of the car. They’re pointing out that even a fast car can still be practical if it has real storage.

Sign in to suggest edits or report issues
Concept

blower

"especially with when, when they started doing, putting that, that blower on all the Coyote motors"

A “blower” is basically an air pump for the engine. It helps the engine make more power by pushing extra air in.

Sign in to suggest edits or report issues
Term

suspension

"We spent a lot of time on the suspension and like that car, you know,"

Suspension is what connects the wheels to the car and helps the tires stay in contact with the road. It affects how smooth the ride feels and how well the car handles turns and bumps.

Sign in to suggest edits or report issues
Term

wide body

"Obviously the wide body, you know, we invested in metal tooling for that wide body."

A wide-body means the car’s fenders are widened. That usually lets you run wider tires, which can improve traction and grip.

Sign in to suggest edits or report issues
Term

body work

"and they needed a significant amount of body work and little wavy here and there."

Body work is the extra work done to make panels smooth and straight before painting. More body work usually means more time and cost.

Sign in to suggest edits or report issues
Company

Fox Factory

"So we've partnered with Fox Factory. Where's that? Fox Factory owns multiple facilities. So they're the parent company of Fox Shocks."

Fox Factory is a company that makes off-road and suspension parts, like shocks. Here, they’re mentioned as a partner that can help produce and scale the products instead of doing everything in-house.

Sign in to suggest edits or report issues
Company

Mac Tools

"Mac Tools franchisees, they run their own mobile tool businesses selling directly to shops and technicians."

Mac Tools is a company that makes and supplies tools used by mechanics. Here, they’re talking about people who run their own businesses selling those tools to local repair shops.

Sign in to suggest edits or report issues
Concept

franchisees

"Mac Tools franchisees, they run their own mobile tool businesses selling directly to shops and technicians."

A franchisee is someone who runs their own business, but using a company’s established brand and system. It can be a way to get training and customers faster than starting completely alone.

Sign in to suggest edits or report issues
Term

turbocharged

"So we have a turbocharged Mustang RTR coming with Ford and then we have the Bronco coming."

Turbocharged means the engine has a turbo that helps it make more power. It pushes extra air into the engine so it can burn more fuel and produce more torque.

Sign in to suggest edits or report issues
Brand

Ford

"The collaboration vehicles are Ford products. So it's built on the line."

Ford is the car company making the vehicles they’re talking about. Here, they’re saying the RTR-style project is built using Ford’s own engineering and design setup.

Sign in to suggest edits or report issues
Term

handbrake

"[1657.3s] When I pulled the handbrake [1658.9s] and then we'd go to get back on the throttle, [1660.7s] there was just a bit of delay."

The handbrake is used to lock the rear wheels briefly so the car starts to slide. After you release it, you press the gas again and you can feel how quickly the car responds.

Sign in to suggest edits or report issues
Concept

chassis rigidity

"You get a Shelby Dakota convertible, that is like crazy. Imagine the chassis rigidity on that thing."

Chassis rigidity means how “stiff” the car’s body is when you drive hard or hit bumps. Convertibles often need extra reinforcement because removing the roof can make the car flex more. More flex can make handling feel less precise.

Sign in to suggest edits or report issues
Term

four-way stretch

"[1956.4s] They've got a four-way stretch [1957.9s] for bending, kneeling and climbing."

It means the fabric can stretch in more than one direction. So when you bend or climb around, your clothes don’t feel tight or restrict you.

Sign in to suggest edits or report issues
Company

truework.com

"Get 15% off your first order at truework.com with code tire. That's T-R-U-E-W-E-R-K.com code tire."

This is a website sponsor mentioned in the episode. It’s not related to car parts—just an ad for a service.

Sign in to suggest edits or report issues
Concept

Formula One

"Like Formula One driver Daniel Ricardo."

Formula One is the highest level of open-wheel racing. It’s where teams build very advanced race cars and drivers compete at the top level.

Sign in to suggest edits or report issues
Ford Bronco
Calreyn88 (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Car

Ford Bronco

"Well, I've been working with Ford on the back end of vehicles for a very long time now. We have a Mustang, we have a Bronco."

The Ford Bronco is Ford’s off-road SUV. It’s also a car people like to customize, so working on it can mean helping develop upgrades or accessories.

Sign in to suggest edits or report issues
Ford Mustang
Hans-Jürgen Neubert (CC BY 4.0)
Car

Ford Mustang

"Well, I've been working with Ford on the back end of vehicles for a very long time now. We have a Mustang, we have a Bronco."

The Ford Mustang is a popular performance car from Ford. It’s the kind of car that lots of companies make upgrades for, so “working with the Mustang” usually means helping build or test parts for it.

Sign in to suggest edits or report issues
Concept

gravel rally stage

"You put that on a gravel rally stage with me. I'll take it over at 9-11 Dakar."

A gravel rally stage is a race section on loose rocks and dirt. The surface grip changes a lot, so the car and tires have to be set up for sliding and traction changes.

Sign in to suggest edits or report issues
Concept

EV infrastructure

"and they couldn't really get the infrastructure done to make them, people really perceive them as being less useful than their regular cars."

EV infrastructure is the charging setup—like chargers at homes and public places. If there aren’t enough chargers (or they’re hard to use), people may not feel comfortable buying an EV.

Sign in to suggest edits or report issues
Concept

WRC driver

"We had a WRC driver there. His name's slipping me right now. But we had an absolute blast in that thing."

WRC means World Rally Championship, which is the highest level of rally racing. Mentioning a WRC driver suggests the driving was done by someone who really knows rally cars.

Sign in to suggest edits or report issues
Brand

Subaru

"Like, look, I love Subaru. But like a Subaru, this car, a Subaru pushes when this car is rotating, like all the time."

Subaru is a car brand that’s famous for all-wheel drive. That means power can go to more than two wheels, which can help the car stay hooked up while you’re turning or sliding.

Sign in to suggest edits or report issues
Concept

speedster humps

"[2761.1s] Thank you, convertible. [2761.9s] It's sick. [2763.3s] We built these little humps. [2764.5s] You see the speedster humps?"

They’re talking about a bumpy section of the track. Those bumps can change how the car loads up and how you time your steering and throttle during a run.

Sign in to suggest edits or report issues
Term

Whipple

"[2782.5s] Yes, exactly. [2783.4s] The Whipple on a... [2784.0s] It's exactly it, yeah."

Whipple is a brand that makes superchargers. A supercharger stuffs more air into the engine, which usually makes the car much faster.

Sign in to suggest edits or report issues
Concept

nitrous

"It naturally aspirated with nitrous. So it's about 950, and then we shoot about 300 to 500 nitrous, depending upon what track we're at and what we're trying to do."

Nitrous is a system that adds extra “oomph” to the engine. It helps the car make more power when it’s needed, like when you’re accelerating out of a turn.

Sign in to suggest edits or report issues
Term

Kazi IndyCar motors

"Yeah, he's, he's trying. He's got a, he's got a rack of old Kazi IndyCar motors. As he made one of them street legal?"

They mention “Kazi” IndyCar motors, meaning a particular type or source of IndyCar racing engines. The exact identity isn’t fully spelled out here, but it’s clearly about specific race hardware.

Sign in to suggest edits or report issues
3 cars featured

Request an Explanation

Heard something you'd like explained? We'll add it to this episode.

Sign in to request explanations for terms you heard.

Want to learn more?

Browse our glossary for plain-English explanations of automotive terms, jargon, and concepts.

Explore Terms

Help improve this episode

See something that's not quite right? Our annotations are AI-generated and can sometimes miss the mark. Click the flag icon on any annotation to suggest a correction.

Report incorrect info
Suggest better explanations
Flag missing cars