Episodes

A car buyer’s integrity starts with honoring commitments: a deposit is “kind of a promise,” and “A promise is a promise.” The show also flips the lens on service—great dealerships earn loyalty by keeping promises, proactively updating repair status, and treating employees well. When expectations slip, the buyer’s role is to communicate honestly and constructively to a manager, not just disappear. Lenny’s stories about delayed tags and a “free oil change” highlight how honesty and follow-through shape trust.

Zoox’s robotaxi roadmap is getting clearer: Zekes will keep building its current model in Haywood, California until June 2030, then roll out a new version and begin manufacturing a two-door robotaxi to take on Tesla’s Cybercab. The show also flags EU anti-dumping duties on Chinese tires and notes the U.S. traffic fatality rate is at its lowest since 2014—though the reasons for the swings remain unclear. BYD’s Yangwang U9 targets another speed run toward 500 km/h.

Recent EPA “pardons” and the legal odds behind them take center stage, with a lawyer explaining how people with prior emissions-tampering cases can apply and what evidence matters. The discussion connects the “right to repair” executive order to emissions-control repairs that don’t remove equipment, while warning that “deletes” still aren’t legal. Procedurally, the White House receives “15,000 pardon applications” and grants about “1,000” per year, making outcomes highly selective. The episode also covers what pardons can restore financially and legally.

The hosts kick off a “when was the last time” checklist aimed at preventing expensive surprises, starting with brake inspection and service. They explain how neglected hardware can seize and turn a job into “no longer book time,” adding hours of labor. They also walk through other overlooked services—brake fluid flush, power steering flush, transmission service, and fuel-related maintenance like fuel injection decarbonization—plus quick tips to protect your vehicle from heat and paint damage. The episode is framed as part of a multi-part series.

Tommy Kendall’s path to Le Mans is traced from early licensing hurdles and pre-internet racing awareness to a Trans Am peak and a secret Conrad Porsche ride arrangement. The conversation then zooms in on what endurance racing really demands—faster corners, overheating, sleep limits, and multi-driver pacing—plus the chaos of a rain-heavy Viper Le Mans year, slick-vs-rain decisions, and a right-rear failure at the Mulsanne hairpin. Kendall also reflects on Le Mans’ unique mental load, growth in coverage, and the rules that shape modern GT racing.

Jerry Wayne Longmire joins The Smoking Tire, and the conversation swings from car-culture comedy—his “Wrecking Yard” special and the podcast name—to air-cooled Volkswagen memories and wild engine rumors. They debate collector-car pricing, junkyard show-car finds, and fire-damaged VW bus restorations. Later, the talk broadens into touring, transmissions, and racing economics, then into EV feel, off-roading traction, and dirt-track strategy. Between stories, the hosts run sponsor reads for Casper and DeleteMe.

Jonathan Dawson, dealer principal at Cherokee Mitsubishi, breaks down how a store climbed from “39” to “62” sales in 60 days by rebuilding culture and accountability. He argues dealership leadership has only two outcomes: “raise your people” or “lower your standards,” and that small compromises quietly erode performance. Dawson also shares coaching frameworks—like “mathematical potential”—and explains how an AI tool “listens to the entire customer conversation” to coach and save deals.

Kelley Stumpe, founder of The Car Mom, explains why dealers misunderstand “car mom” buyers: families treat shopping like a safety decision, not a casual purchase. She argues the real friction comes when salespeople don’t match that seriousness, and she pushes for better in-person product knowledge—especially around child seats and fit. Kelley also shares how she stays independent after being blacklisted by manufacturers, including refusing their money and relying on dealer access, CPST checks, and her family-focused media platform.

Flat-rate times, warranty rules, and dealership workflow collide with real-world repairs—often leaving techs short on time, margin, and sometimes even the right parts. Josh Forbes shares how older cars and hands-on failures (overheating, seized wheel bearings, and a CV axle C-clip) taught him to diagnose and repair. The hosts then argue that book hours don’t reflect calibration, rust, and thorough diagnostics, while modern brake/ABS and right-to-repair restrictions raise the stakes for both shops and DIYers.

Brad Perez’s NASCAR path starts with “blind exposure” to motorsport rather than a traditional racing upbringing. He gets hooked early—then learns to wrench through YouTube, building and rebuilding spec Miatas from a shell. Karting and LO206 teach precision, while his NASCAR climb leans on shop work, tire logs, and relentless organization. Along the way, he navigates financial barriers, leans on community support, and defines success as running full-time—staying “nervous” instead of scared.

Raptor T1 takes center stage as the hosts talk with Matt Martelli about the Ford truck’s debut at the Casey Folks Vegas Torino Run and why rally-raid racing is built around multi-stage desert work. The conversation compares “unlimited” American truck rules to Dakar-style design, with concrete setup details like tire size and wheel travel. They also dig into desert short-course history, suspension tuning, and how Starlink plus a YouTube livestream will bring the Reno-to-Vegas race to viewers in real time.

Episode #962 walks through how to choose a polisher that fits your budget and your habits, with practical guidance on torque, noise, pad size, and real-world use. The hosts also cover glass cleaning—why “heat and alcohol typically don't mix,” how humidity affects streaking, and why “less is more” at the finishing stage. Later, they shift to PPF: edge prep for matte paint, why “everything is with PPF is about the adhesive,” and how tack, baking, and safe polishing technique impact results.

Detroit gets framed as “the Mecca” of V8 culture, but the conversation quickly zooms into how modern muscle builds demand more than “a tuner and a dyno.” Glenn from Rains Precision Motorsports (RPM) explains third-generation restomods, EFI tuning, and dyno-heavy workflows—then walks through extreme swap and drag-and-drive projects. From LS/Whipple and Hellcat-style stock-power claims to 10-speed packaging, E85 strategy, and why “metal fatigue” eventually wins, the episode ties power, drivability, and durability together.

A caller’s “remote nonstarter” turns into a deep dive on why cars won’t power up: intermittent starting tied to seat/dash behavior, and a broader theory of a loose chassis ground breaking the electrical return path. The hosts also tackle other no-start and drivability headaches—like power steering fluid loss from air in the system and rough automatic upshifts potentially caused by low transmission fluid or a small cooler-line leak. Along the way, there’s plenty of banter, safety warnings, and DIY oil-change chaos.

Hosts kick off Day 1 of their recharging road trip around Britain (13 July 2026), framing EV charging as less stressful than before. They compare today’s charging infrastructure to a decade ago, then recap the route from near Preston to Cornwall Services/Bodmin and the traffic they hit. Charging details follow: 7 kW overnight timing, app and live availability, and a strategy of topping up to around 80–85%. They also troubleshoot a removed hotel charger, then find low-power destination charging at the Eden Project.

Hosts kick off with event and road-trip planning, then pivot into a long debate about Mercedes “fakery” on EVs—simulated engine/gearbox behavior, seat vibration, and sound effects—plus whether that kind of entertainment immersion helps or distracts from what makes cars engaging. The discussion broadens into analog-vs-digital ownership, diagnostic/obsolescence concerns, and how weight and steering feel matter more than fake noise. Later, they field listener car-shopping questions, narrowing “manual wagons” and recommending specific used options and upcoming track events.

Corvette talk kicks off with a 2027 refresh and the return of the Grand Sport, then zooms into real-world performance: “You can drive this car over 200 miles an hour now,” with aero and the Z51 package trading straight-line speed for track grip. The conversation shifts to EVs, explaining why “Volkswagen's problem is, is multi-fold” and how heavy EV spending, diesel-gate fallout, and BYD pressure are reshaping the market. Battery tech, incentives, and extended-range strategies wrap the episode.

The hosts unpack “organizational drag” and why leaders sometimes need the courage to act on a non-fit employee. They connect role fit to team morale, accountability, and execution—arguing that delay turns termination into a predictable outcome. Along the way, they share practical alternatives like “moving someone to a different seat,” plus coaching, training, and clearer expectations. The conversation also covers customer follow-up systems (including a 29-day cadence) and how shops use data to improve guest experience.

Goodwood’s heat sets the scene as the hosts bounce between Toyota’s new GR GT—“basically a GT3 car that they've built”—and Alpine’s A110 shifting from petrol to an electric replacement. They dig into Alpine’s roadmap for a possible ICE return, then debate whether an EV A110 could work in the US. The conversation widens to track tech, charging infrastructure, and why the event’s lineup feels like it’s “shifting back” toward big-displacement noise, with standout cars like the M3 GTR and P60 V14.

WFO Radio Ignition 07/13/2026 bounces from sports emotion to a full slate of motorsports talk. The hosts preview upcoming coverage across NASCAR, IndyCar, Formula One, and NHRA, then zoom in on drag racing at Sonoma—field sizes, NHRA’s 75th season, and how sanctioning/series decisions ripple through teams. They also cover NASCAR results (Ryan Blaney, rain delay, three-wide finish), plus betting odds and risk-management PSA. The episode ends with travel plans and more Sonoma setup.

Telstra’s network troubles get unpacked through the lens of timing failures and emergency-calling reliability. The hosts compare the outage to “Y2K” and explain how a GPS-linked timing server can push the network into a “failsafe mode.” They then dig into “triple zero,” including why emergency devices “camp on” other networks, how long connections can take, and why domestic roaming could worsen crises. The conversation closes with proposals to modernise Triple Zero into a multimodal, satellite-capable service.

Sonoma’s divisional race is on the radar, and the crew talks about watching it on NHRA TV while joking about points, helmets, and getting disqualified. The conversation then dives into what makes footbrake/bracket racing feel “huge”: staging difficulty, footbreaking pressure, and why “you can't have a great race without great racers.” They also cover event logistics—entries, oil-downs, and announcer duties—before Big Jed Jared Pennington shares favorite tracks, music, and a quick race-weekend prep update.

Electric bikes take center stage as Shaun Howarth shares how he got into the space—guiding and servicing bikes on New Zealand’s Alps to Ocean route—and what he learned from running a franchise. The conversation covers practical buying advice like taking a test ride, understanding throttle vs pedal-assist, and prioritizing helmet safety. Shaun also breaks down tech choices (hub motors, throttle behavior, chain wear), plus comfort and range realities like removable batteries and service intervals.

Atlanta’s race gets dissected from the chaos to the rulebook: a three-hour rain delay reshaped handling, and Ryan Blaney’s control carried him from stage dominance to the finish. The hosts dig into why the double yellow line matters and how drafting “friends” and pushing decisions swing super-speedway position. NASCAR’s enforcement escalates after repeated incidents, including drivers being called to the hauler. The Atlanta debate is tied to track changes—more banking, repaving, and even bump placement—making the racing feel uniquely intense.