Episodes

Answering listener questions from a cool, out-of-hours cafe, the BTCP crew dives into memorable touring car moments and the sport’s bigger picture. Highlights include watching sudden rain at Ouffers Dip, the shock of a late-race championship swing at Camish, and a reminder of how dangerous racing can be after a serious Silverstone crash. They also debate whether the Super Touring era could have continued past 2000, blaming runaway money and a later “bubble burst.” The hosts then share how they first got hooked—through family, games, and trackside action.

Glenn Obert—aka “Duckman”—talks about two decades of building chaotic, junk-pile VW creations and turning that energy into a massive online following. He shares the origins of the Duckman name, including a Quaker parakeet and later a pet duck, and recalls his most bizarre build: an ATV top welded onto a VW pan. Glenn also explains how YouTube growth changed over time, why he never had a fear moment, and how he bounced back after club politics to launch Oil Slicker Society International, growing to about 150 members in under 200 days.

A car salesman and a delivered representative clash over whether third-party, more transparent deal-hunting is necessary when “honest dealerships” exist. The dealer argues dealerships carry liability, handle inspections, and can support customers after purchase with tech help and relationship-building. The delivered side counters that dealership experiences are a “crapshoot,” salespeople often churn quickly, and consumers pay for more than just the transaction—so a service that stays accountable after the sale can reduce risk. They debate sustainability, trust, and who truly owns support when things go wrong.

Chuck and Corey kick off a long-awaited return, apologizing for the podcast’s irregular release schedule and teasing the crew’s march toward episode 400. The conversation quickly turns to local meetups: a Donut Meet Sunday (9–11) with plans to cruise to Snack Bar Royale in Jamestown, plus a 7-Eleven meet Saturday tied to UFC prelims and Chuck’s DJ plans. Between event talk, they swap travel stories from Poland/Sweden, including a great car-focused vlog and Stockholm’s laid-back, near-24-hour daylight vibe.

Brett and Mark kick things off with sweaty studio talk, then dive into the chaos of heater-core replacements and the “island of misfit cars” at Darryl Ossipic’s shop in Merriam, Kansas. The conversation turns to Ryan Williams of Car Curious, a software engineer who rekindled his interest in cars as an offline hobby and built a visual, searchable podcast player/discovery platform. They discuss how he researches, what hooked him, and how software can make car audio easier to explore—while the hosts trade stories about rare finds and long-running projects.

A heated debate between Tommy (a flat-fee car negotiation service owner) and Vic (a dealership-side voice) centers on why car buying feels rigged and what should replace the current system. Tommy argues commission should be removed, franchise laws should end, and manufacturers should sell more directly so consumers can shop like they do for phones. Vic counters that capitalism needs profit and competition, and that dealerships add value through incentives and infrastructure. They clash on whether incentives would disappear without dealers and whether direct-to-consumer would truly be cheaper.

Nick Stoppel from Lloyd’s Automotive walks through common summer A/C complaints and what’s actually normal. He explains why a steady drip near the passenger front wheel can be condensation from the HVAC drain, while wet passenger-side carpeting can signal a clogged drain box that may lead to mold. He also breaks down how A/C systems lose refrigerant over time, why proper diagnosis involves evacuating, weighing, and using dye to find leaks, and why “canned” refrigerant with sealant is often a bad idea. The show also touches on wheel bearing repacking on older vehicles.

A fast-paced Saturday Q&A session mixes shop talk, community updates, and practical “don’t ignore it” vehicle advice. Host Niall Motormouth Jenkins kicks off with listener questions and a reminder to check basics (even drive-through orders). The show highlights ongoing production work and tech tips, then pivots to safety-focused maintenance—especially cabin air filters and how neglect can invite mice into the HVAC intake area. The discussion also touches on storage prep for vehicles and general housekeeping to keep systems running smoothly.

Toyota’s board greenlit a $3.6B expansion of its San Antonio truck plant, aiming to shift 150,000 Tacomas from Mexico to the U.S. for sales starting in 2030. The discussion frames it as both a response to tariff pressure and a capacity problem—Toyota is maxed out globally, so reshoring helps protect margins even though some production stays in Mexico. The hosts also assess a resilient 2026 market: hybrids are driving demand, while affordability issues persist beneath steady sales. Headwinds for the back half include lean inventories, fading EV momentum, high MSRPs, and macro uncertainty.

The hosts kick off with July 4th stories—sparklers and a Dodger Stadium fireworks show—then dive into a busy week in the auto world. Lucid faces delivery shortfalls and leadership shakeups, while Rivian is gaining momentum with higher forecasts, the upcoming R2 SUV, and an Uber-backed autonomous robo-taxi plan. Volkswagen’s CEO calls for major cuts and factory closures amid intense Chinese EV competition. The discussion also touches on Kia’s refreshed Nero hybrid for 2027, Hennessey’s extreme Venom F5M hypercar, and Subaru’s Trailseeker as an off-road EV alternative.

Click and Clack kick off with odd neuroscience tidbits—frontotemporal dementia cases where patients develop sudden obsessions with pop music—and tie it to familiar Car Talk-style humor and phone-in advice. The bulk of the show is two classic problem-solving calls: a 1968 Rambler American that smokes black soot because it’s driven only tiny distances, keeping the carburetor/choke too rich, and a 1993 Mazda B2200 pickup that repeatedly blows spark plugs out of the engine, traced to plugs not being tightened properly. Light banter includes car-buying daydreams and a leopard-print seat-cover quest.

Bruce Canepa—race driver turned dealer and restoration/museum owner—talks with Stuart Howden and Keith Martin about building a world-class collection and why he prefers driving over “wall art.” Canepa explains how he repurposed a former Seagate building into an automotive facility, and why used-car work beats new-car sales for personal relationships. The conversation also dives into Canepa’s involvement with the Gordon Murray T.50, praising its lightweight, high-revving, driver-focused design and even the role of its fan for grip. They connect that philosophy to Canepa’s approach to restoring cars so buyers face no surprises.

Odds and storylines for the Quaker State 400 at Atlanta’s EchoPark Speedway take center stage, with the panel noting how Atlanta’s plate-racing chaos differs sharply from recent road-course winners. Tyler Reddick, Ryan Blaney, and Chase Elliott headline the long-shot favorites at plus 900, while William Byron and Joey Logano follow at plus 1000/plus 1400. The discussion leans heavily on “next-gen” drafting-track winners, with Denny Hamlin’s surprisingly long plus 1600 price and value plays like Bubba Wallace, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., and RCR’s Austin Hill. Tyler Reddick’s recent misfortune and Chase Elliott’s points push are key narratives.

John Temerian, founder of Curated Vintage Supercars, joins Bloomberg Hot Pursuit to talk Lamborghini-era collecting and the appeal of analog driving. The conversation pivots to Ferrari’s new “manual” option for its latest V12—really a clutch-by-wire, software-controlled DCT that can still be stalled but prevents engine damage. Hosts debate whether it’s clever tech or an inauthentic compromise, and why buyers will pay a huge premium. They connect it to broader car-culture hunger for “feel,” then shift to Temerian’s background building a supercar business in Miami.

The John Clay Wolfe Show digs into a comedic “JCW archive” segment mixing politics, pop culture, and playful banter. A headline about “hookers for healthcare” and the Senate’s healthcare bill sparks jokes about sex workers’ concerns and rivalries with strippers. Hannah joins the conversation to clarify the difference between “dancers,” “strippers,” and “hookers,” turning the discussion into a running bit about shoes, age, and stereotypes. The crew also debates a viral rumor about Whataburger closing due to salmonella before wrapping with show promos and merch plugs.

Ray and Zach run a Q&A focused on real buyer questions, including a wild case of a 2024 Ram 2500 Tradesman allegedly sitting on a dealer lot for 845 days. They call the dealership to confirm it’s still available and learn it’s a commercial “leftover” with low miles (under/around 200). They then estimate a realistic discount, arguing it likely needs 35–40% off MSRP due to age/depreciation. Using CarEdge search data, they compare against used listings and find some pricing that seems inconsistent, sparking debate about whether the market is being under- or over-priced.

Volkswagen’s plan to cut its model lineup by up to half and reduce production capacity highlights mounting pressure from China competition, tariffs, and high costs. Toyota’s shift of production from Mexico to Texas adds uncertainty to Mexico’s auto sector, while NHTSA signals it may drop steering-wheel requirements for driverless cars—potentially easing the path for robotaxis. Infiniti’s QX-65 gets attention as a key mid-size, two-row “empty-nesters” play. Cox Automotive’s Erin Keating argues affordability is more nuanced: cars have improved near inflation, while safety ratings and customer expectations for tech drive pricing—and dealers may be underestimating profit from fixed operations.

Rivian’s delivery and production updates send its stock up, but the hosts note autonomy claims hinge on later lidar hardware. They also unpack Rivian’s $1.5B raise, dilution, and how long the cash runway may last. Xiaomi’s Sky Nomad and N90 concept shift the conversation to lounge-like EVs, BEV-first extended-range positioning, and CLTC range optimism. The episode then spotlights a US-bound $14,000 tiny Fiat Topolino-style LSV micro-EV, plus broader EV adoption, charging, and pricing realities.

A listener asks when a non-Tesla automaker will offer true supervised, hands-free driving (not just highway hands-off). The hosts compare timelines for legacy brands—Ford and GM pointing to 2028 for level 3—while noting rivals like Rivian and Lucid are working toward similar capabilities. The discussion then pivots to Tesla’s changing role: from tech leader to “legacy” benchmark, with slower progress in charging speed and limited new vehicle innovation. They debate whether Tesla’s camera-only approach and heavy AI/FSD spending (including cybercab) will be enough to keep its edge.

A highlight-packed “Dirty 30” segment centers on Dale Jr. reacting to a TNT piece tied to his Daytona win, then reflecting on how victory lane used to feel like a rushed photo shoot—especially compared to how he chose to celebrate with his team. He also gets emotional recalling Danny Earnhardt’s reaction and the grief that still lingers. The show then pivots into “Ask DBC” with Ward and Tommy discussing crew-chief memories, the fallout of Toyota’s arrival, and how leadership and resources shaped careers and results.

Dealer principles Ryan Downing and Jay Trivedi compare how to run fixed operations without relying on month-end hope. Ryan shares lessons from building a multi-state, multi-brand group (GM and CDJR), emphasizing consistent core processes, trusted reporting, and culture built through pruning and promotion. Jay discusses launching his first franchise store and designing daily activity systems that drive results. Between guest talk, the show recaps industry headlines: used inventory forecasts, right-to-repair momentum, shifting vehicle color/resale data, and rising pressure from Chinese automaker policy and competition.

The panel breaks down effective labor rate (ELR) as the missing link between posted labor rates and what shops actually bill. They explain ELR as charged labor hours divided by labor hours charged, aiming for roughly within 10% of the door rate. Common ELR killers include warranty write-offs, incorrect menu/matrix pricing, QC comebacks, unbilled “canned job” time, and undercharging diagnostic/inspection work. The discussion emphasizes making ELR mission-critical for advisors and techs, using it to drive total gross profit and quick profit wins.

Dealers in Gosport are seeing a surprisingly healthy market: imports (especially Japanese small automatics), Volkswagen Up/Polo sales, and plenty of Jimny demand, with part-exchange helping manage stock shortages. The host also shares a feel-good charity campaign where followers chose a local cause supporting elderly residents. Guest Sam Zales from CarGurus discusses the platform’s transparency-first approach—ranking listings by relevance rather than who pays most—and how that model is spreading in the UK/Canada. The conversation ties industry change to consumer expectations and dealer growth.

Mark and Tanner (Minnoxide) trade stories about how they built their Subaru-focused channels—from early DIY injector swaps to quitting desk work and going all-in on YouTube. They dig into the realities of monetization, why starting with basic gear matters, and how live streams turned into a fast, community-driven Q&A space. The conversation also touches on their build philosophy and the long road of Subaru projects, including the EJ33 swap and choosing what to build based on goals, budget, and reliability.