The Avants Podcast
Avants
Updated 6 days agoJoin hosts Dan Putnam and Nick Bergeron as they get to know industry leading guests beyond just what they drive. The Avants Podcast is never scripted and never predictable, but it’s always a good time and full of surprises. You won’t find any boring reviews that sound like reading off a pre-planned info sheet, ”history of” shows that are reworded Wikipedia articles, or advertisements for the next new foam mattress here! The Avants Podcast focuses on making sure guests are always authentic, just like your hosts.
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Episodes (447)
A Lotus to Lust After
Lotus finally drops the Emira, a new Koenigsegg gets crispy, and more in a shorter episode this week as we prep for Classics on the Green! We know a few people who have the new Emira now and so far everyone is in love with theirs. If you have the means, we highly suggest it! In sad news, Joe Elmore passed away this past week at 80 years old. He was a staple of the car community, a pioneer in automotive media, and he will be missed.
Dylan von Kleist Takes Us to a Magical World Where Car Washes Don't Destroy Your Paint
We know what you’re all thinking, no such magical world of convenience and safe car washing exists! Well, it turns out that John Denver wasn’t full of it and if you’re one of our lucky Avants members in Colorado you can visit one of the many Autowash locations. All brush type car washes are terrible for your paint, and many touchless car washes can do some real damage as well, but Autowash touchless car washes do things differently. Dylan, VP of Marketing for Autowash Companies, join us this week to set the record straight and he honestly answers all of our questions and keeps the expectations real. Dylan is a former pro detailer who knows the in-and-outs of paint care and he will make you really want to go drive all those amazing Colorado Rocky Mountain roads.
Someone Needs to Take Pity on Nick and Sell Him a Ranger Raptor
Summer is coming and we want to go exploring! Dan has run out of roads and can't find any new ones and Nick needs a Ranger Raptor but can't find a decent Ford dealer to sell him one at MSRP. Won't someone please think of poor Nick and sell him a green Ranger Raptor?!
Team Baby Bronco Grows Up to Become Team Velocity!
When we first interviewed Karisa Haydon and Trista Smith, they were the fresh Rebelle Rally Rookies of the Year, but now they’ve grown up to Team Velocity, a Ford factory backed team! Karisa and Trista are working with Ford and driving the big Broncos now in the Rebelle Rally. If you’re thinking about giving it a shot, we’ve got the show for you. Be sure to check out Team Velocity Northwest online and follow along on their MANY adventures! Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/teamvelocitynw?mibextid=LQQJ4d Instagram: @team_velocity_nw Webpage: team-velocity.com Email: [email protected]
It's Been A Great Week!
It's been a BIG week for us here at the Podcast! Nick got a puppy and a fiancé, Dan got a tractor, and car sales got slapped in the face! This week we talk about the falling prices of even the most popular vehicles on the market, but especially EVs and Bronco Raptors.
Horsepower Accelerates Your Mistakes and Other PRO3 Lessons with Isaiah Dummer
We talk to recent PRO3 winner Isaiah Dummer about driving, riding, building, and other fun things that cost too much on this weeks podcast! Isaiah has been racing in PRO3 since Covid times, runs his own construction company, and loves all things with engines, just like us. He's got fun stories and was a great guest.
It's Party on the Bottom and Business on the Top with Krissy!
Krissy Wells joins us back in the studio to talk about the massive amount of Avants events coming up as well as the secret to finding all those elusive Avants Off-Road stickers! We talk about the new Avants Online Store, Classics on the Green, and so much more. Check out the new store at: https://store.avants.com/
You Have to Pay to Play
Racing is hard to do on its own, but after a while you will likely find the hardest part is where it hits your wallet. We welcome Brian Elich back in the studio and he joins us to talk about breaking his Camaro into the 9s and still using it as a road race car.
Mount Everything with Help from Nick Lowe-Hale of RAM Mounts
When it comes to mounting solutions, I don't think anyone has even a tenth of the options that RAM Mounts has. Nick Lowe-Hale is the Automotive Aftermarket Account Manager for RAM mounts, so if anyone can figure out your mounting solution it's him. He joins us to chat all about Ram Mounts, his Land Cruiser, and all the areas we never thought to use RAM Mounts. Follow Nick on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nllh
Show Us Your Dash
Has anyone else noticed it's been dashboards gone wild lately? We like function and form and it seems like more and more vehicles are trying to transplant your living room into your car these days. We talk about the best dashboard designs, the new 4Runner, the $200k Fox Factory Truck, and more on this weeks episode.
Buz Ras of Seattle Speedometer Combines Art and Engineering
Buz Ras is one of those rare craftsman that combines art and engineering by restoring vehicle gauges. Like a clockmaker for gearheads, his specialized and high demand work speaks for itself, but we brought him in to tell his story in his own words. Buz was such a fun guest with great stories well beyond speedos and tachs. He's a guy you'll love to get to know.
Shop Talk - But What About the Raptor?
The road trip continues and the diesel gets it's first off-road excursion in Moab, but the AEV equipped GMC just proves it's no match for a Raptor. That obviously won't do for Dan so something will have to give. We talk tools, towing, and what to do when you give up your Raptor and still need one.
The Wagon Invasion Begins
Justin Osmer is back this week and he’s taking Wagon Fest to the next level! Justin talks about the expansion of Wagon Fest, the best wagons you can buy, and more adventures with his RS6 Avant. If you’re a wagon fan or just like seeing cars you don’t see often enough, then we’ve got good news for you.
When You Have to Downgrade to Kinda Upgrade
After towing the trailer down to Arizona, Dan quickly realizes Raptors aren't the best tow vehicles in spite of being good at basically everything else. We discuss the cons, and more cons, of driving any other truck that isn't a Raptor for better towing capacity. We also talk the most recent news, the Avants events, and the Michelin 15% off deal is back!
Emy Kissick is the Kid All Car People Hope For
Emy Kissick might only be 16, but she definitely taught us a thing or ten. Emy got her racing license before she got her drivers license, races spec Miata, works on her own car, and drives an 1988 300ZX. Add all that up and she still manages to be a 4.0 GPA student. Needless to say, her parents are proud, and she’s a huge asset to the community. Speaking of, a special thanks to our friends and Avants Partner, Hydraulic Solutions for sponsoring Emy and getting people like her on the track. Follow Emy on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/emy_kissick/
Jessica Johnk Redefines Full Time Employee
If doing what you love means never having to work, then I'm not quite sure anyone told Jessica Johnk. As a full time Sales Readiness and Communications Strategist for Porsche, she is constantly on the road with the team. She somehow still finds some time to hike epic places, ride motorcycles, and even still race cars. On this episode we talk to her about life and how she somehow manages it all.
If Jaykee Evangelista Had an Online Store, We'd Be Broke
You may not know Jaykee Evangelista right away by name, but you probably have seen his work in many places around the automotive world. From designs for Porsche, Hyundai N, Jeff Zwart, Luftgekühlt, and even Top Gear, Jaykee is a busy, busy man! We absolutely love his style and are huge fans of all of his work. Check out his work on Instagram at Groundworks Design and in the next issue of the Avants Magazine!
The PNW Component Himself, Aaron Kerson
We first met Aaron when we did our episode on the Nurburgring and immediately knew we had to have him back on the show. If you're in the bicycle world you probably know Aaron's company and work, PNW Components. PNW Components makes some of the very best bicycle components on the market today, and hands down the best quality swag we have ever purchased. Dan liked it so much he ordered everything they have and he doesn't have a bicycle. Aaron is a huge car guy too of course and just so happens to have a bike rack on his Porsche GT3. That's our kinda car person.
Rivian R1 "T" for Tank
On this shop talk episode we talk all about that crash test video of the Rivian R1T hitting the guardrail, the deteriorating roads, car season coming up, and a painful repair to the R8. Special thanks and shoutout to Chad at Avants Partner: Leather Tech for his great help this week! Check out the video for this episode on our YouTube channel!
50 Years Later, Lyn St James is Still Changing Racing
February 7th was National Girls and Women in Sports Day and we couldn't think of a better way to kick that off than having the amazing Lyn St. James back on the show! Lyn dives really deep and talks to us in depth about learning how to drive open wheel, Indy, and the future of motorsports. This episode is also available on the Avants YouTube channel, so be sure to check it out!
Everything You Need to Know Before You Go To The Green Hell
Of all the places you might be the most excited and yet most nervous to go to, it’s your Senior Prom. After that it’s probably driving the Nürburgring. This episode is all about getting prepped and ready to go to The Green Hell and back without going broke. We brought in 3 experts to help you out: Tom Roberts, Aaron Kerson, and Curtis Creager.
The Newest Member of the Avants Team, Leif Bergerson
On this special episode we introduce Leif Bergerson, the newest member of the Avants staff! Leif is helping us run things in California, so we thought it would be best if we introduced him on video. You can still listen in here of course, but if you want to see Leif be sure to check out the Avants YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2QdvcrxWMb0i8Ix1ezpVVg
Starting the Mods Before Taking Delivery
Dan has a new Raptor coming in March, so of course the mods have already started in January. In this episode we're chatting about those mods that start before your new vehicle even arrives. As odd as this sounds, we actually think it's worth to have some parts waiting and ready to be installed. What mods are you doing before you get your car? In addition to that, the trailer is already getting it's own upgrades and the list keeps growing!
Colleen Sheehan Got to Ride to School in a McLaren F1
Read that again; Colleen Sheehan got to ride to school in a McLaren F1. No matter how cool you think you are, you didn't get to ride to school in a McLaren F1. So now that we got that out of the way, she's also an absolute authority on everything Ferrari and probably has more seat time on the track than most of us do on the road!
Horsepower Is Cheaper Than Ever... If You Can Afford It
We often thought the glory days of cheap performance cars were behind us, but performance comes in at bargain basement prices today. In this episode we discuss what we think are the real bargains today, and find out we were wrong all along in real time. In 1994 the Mustang Cobra was $22,425 and had a whopping 240 horsepower, did 0-60 in 5.9 second, and ran a 14.7 second 1/4 mile. Today, the Ford Mustang EcoBoost costs $32,515, has 315 horsepower, does 0-60 in 4.7 seconds, and does the 1/4 mile almost 2 seconds faster at 13 flat. The little turbo 4 cylinder kicks the old Cobras butt in every single way by a big margin, but the most impressive part? Adjusted for inflation, the Cobra came in at almost $46,000 in 2024 dollars!