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)
An Englishman Invades the Studio
We welcome back official Avants Magazine Editor-in-Chief Karl Noakes! Karl is on a rare break from IMSA and chats with us about his new M2, the Hagerty not-so-hot list of 2023, and we all compare our old-man back injuries! It's always a good time when Karl is here!
A Very Merry Shop Talk
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to everyone! Our long, lost Megan returns to us to join us for Shop Talk this week and we talk all about squashing nuts, the new studio, Borla's electric "exhaust", R8 build updates, and our very adult Christmas lists! Also, if anyone is selling a BAC Mono, let Dan know.
A Grand Tour of Brendan Tonkin
The Tonkin name is definitely a northwest staple and Brendan Tonkin didn't fall far from the family tree. Brendan talks to us all about the new Ineos Grenadier, track time with dad, overlanding, and more, all while his dog became best friends with Nick while we recorded. Brendan has some big plans for Grenadier owners, so we'll check back with him this summer for more exciting updates. We also got to check out the new Ineos Grenadier at the Avants Toy Drive in partnership with Collectors' Car Garage (formerly Hagerty Garage and Social / Drivers Club) and it sure lives up to all the hype! If you're interested in one, get a hold of Brendan at Ron Tonkin Gran Turismo.
It’s a Baja Blast of an Episode with James Manning with Rothsport!
How big of a hammer do you need when you race Baja in a Porsche 911? We seek to answer important questions like these as we chat with James Manning from Rothsport about Baja, Porsches, and…GIN! Not only does James do awesome things like race Baja, but he also is the owner of The Falls Distilling and makes some damn good gin!
Heckmann & Thiemann - 55 Years Of Servicing Your Porsche, VW, and Subaru
With 55 years in the business, Heckmann & Thiemann have seen it all. We get all the good stories from President and CEO Phyllis Thiemann and Master Technician Bryan Reeves. We talk about the stuff classic Porsche people don’t usually like to in this episode like the Cayenne, Boxster, and even RWB, dive into the topic of the air-cooled boom and how it has impacted owners who bought “cheap” 911s, talk about how to store a car for 20 years, and so much more! Did you know the 356 was going to be the Continental? Heckmann & Thiemann is an Avants partner and offers 10% off labor for Avants Members! Check them out online at https://heckmannthiemann.com!
Chris Delano: President of IPD and the Authority on Volvo Performance
We went down to Portland to visit some of our Avants friends and partners to the south! This week we finally got to chat with one of the smartest and nicest people we have interviewed to date, Chris Delano, President of IPD. Chris is as true of an enthusiast as it gets, who has always loved Volvos and upgrading them in every way. If you have a Volvo, you need to check out IPD! https://www.ipdusa.com/
Truly Great Stories with Greg Stanley
Greg Stanley is a great story teller. He gives us the inside details of the recent, record breaking 250 GTO sale by RM Sotheby's and much more about his own collection.
Is There Anything Vinny Russo Hasn’t Done?
This week we have a great chat with Vinny Russo, Operations Manager at Westside Collector Car Storage and Special Project Manager for The iD Agency. Vinny talks with us all about his history with Spyker, Hennessey, VF Engineering, and more. We had some serious audio issues with Riverside, our online podcasting host. Vinny's audio turned out great, and he does most of the talking in this episode. We assure it's worth listening to as Vinny is an extremely interesting guest with a lot of great stories.
Alfa Romeo Brand Marketing Manager & Comedian Kara Coraci Sellentine
This week we chat with Kara Coraci Sellentine! Kara keeps the laughs rolling in and talks to us about all things Alfa, Formula 1, working on Jerry Springer, and more!
Building the Perfect Beast
With the arrival of the R8 it's time for us to take on the next supercar build! We'll be starting by working with our friends and sponsor, STEK to cover the whole car and add some tint, then we have a few more creative mods to add. We'll be sure to keep you all updated as we go along. There is new, exciting news from Triumph and Ducati who will be entering the very competitive world of Motocross. And in a surprise to almost no one, EV sales have begun to drop like a rock, and Toyota flat out says "We told you so" to the automotive world by continuing to focus on Hybrid and Hydrogen research. Think of something we should cover on the show? Give us a call at 425-298-7873!
Wade Kawasaki Never Lifts
When we say Wade Kawasaki never lifts, we mean that figuratively and literally. From humble beginnings working at a service station as a kid, to racing, and coming up all the way up in the automotive industry to Executive Chairman at The Wheel Group, Wade has truly done it all. Wade and his wife Rose continue to play a pivotal role in keeping the automotive industry going and ensuring that it continues to grow. In his "free" time Wade also acts as Executive Director, Political Action Committee (PAC), for SEMA, making sure we can continue to do all those modifications we love to do that make our cars our own.
Autotrader and E-Rays
Dan gets some first hand experience using the surprisingly good "Buy It Now" Autotrader feature and the new E-Ray configurator is live! Does it change your mind on the new Z06? It may have changed ours!
Get Ready for Even Higher Car Prices... Again...
As the UAW strike comes to a close and wages go up, you can bet those CEOs aren’t going to take a pay cut, which means the money has to come from somewhere! Hint, it’s you, the consumer. This week we chat about the strike and how it’s going to be passed on to the consumers. Got some thoughts on the strike? Give us a call or text and let us know at 425-298-7873!
The Worst Rest Stops
In this episode we talk about the the worst places to drop your pants. We have done a lot of driving all over this great planet and we have found some incredible places to go, but every now and then we come across places you probably just shouldn't stop at.
Shop Talk - Facebook Marketplace Finds
Megan has Covid, Dan has a cold, Nick is still getting over his cold, and so of course we spent all of our time being sick browsing Facebook Marketplace for the coolest cars and other good deals. We found a snowcat, a fighter jet ejection seat, R8s, vintage Corvettes, pre-crashed motorcycles, and more!
The Saleen Solution
This week we have a very special guest, Steve Saleen! Steve joins and talks to us all about the creation of the Saleen brand, Mustangs, the S7, the Bronco, and the upcoming S1! This won't be the last you hear from Steve, he's got a lot more stories coming your way on upcoming episodes.
Experience Karen Brown - VP of Experiential Marketing and Events at Motor Trend!
Karen Brown has the job we all probably want to have, doing all the awesome car events you keep hearing about! Krissy and Adam met Karen and said she was a guest we just had to have, and sure enough, they were right! Karen has a wealth of knowledge to share and some great stories.
R.J. De Vera Continues to Make the Cars You Drive Cool
A lot of people have made a name for themselves in a part of the automotive industry, but R.J. De Vera helped make an entire division of it. If you're not working in the industry, you would probably know R.J. as the kid playing Gran Turismo in the first Fast & The Furious, but he was one of the main people responsible for bringing the cars to the movie itself. From his days working in print, to Hollywood consultant, to creating his own wheel brand, to a long career at Meguiars, and now the VP of Marketing for S.E.M.A, he is one of the main people keeping the automotive modding community going.
Victoria Vander Hoek - Not a Car Girl, A...
If you're in the PNW, you might know Victoria. From working The Shop to playing at the track to rebuilding her various car projects, she keeps herself pretty busy in the car community in spite of also being a full time student. Victoria got into cars on her own, just like any of you can do, and should. On this episode we talk about the unfortunate learning curve of necessity and have a few tips on keeping your car out of the hands of thieves. She also has a few UW parking tips if you're a fast runner.
Monterey Recap and the Engine Building Rabbit Hole
Nick is back from his annual trek of working Monterey Car week! Things are changing down there for sure, so if you haven't been to car week you definitely need to get it on your bucket list sooner than later. While Nick was way, Dan was busy installing a new gym and researching the in-and-outs of doubling or even tripling the horsepower on the Honda Monkeys. Are you a motorcycle tech? Have you gone down the engine building rabbit hole and had it go horribly wrong? Give us a call at 425-298-7873!
Hey, Watch This! More Shop Talk With Megan!
On this episode of Shop Talk we discuss the YouTube videos that keep us learning, laughing, and entertained like the true group of ADHD adults we all are. From mowing lawns to testing ratchets, we've got some good stuff for you to check out. Megan also officially buys Dan's Monkey and Dan shares his unrelenting desire for a sentry gun. Dan's Picks: https://www.youtube.com/@ProjectFarm https://www.youtube.com/@FortNine https://www.youtube.com/@mymechanics https://www.youtube.com/@SBMowing https://www.youtube.com/@TorqueTestChannel https://www.youtube.com/@TheStoryTillNow https://www.youtube.com/@VortexRadar Nick's Picks: https://www.youtube.com/@ColionNoir https://www.youtube.com/@throtl https://www.youtube.com/@mightycarmods https://www.youtube.com/@CrossTimbersBison https://www.youtube.com/@kallmekris https://www.youtube.com/@ARB4x4Accessories https://www.youtube.com/@SarahnTuned https://www.youtube.com/@GriotsGarage https://www.youtube.com/@TheStradman https://www.youtube.com/@channel199official https://www.youtube.com/@ItchyBoots https://www.youtube.com/@Formula1 https://www.youtube.com/@LiteBrite https://www.youtube.com/@ObsessedGarage Megan's Picks: https://www.youtube.com/@Donut https://www.youtube.com/@hubermanlab https://www.youtube.com/@chrisfix https://www.youtube.com/@CartNarcs https://www.youtube.com/@TheSmokingTire https://www.youtube.com/@TigerBelly Honorable Mentions: https://www.youtube.com/@Fluidride https://www.youtube.com/@Winefolly https://www.youtube.com/@ThrottleGrotto https://www.youtube.com/@essentialcraftsman Group Favorites: https://www.youtube.com/@EngineeringExplained https://www.youtube.com/@TheProjectGarage
So, You Want to go to Canada, Eh?
Dan took a big road trip up through Canada to Sun Peaks, Emerald Lake, Lake Louise, Banff, and Jasper National Parks and we think you should too. Outside of the Alps, this is probably the most beautiful mountain terrain on the planet, and it’s not even that far of a drive. Where do you think we should go next? Give us a call and let us know! 425-298-7873!
Pushing 200 for 300
This is our official 300th podcast episode! Rather than the usual walk down memory lane, we started discussing the desire of hitting the 200 MPH club. What’s the cheapest car we could do it in? What’s the fastest we’ve gone? Where would you do it? We would love to know if you have hit 200 MPH, so give us a call and leave us a voicemail! 425-298-7873! A special thanks to all of you who helped get us here. It’s a long list, but we couldn’t have ever done it without the support of Avants and our friends and families who are the reason we started this show. Thank you to all our sponsors, past and present, who we have had the luxury of truly believing in versus having to take what we were given like many syndicated shows. We are humbled by your support over the years.
The Monkeys Finally Invade McCall
After 2 years of planning and multiple hiccups, we finally took our capable Honda Monkeys to McCall to ride parts of the IDBDR and beyond. Friend and previous Backcountry Monkey participant Brian Elich joined us on our latest and longest adventure and joined us on this episode to give us his point of view on why McCall is still magic.
Have a Seat and Join Toby and Nicole from Scheel-Mann Seats
This is another episode where we interview some people and instantly wish they were closer so we could all hang out and be friends. We talked to Toby and Nicole Pond, the official importers of some of the finest seats on the market, Scheel-Mann. As we always say, spend your money where you spend your time, so if you love to drive like we do you owe yourself a pair of these top quality seats. More than that, Toby and Nicole have some really fun car stories and own some of the most incredible cars you know and love. Listen to their story of how they took a chance and made Scheel-Mann a name you know and respect here in the US.