BACKBONE | A BFGoodrich Garage Podcast

In 2016, the Performance Team drove two BC cars in the Baja 1000. However, this year, almost everyone on the team got sick. Some folks couldn't race; some chose to get sick in the car; but at the end the BC teams took home a 1-2 finish in their class.

The Baja 1000 is rightly focused on racing, but to get from start to finish, you need a support system. The BFG Pits — a mostly volunteer crew of mechanics, engineers, and enthusiasts — have been that support system for years. We talk with Bob Bower, the founder of the pit support network, as well as Nate Hunt, who currently oversees the pits.

"Crossover" is a dirty word when it comes to vehicles, but for BFGoodrich® Tires Performance Team members, it means the opportunity to drive one of the toughest races on Earth. Bud Brutsman, Brian Finch, Kyle Tucker, and Andrew Comrie-Picard join us to talk about what it's like to go from driving on tarmac to driving in Baja.

Just because you can get your car pointed down the highway doesn't mean you know how to drive. On this episode, we're joined by a few folks who know how to teach the art of driving: Terry Earwood, chief instructor at the Skip Barber Racing School; Mike Johnson, the owner of Evolution Performance Driving School; and Dan McKeever, president of the Ford Performance Racing School.

Brian Finch, James Lin, and Pedro Murillo join us to talk about the allure of building for the street, not to mention building communities around cars.

Grassroots means many things to many people. In this episode, we hear from a gamut of racers: off-road and on-road; inexperienced and experienced; weekend autocrossers and trophy truck drivers. As it turns out, grassroots isn't just about resources. It's an attitude and a mindset. 

BFGoodrich® Tires built its reputation by being a friend of the racer — especially the little guys. Peter Calhoun, BFGoodrich® Tires' motorsports marketing director, joins us to talk about his role.

When we're little, everyone plays in the dirt — boys and girls. Charlene Bower and Sara Price talk about how they — and other women in the automotive industry — are making sure that's still the case.

The 1970s formed the backbone of BFGoodrich® Tires' modern legacy and reputation. Tires mattered, but people mattered more. On this episode, Bob Bower, Jeff Cummings, and Richard Winchester join us to talk about their role in the beginning.