Drive Thru News #61: Mechanical Tricks & Trackside Treats

This Break/Fix podcast episode features Steve Contarino, founder of Automobilia Vintage, as he delves into his journey of collecting automotive memorabilia. Steve discusses his passion for automotive history, rare artifacts, and vintage racing posters, and recounts his experiences with various car companies and collectible items. Alongside his stories, Steve shares insights into the collector market, the evolution of collecting trends, and offers advice for new collectors; highlighting the importance of preserving automotive history and the joy of collecting. ===== (Oo---x---oO) ===== 00:00:00 Meet Steve Contarino: Founder of Automobilia Vintage 00:01:26 Steve's Passion for Automotive History 00:02:56 Owning Checker Cab, The Company 00:06:56 The Birth of Automobilia Vintage 00:08:55 Collecting Rare Automobilia 00:29:16 The Intersection of Automobilia and Motorsport 00:34:37 Understanding Value vs. Worth in Collecting 00:36:19 The Significance of Fisher Craftsman's Guild Cars 00:38:52 Balancing Quality and Quantity in Collections 00:40:27 Evolution of the Collector Community; Generational Shifts in Collecting Trends 00:56:18 Advice for New Collectors 01:01:22 Future of Automobilia Vintage 01:05:44 Closing Remarks and Gratitude ==================== The Motoring Podcast Network : Years of racing, wrenching and Motorsports experience brings together a top notch collection of knowledge, stories and information. #everyonehasastory #gtmbreakfix - motoringpodcast.net More Information: Visit Our Website Become a VIP at: Patreon Online Magazine: Gran Touring Follow us on Social: Instagram This episode is sponsored in part by Garage Style Magazine. Since 2007, GSM has been the definitive source for car collectors, continually delivering information about Automobilia, Petroliana, Events and more... because after all, what doesn't belong in your garage?

In episode #61 of The Drive Thru we kick off with Halloween costumes related to car themes, automotive mishaps, and repair stories involving various vehicles like Volkswagens and Jeeps. We touch on the rising prices of new cars, advocating for keeping older cars on the road. Additionally, the discussion includes Volkswagen's shift away from EVs, Porsche's exit from racing programs, and a test drive review of the Cayman GT4. There's also news from Stellantis, a humorous segment on odd car commercials, and updates from the world of motorsports with a particular focus on Formula One and Petit Le Mans at Road Atlanta. The episode wraps up with a behind-the-scenes look at SIM racing, the closure of the Pittsburgh International Raceway (PittRace), and upcoming automotive events. ===== (Oo---x---oO) ===== 00:00:00 Halloween Humor and Costume Talk 00:02:16 Car Troubles and Repairs Discussion 00:25:43 The Cost of Car Repairs vs. Buying New 00:27:03 Future of Car Ownership and Maintenance 00:33:46 Lifetime Warranties on Car Parts 00:35:03 Independent Shops and DIY Repairs 00:37:32 Volkswagen's Racing Investments 00:50:14 Jeep Wrangler Hybrid Review 00:54:06 GM's Struggles with EVs 00:59:45 Lost and Found: Dodge Darts and Time Capsules 01:03:38 The Mystery of the British Guy in the White Suit 01:06:50 Tesla's Latest Controversy 01:08:31 Pumpkin Regatta and Florida Man 01:11:36 Book Club - Racing With Rich Energy 01:14:45 Are You Faster Than an Interceptor? 01:18:34 Motorsports News and Petite Le Mans 01:21:33 Formula One Season Finale Predictions 01:28:18 Sim Racing and Upcoming Games 01:35:16 Trackside Report and Pit Race Closure ==================== The Motoring Podcast Network : Years of racing, wrenching and Motorsports experience brings together a top notch collection of knowledge, stories and information. #everyonehasastory #gtmbreakfix - motoringpodcast.net More Information: Visit Our Website Become a VIP at: Patreon Online Magazine: Gran Touring Follow us on Social: Instagram

The Racers Roundtable, is a series sponsored by the Eastern Museum of Motor Racing - where history meets horsepower and legends live on! Each episode brings together voices from across the motorsports world, from grassroots heroes to seasoned veterans, as they share stories, insights, and behind-the-scenes tales that shaped their racing journeys. Whether you're a die-hard fan of dirt tracks, drag strips, or open-wheel icons, The Racers Roundtable is your seat at the table for candid conversations and timeless memories from those who lived it. Strap in tight, because it’s time to talk racing history, one lap at a time. In this episode, panelists Ken & Thelma Hall, Fred Bear, Greg Swenson, and Ken Bingham share personal stories and insights in the Golden Era of Gassers. They discuss their experiences in drag racing and the history behind some famous race cars. Highlights include tales about the origins and evolution of the Gasser class, detailed histories of specific race cars, and anecdotes reflecting the close-knit community and camaraderie among racers. The program concludes with a tribute to the heritage of motorsports and the lasting friendships formed through shared passion. ===== (Oo---x---oO) ===== 00:00:00 Meet the Panelists & Introductions 00:07:13 Ken Hall's Racing Legacy 00:20:21 Greg Swenson's Bracket Racing & Gasser History 00:36:26 Racing Adventures at Beaver Springs 00:39:26 The SNS Team and The Five Rings Story 00:43:52 Memories of Malcolm Durham 00:52:29 The Evolution of Safety in Racing 01:00:51 The Return of the Door 01:07:12 Building Race Cars from Orphaned Foreign Cars 01:14:04 The Surf Brothers' Racing Journey 01:14:46 The Importance of Friendships in Racing 01:21:12 Bracket Racing and Its Challenges 01:26:32 Pork's IRS Career and Musical Sons 01:31:14 The Bad News Car and Its Legacy 01:35:55 Closing Remarks and Thanks ==================== The Motoring Podcast Network : Years of racing, wrenching and Motorsports experience brings together a top notch collection of knowledge, stories and information. #everyonehasastory #gtmbreakfix - motoringpodcast.net More Information: Visit Our Website Become a VIP at: Patreon Online Magazine: Gran Touring Follow us on Social: Instagram This episode was recorded in front of a live audience at the Eastern Museum of Motor Racing. The EMMR is a premiere destination for motor racing enthusiasts, showcasing a vast collection of historic racing cars, artifacts and memorabilia. To learn more about the EMMR, or to take part of the next in-person Racers Roundtable - you can plan your visit or support the museum’s mission to preserve and celebrate the legacy of racing by heading to www.EMMR.org. Follow them on social media for the latest news, upcoming events, and exclusive content.  This content in this episode has been remastered and published with the EMMRs consent. Theme music "Country Rough" by Everet Almond.

Niagara Dragway was one of the most popular and iconic drag strips in New York State from the early 1960’s to 1974. “SUNDAY…NIAGARA” commercials boomed from superstation WKBW during that period making Niagara THE PLACE TO BE for maximum automotive excitement! During Niagara’s tenure, icons of the sport – Garlits, Muldowney, Prudhomme, McEwen, and many others rocketed down the Niagara quarter-mile. This presentation features track promoter, Dean Johnson and longtime competitor at Niagara - Jim Oddy – who is a member of both the NHRA Division 1 and International Drag Racing Hall of Fame. Sit back as we relive that history with stories, photos, and memories of those wild Sunday’s at Niagara! ===== (Oo---x---oO) ===== 00:00:00 The Birth of Niagara Dragway 00:04:52 Early Days and Challenges 00:07:23 Memorable Races and Innovations 00:11:49 Sponsorship and Community Involvement 00:23:48 NASCAR and NHRA Sanctioning 00:34:52 The Art of Promotion 00:38:22 Innovations and Safety in Racing 00:44:25 Drag Racing Classes and Competitions 00:51:04 The Business Side of Racing 00:57:08 The Legacy of Niagara Drag Racing 00:59:47 Jim Oddy: The Beginning of a Racing Journey 01:00:43 First Taste of Victory 01:00:56 The Indy Nationals Experience 01:01:30 Building and Racing the Anglia 01:05:04 Transition to Double B Gas Class & The Opel GT Era 01:06:55 Challenges with Funny Cars 01:09:01 Return to Competition Eliminator 01:15:39 Pro Mod Success and Hall of Fame Induction 01:19:43 Reflecting on the Drag Racing Community 01:26:16 Skyline Drag Racing Revival 01:32:10 Closing Remarks and Acknowledgements ==================== The Motoring Podcast Network : Years of racing, wrenching and Motorsports experience brings together a top notch collection of knowledge, stories and information. #everyonehasastory #gtmbreakfix - motoringpodcast.net More Information: https://www.motoringpodcast.net/ Become a VIP at: https://www.patreon.com/gtmotorsports Online Magazine: https://www.gtmotorsports.org/ This episode is part of our HISTORY OF MOTORSPORTS SERIES and is sponsored in part by: The International Motor Racing Research Center (IMRRC), The Society of Automotive Historians (SAH), The Watkins Glen Area Chamber of Commerce, and the Argetsinger Family. 

On this episode of Break/Fix’s “Women of the Autosphere” series we’re thrilled to welcome Sabre Cook - a true force in motorsports whose journey is as inspiring as it is impressive. From her early days karting in Colorado to breaking barriers in open-wheel racing, Sabre has proven herself both on and off the track. She’s not only competed in elite series like W Series, USF2000, and Indy Pro 2000, but she’s also balanced her racing career with a background in mechanical engineering, working with some of the biggest names in the automotive industry. In a sport where talent, tenacity, and technical skill must work in perfect harmony, Sabre embodies the full package—paving the way for the next generation of women in racing. And, we’ll dive into her path, her perseverance, and her vision for the future of motorsports. ===== (Oo---x---oO) ===== 00:00 Meet Sabre Cook: A Force in Motorsports 01:50 Sabre's Early Racing Journey 04:05 Balancing Racing and Education 07:46 Applying Engineering to Racing 15:43 Sponsorship Challenges and Successes 18:05 Women in Motorsport: Progress and Challenges 19:07 Comparing F1 Academy and W Series 21:50 Joining Porsche Cup Racing & Development Program 27:49 Generations of Porsche Drivers 32:04 Advice for Aspiring Drivers 37:40 Future Plans and Shoutouts 40:32 Closing Remarks ==================== The Motoring Podcast Network : Years of racing, wrenching and Motorsports experience brings together a top notch collection of knowledge, stories and information. #everyonehasastory #gtmbreakfix - motoringpodcast.net More Information: https://www.motoringpodcast.net/ Become a VIP at: https://www.patreon.com/gtmotorsports Online Magazine: https://www.gtmotorsports.org/

Like most of us, William S. Jackson, became involved with automobiles at an early age. During the early 1950’s, he was a member Penn State University’s hot rod club, and in the mid-50’s he was racing in SCCA events with a Jaguar 120-M and some Morgans. After his military service, he completed his degree at Penn State and began a lifelong career in journalism. His editorship of major vintage car clubs magazines during the 1960’s and 70’s gives Bill credit as one the founders who launched the then-fledgling “old car hobby” turning it into the vibrant community and economic powerhouse that it is today. Bill is a charter member of the Society of Automotive Historians, founded in October of 1969. And during the Annual SAH Awards Banquet in 2023 in Hershey, Pennsylvania, Bill presented his Auto-Biography to the banquet audience, including his recollections of the early days of the SAH; and the following recording was made by Bill, from that same script, in 2024. ===== (Oo---x---oO) ===== The Motoring Podcast Network : Years of racing, wrenching and Motorsports experience brings together a top notch collection of knowledge, stories and information. #everyonehasastory #gtmbreakfix - motoringpodcast.net More Information: https://www.motoringpodcast.net/ Become a VIP at: https://www.patreon.com/gtmotorsports Online Magazine: https://www.gtmotorsports.org/ This episode is sponsored in part by THE SOCIETY OF AUTOMOTIVE HISTORIANS (SAH); The SAH encourages research into any aspect of automotive history, and actively supports the compilation and preservation of papers, organizational records, print ephemera, and images to safe-guard, broaden, and deepen the understanding of motorized, wheeled land transportation through the modern age and into the future. For further information on the SAH visit www.autohistory.org

Jon Summers is the Motoring Historian. He was a company car thrashing technology sales rep that turned into a fairly inept sports bike rider. On his show he gets together with various co-hosts to talk about new and old cars, driving, motorbikes, motor racing, motoring travel. Jon opens the show with an anecdote about his son Ollie's go-karting experiences at both gas and electric karting events. He recounts the ups and downs of Ollie's races and emphasizes the sportsmanship displayed. The discussion then shifts to broader topics: Jon and his co-host Mark Gammie reminisce about memorable driving experiences and classic cars. They debate the concept of 'peak car,' particularly valuing models from the early 2000s for their balance of technology and driving experience. The conversation also meanders through various automotive histories, discussing the evolution of driving aids like traction control, and touching on specific car models such as the Toyota 2000 and Mazda Cosmo. They end by considering auto imports and the market for classic European cars in the U.S. ==================== 00:00 Introduction & Welcome 00:43 Anecdote: Ollie's Karting Adventure 05:11 Discussing Racecraft and Techniques 08:57 Exploring California Roads 11:44 Debating Peak Cars 21:42 Debating Traction Control 24:24 Motorbike Traction Control and Safety Aids 25:43 Exciting New Cars and Tech 27:08 Hot Hatches and European Imports 33:11 Classic Japanese Cars and Their Appeal 37:26 Toyota's Iconic Models 39:10 Conclusion and Credits ===== (Oo---x---oO) ===== The Motoring Podcast Network : Years of racing, wrenching and Motorsports experience brings together a top notch collection of knowledge, stories and information. #everyonehasastory #gtmbreakfix - motoringpodcast.net More Information: https://www.motoringpodcast.net/ Become a VIP at: https://www.patreon.com/gtmotorsports Online Magazine: https://www.gtmotorsports.org/ Copyright Jon Summers, The Motoring Historian. This content is also available via jonsummers.net. This episode is part of the Motoring Podcast Network and has been republished with permission.

Tonight, we have an opportunity to bring a piece of Le Mans to you, sharing in the Legend of Le Mans with guests from different eras of over 100 years of racing.  Butch Leitzinger, best known as an ALMS driver with Dyson Racing, he has also driven for a variety of other teams and race series. He is a three time winner of the Daytona 24 hours in 1994, ‘97 and ‘99. He won two IMSA driver's championship titles in both 1997 and 1998 while driving for Dyson Racing, and was named 2002 Rookie of the Year in the Trans-Am Series; and has raced in both the NEXTEL and Busch NASCAR series. Butch has attempted to conquer the 24 hours of Le Mans 6 times in his career, driving for Panoz in 1997 and ‘99, team Cadillac in 2000, then clinching a podium with Bentley in 2001, and  returning to Bentley in 2002 with a final run with Risi Competizione in 2003; and he’s here with us tonight to share his motorsports journey with us! ===== (Oo---x---oO) ===== 00:00 Meet Butch Leitzinger 01:50 Butch's First Encounter with LeMans 03:53 Challenges and Experiences at LeMans 06:37 Comparing Daytona and LeMans 11:53 Racing with Panoz: The Journey Continues 13:13 Switching Teams: From Panoz to Cadillac 16:19 The Bentley Era: High Stakes and Iconic Wins 23:14 Comparing the Bentley to Other Cars 25:10 The 2002 Bentley Campaign 28:14 Bentley's 2003 Victory and Controversy 30:25 Transitioning to Ferrari and GT Racing 32:53 Lessons from LeMans 34:58 Advice for Aspiring LeMans Racers 38:33 Modern Prototypes and Future Prospects 41:51 Closing Thoughts and Acknowledgements ==================== The Motoring Podcast Network : Years of racing, wrenching and Motorsports experience brings together a top notch collection of knowledge, stories and information. #everyonehasastory #gtmbreakfix - motoringpodcast.net More Information: https://www.motoringpodcast.net/ Become a VIP at: https://www.patreon.com/gtmotorsports Online Magazine: https://www.gtmotorsports.org/ To learn more about or to become a member of the ACO USA, look no further than www.lemans.org, Click on English in the upper right corner and then click on the ACO members tab for Club Offers. Once you become a Member you can follow all the action on the Facebook group ACOUSAMembersClub; and become part of the Legend with future Evening With A Legend meet ups.

In the 60th episode of The Drive Thru, the team takes a dive into automotive headlines, motorsports, and quirky car stories. They reflect on cars from their childhoods, discuss concepts of 'good cars,' and debate the status of brands like Infiniti and Jaguar. The episode features a segment on the return of classic car parts, mentions dramatic races at VIR, and speculates on the future of sports and endurance racing. They wrap up with news on Max Verstappen's potential F1 championship, modern car news, and various shenanigans involving unusual vehicles. ===== (Oo---x---oO) ===== 00:00:00 Introduction and Welcome 00:02:42 Where Did All the Good Cars Go? 00:03:10 The Rise and Fall of 90s Japanese Cars 00:04:24 The German Car Dilemma; The Volkswagen Journey 00:11:50 To Infiniti and Beyond 00:20:57 Jaguar's Identity Crisis 00:31:53 Resurrecting Old Cars: Brad's New Whip! #PSL 00:34:35 Volkswagen and Audi News 00:39:03 Ferrari's New Testarossa 00:42:36 Mercedes Powered by BMW? 00:49:00 Nissan's Manual Transmission Comeback 00:52:10 BYD's Record-Breaking Electric Car 00:54:49 Remembering the Father of the Miata 01:05:49 Amazon Sells Hertz Cars 01:12:23 Formula One Movie Review 01:16:54 GTM Book Club: Racing Literature Recommendations 01:19:07 Florida Man Stories! 01:27:45 Daniel Ricciardo's Retirement Announcement 01:29:41 Lamborghini's Exit from Hypercar Racing 01:32:17 Max Verstappen's Endurance Racing Journey 01:33:41 Forza Motorsport Cancellation and Racing Games 01:36:58 Alex Taylor's Speed Record 01:38:11 Formula One Season Highlights and Predictions 01:51:18 GTM Trackside Report and Upcoming Events; Closing Remarks and Sponsorship Acknowledgements ==================== The Motoring Podcast Network : Years of racing, wrenching and Motorsports experience brings together a top notch collection of knowledge, stories and information. #everyonehasastory #gtmbreakfix - motoringpodcast.net More Information: https://www.motoringpodcast.net/ Become a VIP at: https://www.patreon.com/gtmotorsports Online Magazine: https://www.gtmotorsports.org/

Wheels of Time: A Retrospective on Automotive Innovation is a series highlighting the significant developments in both the automotive industry and motorsports, showcasing the rapid advancements in technology, the establishment of notable and iconic brands, and the constant changes in competitive racing as a popular sport. With each lap that the Wheels of Time completes, is another transformative period that laid the groundwork for future innovations in both vehicle manufacturing and racing.  And up next, the Top-50 most significant developments in the Automotive Industry and Motorsports for the year: 1972 ===== (Oo---x---oO) ===== The Motoring Podcast Network : Years of racing, wrenching and Motorsports experience brings together a top notch collection of knowledge, stories and information. #everyonehasastory #gtmbreakfix - motoringpodcast.net More Information: https://www.motoringpodcast.net/ Become a VIP at: https://www.patreon.com/gtmotorsports Online Magazine: https://www.gtmotorsports.org/ This episode is sponsored in part by THE SOCIETY OF AUTOMOTIVE HISTORIANS (SAH); The SAH encourages research into any aspect of automotive history, and actively supports the compilation and preservation of papers, organizational records, print ephemera, and images to safe-guard, broaden, and deepen the understanding of motorized, wheeled land transportation through the modern age and into the future. For further information on the SAH visit www.autohistory.org Voice over by Revel Arroway and music by Ultra Cat, "Disco High"