Francesco D'Avola - Drive With Dave Podcast

Newbie or seasoned driver, road racing is a sport that demands the right car, the right mindset, and lots of practice. If you have decided you want to drive fast on the race track, you will want to meet Bart Wolf. People kept telling me how this guy in Wisconsin was truly passionate about helping amateur racing enthusiasts experience the thrill of motor sports, and we spent a while together as he explained how he became so focused on introducing amateur drivers to becoming faster on the track. Wolf Motorsports is situated a mile or so from the famous Road America Race Track in Elkhart Lake Wisconsin, just a few short hours north of Chicago. In this podcast, Bart talks about his operation, his decades of experience building, maintaining and restoring racing machines, and his dedication to the needs of both amateur and professional racing drivers.

John Delane has driven 106 tracks, more than 400 events in more than 21 countries! 34 years of road racing has taken him around the world in a quest for the perfect lap. Join me as our conversation talks about his 2 Formula One cars, Jackie Stewart, and here his advice on how to become one of the best sports car drivers!!

Ex-NFL Brett Miller sits down with me to talk about his 10 years in professional football, and later how he ended up in front of the TV cameras at KTLA, Los Angeles. Brett talks about the draft, concussions, and a dozen painful surgeries just to keep playing because he knows there's 1000 other guys waiting to take his place. When the money comes so did the good times, and we talk about professional athletes and their passion for exotic cars, and a lifestyle most only dream of. From his first car to what he's owned and what he wants to buy next. Ands finally, Brett opens up about life's lessons learned in the NFL, and why he wants to share those lessons with the world.

Driven by speed? So is Francesco D'Avola, owner of Team Stradale at the Autobahn in Joliet, Illinois. He and his team, eat, sleep and breathe motor sports, helping both novice and experienced drivers in perfecting their racing technique. I've known him and his family long enough to call him Frankie, but I don't; he's grown up, extremely successful, and passionate about sharing his enthusiasm for speed with the world. https://teamstradale.com/

From his humble beginnings as a teen age apprentice in a machine shop, to fabricating drive systems for Formula One racing cars, Ken Hill of METALORE, INC., in El Segundo, CA. can count Ferrari, McLaren and others as clients. Currently working on lightening components for the reigning champion, Mercedes’ Formula One Team, Ken is constantly challenged to create racing parts for the most competitive motor sport in the world. Here, Ken gives his take on F-1 team philosophies, why he bought a Cobra from Carroll Shelby at lunch one day, and then modified it, and how his friendship with Dan Gurney led him to own one of Gurney’s Eagle racing cars. This man has been around the block; quickly.

It's 2019 media days at the L.A. Auto Show, and Paul Rivera, new CEO for ElectraMeccanica, was gracious with his time. Paul introduces the newest Solo, a single seat all-electric vehicle that will revolutionize commuting on a global scale. I had a fascinating few minutes with the visionary, and the tidal wave ElectraMeccanica is creating in world wide transportation.

"I never met a car that couldn't use a lot more horsepower," he says to me. Oh yes, from an Audi R8 with a supercharger, to an Alfa Romeo with an engine swap we talk about his twenty some car collection, as he shares his thought on what constitutes, "a good life." Car collector, philanthropist, world traveler, Harvard educated Bob Funari rolls up his sleeves and talks about his life philosophy, and how serving the underprivileged has become his passion.

Homeless at 21, Tommy Tallarico has performed live in front of 100,000 people, and that’s just for starters. He is is the creator of the multi-award winning series Video Games Live, TV personality, and is followed by millions internationally. With 5 Guinness Book of World Records to his name and constantly on the go, Tommy talks sports cars, music, and how he was Inspired by his famous cousin, Steven Tyler of Aerosmith. Together we talk about his Ferraris, his success mindset, and the power of being a “super sleeper”.

David Heinemeier Hansson's philosophy on stoicism, and his take on what constitutes "a good life," is a fascinating insight into focus, discipline, and business, all rolled into one. Creator of Ruby on Rails, co-creator of Basecamp (née 37 Signals), from not having a driver's license until 25, to 4 podiums at Le Mans, angel investor, public speaker, writer and entrepreneur, David's been uber-successful by any measure. But rather than  to burning the candle at both ends do reach his goals, David's approach to the 21st Century is aptly summed up in his latest book, "It Doesn't Have To Be Crazy At Work", a follow-up to "Rework" and "Remote: Office Not Required ". It Doesn't Have To Be Crazy At Work". Creativity comes in blocks of time, whether it's turning laps on the race track, or writing a book", and David discusses how he manages to get stuff done, as stress-less as possible.

Some know Joel Weinberger as a dealer principal at Continental Autosports in Hinsdale, IL, others as one of the fastest guys around a track and son of a famous dad.  But most just see him as a nice guy, intensely passionate about cars in general and Ferraris in particular. I spend some time talking about his love of racing, his personal family, and his business family that he oversees at Continental Autosports.