Bill Lear and Vapordyne

Bill Lear invented radio equipment, the 8-track player, the Lear Jet, and founded the Vapordyne company to research steam-powered vehicles. Notable events in his life include working with a deposed monarch, naming his daughter after a lighting fixture, and the fateful purchase of a sailboat. Plus: Bryant contemplates e-bikes, Conner pisses off the neighbors, and Zach's Danger Ranger accumulates problems. Main topic at 31:55 Email us with tips, stories, and unhinged rants: [email protected] // Our social media links etc: www.linktr.ee/CarsAndComrades // Music by King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard: www.kinggizzardandthelizardwizard.com/polygondwanaland // Links/Sources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Lear // Bryant was wrong, Horatio Alger was an author, not a fictional character. He wrote lots of "rags to riches" novels. This was one of his most famous: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ragged_Dick // Goodyear Inflato-Plane https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goodyear_Inflatoplane // https://www.hagerty.com/media/automotive-history/was-bill-lears-steam-powered-vapordyne-more-than-indy-racer-vaporware/ // Lear with the Indy car and CHP test car under construction: https://youtu.be/nJ2nmyhSBAk // https://www.hemmings.com/stories/2019/11/07/bill-lear-once-tried-to-build-an-indianapolis-motor-speedway-in-reno-just-to-test-his-steam-powered-racer // https://www.hagerty.com/media/automotive-history/was-bill-lears-steam-powered-vapordyne-more-than-indy-racer-vaporware/ // https://www.sfmta.com/blog/munis-steam-powered-bus //