How A 1968 Road Runner Hit 12 Minutes Up Pikes Peak

A 12-mile road, 156 turns, and stretches with no guardrail is a different kind of “car review” of the human brain. We sit down with Pikes Peak Hill Climb driver Ben Ryan to hear what it’s really like to aim a purpose-built monster at the summit and keep your eyes on the next apex instead of the thousand-foot drop beside you.Ben breaks down his journey from watching the mountain as a kid to finally earning a spot after years of applying, then going back again and again because nothing else compares. We get into the details of Big Bird, an unforgettable build that pairs a 1968 Plymouth Road Runner body with a NASCAR chassis and roughly 800 horsepower to the wheels. Ben explains how he manages focus at altitude, why course familiarity matters when corners blend together, and how tire development data can change everything when you’re pushing hard on a narrow mountain road.After the hill climb, we pivot to the headlines drivers see every week. Jeff’s Motor Minute digs into Ford reliability news, JD Power initial quality rankings, and why “award” stories can look very different next to recall reports. Don also reviews the all-new 2026 Subaru Trailseeker EV, covering design, cabin tech, real-world charging habits, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, range expectations, and where it sits against electric SUV competitors.Subscribe for more real car talk, share this with a friend who loves motorsports or EVs, and leave a review so more listeners can find us. What’s the most extreme drive you’d try, Pikes Peak or an EV road trip?Be sure to subscribe for more In Wheel Time Car Talk! Gulf Coast Auto ShieldPaint protection, tint, and more!The Lupe' Tortilla RestaurantsLupe Tortilla in Katy, TexasDisclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.----  ----- Want more In Wheel Time car talk any time?     In Wheel Time is now available on Audacy!  Just go to Audacy.com/InWheelTime where ever you are.-----   -----Be sure to subscribe on your favorite podcast provider for the next episode of In Wheel Time Podcast and check out our live multiplatform broadcast every Saturday, 10a - 12nCT simulcasting on Audacy, YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, Twitch and InWheelTime.com.In Wheel Time Podcast can be heard on you mobile device from providers such as:Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music Podcast, Spotify, SiriusXM Podcast, iHeartRadio podcast, TuneIn + Alexa, Podcast Addict, Castro, Castbox, YouTube Podcast and more on your mobile device.Follow InWheelTime.com for the latest updates!Twitter: https://twitter.com/InWheelTimeInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/inwheeltime/https://www.youtube.com/inwheeltimehttps://www.Facebook.com/InWheelTimeFor more information about In Wheel Time Podcast, email us at [email protected]