The Weekly Driver Podcast

Tarra Warnes and her husband once owned two Yugos. The sub-compact three-door hatchback and two-door convertible are often cited as the worst vehicles in history. The Yugo enthusiast family's idea was to use one vehicle to provide parts for its counterpart's restoration as a race car. The outcome isn't as relevant as the irony of Warnes telling the tale. She's vice president of creative strategy at Hagerty. It's the insurance company, marketplace, magazine, website publisher and automotive event organizer focusing on classic cars and their owners. Tarra is our guest this week on The Weekly Driver Podcast. Co-host Bruce Aldrich and I interview Warnes about Hagerty's advancement from a small company to its current status with more than 1,700 employees. The company began in 1984. Husband and wife Frank and Louise Hagerty couldn't find satisfactory insurance coverage for their wooden boats, so their new Michigan company did. Insurance for cars and other vehicles followed. The couple's son McKeel Hagerty became CEO in 2000. "We started as a niche insurance company; it was built by people who love cars and it was built for people who love cars," said Warnes, a 15-year employee. "We have grown now in 40 years to insure about 2.4 million vehicles and we are a community and hub for millions of classic car lovers." From its insurance beginnings, Hagerty's magazine, the company reports, has 815,000 print subscribers and a "robust" online presence with social media channels. Hagerty is also the "steward" for multiple automotive events. The brand's most recent offering is Marketplace where consumers can buy and sell vehicles. Live auctions are also held via Hagerty's relationship with Broad Arrow Auctions. The company also owns the Greenwich Concours d'Elégance, Concours d’Elegance of America and the Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance. It also established MotorsportReg.com and Hagerty Garage. The magazine's success has prompted substantially increased public brand awareness. The publication debuted nearly 25 years ago, but it was renamed Hagerty Drivers Club Magazine in 2020 and it's part of member benefits. It's also available as a stand-alone subscription. Published six times per year, the country's largest automotive publication has a lifestyle slant. It's largely absent of engine performance nuances, gear ratio analyses and other automotive complexities. Columnists include renowned collector and entertainer Jay Leno and Wayne Carini, the car restorer and television personality whose prominence arrived with the 2008 debut of the documentary series "Chasing Classic Cars." Warnes' responsibilities encompass marketing the Hagerty brand. The company's approach is far removed from heavy-handedness. "We are not trying to hit people over the head with direct marketing or product all the time," she said. "I think that really great brands can create really compelling content that people enjoy seeing and that bring a smile to their face, that puts a tear in their eyes and that sort of connects with them on an emotional level." Recent article headlines provide ideal examples: "Tattoo artist’s ’56 Bel Air Sport Sedan is a rolling marquee," "This restored 1969 Ford Torino is staying in the family," and "Blind at 58, one man chose to keep loving life—and his classic Plymouth." Hagerty's year-long anniversary campaign includes a television commercial, broadcast on various networks, titled "Keepers of the Flame." It's "to signal to the automotive world that Hagerty has 'plenty left in the tank' for the next 40 years." What vehicles qualify is subjective. The Warnes sold their Yugos when they moved and downsized their garage space. They no longer own a classic, but may have a future purchase. Tarra Warnes drives a red Volkswagen Jetta turbo diesel wagon. But she desires a car from her childhood, a station wagon from the mid-1980s or a minivan from the early 1990s.

Jarred Pellat is the senior manager public relations and communications of Genesis Motor North America. It's the eight-year-old luxury vehicle division of the South Korean vehicle manufacturer Hyundai Motor Company. A native of Canada who lived in South Korea for several years, Pellat is our guest on this episode of The Weekly Driver Podcast. The 2023 Genesis GV70 was the carmaker's first vehicle made in the United States. Photo © Bruce Aldrich/2022. Co-host Bruce Aldrich was on assignment, so John Berg, a new automotive columnist and photographer for The Weekly Driver, joined me for our interview during Best of the West. Pellat, the fourth employee of the Genesis, was a guest during a two-day gathering of the Western Automotive Journalists (WAJ), the San Francisco Bay Area organization of automotive media professionals and industry influencers. During the two-day gathering, nine manufacturers provided 13 vehicles to test drive from our headquarters at Vinter's Resort in Santa Rosa, California. Genesis had two vehicles on site: the 2023 Electrified GV70 Prestige AWD and the 2023 Electrified G80 AWD. Pellat discussed the two vehicles at the presentation, and we also discussed the quick ascension of the manufacturer, its eight-vehicle lineup and the growing list of accolades Genesis has received in recent years. Please join us as Pellat details plans for Genesis, its small but growing locations of Genesis-specific showrooms and the carmaker's philosophy for its automobiles.

John Vincent, senior editor and automotive correspondent for U.S. News & World Report, has more than 25 years of experience covering the auto industry. In addition to reviewing vehicles, he has vast expertise in auto financing, leasing and buying. He's also an expert observer and commentator regarding the current United Auto World strike. The UAW strike is a united effort to improve wages and benefits. As the strike approaches its one-month duration, Vincent is our guest on this episode of The Weekly Driver Podcast. Co-hosts Bruce Aldrich and James Raia discuss with the veteran writer the current status of the strike and what it means to the automakers and union members. How have the communities throughout the Detroit area been affected? Has the strike changed the industry for consumers? Does Vincent see the strike ending soon or could it continue into 2024? How does the Biden Administration view the current situation? We also discuss with Vincent the automotive industry's focus on electric vehicles and what it may or may not mean to consumers. Please join us for a 30-minute insight into the strike from an industry and sought-after media guest. A member of the North American Car, Truck and Utility Vehicle of the Year Awards (NACTOY) jury, Vincent joined U.S. News & World Report after a long newspaper career at The (Portland) Oregonian and The Portland Tribune.

Adam Olalde is the founder and CEO of Xtreme Xperience. The Chicago-based company provides unique driving experiences in luxury cars mixed with racetrack and lifestyle experiences. Olalde, who began his business after working for a luxury car rental service, is our guest this week on The Weekly Driver Podcast. Co-hosts Bruce Aldrich and James Raia discuss with Olalde the fascination consumers have in exotic and high-performance vehicles — from Lamborghini to Porsche to Rolls-Royce. Xtreme Xperience provides high-performance drives and lifestyle packages in unique vehicles. Images courtesy of the company. The business began with Olalde renting vehicles for one-hour test drives throughout Chicago. The idea expanded to test drives at a nearby racetrack. Since the company's debut in 2012, the company reports it has helped more than 300,000 people cross 'drive an exotic car' off their buckets list at more than 50 driving destinations nationwide. Xtreme Xperience offers several travel and entertainment packages, all centered around an expansive lineup of unique vehicles. It's not uncommon, Olalde explains, that the joyful experience of driving a highly desirable car leads to a wedding proposal. Please join Bruce and me as we spend 30 minutes with a business owner passionate about unique cars and providing unique driving experiences.

Michael Coates has done it all as an automotive journalist, from writer and editor to publishing and broadcast analysis. He's currently the editor and publisher of Clean Fleet Report, a well-respected automotive website focusing on automotive environmental issues. Coates, who also serves as Automotive Editor at Innovation & Tech Today magazine and writes for Autoweek magazine, is our guest this week on The Weekly Driver Podcast. The idea of car-sharing helps car owners save money and it also reduces traffic. A recently updated post on Clean Fleet Report discussing the evolving and revolving companies involved in shared mobility piqued our interest. The article begins: "Car sharing has changed dramatically since Clean Fleet Report first reported on it almost two decades ago. While it was picking up steam at that point, in the years since it has morphed and been influenced by changing technology, both in vehicles and in the software that enables the service. "Some big players have jumped in and then retreated. Some auto companies have incorporated car-sharing elements into their new business enterprises. Some small players were gobbled up by bigger companies." Podcast co-hosts Bruce Aldrich and James Raia discuss with Coates the most well-known car-sharing platforms (Uber and Lyft) and not-so-well-known options such as Turo, vRide and Getaround. Coates, an alternative engine proponent, also shares his opinion of the industry, including the future (or lack of a future) of hydrogen vehicles. Please join Bruce and me as we spend 30 minutes with a passionate automotive expert.

Gunther Buerman and his wife Maggie Buerman opened the Newport Car Museum in 2017 in Portsmouth, Rhode Island. They've constantly updated the combined automobile and history museum including its latest presentation — an homage to Porsche. Gunther Buerman, whose interest in automobiles began as a young boy when practiced wax paper transfer etchings of car advertisements from National Geographic Magazine, is our guest on this week's episode of The Weekly Driver Podcast. A repeat guest who was willed a 1966 Ford Mustang nearly 40 years ago, Buerman owns dozens of vehicles, none any more important than his collection of the German sports cars of his early youth. The Newport Car Museum has a new permanent display of Porsches. He moved to New York as a young boy with his family where Buerman eventually became an attorney. He's the former chairman of Harris Beach, LLC, a major New York law firm. From his early life fondness for cars, Buerman and his wife, who live in Highland Beach, Florida and Newport, R.I., have established the largest auto museum on the East Coast. Co-host Bruce Aldrich and I interview the car collector and avid sailor about his nearly lifelong interest in cars, notably the expansive collection of prized Porsches at the Newport Car Museum Starting with a 1956 Porsche 356a Speedster, the Museum’s collection includes every Speedster developed to date. The Speedster was redesigned in 1989, ’94, 2011 and for a final time in 2019. After the 356 came a legend among modern automobiles, the Porsche 911. Ahead of its time when introduced in 1964, the rear-engine 911 evolved over three decades when Porsche introduced a new 911 Carrera in 1999. Among the Museum’s 911s are a 1979 930 Turbo, a 2016 Targa 4S and three GTs – the 2011 GT3 RS 4.0, 2016 GT3 RS, and 2018 GT2 RS Weissach – the latter representing the highest-powered (700 hp), dual-track-and-road cars of their vintage. The museum's 2005 Carrera GT is one of the last real supercars with manual transmission: a naturally aspirated 10-cylinder "monster." Finally, the 2015 918 in the collection is forever relevant as one in the trifecta of current hypercars. The McLaren P1 and Ferrari La Ferrari are the also in the prized threesome. The vehicles in the Newport Auto Museum are complemented by mid-20th Center Modern furnishings of renowned international designers and automotive artworks by Los Angeles-based artist David Lloyd Glover. Please join Bruce Aldrich and me as we spend 30 minutes with a passionate automotive expert. THE NEWPORT CAR MUSEUM PREVIOUSLY ON THE WEEKLY DRIVER PODCAST #228 Newport Car Museum artist David Lloyd Glover #226 Newport Car Museum Visionary Gunther Buerman The Newport Car Museum, 1947 West Main Rd., Portsmouth, R.I., is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Email: [email protected]; Phone: 401-848-2277; Website: https://newportcarmuseum.org

John Kraman knows the car auction business as well as a broadcaster. He's the senior member of the Mecum Auctions team and the only announcer who's been on all 16 years of the country's largest automobile auctions broadcast. He's our guest this week on The Weekly Driver Podcast. With broadcast colleagues and varied responsibility crew, co-hosts Bruce Aldrich and James Raia discuss with Kraman the auction's participation Aug. 17-19 in Monterey Auto Week. Mecum is the only daytime auction during what is now nearly a two-week celebration on the Monterey Peninsula of all things automotive. 1963 Shelby 289 Cobra Roadster. Thought to be the 100th production car, per serial number, following the initial prototype car. Billed to Shelby American on March 13, 1963. All images courtesy of Mecum Auctions/2023. The Monterey stop on the Mecum Auctions nearly yearlong circuit is the company's smallest in volume. About 600 vehicles are sold in three days. But the Monterey Auction, held at the Hyatt Regency and the adjoining Old Del Monte Golf Course, has the auction's highest average amount per individual sale. Kraman, a repeat guest who's also a vintage car collector, details how the auction works live and with remote bidding. A mechanic and pilot, Kraman joins his colleagues with a fast-paced presentation. He knows the pedigrees of all of the vehicles and details each one like it’s his favorite. 1966 Chevrolet Corvette Race Car. The only 1966 Corvette campaigned by Alan Green Chevrolet and raced by Gary Gove in SCCA AP Class competition. As always, rarities will be highlighted during the Mecum Auctions. But attainable vehicles are the norm. As in past years, vehicles are auctioned every few minutes. It's the only auction televised live during Monterey Auto Week. Here are three unique vehicles ready for auction during Mecum Auction's gathering in Monterey: 1948 Packard Super 8 Convertible Victoria. Currently owned and for the past decade by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, six-time NBA Champion, and the league's only six-time MVP. The Packard was one of 4,750 built for 1948; 1963 Shelby 289 Cobra Roadster. Thought to be the 100th production car, per serial number, following the initial prototype car. Billed to Shelby American on March 13, 1963; 1966 Chevrolet Corvette Race Car. The only 1966 Corvette campaigned by Alan Green Chevrolet and raced by Gary Gove in SCCA AP Class competition. For more information on Mecum Auctions Monterey 2023 and all other Mecum auctions, visit Mecum.com. Mecum’s website is updated daily with the latest consignments and includes detailed descriptions and photographs of the vehicles to be offered. For schedule information, to consign a vehicle or to register as a bidder for this and all Mecum events, visit Mecum.com, or call (262) 275-5050 for more information. Auction Schedule: The Daytime Auction: Mecum Monterey 2023, Aug. 17-19, 2023 Hyatt Regency Monterey Hotel and Spa – Del Monte Golf Course1 Old Golf Course Rd.Monterey, CA 93940 Bidder Registration: Options for in-person, telephone and internet bidding start at $100 Admission: $20 in advance online, and $30 at the door and online after Aug. 16—per person, per day; children 12 and younger receive complimentary admission Preview: Gates open daily at 8 a.m. Auction: Vehicles begin at 10 a.m. on Thursday, Aug. 17, and at 9 a.m. on Friday, Aug. 18 and Saturday, Aug. 19 TV: Friday, Aug. 18 from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. (Live) on MotorTrendTV and MotorTrend+ and from 2-6 p.m. (Re-Air) on MotorTrendTV; Saturday, Aug. 19 from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. (Live) on MotorTrendTV and MotorTrend+, from 10 a.m.-noon (Live) on Discovery and from 2-6 p.m. (Re-Air) on MotorTrendTV. (All timed PDT) MECUM AUCTIONS PREVIOUSLY ON THE WEEKLY DRIVER PODCAST #188 Broadcaster John Kraman Talks Mecum Auctions #95 Mecum Auctions Defines Fun in Monterey

Ben Parker and Toby Kraus are co-founders of Lightship. Both entrepreneurs worked for Tesla but are now immersed in a collaborative project in the recreational vehicle industry. Parker and Kraus recently introduced the prototype of the L1. It's a pending all-electric trailer Lightship is marketing for a 2024 debut. Parker was my recent guest on The Weekly Driver Podcast. During the indoor Outdoor Sports Retail Expo in Salt Lake City, Utah, Parker and I sat in the front seat of a Ford Lightning, the new electric pickup truck. It was part of Lightship's vendor exhibit, which attracted strong industry attention during the multiple-day show at the Salt Lake City Convention Center. The Lightship L1 is the prototype of the new Colorado-based EV RV company. Co-host Bruce Aldrich was on vacation, so I was the solo host for the episode as our podcast progresses in its sixth year. Among many topics, Parker and I discussed how the RV industry and the automobile industry will soon work together for consumers interested in towing an electric trailer with an electric truck or sport utility vehicle. Parker explained the futuristic-looking trailer, the company's two planned models and other plans for the Colorado-based company. According to the company's website (www.lightshiprv.com): "The L1 was tightly engineered for zero emissions, for comfort, and built to last. We started with aero principles to create a near-zero range loss for EVs and lower costs at the gas pump. "From the battery and solar roof down to appliances, every decision was about ease of use. And of course, relaxing just outside nature’s door. "Kick back with plenty of room to gather and stow it all away in smart storage solutions. Add the bonus of powering your home or charging your EV, and this is unlike any travel trailer you’ve ever had." With enthusiasm to spare, Parker detailed the prototype and the pending consumer model specs: 300 miles of range, 3 times more dynamic than a traditional trailer, the 7-foot-6 interior and height and its 2-3 kW of solar power. The Lightship's interior is a combination of a minimalist's nirvana and RV innovation. Spacious windows and a modern design prevail. In vast detail, Parker explained how the trailer generates power and how he and Kraus began their company. He detailed the reservation process and the pricing structure. Please join me for a 30-minute conversation with Parker as the entrepreneur explained the company's vision for the future of the RV industry. The Weekly Driver Podcast encourages and appreciates feedback from our listeners. Please forward episode links to family, friends and colleagues. And you are welcome to repost links from the podcast to your social media accounts. Please send comments and suggestions for new episodes to James Raia via email: [email protected]. Every episode is also available on your preferred podcast platform. All episodes are also archived via the link: www.theweeklydriver.com/twd-podcast.

Chris Miller has been a friend of The Weekly Driver Podcast for three years. An artist who lives Maples Corner, a hamlet outside Calais, Vermont, Miller began made his sculpture career nearly 50 years ago. He works in granite, wood and marble, and his work is featured in private collections, public buildings and galleries. It's all acclaimed work and he continues his various commercial contracts. But Miller's "hobby" is his side project making stone cars, trucks and tractors. Chris Miller designs and makes stone sculpture vehicles. He's currently making his sixth of 10. His seventh is being negotiated. Images courtesy of Chris Miller. Miller is our guest this week on The Weekly Driver Podcast. It's our third interview with the 65-year-old artist. Co-hosts Bruce Aldrich and James Raia talk with Chris about the progression of this limited series of creations. He's now working on his sixth vehicle. He's only making 10. Miller's series stone vehicle was inspired by a stone creation of a Volkswagen Beetle built in Ithaca, New York, in 1976. His first piece was built in 2012. It was created in five weeks after Miller launched a Kickstarter campaign with a goal of $2,500. He received $3,200 from 85 backers. According to his bio on www.chrimillerstudio.com, Miller is primarily self-taught, although he studied art in college. He also studied anatomy and sculpture with the late Lothar Werslin of Sandgate Vt., and drawing and anatomy under Billy Brauer of Warren Vt. He collaborated with several stone sculptors nearby Barre Vt. There’s a lot involved in making a true-to-size (or larger) stone truck. Miller’s initial piece included 8 loads of quarry stone, 2 pallets of bluestone, a marble tailgate and big chunks of granite. The truck weighs about 40 thousand pounds. Chris Miller of Vermont is in the middle of creating h10 stone sculpture vehicles. Images courtesy of Chris Miller. While Miller's sixth project is in the works, a seventh stone vehicle is in negotiation. Please join us as the article details the advancement of his works and the labor involved. The podcast episode also showcases Miller's enthusiasm for his work. Here are the links to our previous episodes with Chris Miller: Episode #164: Chris Miller builds his third stone vehicle Episode #134: Chris Miller builds stone trucks The Weekly Driver Podcast encourages and appreciates feedback from our listeners. Please forward episode links to family, friends and colleagues. And you are welcome to repost links from the podcast to your social media accounts. Please send comments and suggestions for new episodes to James Raia via email: [email protected]. Every episode is also available on your preferred podcast platform. All of the episodes are also archived via the link: www.theweeklydriver.com/podcast.

Megabus, the discount city-to-city bus system, debuted in 2006. Marketed as having served more than 50 million customers in more than 500 cities, the express service features tickets between metro cities for as little as $1 each way. The travel option available throughout the United States and in Europe, has had successes and failures. But with heavy travel season approaching, Megabus recently announced its return to the California market. According to its press release, May 15 marked the return of Megabus to California with three trips daily between Anaheim, Los Angeles, Bakersfield, Fresno, San Francisco, Oakland and Sacramento. Colin Emerson, VP Commercial for Megabus, is our guest this week on The Weekly Driver Podcast. While co-host Bruce Aldrich is on vacation, James Raia interviews Emberson about the service's return to California. Megabus began its service on April 10, 2006 in the United Kingdom and advanced to the United States within two years with routes between Chicago and Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus, Detroit, Indianapolis, Milwaukee, Minneapolis and St. Louis. Several major city hubs were quickly added as the inexpensive travel option had increasing success as a commuter and vacation travel option. "We pride ourselves in being a really good value-based, reliable, green option for people to get around," said Emberson. "We want to make it as easy as possible. We want to make it as enjoyable as possible." Like many businesses, Megabus face challenges during the pandemic. "We have a very good product and we know there's a need for affordable, safe to get folks around, Emberson said. "What we do is look to offer a really good value when things are a little bit slower. When the domain is high, the prices will reflect that." A recent search for a ticket from Sacramento to San Francisco within the month revealed a one-way ticket for as low as $7.77. A return ticket was also available for the same price. Emberson emphasized that passengers can use the service with the company's app as little as five minutes before departure. Most Megabus users book tickets like airplane travel with advance purchases and with ticket prices based on supply and demand. Another popular travel option, Emberson noted, is random travel with the company's "fare finder." The idea is explained: A trip from Sacramento leaving on June 27 at 3:05 a.m. at arriving in Los Angeles at 2:05 p.m. also costs $7.77. A return trip leaving at 7:05 a.m., and arriving at 7:15 p.m., also costs $7.77. A trip leaving June 27 and returning June from Las Vegas to St. George, Utah, is as low as $52 each way. A trip from Louisville, KY to Evansville, Ind., on the same dates is as low as $40. Some off-hour, low-demand travel is as little as $1 per each way. All transactions included a $3.99 service fee. "We did see quite a lot of folks buying very last-minute tickets which, I guess, is somewhat surprising to me that somebody on a whim might take in some cases an eight, nine or 10-hour bus ride," said Emberson. "But I guess some people live a little more spontaneously than I might." Megabus also has a call center to assist passengers with ticketing and other information. The company's website is https://us.megabus.com/.  The telephone number is 877-462-6342. The Weekly Driver Podcast encourages and appreciates feedback from our listeners. Please forward episode links to family, friends and colleagues. And you are welcome to repost links from the podcast to your social media accounts. Please send comments and suggestions for new episodes to James Raia via email: [email protected]. All podcast episodes are archived on www.theweeklydriver.com/podcast Every episode is also available on your preferred podcast platform.

The citizens of Santa Cruz and the surrounding oceanside towns and tree-lined hamlets may hold an unofficial record for their entrepreneurial ways. Creativity rules small businesses, from bespoke bicycle makers to artists to Annie Wolff Patsch. Wolff Patsch and her husband, Adam Patsch, combine their last names without a hyphen. The unique pronunciation and the former's upbeat personality are the reasons she's mostly known as Annie. It's the only name on her business card as the founder of Brew Cruz. A 1964 Volkswagen Bus is showcased at the Dream Inn in Santa Cruz. Image © James Raia/2023. While co-host Bruce Aldrich was on vacation, I interviewed Annie for this week's episode of The Weekly Driver Podcast. I interviewed Annie as part of a media trip to the central coast city. Annie's enterprise is a two-vehicle proprietorship, a 1989 Thomas International school bus and a 1964 Volkswagen Van. It's known as Santa Cruz's Original Brewery Tour. It's "fueled by local craft beer," reads the back of Annie's card. The bus is named Betty Jane; the van is Slowboy. Reasons are detailed. Approaching a decade ago, Brew Cruz was established after a seven-month renovation of the school bus. Purchased in San Francisco as an abandoned vehicle of a disbanded band, it's redone in funky chic. Annie bought a one-way ticket to San Francisco, bought the bus and drove it home. A beer drinker with a business plan, Annie and other drivers take passengers on pub tours and various, sometimes unbound, celebrations. The bus has a captain's swivel chair with one arm, a living room-style sitting chair, shiny wooden floors and other endearing qualities of any customized school bus. "On my gosh; At this point, I wish that I had kept sort of a journal, an Anthony Bourdain-like "No Reservations" or "Kitchen Confidential" situation," Annie said. "I've been doing it for so many years, the memories are expansive and there hasn't been a bad tour, except for maybe one. "Most of the memories just revolve around joy and reconnection, some hilarity, some inappropriateness, which of course means what happens on the Brew Cruz, stays on the Brew Cruz." While accompanying larger groups was fine, a more intimate option soon seemed wise. The 1964 VW bus at the Dream Inn in Santa Cruz takes guests around town. Image © James Raia/2023 "I knew when I was searching for a secondary vehicle I wanted something smaller to be able to facilitate small groups and to be able to get around town easier," Annie said. "I knew I wanted to get a VW bus. I mean, whose dream is it not to at some point drive or own a VW bus, especially if you have some sort of family nostalgia." The result is a 1964 VW van. For several years, the 13-window microbus has been parked in front the Dream Inn, the surf city boutique hotel perched along West Cliff Drive and overlooking Cowell Beach. It was purchased a few cities away after a national search. It's a perfect match. The hotel celebrated its 60th anniversary in March. The VW bus, its myriad siblings still surfers' favorites, will soon turn 60. Guests of the hotel are often passengers on the facility's unofficial mascot. Whether she's driving the International or VW to brewpubs, parties, weddings or a wake, the small business on wheels personifies the city’s work spirit and history. "Everyone had one; everyone had a story," Annie said. "My own mother-in-law had a VW bus that she towed my now husband around in for most of his young life. And Santa Cruz? Our funky beach town? It has many of those stories. "It's almost instantaneous when the bus goes out that somebody's going to walk up and start chatting or asking questions about it or regaling their own stories. But the younger generation I love because, whether they'll ever drive one, with popular culture trends, you could argue they (the buses) never went away. They are definitely considered cool in cross-culture now." Not long ago,

From time to time during the more than five years of The Weekly Driver Podcast, co-hosts Bruce Aldrich and James Raia catch-up on automotive news instead of having a guest. This week on Episode #260 we visit four diverse topics — cheap SUVs, the death of speed racing icon Craig Breedlove, the most expensive states to own vehicles and no ignition new car It's no secret, Hyundai and Kia have drastically improved in recent years. The related manufacturers' vehicles have had some of the industry's top ratings, from economy to luxury segments. The 2023 Hyundai Venue is also the country's cheapest SUV. It only has 121 horsepower and its cargo area is a postage-stamp sized at 32 cubic feet. And it's not available with all-wheel drive. But for about $20,000 its base model is available. Breedlove, who died in April at age 86, was a professional race car driver and a five-time world land speed record holder. A California native living in Rio Vista, Breedlove was the first person in history to reach 500 and 600 miles per hour. The Hyundai Venue is the cheapest SUV in the United States. All of his turbojet-powered vehicles were named Spirit of America, and Breedlove's persona fit the name. He was handsome and flamboyant and perfect for the spotlight. The need for speed was also a family affair. Breedlove's wife, Lee Breedlove, became the fastest woman in the world when she drove the Sonics 1 to 308 mph in 1965. Craig Breedlove was inducted into the Automotive Hall of Fame in 2009. Bruce and I also discuss the most expensive states to own a vehicle. And here's a surprise: It's Connecticut where $1,503 on average is the year cost for a minimum insurance policy. The cost increases to $2,999 for a full coverage policy. Finally, Bruce and I talk about the 2023 Volvo XC40 Recharge. It's the first vehicle both of us have driven that doesn't have an ignition button, toggle or switch or any need for a keyfob except to have it nearby to operate the car. The Weekly Driver Podcast encourages and appreciates feedback from our listeners. Please forward episode links to family, friends and colleagues. And you are welcome to repost links from the podcast to your social media accounts. Please send comments and suggestions for new episodes to James Raia via email: [email protected]. All podcast episodes are archived on www.theweeklydriver.com/podcast Every episode is also available on your preferred podcast platform.

Greg Abbott, an ordained minister for nearly 40 years, is also a steel fabrication artist, craftsman, prop builder and television personality based in Los Angeles, California. Mostly, he's known as "Reverend Gadget" or just "Gadget" for his leading role in a custom car build team on the short-lived Discovery Channel series Big! Abbott, my guest this week on The Weekly Driver Podcast, has also been part of several other cable television programs, including his current show on EarthxTV. During the episode, Abbott discusses his advocacy of alternative energy sources by converting gasoline-powered vehicles to electricity. Abbott took the name "Reverend Gadget" to reflect his craftsman works and because of his minister responsibility that began in 1986. According to his website, he currently holds 10 Guinness World Records for his works, some of which were with the Big! build team. He was interviewed in the documentary Revenge of the Electric Car. Revered Gadget was also a guest at the recent EarthX Electric Vehicle & Alternative Fuel Ride & Drive in Dallas, Texas. The three-day event featured manufacturers and dealers, Trophy Nissan in Dallas and included nearly a dozen of top-selling electric vehicles for test drives and purchase. The models included the Audi Q4 e-tron, Chevy Bolt, Lucid Air, Nissan Ariya, Nissan Leaf, Polestar 2, Volvo C40 and Volvo XC40. Are Tesla owners groups also displayed dozens of vehicles. Also, eCarra, electric vehicle ride-sharing and Wallbox, which features smart electric car charging stations, were represented as were Peterbilt and solar car teams. Reverend Gadget's Garage is broadcast Monday nights on EarthxTV. It's available on Charter Spectrum, Directv, and FuboTV. The Weekly Driver Podcast encourages and appreciates feedback from our listeners. Please forward episode links to family, friends and colleagues. And you are welcome to repost links from the podcast to your social media accounts. Please send comments and suggestions for new episodes to James Raia via email: [email protected]. All podcast episodes are archived on www.theweeklydriver.com/podcast Every episode is also available on your preferred podcast platform.

Jimmy Creed, born and raised in Talladega, Alabama, is a decades-long journalist whose interest in motorsports and specifically NASCAR racing began when he was a young boy. Creed knows the city's famous racetrack as well as any journalist. He cultivated his knowledge in his long tenure as the sports editor of The Anniston Star in nearby Anniston, Alabama. As one of four writers who've collaborated to write NASCAR 75, a definitive volume of the legendary sport, Creed is our guest this week on The Weekly Driver Podcast. Talladega International Superspeedway is prominently featured in the new book NASCAR 75. Co-hosts Bruce Aldrich and James Raia speak with the veteran journalist about his lifetime involvement in motor racing and his participation in compiling the text and images of the coffee table-sized book. "You really can't go into anything with a pre-conceived notion," says Creed, who also wrote a biography of famous driver Donnie Allison. "When I first got this assignment, I sat down and I knew I was going to have to talk about the evolution of the cars. NASCAR 75 "I knew the '80s started the restrictor plates, so I was going to write about that, and I knew I was going to write about Dale Earnhardt and his emergence. And I did touch on it. But when I researched it what surprised even me was that Darrell Waltrip just dominated the 1980s." With sections also authored by veteran journalists Al Pearce, Mike Hembree and Kelly Crandall, NASCAR 75 captures the greatest moments throughout the sport's decades. According to its marketing materials, NASCAR 75 covers the sport "from the beaches of Daytona to the jaw-clenching competition, the mind-bending technology, the triumphs, the teamwork, and the high-speed thrills." Large-format photography from throughout NASCAR history ideally complements the text. The authors cover the evolution of the vehicles—from modified family sedans to 700-horsepower race-built behemoths to the “Next Gen” cars that debuted in 2022. The book celebrates the drivers who have mastered the tracks in Daytona, Talladega, Darlington, Las Vegas and other cities. The sport's icons — Richard Petty to Dale Earnhardt and Darrell Waltrip to Kyle Busch — are all profiled. Also reported on is the history of the series while celebrating crew chiefs, pit crews and owners on and around the superspeedways, short tracks and road courses. Join us for our varied 30-minute conversation with Creed, a writer whose passion for motor racing is infectious — even after all these years. The Weekly Driver Podcast encourages and appreciates feedback from our listeners. Please forward episode links to family, friends and colleagues. And you are welcome to repost links from the podcast to your social media accounts. Please send comments and suggestions for new episodes to James Raia via email: [email protected]. All podcast episodes are archived on www.theweeklydriver.com/podcast Every episode is also available on your preferred podcast platform.

Divya Sangam, an industry expert at ValuePenquin.com, the LendingTree.com insurance division, is immersed in EVs, the Electric Vehicle segment of the automotive world. In a recently released survey, Sangam detailed the still-niche electric vehicle market. Specifically, Sangam, citing numerous statistics, reports exactly what is stressed in the survey's direct headline: "High Costs & Safety Concerns: Why Millions of Americans Aren't Buying Electric Vehicles in 2023." Sangam is our guest this week on The Weekly Driver Podcast. The public hasn't embraced the expanding marketplace of EVs according to ValuePenquin.com. Co-hosts Bruce Aldrich and James Raia discuss with our expert the various reasons the market share for EVs hasn't substantially improved. And we discuss the unlikely success that awaits the federal initiative's mandate to have EVs account for at least 50 per of new car sales by 2030. In 2022, sales of EVs improved by 65 percent from 2021. According to LendingTree.com, however, the increase didn't make a change in consumers' buying preferences. According to the survey, 79 perfect of Americans are still driving gas cars in 2023 and they aren't ready to make a switch to EVs. The sale of EVs isn't on par with pending federal electric vehicle mandates. Image © James Raia Sangam details the overall average new EV cost is $58,725. Americans making less than $35,000 are 43 percent more likely to cite price as a deterrent for than those in households making at least $100,000. Forty percent of American drivers report a driverless automobile would make them feel much less safe on the road. Forty-five percent of drivers believe autonomous vehicles pose a tremendous risk to pedestrians. Fifty-three percent believe the driver should be at fault if they get into an accident Please join Bruce and me as we analyze the EV market with industry expert Divya Sangam. The Weekly Driver Podcast encourages and appreciates feedback from our listeners. Please forward episode links to family, friends and colleagues. And you are welcome to repost links from the podcast to your social media accounts. Please send comments and suggestions for new episodes to James Raia via email: [email protected]. All podcast episodes are archived on www.theweeklydriver.com/podcast Every episode is also available on your preferred podcast platform.

EagleRider is a California-based motorcycle rental, touring and subscription company addressing the increasing two or three-wheel needs of experienced and novice motorcycle riders. Shawn Fechter, Senior Vice President of Brand Experience for EagleRider, is our guest on this episode of The Weekly Driver Podcast. EagleRider is a leading motorcycle rental company with locations available on six continents. In late January, EagleRider announced 18 of its 52 international locations are now accepting credits to be redeemed by Club EagleRider members in the company's monthly subscription service. The company's services, available on six continents, include rentals from Harley-Davidson, BMW, Yamaha, among others,  as well as adventure and electric bikes. Podcast co-hosts Bruce Aldrich and James Raia talk with Fechter about the growing industry. "As the world reopens, international travel is soaring in popularity, and the best way to experience it is on the seat of a motorcycle," said Fechter. "Our club members can now tap into that sense of wonder and realize their dreams by redeeming credits for a global experience that is perfectly suited for them." In addition to renting motorcycles, customized tours led by experienced guides are exclusively offered to club members at most international destinations. Club EagleRider membership plans range from one to 10 credits per month. Riders can use credit(s) each month, save them for up to 18 months, or share credits with family and friends at no extra cost. EagleRider, which started 31 years ago, pioneered the motorcycle rental and tour business. Please join Bruce and me as we discuss the industry and the variety of individuals renting motorcycles. The Weekly Driver Podcast encourages and appreciates feedback from our listeners. Please forward episode links to family, friends and colleagues. And you are welcome to repost links from the podcast to your social media accounts. Please send comments and suggestions for new episodes to James Raia via email: [email protected]. All podcast episodes are archived on www.theweeklydriver.com/podcast Every episode is also available on your preferred podcast platform.  

After a three-year hiatus, the most varied collection of automobiles, planes, boats and exotic machinery and their equally varying owners will again gather for the daylong Pacific Coast Dream Machines. Sometimes described as a showcase of motorized mechanical marvels, the event's 30th edition will feature more than 2,000 antique, vintage, classic, custom and exotic machines on display for public viewing. If it has an engine, there's a good chance at least one example will be showcased at the Half Moon Bay Airport on April 30 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Unique vehicles abound at Pacific Coast Dream Machines at the Half Moon Bay Airport. All images © James Raia/2019. Event chairmen Chad Hooker and Bob Pelikan are our guests on this episode of The Weekly Driver Podcast to discuss the return of the show and provide details of this year's features. In 2020 and 2021, Pacific Coast Dream Machines was canceled because of the coronavirus pandemic. In late January 2022, event organizers reported the show would be canceled because a large portion of the airport grounds was scheduled to be farmed. The show now has a new three-year contract with San Mateo County officials. With arguably the country's least pretentious automotive-related show back on track, organizers have reconfigured the showcase's layout, and changed public and participant entrances and exits and parking. The help celebrate the show's three days, a "Machines of Tomorrow" showcase will include concept and flying cars, robotics as well as autonomous and electric vehicles. A one-of-a-kind machine ideally suited for a Mad Max movie present at the Pacific Coast Dream Machines show in Half Moon Bay. The Mainstay offering will return, streamliners to model-T fire engines and mega-modified machines to any vehicle and its proud owner wishing to display it. A collection of antiques boast is also new and will be joined by the show's tradition of flyover by historic military aircraft and antique railway artifacts and machinery. As a family-oriented gathering, monster truck rides, uni-motorcycle drag races, bungee jump, waterballerz, and climbing wall are will return with varied food vendors and live music. Organizers stress attendees visit the website to familiarize themselves with the festival's new layout, particularly the entrances for spectators and exhibitors. The show is an annual benefit for the Coastside Adult Day Health Center. Fact & Figures: The 30th edition of Pacific Coast Dream Machines, 9850 Cabrillo Highway North, Half Moon Bay, 94109. April 30, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tel. (415) 999-2428; Tickets: $25 advance ($30 at the gate) for adults (ages 18-64), $15 advance ($20 at the gate) for ages 11-17 and 65 and older; free for ages 10 and under. Website: https://dreammachines.miramarevents.com The Weekly Driver Podcast encourages and appreciates feedback from our listeners. Please forward episode links to family, friends and colleagues. And you are welcome to repost links from the podcast to your social media accounts. More eyeballs on more content works for us. The podcast is in its fifth year, and we've had a diverse collection of guests — famous athletes, vintage car collectors, manufacturer CEOs, automotive book authors, industry analysts, a movie stuntman and episodes from auto shows and car auctions. Please send comments and suggestions for new episodes to James Raia via email: [email protected]. All podcast episodes are archived on theweeklydriver.com/podcast Every episode is also available on your preferred podcast platform.

Scott Colosimo is the founder and CEO of LAND Energy, a Cleveland tech company that will debut its light electric vehicles at the upcoming Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, January 5-7. Colosimo, whose company started in 2020, is our guest on episode #251 of The Weekly Driver Podcast. As Colosimo defines, the District and the District Scrambler are "eMotos." The bike straddles between e-bike, e-moped and e-motorcycle and sport e-motorcycle. They feature a swappable battery enabling consumers to power their laptops, cell phones or their recreational vehicles. LAND Energy, a new tech company, will debut is lineup of versatile e-bike at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. Called the LAND Energy E-Moto ecosystem gives users options with four LEVs in one depending upon the ride mode selected. The connected CORE battery platform enables users to travel, work and play anywhere with a personal, portable, easy-to-use energy grid. It keeps them connected through a 4G network connection - whether urban commuting, remote working or spending time outdoors and off the grid. Please join co-host Bruce Aldrich and me as we discuss with Colosimo the company's versatile, lightweight vehicles, including all specs and LAND Energy's plans during our standard 30-minute podcast format. The Weekly Driver Podcast encourages and appreciates feedback from our listeners. Please forward episode links to family, friends and colleagues. And you are welcome to repost links from the podcast to your social media accounts. The idea of more eyeballs on more content works for us. Please send comments and suggestions for new episodes to James Raia via email: [email protected]. All podcast episodes are archived on theweeklydriver.com/podcast Every episode is available on your preferred podcast platform. And all episodes as archived via the link: https://www.theweeklydriver.com/podcast

Mason Bloom has experienced a lot as a young automotive enthusiast. His father owns a Porsche 911 and his father's friend owns an Aston Martin Vantage. Bloom drove the latter at age 12. Mason Bloom The Porsche and Aston Martin experiences solidified Bloom's passion for high-performance vehicles. It also ignited his interest in writing about his experiences and the always-compelling automobile industry. Bloom, 16, a sophomore at Aptos High School (located on the central coast of California), is our guest this week on The Weekly Driver Podcast. Co-host Bruce Aldrich and I talk with the journalist about his automobile interests and those of his peers. We also talk with him about his writing talents. Bloom, recommended by Dave Kellogg (my long-time editor at The Monterey Herald), is now also a writer for TheWeeklyDriver.com. He has also contributed to The Herald and other automotive websites. Legendary Mario Andretti (front center) taken during the Velocity Invitational at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca. © Mason Bloom/TheWeeklyDriver.com. "In 2012, I think it was, my dad bought a Porsche 911 and that just really changed my perspective," said Bloom, who has contributed four articles to TheWeeklyDriver.com. "You know, being able to ride in a small, fast sports car, that radiated the love of cars for me. He's owned the car for about 10 years now, but that's really the root of it." During Covid-19 pandemic, Bloom had the opportunity to drive his family friend's Aston Martin. Bloom was further enamored with cars. He took images and wrote his first full car review in 2020. "It was a typical Aston Martin; it was loud and it was fast," said Bloom of his Vantage experience. "It's not the most comfortable city car, contrary to popular belief. But the Mercedes V8 and the Aston Martin styling. It's a classic combination." We also talk with Bloom about the high school car club he has with several classmates, and the cars he's considering when the time is right for his first vehicle. Bloom began contributing to TheWeeklyDriver.com in mid-October after attending the Velocity Invitational at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca with his father. In August, an article and accompanying photography Bloom crafted about the famous Concours d'Elegance was featured on Page 1 of the Sunday edition of the Monterey Herald. Here are the links to his four articles to date: Wildly Modified Porsche 911s Scale World's Tallest Volcano Ferrari Launches First LeMans Hypercar in 50 years WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca Repaved for 2023 Velocity Invitational: History, Hypercars, Luxury Lifestyle The Weekly Driver Podcast encourages and appreciates feedback from our listeners. Please forward episode links to family, friends and colleagues. And you are welcome to repost links from the podcast to your social media accounts. The idea of more eyeballs on more content works for us. Image © Mason Bloom, TheWeeklyDriver.com/2022 Support our podcast by shopping on Amazon.com. A graphic display at the bottom of the post links to automotive selections of the online retailer. But there's also a search function for anything available directly from the site. If you shop via this site, we receive a small commission. It helps us continue to produce independent content. The site began in 2004 and includes more than 700 reviews. The podcast is in its fourth year, and we've had a diverse collection of guests — famous athletes, vintage car collectors, manufacturer CEOs, automotive book authors, industry analysts, a movie stuntman and episodes from auto shows and car auctions. Please send comments and suggestions for new episodes to James Raia via email: [email protected]. All podcast episodes are archived on theweeklydriver.com/podcast Every episode is also available on your preferred podcast platform. Several of the more prominent platforms are listed below. Amazon.com iheartradio Spotify

It's a family affair. Several relatives have been or are in the field and now for nearly a decade, Melanie Musson has cultivated her expertise in the car insurance industry. With Halloween and the winter on the horizon, Musson, a published car insurance expert with CarInsuranceComparison.com, is our guest this week on The Weekly Driver Podcast. Prepare for driving in inclement weather by following winter driving safety tips. Co-hosts Bruce Aldrich and James Raia talk with Musson about the importance for drivers and pedestrians to remain acutely vigilant during the time of the year when nightfall occurs earlier. Musson provides expertise in many areas of car insurance, notably the increased accidents and other concerns during winter driving. Statistics tell the story: • Seventy percent of drivers who live in regions of the United States that receive five inches or more of snowfall a year should start preparing for adverse winter road conditions; • Winter road maintenance accounts for nearly 25 percent of most states’ DOT budgets. • More than four fatal crashes annually for every a million drivers occur due to snow or sleet. • Nearly 55,000 people are injured annually in traffic accidents due to snow or sleet. • Snow, ice and fog account for 544 million hours of traffic delays per year. • Snowy, slushy, and icy pavement cause more than 1,300 traffic deaths each year. Considering the staggering numbers, Musson details why should we focus on winter driving statistics, how winter driving conditions affect car insurance and how drivers can improve their safety in adverse road conditions and avoid needing roadside assistance. Proper equipment and well-maintained vehicles, including car batteries greatly improve safety during winter driving. Make certain tires are properly inflated. Replace windshield wipers. Make sure engine fluids are the right consistency for the season and at the proper levels. Catastrophe can be avoided. For additional information,  CarInsuranceComparison.com has a comprehensive list of 25 winter driving statistics. The Weekly Driver Podcast encourages and appreciates feedback from our listeners. Please forward episode links to family, friends and colleagues. And you are welcome to repost links from the podcast to your social media accounts. The idea of more eyeballs on more content works for us. Support our podcast by shopping on Amazon.com. A graphic display at the bottom of the post links to automotive selections of the online retailer. But there's also a search function for anything available directly from the site. If you shop via this site, we receive a small commission. It helps us continue to produce independent content. The site began in 2004 and includes more than 700 reviews. The podcast is in its fourth year, and we've had a diverse collection of guests — famous athletes, vintage car collectors, manufacturer CEOs, automotive book authors, industry analysts, a movie stuntman and episodes from auto shows and car auctions. Please send comments and suggestions for new episodes to James Raia via email: [email protected]. All podcast episodes are archived on theweeklydriver.com/podcast Every episode is also available on your preferred podcast platform. Several of the more prominent platforms are listed below. Amazon.com iheartradio Spotify

Co-host Bruce Aldrich and I get caught up on the automotive industry on this week's episode of The Weekly Driver Podcast. Bruce and his wife Alene took another trip in their new RV towed by their new pickup truck. I had my first experience renting a car for a day in the peer-to-peer, car-share industry. We also discuss the continuing troubles of Rivian, the upstart electric vehicle manufacturer, and we visit the list of the world's top 50 most expensive cars. Bruce Aldrich (left) and  James Raia have broadcast The Weekly Driver Podcast for more than four years. For their longest excursion and sixth trip in their fifth-wheel RV, a 29-foot Keystone Cougar towed by their 2022 Ford F-250 pickup truck, Bruce and Alene traveled from Sacramento along the North coast of California and into Bandon, Oregon. As Bruce explained, he's far more skilled driving the RV — from maneuvering on winding roads to using the fifth wheel hitch. But he continues to learn. During nearly 20 years of reviewing cars, I've rarely had a rental car. Last week was an exception. I needed a rental vehicle for one day and I decided to try the personal car share business. I rented a 2015 Volkswagen Passat and drove it slightly less than 200 miles. We discuss my experiment, with some personal perspective on the pros and cons of car sharing compared to driving a vehicle from a traditional car rental business. Rivian makes beautiful pickup trucks and it also had an RV on display a few years ago when the new EV manufacturer debuted its concept vehicles at the Los Angeles Auto Show. The pickup truck is on the market, but not the SUV. Now comes word Rivian has recalled 13,000 trucks because of a possible loose fastener that could cause the driver to lose steering control. Rivian has delivered only 13,198 vehicles in about a year since the truck's public delivery began. Lastly, Bruce and I talk about top 50 most expensive cars ever made. What's the most expensive? You'll have to list to the podcast. The Weekly Driver Podcast encourages and appreciates feedback from our listeners. Please forward episode links to family, friends and colleagues. And you are welcome to repost links from the podcast to your social media accounts. The idea of more eyeballs on more content works for us. Support our podcast by shopping on Amazon.com. A graphic display at the bottom of the post links to automotive selections of the online retailer. But there's also a search function for anything available directly from the site. If you shop via this site, we receive a small commission. It helps us continue to produce independent content. The site began in 2004 and includes more than 700 reviews. The podcast is in its fourth year, and we've had a diverse collection of guests — famous athletes, vintage car collectors, manufacturer CEOs, automotive book authors, industry analysts, a movie stuntman and episodes from auto shows and car auctions. Please send comments and suggestions for new episodes to James Raia via email: [email protected]. All podcast episodes are archived on theweeklydriver.com/podcast Every episode is also available on your preferred podcast platform. Several of the more prominent platforms are listed below. Amazon.com iheartradio Spotify

Buying car insurance may be the least enjoyable component of automobile ownership. It's a huge industry ripe with misinformation, high-profit margins and small print. CarInsurance.com, self-defined as "a one-stop online destination for car insurance information," does its part to give consumers the basics and the details. Owned and operated by QuinStreet, Inc., a "pioneer in delivering online marketplace solutions to match searchers with brands in digital media" the website offers a good launching point for those seeking car insurance. It recently published a list of the cheapest and most expensive 2022 vehicles to insure. The 2022 Subaru Forester Wilderness is the cheapest car on average to insure in the United States. The site’s editors looked at the insurance rates for more than 3,000 vehicles to determine how much policyholders pay. Laura Longero, executive editor for CarInsurance.com, is our guest on this episode of the TheWeekly Driver Podcast. Co-hosts Bruce Aldrich and James Raia discuss with Longero the top-five most expensive and cheapest 2022 models on the road. We talk about how CarInsurance.com assembles its data and the importance of determining auto insurance rates. Maserati has the top two most expensive 2022 cars to insure in the United States. Insurance for the priciest cars ranges from $4,000 to more than $5,000 per year. Rates for the cheapest cars to insure run around $1,300 per year. Here are the lists of the top-five most expensive and top-five least expensive cars to insure in 2022: Cheapest Subaru Forester Wilderness Hyundai Venue SE Honda CR-V LX Mazda CX-30 S Toyota C-HR XLE Most Expensive Maserati Quattroporte Maserati Quattroporte Modena Q4 BMW M8 Competition Gran coupe Porsche Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid Executive Audi RS e-tron GT Please join us as our guest, a long-time industry expert, shares with us the latest in car insurance. The Weekly Driver Podcast encourages and appreciates feedback from our listeners. Please forward episode links to family, friends and colleagues. And you are welcome to repost links from the podcast to your social media accounts. Support our podcast by shopping on Amazon.com. Please send comments and suggestions for new episodes to James Raia via email: [email protected]. All podcast episodes are archived on www.theweeklydriver.com/podcast Every episode is also available on your preferred podcast platform: Google Play iTunes Spotify Stitcher iheartradio

Bruce Aldrich and I have co-hosted The Weekly Driver Podcast for more than four years. It's available on all major podcast platforms, including TheWeeklyDriver.com. The independent automotive website, which I edit and publish, has been online since 2004. In this episode, Bruce and I discuss two books about as opposite as feasible — although both are about the automotive world. Bruce Aldrich (left) and James Raia interview Alex Guberman, an electric vehicle expert who has a vast following on the YouTube Channel, E For Electric on The Weekly Driver Podcast. We introduce the books as a way of also introducing listeners to the podcast and visitors to the website to Patreon. The platform allows visitors to the site to support our efforts. The Weekly Driver Online Since 2004 At the bottom of each page is a Patreon logo. If you click on the icon, another page is presented that lists options to support the site and podcast. For as little as $2 per month, you can help us continue to provide content on The Weekly Driver. Six levels, including as much as $500 per month, are available through a secure payment system. The Weekly Driver gifts for supporters, including a vast library of books, all from various areas of the automotive industry. If you provide financial support, we'll be happy to mail you a book or two right away. (Please provide your mailing address. The books we discuss in this episode are 50 First Victories. It chronicles the journey of NASCAR’s best as they drive their way to their landmark first victories. Richard Petty, Dale Earnhardt Sr., Jimmie Johnson and Chase are all featured. The book is co-authored by veteran automotive journalists Al Pearce and Mike Hembree. The Weekly Driver Podcast The book I discuss is technically a catalog, but it's chock-full of descriptions and beautiful colors images of the vast display of vintage cars for sale in the inaugural Broad Arrow Auctions. It will be held on Aug. 18 in conjunction with Hagerty's Motorlux event (formerly McCall’s Motorworks Revival) located at the Monterey Jet Center. The auction will feature approximately 90 exceptional motor cars. In this episode, the website also debuts our affiliate relationship with the hotel reservation system Booking.com. The popular globally renowned business offers the best hotel and car rental prices on the Internet. By using the affiliate program on my site, you'll secure the same rate as you visiting Booking.com directly. If you reserve a hotel, motel, apartment or other lodging or rent a vehicle, the site receives a commission. The Weekly Driver Feedback As always, The Weekly Driver Podcast encourages and appreciates feedback from our listeners. Please forward episode links to family, friends and colleagues. And you are welcome to repost links from the podcast to your social media accounts. The idea of more eyeballs on more content works for us. Support our podcast by shopping on Amazon.com. A graphic display at the bottom of the post links to automotive selections of the online retailer. But there's also a search function for anything available directly from the site. If you shop via this site, we receive a small commission. It helps us continue to produce independent content. The site began in 2004 and includes more than 700 reviews. The podcast has had a diverse collection of guests — famous athletes, vintage car collectors, manufacturer CEOs, automotive book authors, industry analysts, a movie stuntman and episodes from auto shows and car auctions. Please send comments and suggestions for new episodes to James Raia via email: [email protected]. All podcast episodes are archived on theweeklydriver.com/podcast Every episode is also available on your preferred podcast platform. Several of the more prominent platforms are listed below. Amazon.com iheartradio Spotify

After several years of negotiation and testing, Cruise was at the front of the autonomous line last week. It became the first driverless taxi service in San Francisco to charge for its services. The limited service area program features solo occupants getting rides in Chevrolet Bolts. The system is currently geofenced to the Northwest corner of the city of San Francisco, mostly residential areas in a grid of low-speed streets. Co-hosts Bruce Aldrich and James Raia talk with Jackie Shannon, Director of Product Management at Cruise, in this episode of The Weekly Driver Podcast. The Cruise driverless taxi service debuted last week in San Francisco. The episode was taped the day after Cruise's debut. We were curious to hear about the company's feedback from passengers the day after its first night of operation. Cruise: Limited Debut in San Francisco Shannon shared details of the company's background and its purpose as a ride-share option. The company's spokeswoman also explained the anticipated popularity of the autonomous car ride-share program, particularly among women passengers seeking increased safety. Bruce and I have co-hosted the podcast for more than four years. We keep the 30-minute episodes light. We provide exposure for our guests and their product and services. On many occasions, guests have told us how much they enjoyed the conversation. Our conversation with Jackie Shannon was enjoyable, but she was "guarded." The conversation was coordinated by Tiffany Tesso, Senior Manager of Engineering External Communications at Cruise. We appreciate her diligence and assistance in finalizing the episode and her last-minute technical consult. Tesso told us she would be monitoring the podcast, which was agreeable. But what we did not appreciate was being instructed during the interview to "stay on topic." We were told Shannon's job was only to discuss "user experience." Cruise: Let Reporters Due Their Jobs We've edited out the intrusions, part of an unprofessional, passé PR tactic used to control an interview. We hope you enjoy the remaining conversation about the autonomous industry and its fast-moving future. The Weekly Driver Podcast encourages and appreciates feedback from our listeners. Please forward episode links to family, friends and colleagues. And you are welcome to repost links from the podcast to your social media accounts. The idea of more eyeballs on more content works for us. Support our podcast by shopping on Amazon.com. A graphic display at the bottom of the post links to automotive selections of the online retailer. But there's also a search function for anything available directly from the site. If you shop via this site, we receive a small commission. It helps us continue to produce independent content. The site began in 2004 and includes more than 700 reviews. The podcast is in its fourth year, and we've had a diverse collection of guests — famous athletes, vintage car collectors, manufacturer CEOs, automotive book authors, industry analysts, a movie stuntman and episodes from auto shows and car auctions. Please send comments and suggestions for new episodes to James Raia via email: [email protected]. All podcast episodes are archived on theweeklydriver.com/podcast Every episode is also available on your preferred podcast platform. Several of the more prominent platforms are listed below. Amazon.com iheartradio Spotify

Not too many days pass without the automobile, truck or RV industry abuzz. But it's not always about Elon Musk, Tesla and the latest delay of his electric pickup truck. Sometimes, Bruce and I just have to get caught up in other auto news, and that's what we do on this episode of The Weekly Driver Podcast. We cover several topics. Bruce and his wife Alene recently returned their fifth trip in their new fifth-wheel RV, a 29-foot Keystone Cougar, towed by their 2022 Ford F-250 pickup truck. Bruce updates listeners with his tales from the road — hot weather to windy driving conditions. Happier Camper makes small, retro RV beauties. "We've got it down; my wife and I," Bruce says. "We know what to do. But it's like flying an airplane. You almost need to go through a checklist, hooking up. I make a lot of mistakes, but I haven't wrecked anything yet." While driving about 300 miles North to South from Sacramento in the Central Valley of California in strong tail winds, Bruce and Alene's RV average a "wonderful 10.1 miles per gallon." The return trip was meat with massive head winds and the RV averaged 9.2 mpg. While Bruce and his wife were traveling, I attended the Outdoor Retailer show in Denver as was enamored by RVing of a different kind — Happier Camper. Cruise, an autonomous electric taxi, has received permission to operate in California. The Los Angeles-based company makes three small fiberglass trailers, retro style, efficient and as attractive as any classic vehicle — except new. They're lightweight, modular and have port windows. Bruce and I chat about the little trailers that can. Bruce and I also discuss the pending arrival of Cruise, the e-taxi service in California. We chat about the new survey by iseecars.com on favorite used car colors. And there are a few other "odds and ends" from the automotive industry. The Weekly Driver Podcast encourages and appreciates feedback from our listeners. Please forward episode links to family, friends and colleagues. And you are welcome to repost links from the podcast to your social media accounts. The idea of more eyeballs on more content works for us. Support our podcast by shopping on Amazon.com. A graphic display at the bottom of the post links to automotive selections of the online retailer. But there's also a search function for anything available directly from the site. If you shop via this site, we receive a small commission. It helps us continue to produce independent content. The site began in 2004 and includes more than 700 reviews. The podcast is in its fourth year, and we've had a diverse collection of guests — famous athletes, vintage car collectors, manufacturer CEOs, automotive book authors, industry analysts, a movie stuntman and episodes from auto shows and car auctions. Please send comments and suggestions for new episodes to James Raia via email: [email protected]. All podcast episodes are archived on theweeklydriver.com/podcast Every episode is also available on your preferred podcast platform. Several of the more prominent platforms are listed below. Amazon.com iheartradio Spotify Lastly, we announce our collaboration with Patreon. The membership platform provides a subscription service for content creators to generate income for their efforts. If you like what we provide on TheWeeklyDriver.com, please consider a monthly offering or a one-time contribution. We have five financial levels of support, with some cool perks for varying levels of support. Visit: SUPPORT THEWEEKLYDRIVER.COM

Bruce Meyer loves 1932 Fords. He owns 10. It may seem excessive unless you're a founding member of the Petersen Auto Museum in Los Angeles and it just unveiled an exhibition honoring the 90th anniversary of the vehicles and their iconic legacy as hot rods. Meyer, 90, founding chairman of the museum, is our guest this week on The Weekly Driver Podcast. Co-hosts Bruce Aldrich and James Raia discuss with Meyer the country's most well-known museum and its celebration of the cars often known by their moniker, "Deuce." The exhibit began earlier in June with a celebration and honor given to Billy Gibbons, the lead guitarist and primary vocalist of the rock band ZZ Top. Gibbons is also a Deuce enthusiast as well as a collector of other vintage cars of the era. Four of the band's videos include a 1933 Ford Coupe. One of the 1932 Fords on display at the Petersen Auto Museum in Los Angeles in a new exhibit celebrating the car's 90th birthday. Images courtesy of the Petersen Auto Museum. "My family didn't have a lot of money and my grandparents couldn't afford a car," said Meyer. "In my family, cars were the biggest waste of time and resources. "But I was born loving cars. I have been a car guy my entire life; my family just couldn't understand it. They told me to get off of it and go get a job." According to the Petersen Auto Museum exhibit information, nearly 275,000 of the cars were sold despite debuting in one of the worst years of the Great Depression. The 1932 Ford's popularity was largely connected to its V8 engine and modest price. Petersen Auto Museum: Beach Boys' Influence The car's popularity further expanded when the Beach Boys released Little Deuce Coupe, the band's fourth album, in 1963. The lead single had the same name. The Petersen Auto Museum exhibit, Ford Fever: The Deuce Turns 90, is Meyer's joy. It includes the McGee Roadster, Flathead Roadster, Victoria Sedan and many other Deuce examples. Many body styles of '32 Fords are on display in a new exhibit at the Petersen Auto Museum in Los Angeles. "This is a big deal," said Meyer of the exhibit. "The '32 Ford, in my world, is really the genesis of hot rodding. That's the one that matters to me. We have a fabulous display." Please join Bruce and me for episode #230 of the podcast as we embrace Meyer's expertise about his collection and the legacy of the Petersen Auto Museum. The Weekly Driver Podcast encourages and appreciates feedback from our listeners. Please forward episode links to family, friends and colleagues. And you are welcome to repost links from the podcast to your social media accounts. The idea of more eyeballs on more content works for us. Support our podcast by shopping on Amazon.com. A graphic display at the bottom of the post links to automotive selections of the online retailer. But there's also a search function for anything available directly from the site. If you shop via this site, we receive a small commission. It helps us continue to produce independent content. The site began in 2004 and includes more than 700 reviews. The podcast is in its fourth year, and we've had a diverse collection of guests — famous athletes, vintage car collectors, manufacturer CEOs, automotive book authors, industry analysts, a movie stuntman and episodes from auto shows and car auctions. Please send comments and suggestions for new episodes to James Raia via email: [email protected]. All podcast episodes are archived on theweeklydriver.com/podcast Every episode is also available on your preferred podcast platform. Several of the more prominent platforms are listed below. Amazon.com iheartradio Spotify RELATED CONTENT #228 Newport Auto Museum Artist David Glover #168 Hersey World Class Auto Museum Reopens #151 Interstate 80 Auto Museum Honors Military History

Tracy Broshar began riding motorcycles at age 19 but she hadn't ridden for years out of respect for her partner's wishes. When her partner died three years ago and the effects of Covid-19 hit, Broshar "felt lost." "I kept thinking, 'what can I do to get myself out of this,' " the resident of Sacramento recently explained. "I know I couldn't ride two-wheelers anymore because I needed a knee replacement. I started looking online and I found the three-wheelers and history was written." Broshar, 63, now a passionate rider and advocate of three-wheel motorcycles, is our guest on this episode of The Weekly Driver Podcast. Tracy Broshar of Sacramento began riding three-wheel motorcycles in her early 60s. Co-host Bruce Aldrich and I talk with the rider (she's a close neighbor in East Sacramento) about her experiences on her Can-Am Spyder, a three-wheel, 1,300 cc motorcycle manufactured by Can-Am Motorcycles, a division of Bombardier Recreational Products. Three-Wheel Motorcycles: Confidence Builder "It's a very comfortable fit; it kind gives you a little bit of self-confidence if you haven't ridden a two-wheeler before," said Broshar. "They are independent suspension so you're not going to roll over on them like the old three-wheel bikes, so it's a much more comfortable ride." Unlike driving a two-wheeler, Broshar says she has more control on the road when riding three-wheel motorcycles. They  have a single rear drive wheel and two wheels in front for steering. "One thing I've noticed is that the car people like us," she said. "I have more people wanting to stop and talk about it. I even have young men going by with their thumbs up." Broshar, who sold her first-three-wheeler her now riding partner, upgraded to the Can-Am with cruise control. She uses her vehicle on weekend trips and she's driven round-trip from Sacramento to Missouri. The woman who purchased Broshar's first bike had never ridden a two-wheel motorcycle and she became a three-wheel enthusiast at age 65. Three-Wheel Motorcycles: Road Comfort Please join Bruce and me as our guest explains the comfort of riding a three-wheeler and shares many of her experiences. She's ridden to Oregon and nearly across the country on Route 66. She rides in small groups but also enjoy solo travel. The Weekly Driver Podcast encourages and appreciates feedback from our listeners. Please forward episode links to family, friends and colleagues. And you are welcome to repost links from the podcast to your social media accounts. The idea of more eyeballs on more content works for us. Support our podcast by shopping on Amazon.com. A graphic display at the bottom of the post links to automotive selections of the online retailer. But there's also a search function for anything available directly from the site. If you shop via this site, we receive a small commission. It helps us continue to produce independent content. The site began in 2004 and includes more than 700 reviews. The podcast is in its fourth year, and we've had a diverse collection of guests — famous athletes, vintage car collectors, manufacturer CEOs, automotive book authors, industry analysts, a movie stuntman and episodes from auto shows and car auctions. Please send comments and suggestions for new episodes to James Raia via email: [email protected]. All podcast episodes are archived on theweeklydriver.com/podcast Every episode is also available on your preferred podcast platform. Several of the more prominent platforms are listed below. Amazon.com iheartradio Spotify

David Lloyd Glover, a former newspaper illustrator who has worked as a full-time artist since 1969, created the auto museum artwork in the showrooms of vehicles and architecture in the Newport Car Museum. A week after Gunther Buerman, visionary and founder of the museum was our guest on The Weekly Driver Podcast, Lloyd Glover joined the podcast to discuss his collaborations with the auto museum. A long-time vintage car collector, Lloyd Glover works often with translucent watercolors using the classic British technique. His work has been featured in numerous galleries in the United States and internationally. He works in a studio in Pacific Palisades in Southern California overlooking Malibu Beach. David Lloyd Glover is known for his oversized creations including many examples on display at the Newport Auto Museum. With the museum's specialty of mixing automobiles with architecture and art, Lloyd Glover was the ideal artist to add his creativity as a complement to the 85 vehicles on display. Auto museum in Rhode Island features cars and art Co-host Bruce Aldrich is on vacation this week, so I interview the artist about his long career, his interest in vintage cars and his work with the Newport Car Museum. "People who love automotive art generally are people who can't afford the real thing," says Lloyd Glover. "The car I have created as a piece of art, say it's a Cobra or a Ferrari, or whatever, it's certainly out of everyone's grasp, especially these days." Often described as a “vivid impressionist painter,” Lloyd Glover's work at the auto museum helps better tell the story of eight decades of automotive design and history. David Lloyd Glover has many examples of auto museum artwork at the Newport Car Museum in Rhode Island. "I started being a car nut back in the 1960s," he says. "In those days, a decent sports car was actually very affordable. I started collecting when I was very young. I got in with another collector friend of mine who happened to have a full auto shop, so that helped. Auto Museum: What was once cheap, now isn't "We would buy sports cars inexpensively, which would include Mustangs and Chevelles, cars that were performance cars and muscle cars. They were inexpensive in those days; they are not anymore." Lloyd Glover, who was contacted by Buerman, is known for his oversized works, some as large as 10’ X 20’. Additional examples at the Newport Car Museum, include the Fin Car Gallery’s “Marilyn (Monroe) and Joe (DiMaggio)” placed behind a bright-red 1959 Cadillac Series 62 Convertible located in the Corvette Gallery’s powerful C6-R in race mode." Please join me for an entertaining podcast episode as the renowned artist details his art career, including one of his combined passions of automobiles and automotive art offered in the famous auto museum located just outside of Newport, R.I. The Weekly Driver Podcast encourages and appreciates feedback from our listeners. Please forward episode links to family, friends and colleagues. And you are welcome to repost links from the podcast to your social media accounts. The idea of more eyeballs on more content works for us. Auto Museum: The Weekly Driver podcast now 4 1/2 Support our podcast by shopping on Amazon.com. A graphic display at the bottom of the post links to automotive selections of the online retailer. But there's also a search function for anything available directly from the site. If you shop via this site, we receive a small commission. It helps us continue to produce independent content. The site began in 2004 and includes more than 700 reviews. The podcast is in its fourth year, and we've had a diverse collection of guests — famous athletes, vintage car collectors, manufacturer CEOs, automotive book authors, industry analysts, a movie stuntman and episodes from auto shows and car auctions. Please send comments and suggestions for new episodes to James Raia via email: [email protected].

Mark Glover, the long-time Sacramento-based journalist, will continue his passion for motorsports this week. He will attend the Indy 500 for the 58th time. It will be a family affair. Glover's son will accompany his father for the 30th time. The 106th Indy 500 is scheduled May 29 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Glover is our guest on this episode of The Weekly Driver podcast. Co-host Bruce Aldrich and I talk with the Indy 500 historian about his legacy at the race, the event he first attended with his father when he was a young boy. Glover was also our guest on Episode #39 in 2018. We also talk with Glover in Episode #227 about iconic drivers. From four-time winner A.J. Foyt to Hélio Castroneves and his chances of breaking the career-win record shared by Foyt, Al Unser and Rick Mears. Indy 500: Veterans, Rookies Intriguing We also discuss changes in the race and its evolving cars, Mark's favorite drivers and memories from the race "I'm kind of chomping at the bit because I missed the two," says Glover, of the Covid-19 altered event. "Of course, no one could go in 2020; And last year, they didn't want you to go through airports and it was still shaky and I didn't go. "I am literally starving for my Indy 500 fix. What really intrigues me this year is the mix of veterans and young folks. You have some very capable older drivers, multiple winners of the race, names that are instantly recognizable throughout the field and then you have a lot of kids. Indy 500: Unknown Winner? "It is possible this time around that on Sunday race day you could have a winner, a young man who 98 percent of the sporting public has no idea who he is." Glover is also a long-time automotive columnist. Read his new car reviews and automotive features on his website AutoGlo. The 106th Indianapolis 500 is scheduled Sunday, May 29. The Weekly Driver Podcast encourages and appreciates feedback from our listeners. Please forward episode links to family, friends and colleagues. And you are welcome to repost links from the podcast to your social media accounts. The idea of more eyeballs on more content works for us. Support our podcast by shopping on Amazon.com. A graphic display at the bottom of the post links to automotive selections of the online retailer. But there's also a search function for anything available directly from the site. If you shop via this site, we receive a small commission. It helps us continue to produce independent content. The site began in 2004 and includes more than 700 reviews. The podcast is in its fourth year, and we've had a diverse collection of guests — famous athletes, vintage car collectors, manufacturer CEOs, automotive book authors, industry analysts, a movie stuntman and episodes from auto shows and car auctions. Please send comments and suggestions for new episodes to James Raia via email: [email protected]. All podcast episodes are archived on theweeklydriver.com/podcast Every episode is also available on your preferred podcast platform. Several of the more prominent platforms are listed below. Amazon.com iheartradio Spotify

Approaching its fifth anniversary, the Newport Car Museum is the largest automotive museum in New England. It celebrates seven decades of modern industrial car design represented in more than 85 vehicles. It's all the vision of owners Gunther and Maggie Buerman. The couple, who live in Highland Beach, Florida, and Newport, R.I., opened the museum in 2017. It's located about 20 miles north of Newport in Portsmouth. The Newport Car Museum has a varied collection of vehicles and a corresponding history museum. Gunther Buerman, originally from Mannheim, Germany, moved as a young boy with his family to New York. His interest in automobiles began when he practiced wax paper transfer etchings of car advertisements from National Geographic Magazine. He was willed a 1966 Ford Mustang convertible in the mid-1980s from an uncle and his passion for cars hasn't waned. A former chairman of Harris Beach, LLC, a major New York law firm and current chairman of American Rock Salt Co. in Retsof, N.Y., Buerman is my guest on Episode #226 of The Weekly Driver Podcast. The vehicles is the Newport Car Museum are owned by Gunther Buerman. Co-host Bruce Aldrich and I interview the car collector and avid sailor about his nearly lifelong interest in cars and his decision to start a museum. "It was a wonderful, wonderful car that I admire for a long time," recalls Buerman. "But my love of cars started before then. I especially remember drawing over some of those cars from Studebaker and Packard dealerships of that time and important Mercedes. The Newport Car Museum has more than 85 vehicles on display. "I was so enamored by the Gullwing that was pictured in the middle of National Geographic and doing my own rendition of it. In fourth grade when they had vocation day and asked, 'What do you want to be when you grow up?' Everyone wanted to be doctors, lawyers and Indian Chiefs; I wanted to be president of General Motors." The Newport Car Museum is far more than its iconic cars from Ford and Shelby to Fin Cars and Muscle Cars. The varied collection is a also museum for complemented mid-20th Center Modern furnishings by renowned international designers and automotive artworks by Los Angeles-based artist David Lloyd Glover. Please join us for an entertaining episode with Gunther Buerman. His passion for automobiles is readily apparent. For more information, visit: The Newport Car Museum

Joe Wiesenfelder, the executive editor of cars.com, recently returned from the New York Auto Show. Electric vehicles continue to be emphasized in the automotive market space, and Wiesenfelder is our guest on this episode of The Weekly Driver Podcast to discuss it. Co-hosts Bruce Aldrich and James Raia talk with the veteran journalist about the influx of new manufacturers in the EV segment as wells as the health of the segment. The Mustang Mach-E is among the influx of new EVs cars.com is monitoring as the segment expands. Image © James Raia Can any new EV carmaker, Rivian to Lucid to Polestar to VinFast, challenge Tesla? Can any mainstream manufacturer launch a sustainable EV? Cars.com: Will auto shows remain? Some high-end manufacturers have discontinued the tradition of debuting new models at auto shows, particularly the major events in Chicago, Los Angeles, New York and Detroit. We talk about that. Wiesenfelder discusses with us the health of auto shows and his recent experiences attending the Chicago and New York events. The industry continues to suffer because of the microchip shortage and also we discuss inventory shortages and the effects of rising fuel costs. That topic is also in our interview. Cars.com also has a new EV Buying Guide and the site's staff picks in top EVs in different categories. Cars.com: Curious about EVs? The website will host its second Cars.com's Guide for the EV Curious on April 28. Cars.com's editors will share their Top EV Picks and answer your questions about electric vehicles and EV ownership during a Live Q&A. Visit cars.com to register. The Weekly Driver Podcast encourages and appreciates feedback from our listeners. Please forward episode links to family, friends and colleagues. And you are welcome to repost links from the podcast to your social media accounts. The idea of more eyeballs on more content works for us. Support our podcast by shopping on Amazon.com. A graphic display at the bottom of the post links to automotive selections of the online retailer. But there's also a search function for anything available directly from the site. If you shop via this site, we receive a small commission. It helps us continue to produce independent content. The site began in 2004 and includes more than 700 reviews. Cars.com: Editors on three podcast episodes The podcast is in its fourth year, and we've had a diverse collection of guests — famous athletes, vintage car collectors, manufacturer CEOs, automotive book authors, industry analysts, a movie stuntman and episodes from auto shows and car auctions. All of the cars.com podcasts: #266, Cars.com releases 18th ANNUAL American-made index #224, Cars.com editor reports on EVs, NY Auto Show #202, Joe Wiesenfelder of Cars.com talks future of EVs #200, Few Carmakers Get Top Grades in Car Seat Installation The Weekly Driver Podcast encourages and appreciates feedback from our listeners. Please forward episode links to family, friends and colleagues. And you are welcome to repost links from the podcast to your social media accounts. Please send comments and suggestions for new episodes to James Raia via email: [email protected]. Every episode is also available on your preferred podcast platform. All episodes are also archived via the link: www.theweeklydriver.com/twd-podcast.

Like many automotive enthusiasts, Alessandro Borroni has a passion for automobiles that extends past his appreciation for fast cars and iconic carmakers. He's giving back to the community while the inviting like-minded to mingle among peers, drive iconic machines and raise money. The result is the Hypercar Invitational. The fourth-year event will be held June 9-12 headquartered at WeatherTech Laguna Seca Raceway. Borroni, the founder of the event, is our guest on this episode of The Weekly Driver Podcast. Alessandro Borroni, founder of the Hypercar Invitational, and some of the event's hypercars. Co-hosts Bruce Aldrich and James Raia discuss with Borroni, the genesis of the event, how it's expanded and what's planned for this summer's event. But just what is the Hyper Invitational? The exclusive offers an opportunity to not only preview a selection of hypercars but drive them on a closed track. "It's really hard to start something news," says Borroni during our 30-minute interview. "There's a lot of explaining and convincing, especially with the car companies and that they should come and spend their money is a totally new concept. But little by little, we're doing it. It's been an incredibly fun process." Three years ago, the Hypercar Invitational partnered with Make-A-Wish Greater Bay Area and made the foundation the chief beneficiary of proceeds raised before the event. Alessandro Borroni, founder of the Hypercar Invitational. Money is raised by allowing the public to bid on charitable passenger laps in featured vehicles that will be at this year's show in June. Whoever wins the bid is also invited to Hypercar Invitational, which is closed to the general public. Last year, the event raised $70,000 and it hopes to substantially increase the amount this year. Advocates of the Hypercar Invitational compare it to The Quail: A Motorsports Gathering. It's a well-heeled event held during the annual Monterey Auto Week in August. According to an event spokesperson, "The best way to visualize Hypercar Invitational is to imagine The Quail but move it to Laguna Seca and allow people to drive those cars on track (and a runway)." "Unlike Quail, the Hypercar Invitational is closed to the public. Invited guests include executives from featured manufacturers, designers, engineers, drivers, and other industry VIPs." The organization’s mission is to become the premier dynamic launch platform for new sports cars, with a strong focus on charitable giving to Make-A-Wish Greater Bay Area. Details of the event's itinerary, donation options and additional event details are posted on https://www.hypercarinvitational.com. Support our podcast by shopping on Amazon.com. A graphic display at the bottom of the post links to automotive selections of the online retailer. But there's also a search function for anything available directly from the site. If you shop via this site, we receive a small commission. It helps us continue to produce independent content. The site began in 2004 and includes more than 700 reviews. The podcast is in its fourth year, and we've had a diverse collection of guests — famous athletes, vintage car collectors, manufacturer CEOs, automotive book authors, industry analysts, a movie stuntman and episodes from auto shows and car auctions. Please send comments and suggestions for new episodes to James Raia via email: [email protected]. All podcast episodes are archived on theweeklydriver.com/podcast Every episode is also available on your preferred podcast platform. Several of the more prominent platforms are listed below. Amazon.com iheartradio Spotify

German engineer Carl Benz was the first to design a car around the internal combustion engine rather than adding an engine to an existing wagon or carriage, a critical insight in auto evolution. Benz, who died in 1929, is often called the inventor of the modern automobile. With six additional luminaries, all patent holders whose inventions range from cataract surgery to the Super Soaker will be honored as part of the latest class of National Inventors Hall of Fame (NIHF) inductees. The National Inventors Hall of Fame will inductee Carl Benz this year. Rini Paiva, the NIHF executive vice president for selection and recognition, is our guest this week on The Weekly Driver Podcast. Co-hosts Bruce Aldrich and James Raia discuss with Paiva the selection of Benz to this year's inductees. We also discuss the organization, its mission and the selection process of the honored individuals.   "We really wanted the give the people who have changed our worlds the proper recognition they deserve," said Paiva of the multi-pronged organization, including its museum located in Alexandria, Va. "It's where we can celebrate the inventors who we are talking about." According to his bio posted on the NIHF website, Benz partnered with co-investors in 1882 to establish Benz & Cie. to market a stationary two-stroke engine he had developed. Its success allowed Benz to focus on developing a lighter engine for vehicles. The two-stroke engine was impractical for this purpose, so Benz set to work on increasing the speed of the four-stroke engine by developing the ignition and valve control. By 1886, Benz had built a gasoline-powered three-wheeled vehicle, the first to combine an internal combustion engine with an integrated chassis. The two rear wheels supported the 0.75 hp strong, single-cylinder engine, and the front wheel was connected to the steering tiller inside the passenger compartment. The National Inventors Hall of Fame, located in Alexandria, Virginia, will induct modern car inventor Carl Benz this year. Debuting on the streets of Mannheim in July 1886, it had all the main components of today's internal combustion engines: a crankshaft, electric ignition and water cooling. It traveled about 10 km on a liter of gasoline (about 23 mpg), reached a top speed of 16 kph (about 10 mph) and is considered by experts as the first practical, gasoline-powered automobile to be commercially available. "It's very difficult, it's interesting and sometimes it can even be fun," said Paiva, light-heartedly. "We don't limit the inventors were are looking at to any particular area. The main requirement is that they have a U.S. patent. "The other thing that we look for and that our selection committee is where the inventors have done has impacted our lives." The inductees will be honored at “The Greatest Celebration of American Innovation,” on May 4-5. Danica McKellar, star of the TV show “The Wonder Years,” Hallmark Channel regular and author of New York Times bestselling “McKellar Math” books — will serve as master of ceremonies. Please join Bruce and me for an informative discussion with Paiva about the pending celebration and the legacy of Carl Benz. To learn more about the event, visit: www.invent.org/induction. For general NIHF information, visit: www.invent.org. The Weekly Driver Podcast encourages and appreciates feedback from our listeners. Please forward episode links to family, friends and colleagues. And you are welcome to repost links from the podcast to your social media accounts. The idea of more eyeballs on more content works for us. Support our podcast by shopping on Amazon.com. A graphic display at the bottom of the post links to automotive selections of the online retailer. But there's also a search function for anything available directly from the site. If you shop via this site, we receive a small commission. It helps us continue to produce independent content.

New RVs. A massive Tesla recall. Hyundai's new hip pickup. The World Car of the Year nominations. It's all covered — and more — this week on The Weekly Driver Podcast. Co-hosts Bruce Aldrich and James Raia don't have a guest on Episode No. 117, which gives us the ideal opportunity to catch up with the never-ending and always-changing automotive landscape. We start with the continuing still-new exploits of Bruce and his wife's adventures in their 29-foot Keystone RV and its towing vehicle a new Ford F-250 pickup truck. Bruce details learning the nuances of backing the RV into a camping site and his quickly advancing skill set as a first-time RV owner. Will the Tesla Cybertruck ever debut? Depending upon perspective, Elon Musk is the most important person in the show business of automobiles or he's the industry's constant enigma. Or, maybe he's both at the same time. Anyway, Musk is never content and nor are his Tesla products ever status quo. With a few recent days, Musk announced Tesla wouldn't offer any new models in 2022, including the now delayed debut of the Tesla Cybertruck. A few days later, Tesla had the first of three recalls so far in 2022. Bruce and I discuss the recent Tesla issues and Musk's continuous souring relationship with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Bruce and talk about the issue and Musk's expanding image of a human deflector shield. The 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz pickup truck is a debut vehicle for the South Korean manufacturer. One of the hottest trends in the industry is the of new smaller trucks. Hyundai not too long ago introduced its new unibody Santa Cruz. I recently reviewed it for a week and was enamored by the South Korean manufacturer's maiden voyage in the truck lightweight truck segment. Bruce and I also discuss the Santa Cruz and the pending arrival of other new trucks from Ford to Rivian, Chevrolet to Ram. And we also discuss top-10 finalists for World Car of the Year honors. The list and the eventual winner are connected to the marketing of the New York International Auto Show. It's scheduled for April 15-24, with the awards in many categories announced April 13. The list of the top-10 finalists couldn't be more diverse — The Ford Mustang Mach-E to the Toyota GR86. Please join Bruce and me this week for another lively 30 minutes of our weekly podcast. The Weekly Driver Podcast encourages and appreciates feedback from our listeners. Please forward episode links to family, friends and colleagues. And you are welcome to repost links from the podcast to your social media accounts. The idea of more eyeballs on more content works for us. Support our podcast by shopping on Amazon.com. A graphic display at the bottom of the post links to automotive selections of the online retailer. But there's also a search function for anything available directly from the site. If you shop via this site, we receive a small commission. It helps us continue to produce independent content. The site began in 2004 and includes more than 700 reviews. The podcast is in its fourth year, and we've had a diverse collection of guests — famous athletes, vintage car collectors, manufacturer CEOs, automotive book authors, industry analysts, a movie stuntman and episodes from auto shows and car auctions. Please send comments and suggestions for new episodes to James Raia via email: [email protected]. All podcast episodes are archived on theweeklydriver.com/podcast Every episode is also available on your preferred podcast platform. Several of the more prominent platforms are listed below. Amazon.com iheartradio Spotify

It seemed odd at first to see the booth for Arôme d’Art at the Unveiled Expo at the recent Consumer Electrics Show in Las Vegas. Diffusers aren't new, but the product and the approach to the distribution of fragrances in homes and offices — and in cars and trucks — is new. It's called  a "Multisensory Clean-Air Fragrance System." Doug Patton, CEP of Patton Design, the consulting industrial design firm and inventor of Arôme d’Art, a new defuser that combines natural aroma and natural essential oils and art, is our guest on this episode of The Weekly Driver Podcast. "All these things that you buy for fragrance in the store, including to put in your car is probably about 20 percent solvents," says Patton. "So what you are doing, you might as well inhale unleaded gasoline. It's horrible. We decided we wanted to go with all-natural fragrances." While home use was the original idea, Arôme d’Art is expanding. For automobile use, Patton says, the defuser can "fill the entirety of your car of less than 30 seconds." The company displayed different manufacturers' logos as  the removal top covers of the diffuser. "It took about a year or a year and a half to blend all the fragrances," says Patton. "Many people may know, like wine, fragrances are divided into top, middle and bottom notes. It was an experience creating these innovations. "In all of the focus groups we've had with perfumists across the nation, there are rave reviews of these rare fragrances we decided in is fragrances from these countries of their origin, so we have France, Spain, Greece and China." Please join Bruce and me as we discuss with Patton the product and its uses with an emphasis in cars and trucks. The Weekly Driver Podcast encourages and appreciates feedback from our listeners. Please forward episode links to family, friends and colleagues. And you are welcome to repost links from the podcast to your social media accounts. The idea of more eyeballs on more content works for us. Arome d'Art diffuser are available in numerous varieties. Support our podcast by shopping on Amazon.com. A graphic display at the bottom of the post links to automotive selections of the online retailer. But there's also a search function for anything available directly from the site. If you shop via this site, we receive a small commission. It helps us continue to produce independent content. The site began in 2004 and includes more than 700 reviews. The podcast is in its fourth year, and we've had a diverse collection of guests — famous athletes, vintage car collectors, manufacturer CEOs, automotive book authors, industry analysts, a movie stuntman and episodes from auto shows and car auctions. Please send comments and suggestions for new episodes to James Raia via email: [email protected]. All podcast episodes are archived on theweeklydriver.com/podcast Every episode is also available on your preferred podcast platform. Several of the more prominent platforms are listed below. Amazon.com iheartradio Spotify

FerrParts is a Sacramento business that strives to lead the independent Ferrari parts distributor industry for the international Ferrari community. It's succeeded so well, the company recently expanded its business to include Maserati, Lamborghini, McLaren and Bentley. Russell Putnam, the owner of the Ferrai parts company, is our guest this week on The Weekly Driver Podcast. FerrParts in Sacramento caters to owners of exotic Italian cars needing Ferrari parts. Co-hosts Bruce Aldrich and James Raia discuss with Putnam his business, from how it started to its expansion into other areas of the exotic car world. Putnam began his Ferrari business following a successful real estate career. He bought a salvaged Ferrari 355. "I had sold 100 rentals and I had enough cash to buy a new one, but there was something about my 'inner-guyness' to save a buck that I could repair a Ferrari myself," Putman says. "You know, for one-third of the money and have a project and something to enjoy. The disease just grew into the company, one of the largest, if the not largest Ferrari parts distributors in the world." FerrParts imports genuine Ferrari parts from Europe, factories, and dealer closeouts with new parts arriving daily. The inventory covers a broad range of models and includes the rarest to the most common parts. The company's motto: "If we don’t have it, we can get it." Please join Bruce and me as we hear from Putnam how his first exotic car business has grown into two additional companies www.ferraripartsexchange.com and Ferrsurance. The Weekly Driver Podcast encourages and appreciates feedback from our listeners. Please forward episode links to family, friends and colleagues. And you are welcome to repost links from the podcast to your social media accounts. The idea of more eyeballs on more content works for us. Support our podcast by shopping on Amazon.com. A graphic display at the bottom of the post links to automotive selections of the online retailer. But there's also a search function for anything available directly from the site. If you shop via this site, we receive a small commission. It helps us continue to produce independent content. The site began in 2004 and includes more than 700 reviews. The podcast is in its fourth year, and we've had a diverse collection of guests — famous athletes, vintage car collectors, manufacturer CEOs, automotive book authors, industry analysts, a movie stuntman and episodes from auto shows and car auctions. Please send comments and suggestions for new episodes to James Raia via email: [email protected]. All podcast episodes are archived on theweeklydriver.com/podcast Every episode is also available on your preferred podcast platform. Several of the more prominent platforms are listed below. Amazon.com iheartradio Spotify

Will Graylin is a tech entrepreneur who believes rideshare and delivery is the future of affordable, more efficient transportation. The Chairman and CEO of Indigo Technologies, Graylin is our guest on this episode of The Weekly Driver Podcast. Co-hosts Bruce Aldrich and James Raia talk with Graylin about his company's new class of EVs and his vision for ride-hail and delivery and other essential services.   "We focus on the next generation of urban mobility, especially in ride-share and delivery," says Graylin. "As you know, the world is changing. More and more miles are being put on the road big gig workers. They're delivering our food, our meals our packages." Indigo's motto: "Smoothest, Greenest Rides For Our Planet." The company debuted at the recent Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas a van-like electric car in two versions. The Indigo Flow is designed for ride-haring; the Indigo Flow Plus serves as a delivery van. For both cars, the startup emphasizes what it calls robotic wheels, which hold a 22 kW electric motor each. They also combine transmission and active suspension in one module with the drive. The active suspension, in particular, is intended to compensate for the well-known disadvantage of wheel hub motors, namely the higher unsprung masses. According to its literature: Indigo is delivering radically more efficient, comfortable and affordable EVs that are purposely built for ride-hail, delivery by leveraging its patented electric robotic wheel suspension and propulsion system. Indigo is also combining innovative fintech and insurtech from its partner OV Loop to make affordable transportation more accessible to everyone through advanced mobility as a service platform." "When you think about it, most vehicles carry one or two passengers, so why are they driving around in big SUVs and trucks," says Graylin. "We are being asked to supersize our cars. The OEMs make more money selling trucks and SUVs. We wanted to build a solution that is much lighter and much more efficient." Please join Bruce and me as we discuss with Graylin his company's (www.indigotech.com) philosophy of the future of urban mobility." The Weekly Driver Podcast encourages and appreciates feedback from our listeners. Please forward episode links to family, friends and colleagues. And you are welcome to repost links from the podcast to your social media accounts. The idea of more eyeballs on more content works for us. Support our podcast by shopping on Amazon.com. A graphic display at the bottom of the post links to automotive selections of the online retailer. But there's also a search function for anything available directly from the site. If you shop via this site, we receive a small commission. It helps us continue to produce independent content. The site began in 2004 and includes more than 700 reviews. The podcast is in its fourth year, and we've had a diverse collection of guests — famous athletes, vintage car collectors, manufacturer CEOs, automotive book authors, industry analysts, a movie stuntman and episodes from auto shows and car auctions. Please send comments and suggestions for new episodes to James Raia via email: [email protected]. All podcast episodes are archived on theweeklydriver.com/podcast Every episode is also available on your preferred podcast platform. Several of the more prominent platforms are listed below. Amazon.com iheartradio Spotify

If the entrepreneurs at MACA get what they're were hoping for at CES, motorsports enthusiasts may soon be watching racing featuring the MACA Flying Formula 1 Car. The fast and futuristic-looking vehicle is called a "Carcopter." It could change motorsports, or so its creators believe. Much different but the same, Nicolas Muron, founder ad CEO of Moonbikes (www.moonbikes.com) believes his electric snowbikes will be a new way to travel on snowmobile trails and on private land. The MACA flying Formula 1 race car was showcased at the recent CES gathering in Las Vegas. The two new vehicles were featured at the recently concluded Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. The principles involved are my guests on this episode of The Weekly Driver Podcast. Co-host Bruce Aldrich is the producer of this episode in Sacramento. I attended the show and spoke with our guests during the first night of the three-day gathering called CES Unveiled. With the slogan, "Future is in the Air," MACA (www.macaflight.com), still a prototype, is an aerodynamic speed machine its aviation brain trust hopes will become the first (manned) flying hydrogen Formula 1 car. It's billed with a top speed of 153 miles per hour. Former fighter pilot Thierry de Boisvilliers and former Airbus executive Michael Krollak are the creators of the hydrogen-powered racer. They hope by 2023 races will be held by drivers in the lightweight, twin helicopter-blade vehicles hovering around tracks. The pending idea is an effort to reduce the carbon emissions produced by traditional combustion engines on the Formula 1 track. "We developed this because we really want to go faster use this technology using hydrogen," said de Boisvilliers. "The vehicle is seven meters (23 feet) long and there's one pilot on board. We will fly the first one by the end of 2022 and are doing all of the environmental appraisings and we are developing the race concept." The new Moonbike, a new winter transportation vehicle was showcased at the recently concluded CES showcase in Las Vegas. Muron, self-describes as a "motor and tech lover," beliveves winter recreation enthusiasts needed another transportation mode. The Moonbike lineup was developed during the winter of 2015 when the inventor was visiting his grandparents' home in the small village of Saint-Nicolas-de-Véroce in the French Alps. Snowmobiles are too noisy and emit too much pollution. Muron's Moonbike idea, a "silent sled," was born. The Weekly Driver Podcast encourages and appreciates feedback from our listeners. Please forward episode links to family, friends and colleagues. And you are welcome to repost links from the podcast to your social media accounts. The idea of more eyeballs on more content works for us. Support our podcast by shopping on Amazon.com. A graphic display at the bottom of the post links to automotive selections of the online retailer. But there's also a search function for anything available directly from the site. If you shop via this site, we receive a small commission. It helps us continue to produce independent automotive content. The site began in 2004 and includes more than 700 reviews. The podcast is in its fourth year, and we've had a diverse collection of guests — famous athletes, vintage car collectors, manufacturer CEOs, automotive book authors, industry analysts, a movie stuntman and episodes from auto shows and car auctions. Please send comments and suggestions for new episodes to James Raia via email: [email protected]. All podcast episodes are archived on theweeklydriver.com/podcast Every episode is also available on your preferred podcast platform. Several of the more prominent platforms are listed below. Amazon.com iheartradio Spotify

After one delay and one cancellation, the LA Auto Show is back for the first time in two years. Like many businesses, the automotive industry has suffered. But its first major auto show since the Covid-19 pandemic began will be held Nov. 19-28 at the Los Angeles Convention Center. The 2021 LA Auto Show will emphasize auto mobility but will feature its traditional large selection of vehicle debuts. David Fortin, Head of Consumer Marketing for the event, is our guest on Episode #205 of The Weekly Driver Podcast. Co-hosts Bruce Aldrich and James Raia discuss with Fortin the pending show and the expected highlights. LA Auto Show: It's Back Founded in 1907, the LA Auto Show has built its reputation as one of the world's most prestigious auto shows. It hasn't been held since November 2019. As it did two years ago with further emphasis, the LA Auto Show will focus on the continued electrification of the automotive industry. The LA Auto Show always has its share of prototypes one-offs, including designer Jeremy Scott's Smart Car Concept. From startups to established brands, the 10-day show with packed days of test drives, never-before-seen vehicles, custom and exotic cars, all-new zero-emission vehicles, interactive activations and one-of-a-kind experiences. LA Auto: Plenty of Test Drives Influencers and shoppers can test-drive vehicles from brands such as Audi, Chrysler, Dodge, ElectraMeccanica, Fiat, Ford, Honda, Jeep, Nissan, Ram, Subaru and Toyota. Featured this year is the inaugural ZEVAS award program. It's the first people’s choice award program of its kind that celebrates the top zero-emission vehicles available for sale or pre-order." The Byton all-electric sedan concept debuted at the 2018 LA Auto Show. "The ZEAVAS is probably one of the things we are there most proud of," said Fortin. "It was born within our company. Our owner and CEO, Lisa Kaz, really has always been connected to where vehicles are and where they are going. LA Auto Show: Future Is Now "As the EV mandate started to come into play even as a whisper and now as a true mandate she recognized that the LA Auto Show has always had a place in history, almost an obligation, to inform, educate and inspire people to ask 'what does mobility look like in the future?" Among the several additional attractions: • Camp Jeep (Outdoor): The long-standing manufacturer will present in a 25,000-square-foot indoor exhibit test course the opportunity for attendees to experience the off-road capabilities of Jeep vehicles. Product specialists, sometimes called Ambassadors, are an integral part of the LA Auto Show presentation of new vehicles. • EV Track Powered by Electrify America (Indoor): The largest open ultra-fast DC charging network—is the show's exclusive sponsor of the all-new indoor electric vehicle (EV) test track and charging provider for the automotive brands and vehicles featured in this year’s outdoor test drives. Please join us as Fortin provides details about the much-anticipated return of the LA Auto Show. The event will be operated in full accordance with all safety protocols required by the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health. Vaccination cards or a negative COVID test within 72-hours of arriving onsite at the LA Convention Center along with masks will be required for entrance to the show. Free onsite rapid testing will be available to those who wish to test onsite. For additional information, including further COVID protocols, ticket information, show hours and parking, visit: www.laautoshow.com. The Weekly Driver Podcast encourages and appreciates feedback from our listeners. Please forward episode links to family, friends and colleagues. And you are welcome to repost links from the podcast to your social media accounts. The idea of more eyeballs on more content works for us. Support our podcast by shopping on Amazon.com. A graphic display at the bottom of the post links to automotive s...

Ben Auslander, vice president of sales and marketing for PitStopConnect.com, is enthusiastic about all things related to predictive analytics in automobiles. And he has been for a long time. Auslander, our guest this week on The Weekly Driver Podcast, worked on the GM Onstar program for more than 12 years. He helped launch VW's connected car program in North America. He also worked for Charge Point as its Automotive Director. Pitstopconnect.com sees the driving future "It's allowed me to see and understand a broader picture around mobility," Auslander says. Predictive automotive analytics is what pitstopconnect.com does best. Co-host Bruce Aldrich and I discuss with Auslander the ever-changing world of car connectivity. Based in Toronto, Ontario and Detroit, Mich., the company's platform, according to its website, has: "Over 500,000 connected vehicles and is growing more than 800 percent every quarter. Our industry-leading AI platform is a flywheel that only ever improves with more data and time, providing increasingly better predictive analytics insights to our customers. "This puts Pitstop in a unique position to not only service existing markets, but also play a leading role in the emerging EV and autonomous markets that will soon become ubiquitous across the world." The future of driving? PitstopConnect.com gets it Please join us as Auslander provides insight into what automotive predicability means for consumers, manufacturers and related industries. The Weekly Driver Podcast encourages and appreciates feedback from our listeners. Please forward this episode's link to family, friends and colleagues. And you are welcome to repost links from the podcast to your social media accounts. The idea of more eyeballs on more content works for us. Support our podcast by shopping on Amazon.com. A graphic display at the bottom of the post links to automotive selections of the online retailer. But there's also a search function for anything available directly from the site. If you shop via this site, we receive a small commission. It helps us continue to produce independent content. The site began in 2004 and includes more than 700 reviews. The podcast is in its fourth year, and we've had a diverse collection of guests — famous athletes, vintage car collectors, manufacturer CEOs, automotive book authors, industry analysts, a movie stuntman and episodes from auto shows and car auctions. Please send comments and suggestions for new episodes to James Raia via email: [email protected]. All podcast episodes are archived on theweeklydriver.com/podcast Every episode is also available on your preferred podcast platform. Several of the more prominent platforms are listed below. Amazon.com iheartradio Spotify

As co-hosts of The Weekly Driver Podcast, Bruce Aldrich and I sometimes have a guest cancel at the last minute. Two-time Indy 500 winner Al Unser Jr. was our scheduled guest. With his non-appearance, we decided to talk about him. Specifically, we discuss Unser's new book, "A Checkered Past." The 302-hardcover offering includes a foreword by Roger Penske, the team owner who once employed "Little Al" and who is now the owner of the Indianapolis Speedway. Al Unser Jr. tells his life story in his new book, "A Checkered Past." The book is written "As Told To Jade Gurss." A long-time journalist, Gurss has written several additional motorsports books and has also worked in marketing and publicity for Mercedes-Benz and Mazda in his varied career. Unser's book is appropriately titled. Throughout his adult life, the winner of the 1992 and 1994 Indy 500s has been addicted to alcohol and drugs. It costs him his racing career, friends, family and nearly his life. Al Unser Jr.: Life Was A Party "Something else made a big difference for me personally," Unser says in Chapter 15: Randomly Selected. "For the first time CART has instituted random drug testing. A month before the first race of the season (1988), I quit smoking marijuana on a daily basis. I felt sharp. I could feel the difference when I was driving and giving feedback to the team." But for Al Unser Jr. life as an addict and its ramifications exceeded his attempts for a healthy life. Beyond discussing the new book, Bruce also provides an update on the pending new Ford F-250 pickup truck and RV he and his wife Alene have recently purchased. Telsa Moves To Texas Where Gas Rules We also talk about Elon Musk's to relocate Tesla's headquarters from Palo Alto to Austin, Texas. And we conclude Episode #201 with some observational "odds and ends" from the automotive industry including a brief report on Escapod. It's market as "Born from a desire to build the best damn camper known to man, the TOPO2 is a premium teardrop trailer that doesn’t ask you to choose adventure over comfort." During the recent Sea Otter Classic bicycle festival on the Monterey Peninsula, I met the co-founder of the company, Chris Hudak during the event's expo. We briefly talked about his family and their travels. The Weekly Driver Podcast: Comments, Support Welcomed The Weekly Driver Podcast encourages and appreciates feedback from our listeners. Please forward episode links to family, friends and colleagues. And you are welcome to repost links from the podcast to your social media accounts. The idea of more eyeballs on more content works for us. Support our podcast by shopping on Amazon.com. A graphic display at the bottom of the post links to automotive selections of the online retailer. But there's also a search function for anything available directly from the site. If you shop via this site, we receive a small commission. It helps us continue to produce independent content. The site began in 2004 and includes more than 700 reviews. The podcast is in its fourth year, and we've had a diverse collection of guests — famous athletes, vintage car collectors, manufacturer CEOs, automotive book authors, industry analysts, a movie stuntman and episodes from auto shows and car auctions. Please send comments and suggestions for new episodes to James Raia via email: [email protected]. All podcast episodes are archived on theweeklydriver.com/podcast If you like our podcast, please also consider supporting us visit with the donation our "Buy Us A Cup of Coffee" platform below. Every episode is also available on your preferred podcast platform. Several of the more prominent platforms are listed below. Amazon.com iheartradio Spotify

Cars.com recently released its 2021 Car Seat Fit Report Card. It provides a detailed analysis of which cars are the best for parents when it comes children's car seat installation. Jenni Newman, the editor-in-chief of Cars.com and a certified child passenger safety technician, is our guest on Episode #200 of The Weekly Driver Podcast. Co-host Bruce Aldrich and I discuss the report card and the reactions by carmakers to the grades they received. Only a few carmakers get top grades for child car seat installation. Only four vehicles made the car seat installation Honor Roll with “straight A’s”: the 2021 Nissan Sentra, 2021 Genesis GV80, 2021 Audi SQ8, and the 2022 Hyundai Tucson Hybrid. Few carmakers get car seat installation right While the 2021 Ford Bronco Sport earned a “B” for its Latch system, it received an “F” in the rear-facing convertible category. We also talk about common mistakes parents and caretakers make when selecting and vehicles with proper car seat installation. Parents also have car seat installation woes The Cars.com national survey also revealed 56 percent of parents stated they have installed a car seat incorrectly. Additionally, 84 percent of parents find "some level of the process frustrating." The survey also noted 67 of parents with car seat age children make vehicle purchase decisions based on car seat fit. Each Car Seat Check is performed by a Cars.com certified child-passenger safety technician who installs three types of car seats — infant, convertible and booster — into each new vehicle and evaluates the vehicle’s Latch system, as well as how the vehicle accommodates the different car seats. The car seat installation issue is our 200th issue The Latch system is a set of lower anchors and top tether anchors that are supposed to make car seat installation easier, but that’s not always the case. To earn an “A” grade, a vehicle must show it has plenty of room for the car seat and the child, without impacting legroom for the driver or front passenger. Vehicles must also demonstrate their Latch system is easy to find and use (without any fit issues), in order to show it’s car-seat-friendly. Please join us as we celebrate our 200th episode as we report on this important issue. All of the cars.com podcasts: #266, Cars.com releases 18th ANNUAL American-made index #224, Cars.com editor reports on EVs, NY Auto Show #202, Joe Wiesenfelder of Cars.com talks future of EVs #200, Few Carmakers Get Top Grades in Car Seat Installation The Weekly Driver Podcast encourages and appreciates feedback from our listeners. Please forward episode links to family, friends and colleagues. And you are welcome to repost links from the podcast to your social media accounts. Please send comments and suggestions for new episodes to James Raia via email: [email protected]. Every episode is also available on your preferred podcast platform. All episodes are also archived via the link: www.theweeklydriver.com/twd-podcast.

A minute's drive from County Rd. 21 in the Elizabeth, Colo., Rambler Ranch is perched in a clearing of trees on the outskirts of the small town about 45 miles southeast of Denver. It's a secluded museum of Americana, a life's work for Terry Gale as a remembrance of family and the iconic automobiles of yesteryear. Gale, 60, didn't plan to own the world's largest collection of Nash, Rambler and AMC vehicles. But in 30-plus years he's cultivated an unequaled collection of the small vehicles originally produced inexpensively for the post World War II economy. A selection of vehicles in Rambler Ranch. A lot happened to the long-ago defunct vehicles and life has changed for Gale, too. He started with his father's 1954 Nash Ambassador and he spent years building his occupation with his deceased former partner Greg Kissinger. Rambler Ranch: Colorado's "hidden" museum The Weekly Driver Podcast recently traveled the museum en route to a writers' conference in Estes Park, Colo., and Gale is our guest on Episode #199. Co-host Bruce Aldrich is way this week, but I spent about 2 1/2 hours with the museum's proprietor. I was the only one visiting that day. The museum has appointment-only hours three days a week and it was closed. But Gale accommodated me. Row after row of Rambler and other vintage cars at Rambler Ranch. Gale, a Roger Maris-lookalike, suffers from neuropathy, so he often travels building-to-building on a segway. Besides his vast interest in Ramblers and other vehicles "no one else collects," Gale is a historian and aficionado of Americana. He collects vintage appliances and antiques. Memorabiliamand promotional materials cover the walls, floors and shelves. Mannequins are everywhere. There's a recreated old-style diner. It's where we talked after a tour of the expansive museum buildings. A "boneyard" of other Ramblers is used for parts is on a corner of the ranch and is its own museum. Gale likes new cars, too, with an enviable collection that includes McLaren, Tesla, Rolls-Royce, among others. Mostly, Gale's appreciation for what he does is infectious. Terry Gale's collection of Rambler and other vintage cars is unequaled. Please join me for a 30-minute conversation with the curator of one of the country's most impressive car and Americana museums. The Weekly Driver Podcast encourages and appreciates feedback from our listeners. Please forward episode links to family, friends and colleagues. And you are welcome to repost links from the podcast to your social media accounts. The idea of more eyeballs on more content works for us. Support our podcast by shopping on Amazon.com. A graphic display at the bottom of the post links to automotive selections of the online retailer. But there's also a search function for anything available directly from the site. If you shop via this site, we receive a small commission. It helps us continue to produce independent content. The site began in 2004 and includes more than 700 reviews. The podcast is in its fourth year and we've had a diverse collection of guests — famous athletes, vintage car collectors, manufacturer CEOs, automotive book authors, industry analysts, a movie stuntman and episodes from auto shows and car auctions. Please send comments and suggestions for new episodes to James Raia via email: [email protected]. All podcast episodes are archived on theweeklydriver.com/podcast Every episode is also available on your preferred podcast platform. Several of the more prominent platforms are listed below. Amazon.com iheartradio iTunes Spotify

Ashlee Tilford is the managing editor of QuinStreet.com, the marketing and search engine service company. It recently released a consumer-based post detailing a new study by CarInsurance.com — the cheapest and best car insurance companies. Tilford is our guest this week on The Weekly Driver Podcast. Co-hosts Bruce Aldrich and James Raia discuss with Tilford the CarInsurance.com, one of QuinStreet.com's companies, compiled the resource guide. CarInsurance.com has picked the best and cheapest auto rates. While considering what's available in major and small auto insurance companies, the report includes information vetted by experts in several categories, including driver’s age, location and driving habits. "We compared rates among 35 different insurance providers," Tilford explains. "But before we did that, we created 11 different driver profiles because almost anybody is going to find into one or more of those categories or someone on their policy probably will." Car Insurance: Different Rates, Different Drivers Tilford explains the categories were established to relate to consumers to see what should be expected for "whatever their driver profile is." The study shows good value insurance options considering various categories: comprehensive coverage, drivers with speeding tickets, drivers with poor credit, drivers with accidents, student and teenage drivers and low-mileage drivers. Tilford also provides insight into some of the controversial areas insurance companies use to determine rates, including credit score and marital status. "I compare credit scores to high school GPAs or even college GPAs," says Tilford. "People said 'when you get out there in the real world, your GPA isn't going to be that big of a deal. Nobody is going to care about that. Credit scores are similar. "We can shuffle them under the rug and we can ignore them for a long time. But when they do start affecting us and they do, that is when it becomes apparent how important it is. Your credit score absolutely impacts your auto insurance rates." Please join us on Episode #197. Our guest provides knowledge and a jovial approach to what is often a mundane but integral part of car ownership. The Weekly Driver Podcast encourages and appreciates feedback from our listeners. Please forward episode links to family, friends and colleagues. And you are welcome to repost links from the podcast to your social media accounts. The idea of more eyeballs on more content works for us. Support our podcast by shopping on Amazon.com. A graphic display at the bottom of the post links to automotive selections of the online retailer. But there's also a search function for anything available directly from the site. If you shop via this site, we receive a small commission. It helps us continue to produce independent content. The site began in 2004 and includes more than 700 reviews. The podcast is approaching its fourth , and we've had a diverse collection of guests — famous athletes, vintage car collectors, manufacturer CEOs, automotive book authors, industry analysts, a movie stuntman and episodes from auto shows and car auctions. Please send comments and suggestions for new episodes to James Raia via email: [email protected]. All podcast episodes are archived on theweeklydriver.com/podcast Every episode is also available on your preferred podcast platform. Several of the more prominent platforms are listed below. Amazon.com iheartradio iTunes Spotify If you enjoy our podcast, please also consider supporting the hosts by buying us a cup of coffee. Visit the cup of coffee icon below. Make a one-time donation or a monthly contribution.  

Driving a new car is generally enjoyable; the process of acquiring it? Not so much. Bruce Aldrich, the co-host of The Weekly Driver Podcast, hadn't purchased a new vehicle in more than a decade. His Subaru Outback will soon approach 200,000 miles, and it's doing fine. But Bruce and his wife, Alene, decided a new Ford F-250 pickup truck is the vehicle to get. It'll tow an RV just fine, which is a good thing since the couple is planning to do more traveling with friends who are also RVers and who also own a pickup truck. Co-host Bruce Aldrich and James Raia discuss the process of buying a new truck. Bruce "built" his new truck online from the Ford website, and now he'll wait for the truck to arrive. Delivery could take months. The process of buying a new vehicle is the first of three topics this week on The Weekly Driver Podcast. I interview Bruce about his experience negotiating with dealership personnel and what he expects from the sales department when the truck arrives. Buying A New Truck Isn't Easy Bruce's purchase is also timely with the current chaos in the truck segment. Inventory is still slim because of the microchip shortage. If he didn't want to wait, Bruce could have purchased a recent-year used truck. But it would have cost more than a new truck. In the second portion of the podcast, Bruce and I discuss two recent e-mail letters I received from the readers of my new car reviews. The Weekly Driver began in 2004 and I recently received that could have motor One letter writer provided overt praise about a piece I wrote on Charlie Watts, the deceased drummer for the Rolling Stones. Within a few hours, I also received a harsh letter about my recent view of the 2021 Honda Ridgeline. The letter pretty much said I'm in the wrong line of work. Bruce and I discuss the letters and have some fun doing do. Support Our Podcast: Buy Us A Cup Of Coffee Lastly, with this episode, listeners who like our podcast can help support. The podcast and its host website, TheWeeklyDriver.com have a new feature. It's called "Buy Us A Cup of Coffee." By clicking on the area below that shows a cup of coffee, you can contribute as little as $3 as a one-time contribution. Or, you can contribute more on a one-time or monthly basis. Contributions are secure and submitted through PayPal. The Weekly Driver Podcast encourages and appreciates feedback from our listeners. Please forward episode links to family, friends and colleagues. And you are welcome to repost links from the podcast to your social media accounts. Support our podcast by shopping on Amazon.com. Please send comments and suggestions for new episodes to James Raia via email: [email protected]. All podcast episodes are archived on theweeklydriver.com/podcast Every episode is also available on your preferred podcast platform: Amazon.com Google Play iheartradio iTunes Spotify Stitcher

A few events have been amended,  few postponed for another year. But by any name, Monterey Auto Week to Classic Car Week, and with events from The Little Car Show to the Concours d'Elegance, it's back. The all-encompassing showcase of automobiles and many related areas returns after a one-year COVID-19 hiatus. A crew attends to details on a vintage Rolls-Royce just prior to the bidding during Mecum Auctions at Monterey Auto Week. All images © Bruce Aldrich The festivities begin August 6 and continue through August 15 at multiple locations throughout the Monterey Peninsula. Co-hosts Bruce Aldrich and James it all during this Episode #191 of The Weekly Driver Podcast. We'll be on-site for four days beginning Aug. 9. Plans include a podcast from the Concours on the Avenue in Carmel (Aug. 10) and The Little Car Show (Aug. 11) in Pacific Grove. Aston Martin will have a world debut in Pebble Beach (August 12), and we'll be there, too. Monterey Auto Week: Auto Overload In the meantime, Bruce and I discuss our previous experiences attending various activities during Monterey Auto Week. We agree the best show to attend for the money (it's free) is the Concours on the Avenue. Get there early and watch the cars arrive on Ocean Ave. and the surrounding side streets. It's a show with a variety of vintage vehicles, some rare, some not-so-much. A rare Pagani was featured at The Quail: A Motorsports Gathering during Monterey Auto Week. But every vehicle has a passionate owner and the enjoyment of the show is as much to them as it is the showcased of vintage machines. Attending Mecum Auctions (August 12-14) at the Hyatt Regency Monterey Hotel and Spa/Del Monte Golf Course is like attending a circus for automobiles (although no cars are mistreated). It's a three-day parade of vehicles for sale, 600 in all, with a vehicle on the auction block ready for bidding every few minutes. We've attended the auction several times. It's held during daytime hours and it's nationally televised. Ticket prices vary but all are inexpensive. It's complete entertainment. Plentiful refreshments are available and the combination of car-and-people-watching is hard to beat. The Concours d'Elegance at Pebble Beach Golf Links (August 15) traditionally ends the annual celebration. And it will again with the finale's 70th anniversary. It will also be Sandaa Button's 35th presentation as the event chairwoman. The first Bugatti Veyron was auctioned a few years ago during Monterey Auto Week. If you're on the Monterey Peninsula during Monterey Auto Week make sure to pick up a free copy of the Monterey Herald's specialty publication on the now nearly two weeks of activities. It includes a detailed schedule of events and profiles of the people and vehicles involved. As a long-time contributor to the Monterey Herald, I have six articles in the specialty publication. The Weekly Driver Podcast encourages and appreciates feedback from our listeners. Please forward episode links to family, friends and colleagues. And you are welcome to repost links from the podcast to your social media accounts. The idea of more eyeballs on more content works for us. Support our podcast by shopping on Amazon.com. A graphic display at the bottom of the post links to automotive selections of the online retailer. But there's also a search function for anything available directly from the site. If you shop via this site, we receive a small commission. It helps us continue to produce independent content. The site began in 2004 and includes more than 700 reviews. The podcast is in its third year, and we've had a diverse collection of guests — famous athletes, vintage car collectors, manufacturer CEOs, automotive book authors, industry analysts, a movie stuntman and episodes from auto shows and car auctions. Please send comments and suggestions for new episodes to James Raia via email: [email protected]. All podcast episodes are archived on theweeklydriver.com/podcast

Sandra Button has judged thousands of cars, Bentley to Bugatti, Maserati to Mercedes-Benz. But a masterpiece from yesteryear can still give the chairwoman of the Pebble Beach Concours a jolt. It happens early Sunday mornings when 200 cars emerge at Pebble Beach Golf Links for the annual homage to automotive beauty and tradition. "I have seen cars drive onto the field from the mist and thought, 'that's the one; that's got a run for the roses,' "said Button. Sometimes, I'm right and sometimes I'm not. Sometimes, they don't even make it out of their class. Sandra Button is celebrating her 35th anniversary as chairwoman of the Pebble Beach Concours. "But I've been surprised many, many times seeing a car come around the corner onto the field and saying, ‘wow, what is that?' It didn't translate in a photo. It's the stance, the height and everything about the car." Button, celebrating her 35th year as the event's chairwoman is our guest this week on The Weekly Driver Podcast. Pebble Beach Concours: 70th anniversary Co-host Bruce Aldrich and James Raia talk with Button about the upcoming Monterey Auto Week and the enduring status of the Pebble Beach Concours. While Button celebrates her anniversary, the event is celebrating its 70th anniversary. "One of the things that's pretty neat about the Pebble Beach Concours is that our roots are definitely in motorsport," said Button. "Actually, as we are celebrating 70 years of the Pebble Beach Concours we are also celebrating 70 years of the Pebble Beach Races, which really were the star of the show in 1950." "The Concours was honestly just an afterthought. The races were the show and all the attention was on that. But we thought, 'Let's kick tires and talk cars after the races are done.' " Sandra Button, chairwoman of the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance. To commemorate the occasion, the Concours d'Elegance will include a Reunion Class. So far, 40 of the best of show winners will return. The vehicles will be showcased on the golf course paralleling the Pacific Ocean. "You can imagine what that's going to be like seeing what the tastes were back in the day," said Button. “Was it a more formal, bigger car? Or was it more of a French coachwork or European coachwork? They'll all be there." Please join us for a lively 30-minute conversation with "The Queen of the Concours." The Weekly Driver Podcast encourages and appreciates feedback from our listeners. Please forward episode links to family, friends and colleagues. And you are welcome to repost links from the podcast to your social media accounts. Support our podcast by shopping on Amazon.com. Please send comments and suggestions for new episodes to James Raia via email: [email protected]. All podcast episodes are archived on theweeklydriver.com/podcast Every episode is also available on your preferred podcast platform: Amazon.com Google Play iheartradio iTunes Spotify Stitcher

John Kraman spends his work career immersed in automotive auctions. He's the lead TV commentator and analyst for NBCSN during Mecum Auction broadcasts. He can barely curb his enthusiasm. There's no doubt the broadcaster is ready for the return of the three-day Mecum Auction during Classic Car Week beginning Aug. 12. A vintage Rolls-Royce on the carpet during the Mecum Auctions three-day sale in Monterey Auto Week. Image © James Raia/2018. Kraman is my guest on this episode of The Weekly Driver Podcast. Co-host Bruce Aldrich is on vacation, so Kraman and I discuss the upcoming Mecum Auction during Monterey Auto Week. "This pandemic really hasn't slowed us down," said Kraman. "We have been on the go. Our foot has been on the gas pedal, making adjustments to scheduling and having some safety issues we've had to deal with at the venues. Mecum Auctions Monterey: "Reset the Bar." "It looks like a lot of that has started to relax a bit and we are starting to get back to the way things used to be. I have to tell you, man, the upcoming Monterey auction is really about to reset the bar. It's such a high profile and important event." Mecum Auctions will return to Monterey following a late July auction in Orlando, Florida. Mecum calls the occasion a "pickup auction.” The mix of a sale at Mecum Auctions during Monterey Auto Week. Image © Bruce Aldrich/2018. In previous years, the time slot would be reserved for an auction in Harrisburg, Pa. The city plans to return to the Mecum Auctions auction rotation in 2022. "I have to confess, I have to tell you as much excitement as there is toward Orlando, it's really all about Monterey in my mind at this point," said Kraman. Mecum's auction at the Hyatt Regency is among its smallest with 600 vehicles. But its average price per sale is annually the company's highest. Kraman is my guest for third time. Here are links to previous occasions: Episode #95: Mecum Auctions defines fun during Monterey Auto Week Episode #45: Fast and Furious Monterey Auctions returns to Monterey The Weekly Driver Podcast encourages and appreciates feedback from our listeners. Please forward episode links to family, friends and colleagues. And you are welcome to repost links from the podcast to your social media accounts. The idea of more eyeballs on more content works for us. Support our podcast by shopping on Amazon.com. A graphic display at the bottom of the post links to automotive selections of the online retailer. But there's also a search function for anything available directly from the site. If you shop via this site, we receive a small commission. It helps us continue to produce independent content. The site began in 2004 and includes more than 700 reviews. The podcast is in its third year, and we've had a diverse collection of guests — famous athletes, vintage car collectors, manufacturer CEOs, automotive book authors, industry analysts, a movie stuntman and episodes from auto shows and car auctions. Please send comments and suggestions for new episodes to James Raia via email: [email protected]. All podcast episodes are archived on theweeklydriver.com/podcast Every episode is also available on your preferred podcast platform. Several of the more prominent platforms are listed below. Amazon.com Google Play iheartradio iTunes Spotify

Monterey Auto Week. Monterey Car Week. Classic Car Week. By any name, the now nearly two-week presentation of all things automotive will be back in mid-August. After a one-year hiatus because of the Covid-19 pandemic, most of the usual annual attractions — shows to auctions, speakers' forums to memorabilia — will unfold throughout the Monterey Peninsula. Andrew Herrala and Kim Foxx own Ferrari Literature and will also organize this year's memorabilia show during Monterey Auto Week. Images © James Raia/2019 Recently approved as an indoor show, the Automobilia Pop-Up Show, with a new one-year-only husband-wife organization team, will be held Aug. 10-11 at Embassy Suites in Seaside. Monterey Auto Week Is Back While long-time show organizer Everett Anton "Tony" Singer (www.vintageautoposters.com) continues plans for a full-field 2022 return, Andrew Herrala and his wife Kim Foxx will coordinate this year's edition. It will include about 25 vendors of memorabilia — hood ornaments to owner manuals, vintage scale models to apparel, books to keychains. Herrala is my guest this week on The Weekly Driver Podcast. Co-host Bruce Aldrich is on vacation, but my guest, a Ferrari memorabilia expert, and I discuss all things auto memorabilia. Herrala and Foxx own Ferrari Literature (www.ferrariliterature.com). It caters to owners of the Italian supercar seeking the vehicles' often rare paperwork as well as a kaleidoscope of other Ferrari-related stuff. We discuss the increased interest in automotive memorabilia and how interest changes in different parts of the country. We talk about fraud in auto memorabilia collecting and how the industry changed during the pandemic. Robert Carter, who creates large-sized automobile-themed paintings, in his studio in Chico, California, will return to Monterey Auto Week. As a long-time freelance writer for the Monterey Herald, I first interviewed Herrala two years ago, the first year the memorabilia event had expanded to three days. “We have factory, original printed literature for Ferraris,” Herrala said on the show’s opening day in 2019. “You can get some of this stuff online, but you have to be careful it’s authentic. Some guys are real sticklers. If you have a ’65 car, you don’t want a ’67 manual. You want all the details perfect.” Herrala has been involved with Ferrari for years and has owned several of the supercars. He's traveled to memorabilia shows around the country. Pouches, brochures, manuals, dealer directories, posters, books, parts and tools, posters, yearbooks and other collectibles are all offered beginning from 1947 models. While smaller this year, many of the regular vendors will be back, including Robert Carter, who owns Carter Artworks. Carter’s paintings, which range from $5,000 to $20,000 are often sold to museums, restaurants, homeowners and, of course, vintage car owners. He also sells limited edition posters. “I did fruit labels for about 12 years,” Carter in 2019. “I was still a motorcycle nut and into cars, so one day I just took a fruit truck label and instead of oranges, and put a Ferrari in there. It looked much better. This (a painting of a red Ferrari) is the best canned tomato label you’ll ever see.” Please join me for comprehensive 30 minutes all about automotive memorabilia on episode #184 of The Weekly Driver Podcast. Our podcast encourages and appreciates feedback from our listeners. Please forward episode links to family, friends and colleagues. And you are welcome to repost links from the podcast to your social media accounts. The idea of more eyeballs on more content works for us. Support our podcast by shopping on Amazon.com. A graphic display at the bottom of the post links to automotive selections of the online retailer. But there's also a search function for anything available directly from the site. If you shop via this site, we receive a small commission. It helps us continue to produce independent content.

Dr. Katia Nicolet, a marine biologist, is part of two, five-person crews rotating on board the Energy Observer. The self-sufficient, 100-foot catamaran is the first round-the-world, hydrogen-powered sea vessel. It's a working lab designed to showcase zero-emission technologies and demonstrate that clean energies can be accessible to everyone. As part of its six-year odyssey, the Energy Observer arrived in early May on Pier 9 in San Francisco about two weeks after entering the United States in Long Beach, California. The Energy Observer is on a global voyage to promote zero-emission technologies  All images © Bruce Aldrich/2021 Nicolet, who has been involved with the project for about a year, is our guest on this episode of The Weekly Driver Podcast. After joining several other guests for Nicolet's extensive tour of the vessel, co-hosts Bruce Aldrich and James Raia interviewed our host about a wide range of topics — sustainable energy to living on the ocean for extended durations. Dr. Katia Nicolet, a marine biologist, is a crew member on the Energy Observer. "Everything is covered in solar panels and looks black," said Nicolet at the beginning of our podcast recorded in a makeshift sit-in area on the pier and among storage containers. "The primary source of our electricity comes from the solar panels. Energy Observer: Six-Year Worldwide Voyage "The main goal here is to be fully autonomous in energy and to go around the world only using renewable energy and hydrogen and not a single emission of C02 or any other kind of greenhouse gasses." The Catamaran is a hybrid-propelled vessel. It also has two sails, described by Nicolet as "more like wings." The hydrogen fuel tanks on the Energy Observer. "Let's say if we have 10 or 15 knots of wind, we are able to sail with what we call ocean wings," she explained. Energy Observer began its voyage in Saint-Malo, France in 2017. It has navigated more than 30,000 nautical miles. While two crews rotate about every six weeks, each five-person team includes a captain, engineer, a reporter, a scientist and boatswain, who Nicolet describes as "kind of the Swiss Army Knife of the ship." All crews share duties, cooking to cleaning. The Energy Observer is about 100 feet long and has two "wing sails." Toyota is among the Energy Observer's primary sponsors. "Yes, Toyota is one of our sponsors and we really like them," Nicolet said Two years ago, engineers from the manufacturer and the Energy Observer collaborated to create the fuel cell the vessel is currently using. Toyota is using its fuel cell in the Mirai, the hydrogen car introduced in California in 2015. The Energy Observer was docked at Pier 9 in San Francisco. "They adapted those cars' fuel cells to be more compact, to fit inside the boat and that's the fuel cell we've been using for two years now," Nicolet said. "It's much more efficient than what we had created when the project began in France. "People tend to think that hydrogen is very dangerous, but I have been sleeping two meters away from big hydrogen tanks and it's really rough seas this boat has been experiencing. We have big swells and lightning storms and really rough conditions and we've never had any issues." The Energy Observer is now en route to Hawaii. It will then continue to Japan. F0llow the global voyage of the Energy Observer on the website: www.energy-observer.org Please join us for our interview with Dr. Katia Nicolet as she details her life at sea with an engaging combination of science and a sense of humor. The Weekly Driver Podcast encourages and appreciates feedback from our listeners. Please forward episode links to family, friends and colleagues. And you are welcome to repost links from the podcast to your social media accounts. The idea of more eyeballs on more content works for us. Support our podcast by shopping on Amazon.com. A graphic display at the bottom of the post links to automotiv...