#245, Young reporter Mason Bloom joins TheWeeklyDriver.com

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. 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

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Wildly modified Porsche 911s scale world’s highest volcano

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Porsche 911s are usually more at home on the race track than on the side of volcanos — until now. At the direction of Porsche‘s Vice President of Vehicle Architecture Dr. Frank-Steffen Walliser, 992 911 lead engineer Michael Rösler was assigned to work with Romain Dumas Motorsport to devise two 911s to climb the highest volcano in the world. Scaling Chile’s 22,615 foot (6.9 kilometers) Ojo del Salado would require a very different 911, and the teams at Porsche Wiessach and Romain Dumas Motorsport delivered. The result was two wild Porsche 911s Carrera 4S and a 19,708 feet (six kilometers) climb through thick

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2022 Kia EV6 debuts as worthy three cars in one

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Introduced 19 months ago as a 2022 model, the Kia EV6 is the South Korean manufacturer’s debut as it transitions from internal combustion engines to battery-electric vehicles. The launch has been an unqualified success. The spacious five-passenger utility vehicle also further blurs the definition of car segments. The EV6, part of Kia‘s EV1 through EV9 lineup plans, is simultaneously a station wagon, hatchback and crossover utility vehicle. Kia marketed the EV6 toward first-time electric vehicle buyers. Available in Light, Wind and GT-Line trims, the EV6 starts with a base price of $40,990 and continues to $51,200. It also further erases

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Traffic Ticket Options For First-Time Offenders

When a driver disobeys the rules governing cars on the road, it is considered a traffic violation. A Florida driver who violates the traffic laws may be fined, forced to attend traffic school, have negative points on their driving record, or even have their license suspended. With nearly 10,000 accidents to date this year recorded in Polk County alone, the importance of safe driving is paramount as we head into the holiday season. Discover the two types of traffic tickets a driver may receive for breaking the below-mentioned regulations. Movement Infractions When a driver transgresses the law while operating a

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Ferrari launches first Le Mans Hypercar in 50 years

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Ferrari has unveiled its long-anticipated Le Mans Hypercar (LMH) endurance race car, named the 499P, following months of teasers and a 50-year absence from top-class endurance racing. The vehicle is set to compete in the 100th running of the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2023. The 499P has been in design since March of 2021 and is debuting after several prominent automakers, including Porsche, Cadillac and BMW have announced their own prototype racers. Ferrari is unique because it will compete in the LMH class instead of the Le Mans Daytona Hybrid (LMDH) class, a costlier series due to the

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2022 Los Angeles Auto Show promises electricity, tradition

The Los Angeles Auto Show has lots of bright lights and bling, concept cars and customized cruisers from yesteryear. It’s the annual first major industry showcase uniquely held at the end of the calendar year. Global debuts of the newest Aston Martin, Hummer and Porsche are fine. Concept cars are great, although many may never be made for consumers. The latest electric vehicle innovation are the industry’s future. But much was made of the Bollinger, Byton, Canoo and Elio and none have been manufactured. The 115th The Los Angeles Auto Show will be held Nov. 18-26 at the Los Angeles

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WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca repaved for 2023

WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca — one of California’s fastest race tracks — is going to get faster in 2023.  A planned resurfacing and resulting smoother surface should allow the diverse array of competitors on next year’s schedule to blaze through the 11-turn track at greater speeds. WeatherTech’s 2023 Major Events Season boasts an eclectic mix of IndyCar, IMSA, MotoAmerica superbikes, muscle cars, historic cars and motorcycles competing in traditional and untraditional race formats. All events will be held on the track’s first repaving since 2007. Spectators also receive an upgrade in the form of a rebuilt Start/Finish bridge which will

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#244, Insurance expert talks all things winter driving

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. 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

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Make sure you don’t make these mistakes while driving

Drivers who enjoy driving like to get the most from the road. But sometimes those activities have many potential risks and do more harm than good. As such, discovering how to avoid automotive problems is the most important step toward achieving safer driving conditions. Here are three common mistakes drivers make in different areas of the automotive experience and how to avoid them: Purchasing Having a dream car or truck is great, but it’s not always practical. Having a vehicle suited to your needs is a better approach. Expensive cars not only involve a substantial initial investment and insurance. Maintenance

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5 hobbies to consider as a car fanatic

Car fanatics may be looking for ways to spend their time and energy when not behind the wheel. Hobbies abound. Whether you’re into racing, restoring cars or simply admiring them from afar, there’s something for everyone. Here are five automotive-related options: Racing From local drag strips to a V8 supercar experience, ways to get a “fix” are plentiful. If there’s not a track readily available, online tracks are available with different events and racing series from which to choose. Restoring For automotive enthusiasts who like working with their hands, restoring cars can rewarding. It’s also a great way to learn

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2022 AMG EQS: Tesla rival worth its hefty price

Consumers purchase vehicles for nearly as many reasons and varieties of cars and trucks. Budget, fuel economy, brand preference, dependability and an intangible like status are priorities. The 2022 AMG EQS has qualities from several categories, it’s also a vehicle purchased simply because a buyer who doesn’t need justification wants it. Introduced about a year ago, the full-size luxury sedan is the first electric offered by the AMG line, the separate but connected, performance-oriented lineup of vehicles affiliated with Mercedes. It’s not marketed so directly, but it’s the German manufacturer’s response to Tesla. It has many features also available in

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5 Tips For Drivers To Practice Being Safer Drivers

Most drivers want to drive safely. No one wants to get into an auto accident and potentially seriously injure or kill themselves or others. However, many drivers aren’t as safe on the road as they think. And many drivers do many things little and large that can increase the odds of a disaster. Drinking and driving are likely to result in the offender speaking with a DUI accident lawyer. Not properly maintaining a vehicle is a roadside recovery scenario waiting to happen. But there are many things you can do (or not do) that will make you a safer driver,

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4 Major Causes of Car Accidents (Where You’re To Blame)

Most car accidents are caused by human error and even good drivers cause accidents. If we want to be better drivers, it’s crucial we look at our own driving skills before blaming other drivers for mistakes. Here are four major reasons for car accidents: Reckless Driving Reckless driving, like aggressive driving, can lead to devastating car accidents. Recklessness while driving is akin to carelessness. When drivers change lanes too quickly with disregard for other drivers, more problems can occur. Speeding is the second most common cause of road accidents on the road. Reckless driving compounds problems. Speeding is the second

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Velocity Invitational: Mario Andretti, epic races, big crowds

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LAGUNA SECA – The Velocity Invitational, a motorsports festival held Oct. 14-16 at WeatherTech Raceway, was a nod to the adage that good things come in threes. First, there was living legend Mario Andretti, 82, behind the wheel of a modern Formula 1 car for the first time. Second was exciting split-second race finishes that thrilled the crowd of more than 15,000. Third was the tens of millions of dollars worth of vintage race and hypercars gracing the track. It made the Velocity Invitational one of the country’s more unique motorsports experiences. While the three-day event featured hundreds of vehicles

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Traffic Ticket Options For First-Time Offenders

When a driver disobeys the rules governing cars on the road, it is considered a traffic violation. A Florida driver who violates traffic laws may be fined forced to attend traffic school, have negative points on his or her driving record, or even have their driver’s license suspended. Here are the two types of traffic citations a driver may receive for breaking the below-mentioned regulations: Movement Infractions When a driver transgresses the law while operating a vehicle on a public road, it is referred to as a moving traffic violation. Significant penalties and points are frequently assessed for moving traffic

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#243, RVs, car-sharing, Rivian, expensive cars

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. For their longest excursion and sixth trip in their fifth-wheel RV, a 29-foot Keystone Cougar towed by their 2022

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