Podcast

#72 The Weekly Driver Podcast: David Ankin/ToyMakerz

More than 40 years ago, Top Gear debuted as a monthly, 30-minute magazine-style, automotive-related program on the British Broadcasting Corporation. It was based in Birmingham, England, and the initial episode’s topics included speed traps, fuel economy and strange road signs. A year later, the program expanded to a weekly format and it was broadcast for nearly a quarter century. Simultaneously, much has changed and not much has changed in automotive programming. Enthusiasts are still as passionate about cars and truck and driving. Speed, fuel usage and bizarre things on the road are all still topics for automotive reality television programs. Shows like the rekindled version of Top Gear, American Chopper and Monster Garage brought the concept to greater prominence in

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#2, The Weekly Driver Podcast video: how states’ driving rates

As a personal finance website, WalletHub covers a lot of territory, all revolving around consumer assistance. It features practical advice about automobiles to credit cards and insurance to real estate agents. It’s all about numbers, statistics and analysis. In the automotive field, WalletHub has a series of studies, the most recent on the 2019 Best & Worst Cities to Drive in. The numbers are revealing. WalletHub.com reports California is among the worst states to driven in. The website determined congestion costs the average driver in the United States more than $1,400 per year. The U.S. is ranked 10th in the world in road quality in the recently released study. The Weekly Driver Podcast is produced in Sacramento, so co-hosts Bruce

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#71 WalletHub’s best, worst cities, states to drive in

WalletHub.com does studies, and it does them well. It makes sense because it’s a personal finance website that relies on facts and figures and number crunching for consumers. In the automotive field, WalletHub has a series of studies, the most recent on the 2019 Best & Worst Cities to Drive in. The numbers are revealing. WalletHub determined that congestion costs the average driver in the United States more than $1,400 per year. The U.S. is ranked 10th in the world in road quality in the recently released study. The Weekly Driver Podcast is produced in Sacramento, so co-hosts Bruce Aldrich and James Raia were particularly interested in how California ranks in different areas. Consider California’s numbers (1=Best; 25=Ave.): • 42nd

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#1 The Weekly Driver Podcast Video: Author John Lamm

Few journalists in the automotive industry have as much expertise as John Lamm. The long-time writer and photographer has interviewed and photographed many of the icons in the business. Lamm has worked for all of the major car magazines, and he’s the author of several books, including the recently released, Supercar Revolution: The Fastest Cars Of All Time. Sub-titled “The one-stop guide to world-class supercar and their battle for ultimate performance and supremacy,” Lamm’s coffee-table-sized volume is essential for anyone who admires, dreams of, or owns a supercar of their own. The veteran journalist is our guest on the debut video episode of The Weekly Driver Podcast. The audio-only version of the podcast is available in our podcast archives. Lamm’s

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#70, Journalist, photographer John Lamm’s new supercar book

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 31:41 — 43.5MB)Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | MoreJohn Lamm is a journalist and photographer who has worked for decades for many of the automotive industry’s most prestigious magazines. He’s also the author of several books, including the new release, Supercar Revolution: The Fastest Cars Of All Time. Sub-titled “The one-stop guide to world-class supercar and their battle for ultimate performance and supremacy,” Lamm’s coffee-table-sized volume is essential for anyone who admires, dreams of, or owns a supercar of their own. The veteran journalist is our guest on episode #70 of The Weekly Driver Podcast. It’s also our first episode on video. It will be posted separately. Lamm’s book is cleverly organized

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#69 Ford Edge ST debuts as carmaker’s performance SUV

Tyler Swedensky is the new car manager at Future Ford in Sacramento, California, and he’s good at what he does. With co-host Bruce Aldrich driving and me observing as a back- seat passenger, Swedensky recently took us for a test drive and preview of the 2019 Ford Edge ST. Ford is marketing the new vehicle as its first performance SUV, and Swedensky is our guest on this week’s episode of The Weekly Driver Podcast. After our ride, Bruce and I asked our guest about the Edge ST from the offices of the Sacramento dealership. He explained the SUV’s innovative Co-Pilot 360. It’s a suite of standard driver- assist technologies. Features include a blind spot information system, lane keeping system, enhanced

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#68, Driven to Drive, 2018 podcast year in review

Max Mack has owned his share of vehicles. Like other car enthusiasts, he appreciates fast cars and automobile history, and he likes to associate with like-minded individuals. It’s why the Sacramento businessman began Driven to Drive. Mack organizes social meet-ups among car enthusiasts and businesses around Northern California — wineries to urban locales. It a great way to mix and share automobiles stories and with support from regional businesses. Mack is our guest on episode #68 of The Weekly Driver Podcast. Co-hosts Bruce Aldrich and James Raia talk with Mack about his new business, his long-time interest in cars, membership in the organization and plans for Driven to Drive in 2019. Driven to Drive’s mission statement: “We love cars. We

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67, 2018 automotive world recap, cars of the year

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 37:26 — 51.4MB)Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | MoreWith the end of one year and the beginning of another, it’s always a good time to look back at what happened in the automotive world in the past 12 months and pick cars of the year. It was an ideal time to be part of an industry in 2018. Alternative fuels, ride-sharing platforms, alternative fuel, and the increasing interest in vintage cars and trucks. It was a whirlwind year. Co-hosts Bruce Aldrich and James Raia recap the year in Episode #67 of The Weekly Driver Podcast. We focus on the top-10 cars of the year I selected as editor and publisher of www.theweeklydriver.com.

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#66, On demand insurance, year-end car deals

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 37:59 — 52.2MB)Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | MoreWelcome to another episode of The Weekly Driver Podcast, our last broadcast in 2018 and our 66th episode. Co-hosts Bruce Aldrich and James Raia interview Ian Sweeney and Julie Blackley. Sweeney is General Manager of Trov Mobility based in Danville, California. He explains the company’s motto: “Insurance billed by second, day, mile, event. . . . whatever you need.” The on-demand insurance company found that 56 percent of 2,000 respondents in a recent survey believe it’s more economical to use shared transportation than own a vehicle. Not surprisingly Millennials, ages 22-37, (39 percent) are more likely to be willing to make the sacrifice than

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#65, GOFAR driving data, holiday driving hazards

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 35:52 — 49.3MB)Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | MoreWelcome to the latest episode of The Weekly Driver Podcast. We have a two-part broadcast with an entrepreneur from Australia and a discussion with an insurance industry analyst about driving hazards during holiday travel. Our first guest is Ian Davidson, the co-founder of GOFAR. It’s a telematics device that connects vehicles to the cloud. Named one of the “Top 10 Coolest things in the world” by GQ magazine, we reach Davidson in Sydney. He discusses with co-hosts Bruce Aldrich and James Raia how the product works and its global appeal in dozens of countries. It’s available on Amazon here: GOFAR – The easiest way

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#64, LA Auto Show, holiday driving habits

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 33:01 — 45.3MB)Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | MoreWelcome to another episode of The Weekly Driver Podcast. In this week’s two-part presentation, we recap the recently concluded LA Auto Show and we discuss drivers’ habits during the holidays with Laura Adams of DriversEd.com. As the first major auto show of the year, the LA Auto Show is always chock-full of innovation. This year was no different. Two concept vehicles, Byton and Rivian, both soon scheduled for their public debuts, attracted a lot of attention. The Rivian concept is an all-electric SUV with 0-60 mph speed in 3.0 seconds and a 400-mile range. The new company also has an all-electric pickup. Image ©

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Episode 63, LA Auto Show, Day 3: Genesis, Rivian

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 18:49 — 25.9MB)Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | MoreDay 3 of the LA Auto Show was the last of the Media Days. The public show opened its 10-day run today (Nov. 30) and will continue through Dec. 9. A handful of vehicles attracted a vast amount of attention, and representatives of two of those companies are our guests on Episode #63 of The Weekly Driver Podcast. Bruce Aldrich produced the show remotely from interviews I had from the show. Our guests are Kevin Smith, a Senior Group Manager of Public Relations and Corporate Social Responsibility for Genesis, and Sethu Gopal, Senior Director of Connected Car and Digital Experience for Rivian. A third

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#62, LA Auto Show, Day 2: Cadillac SUV, Baja 1000, Prestone

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 28:59 — 39.8MB)Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | MoreWelcome to Day 2 of The Weekly Driver Podcast’s special coverage of AutoMobility LA and the LA Auto Show. Today (Nov. 28) was the opening day for media previews of new car debuts, and it didn’t disappoint. While co-host Bruce Aldrich produced Episode No. 62 remotely, James Raia (your other co-host) was reporting from the showroom halls of the Los Angeles Convention Center. We have three guests. Phil Zak is the exterior designer for Cadillac. He explains the enduring brand’s continuing transition into the SUV segment, particularly the new XT4. We also discuss Cadillac‘s continuing pursuit to appeal to younger buyers. And we also

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#61, LA Auto Show, Day 1: Byton concept, new Airstream

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 22:20 — 30.7MB)Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | MoreWelcome to our special podcast episodes from AutoMobility LA and the Los Angeles Auto Show. For the past few years, AutoMobility LA has showcased the ever-advancing technology in the automotive world. Our first episode is direct from the technology tent on the eve of the opening day of the traditional show. Co-host Bruce Aldrich is producing the show remotely, but James Raia (that’s me) will be reporting live from the showroom floor for three days. We’ll start with two diverse guests, Florian Bauer from the concept electric vehicle Byton and Jeremy Levi, a sales consultant for Airstream. Bauer is director of product management for

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#60, Bay Area tow truck driver videos interstate idiots

Ray Elliott of Los Gatos, California has been a tow truck driver in the Silicon Valley for more 20 years. He witnesses stupidity on the freeway daily. Elliott has arrived on the scene of every kind of accident imaginable, sometimes before law enforcement personnel or first responders. He has seen fender benders and death. As a former paramedic, Elliott has helped saved lives at accidents. He’s seen so much go wrong, he decided years ago to document much of his daily work life on a website titled. idiotsontheinterstate.com. Elliott is our guest on Episode #60 of The Weekly Driver Podcast. Co-hosts Bruce Aldrich and James Raia discuss with Elliott his website and its varied video content. The videos are raw

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#59, Technology, Chinese influence on tap for LA Auto Show

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 35:58 — 49.4MB)Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | MoreThe LA Auto Show began more 100 years ago and it’s always changed with trends in the automotive industry — pick-up trucks to alternative fuel vehicles. This year’s show, scheduled Nov. 29-Dec. 10 at the Los Angeles Convention Center, will be no different. More than 60 vehicles are confirmed to make their North American or global debuts. Lefteris “Lefty” Tsironis, the show’s marketing and communications director, is our guest on episode #59 of The Weekly Driver Podcast. Tsironis takes co-hosts Bruce Aldrich and James Raia through the show, concepts to the increase of Chinese manufacturers to the enduring tradition of manufacturers’ ambassadors, once known

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