podcast

#223, Hypercar Invitational Founder Alessandro Borroni

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. 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

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#217, RVs, Tesla, Hyundai Santa Cruz, World Car of the Year

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. Depending upon perspective, Elon Musk is the

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#216, Arôme d’Art: A new way to make your car smell good

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

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#211, Drifting away while ice driving in Lapland

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 32:55 — 45.2MB)Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | More Every winter for the past 17 years, proprietors of Lapland Driving School in Sweden prepare acres of frozen tundra for the specialty automotive niche of drifting while ice driving. The facility, offering 14 varied circuits on nearly 3,000 acres, is located at Lake Udjaur near Arjeplog in Sweden. It’s a three-hour airplane flight from Munich, Germany or Paris, France. Ice Driving: Fast & Controlled The lure of learning the skills to maneuver elite vehicles at high speeds on challenging, albeit on controlled surfaces, attracts participants from around the world, California to Brazil. Alix Masson, marketing director for the driving school, is our guest

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#210, Ira Spector, proud 2012 Fisker Karma owner

Ira Spector owns a rare car he sometimes compares to a cute dog. It’s a term of endearment. When he’s driving his 2012 Fisker Karma Revero everyone wants to know all about it. “It’s like a puppy; people stop you and they engage you,” said Spector, who likely owns the only Revero in Los Gatos. “They ask questions; it’s kind of fun. Most of them have never seen it before. Others who have seen one may think the company is bankrupt and that they’re longer built.” Fisker Karma: Rare, Beautiful Spector is our guest on this episode of The Weekly Driver Podcast. Co-hosts Bruch Aldrich talk with the car’s owner, his enjoyment of sports cars and his automotive passion for

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#203, PitStopConnect.com helps predict, prevent auto tragedy

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. 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

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#202, Joe Wiesenfelder of Cars.com talks future of EVs

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 38:39 — 53.1MB)Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | MoreJoe Wiesenfelder is the executive editor of Cars.com and he’s immersed in the future of EVs — electric vehicles. According to the website’s recent data, about one-third of car buyers are actively looking to purchase their first electric vehicle. But many questions remain with the anticipated growth. Wiesenfelder and his colleagues are counting on it. Wiesenfelder is our guest on this episode of The Weekly Driver Podcast. EVs: Marketplace will expand Co-host Bruce Aldrich and I discuss with the long-time journalist the future of the electric vehicle market and the goal of Cars.com to assist consumers with their buying decisions. “Cars.com bought its first

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#187, Cars.com index: Tesla, the most American made

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 28:08 — 38.6MB)Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | MoreTesla innovation has changed the automotive world with a lot of industry firsts. Its latest designation is the top spot on the latest American Made Index (AMI). Introduced 16 years ago by the editors of Cars.com, the AMI analyzes a range of factors to determine the  percentage of new cars and trucks made American Kelsey Mays, the assistant managing editor at the online motoring website that debuted in 1998, is our guest on this episode of The Weekly Driver Podcast. He discusses with co-hosts Bruce Aldrich and James Raia the latest index result and Tesla’s top spot. “We like to think that the index

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#183, Fun Father’s Day gifts for car fans

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 29:05 — 26.6MB)Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | MoreProud car owners aren’t often at a loss for words. It’s part of the enjoyment of sharing artwork of wheels. The artists at Respoke Collection offer another way to showcase a favorite machine or a showroom full of automobiles or motorcycles. Forward a quality image online to the company’s online presence, and it will return a vehicle rendering on canvas or on paper in dimensions as large as 24×36. It’s an ideal, unique Father’s Day gift for the car collector in the family. On this episode of The Weekly Driver Podcast, co-hosts Bruce Aldrich and James Raia discuss Father’s Day gifts for auto enthusiasts.

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#176, RVTravel.com expands, adds weekly podcast

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 28:33 — 39.2MB)Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | More RVTravel.com is the country’s pre-eminent recreational vehicle website. It reports on every conceivable component of tthe ever-expanding industry. It has expert text and video, twice-weekly newsletters, daily tips, a huge social media presence and a forum. Its new feature is a weekly podcast. Scott Linden, a long-time television and radio broadcaster and an avid RVer, is the host of the podcast which debuted in early April. Linden our guest on episode #176 of The Weekly Driver Podcast. Co-host Bruce Aldrich and I discuss with Scott the back story of how he started the podcast via his friendship with Chuck Woodbury, the publisher of

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New RV show and The Weekly Driver find way in heavy podcast traffic

A woman drove onto the lawn at The Santa Lucia Preserve in Carmel Valley in a dark blue new Rolls-Royce Ghost. Everyone attending the private event at Monterey Auto Week in 2017 simultaneously turned to look at the artwork on wheels. A few minutes later, the Rolls-Royce was humbled by a local guy who arrived in his pristine, bright red 1955 Ford F-100. The new $500,000 rarity of English workmanship was “runner-up” to a 62-year-old $12,000 pickup truck. The occasion, an interview with the truck’s owner, and visits to the Mecum Auction and other events were the subject of The Weekly Driver Podcast debut. Co-host Bruce Aldrich, a producer, photographer, videographer and long-time friend, and I are now approaching four years and

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#175, 2021 LA Auto Show virtual media preview

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 46:42 — 64.1MB)Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | More After a postponement and cancellation because of the COVID-19 pandemic, LA AutoMobility and the LA Auto Show will be back later this year at the Los Angeles Convention Center. Collectively, the automotive industry can’t wait. Plenty of other auto shows didn’t occur last year and won’t until later this year. But organizers of the Los Angeles show, the first major industry event of the season, decided to offer a glimpse into the future. A virtual media gathering with representatives from many carmakers was recently held, and The Weekly Driver Podcast was part of it. Co-hosts Bruce Aldrich and James Raia listened to several

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#165, 2020 in car news: COVID-19, new Corvette, recalls

There’s never a dull moment in the automotive industry. Car news never stops. Competition is intense. The emerging electric vehicle market continues to emerge but with its future unknown. Recalls aren’t going away anytime soon. And how consumers buy and sell vehicles is further transitioning from in-person sales to the online marketplace. The COVID-19 pandemic has changed everything. Overall, the automotive industry, just like most businesses, endured a turbulent 2020. Car News Abounds The Weekly Driver reported on much of the car news . . .  recalls to bogus speed records, an iconic sports car’s mid-engine revelation to a record sales in the vintage car sales market. Bruce Aldrich and I discuss on this episode of The Weekly Driver Podcast.

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#164, The art of buying and selling used cars

Jim Brooks owns Approved Autos Bakersfield, California. It’s a used car business, a constantly changing segment of the automotive landscape. Brooks worked as a new salesman at a dealership for two years. But he didn’t like the sales practices and decided his own business was a better option. Fifteen years later, Brooks has witnessed lots of industry changes, particularly during the Covid-19 pandemic. Brooks is this week’s guest on The Weekly Driver Podcast. The used cars sales market has changed Co-hosts Bruce Aldrich and James Raia talk with Brooks about all aspects of buying and selling used cars, live and online auctions to financing, price negotiations to paperwork. Brooks also discusses some of the unusual vehicles he’s bought and sold.

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#149, #150: The Weekly Driver Podcast celebrates 3 years (Part 1)

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 40:24 — 37.0MB)Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | MoreThe Weekly Driver Podcast debuted in September 2017. Bruce Aldrich and I had already been working together on automotive YouTube videos and attending car shows together for several years. A podcast seemed like an ideal new creative outlet. We’re now 3-years-old and 150 episodes into our show. To celebrate the milestone, Bruce and I independently picked our five favorites episodes. And we discuss them in a double presentation on Episodes #149 and #150. The Weekly Driver Podcast Celebrates 3 Years Bruce actually picked six episodes. And among our combined 11 favorites, only one overlapped. We both selected artist Chris Miller. An article posted in

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#144, Rolls-Royce is back with a wicked ghost of a machine

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 29:16 — 40.2MB)Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | MoreRolls-Royce has long represented elegance and sophistication in automobiles most often named after ghosts. There have been years of exception. Used Rolls-Royce models, particularly in the company’s native England, were hard to sell for years. But now the bespoke machines are back in a big way. In 2019, Rolls-Royce sold more than 5,100 vehicles worldwide, the best annual sales volume in the company’s 116-year history. Elizabeth Williams, the company’s product communications manager, discusses the Rolls-Royce return to prominence on this week’s episode of The Weekly Driver Podcast. Rolls-Royce has a 116-year legacy Co-hosts Bruce Aldrich and James Raia discuss all things Rolls-Royce with Williams

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