Cars Yeah with Mark Greene

John Neff is the Global Editor in Chief at Motor 1 where they provide automotive news, reviews, features, and more. John is an automotive journalist who has helmed some of the biggest automotive digital publishing brands on the web. For 10 years he was Editor in Chief of AOL’s car site, Autoblog, and for the last three years, he’s been Global Editor in Chief of his new automotive news and review website called Motor1.com, which operates 10 editions around the world and is written in 9 languages. 

Direct download: Ep1304-John_Neff.mp3
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Carl Iseman is a Board Member and Concours Chairman for the Cincinnati Concours d’Elegance, an annual event that takes place on June 9 in Ault Park, Cincinnati, Ohio and has been an ongoing event since 1978. While his career included being a hospital CEO, and owner of several marketing research companies, Carl’s passion for cars, and Porsches, in particular, included being the President of The Drie Staaten Gruppe, a Porsche 356 and early 911 Club and a member of the Porsche Club of America and 356 Registry. His garage has included 12 Porsches, a Triumph TR4, MGB/GT, several BMWs, and a ’48 Chevrolet Woody. 

Direct download: Ep1303-Carl_Iseman.mp3
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A motor racing broadcaster, commentator and journalist, Will Buxton has had the rare pleasure of turning his great passion into something resembling work for the better part of 20 years. His career has taken him around the world countless times to report on everything from Formula 1 to World Rally to Indycar. While the happy mistake of falling into television as a Formula 1 pitlane reporter in the United States for the SPEED channel and later NBC Sports, followed by his current role as the first Digital Presenter in F1 history, has made him one of the most recognized faces and voices in the sport, his first love was and remains writing. Will lives in Oxfordshire, England, and he’s here today to talk about his new book: My Greatest Defeat: Stories of hardship and hope from motor racing’s finest heroes.

Direct download: Ep1302-Will_Buxton.mp3
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John Ficarra is an automotive historian and professional automotive enthusiast. He bought his first car at the age of 14, restored cars in his garage to help put himself through college, owned a picture car company called Creative Film Cars in NYC, ran an illegal cross-country Cannonball event called The 2904, was the marketing director and in-house historian for Bruce Canepa at his amazing facility in Scotts Valley, California, wrote and researched 72 cars for the Porsche’s historic tent at Rennsport VI, and has been ill-advisedly building and racing cheaty cars in the 24 Hours of LeMons. An accomplished researcher, writer, and storyteller, John’s work has appeared in magazines including 000, Vintage Racecar, Classic Porsche, and Speed Sport; on the Luftgekühlt website, and his VINwiki Car stories have over a million views on YouTube. 

Direct download: Ep1301-John_Ficarra.mp3
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Bruce Kessler had a short but sweet racing career from 1953 to 1959. It started when he borrowed his mother’s XK120 Jag at the age of 17. He raced all over the world and Sports Illustrated called Bruce “Daring young Bruce Kessler.” He was sent to Le Mans in 1957 to drive for Porsche and tested for Centro Sud F1 250F Maserati in Modena. He drove for Scarab, raced Ferraris, and ran at exciting venues including The Cuban Grand Prix, the Nassau Classic, Sebring, Silverstone, Lime Rock, Watkins Glen, and Riverside. A serious accident ended his racing career and he landed in Hollywood where he became a film and television director. His film The Sound of Speed represented the USA at the Cannes Film Festival in 1962 and won the first Golden Eagle awarded by the American Film Institute. Just a few of his many other credits include The Monkees, The Flying Nun, Mission: Impossible, Marcus Welby, MD, and The Rockford Files, to name just a few.

Direct download: Ep1300-Bruce_Kessler.mp3
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Katie Hargitt was born and raised in Indianapolis, Indiana, a city that lives and breathes two things: basketball and racing. She never mastered a jump-shot, but she was hooked on horsepower. At just nine-years-old, she began racing quarter midgets across the country. Just two years later, Lyn St. James invited her to attend "Women in the Winner’s Circle” and driver development. After racing for more than ten years, Katie stepped out of the driver’s seat and in front of the camera. She scored her first job in local news in Terre Haute, Ind., a city rich in motorsports history. She worked her way back into motorsports as a pit reporter on NBCSN’s IndyCar series broadcasts. In the spring of 2018, Katie established “Fuel the Female,” an organization dedicated to empowering women to achieve their dreams. She has also worked as a reporter for Fox Sports Midwest in college football, basketball, the Indiana Pacers, and NCAA.

Direct download: Ep1299-Katie_Hargitt.mp3
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Rob Howden is the ‘Voice of the Road to Indy’, and he works on the IndyCar Radio Network broadcast Team. For the last 25 years, Rob has dedicated his life to the coverage of kart racing and open-wheel formula car racing in North America as the Editor-in-Chief and Publisher of past publications such as Shifter Kart Illustrated and FormulaCar Magazine, and most currently, the industry-leading website eKartingNews.com. He’s been the trackside play-by-play on the PA for the primary karting series and events across the continent and he is considered the primary announcer in the North American karting community. Rob will call 26 different racing events this year, which will take him to all four corners of the country.

Shout out to Chris Pantani at Cooper Tires for introducing me to Rob.

Direct download: Ep1298_-Rob_Howden.mp3
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David Ankin, AKA “Doghouse” Dave, is a hands-on entrepreneur, former stunt man, motorcycle racer, and custom motor vehicle fabricator. He founded his business, ToyMakerz, in 2014 where he and his business partner, David Young, along with their team specialize in one-off custom builds and OEM enhancements. In addition to building unmatched rides, David is the host on the reality TV show ToyMakerz that just completed its third season on the History channel after two successful years on Velocity. The show is shot with aerial cinematography and thrilling drive sequences featuring VR technology and concept animation and includes a companion app, available on iTunes, that connects fans to the show.

Direct download: Ep1297-David_Ankin.mp3
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Tim Considine is the author of the book Twice Around The Clock - The Yanks at Le Mans, a huge multi-volume, unapologetically chauvinistic personal history of over 320 American drivers and the American cars that have participated in the epic 24 Hours of Le Mans. His book is a frank, sometimes blunt, personal account that makes history human – and these volumes unique. Each of the three books is close to 120,000 words in length with approximately 300 black and white and color images, per volume, from around the world, interspersed throughout – many never seen before. It is the culmination of Tim’s research and interviews conducted for over 26 years and written over the last six years and covers from 1923 through 1979. Tim was my guest back in June of 2015 and you may know him from his time on TV on the original Mickey Mouse Club, Shaggy Dog, My Three Sons, and many more. His son Chris, CEO of CXC Simulations, has also been a guest here on Cars Yeah.

 

Direct download: Ep1296-Tim_Considine.mp3
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Mike Tatro is a car collector whose automotive enthusiasm has filled his garage with over 100 cars. He is a retired business owner who enjoys his days with a number of automotive activities. He is the Chairman of his local chapter of the Golden Gate Lotus Club, a member of the Shelby Club of America, the MG Club, the Austin Healy Club, Porsche Club of America, the Datsun Club, and the BMW Club. He loves to work on cars and his collection, which he calls ‘CarMichael Vintage Vehicles’ is an eclectic group of vehicles which houses in an 18,000 square foot garage/warehouse near his home. That collection includes 105 cars, 7 motorcycles, 2 wooden boats, and a motorhome.

Direct download: Ep1295-Mike_Tatro.mp3
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Ron Baker is the founder of Driven, a marketing organization where he has found a way to weave his passion for cars into his career. He has created over 500 car events for major automotive manufacturers. He has produced car related television programming – 5 series in total spanning 9 years on the air. Ron has also created numerous promotional and training presentations and written marketing programs and developed technology to enhance the consumer experience at car shows. He also developed the broadcast facility at Cobo Hall, Detroit, for the North American International Auto Show. Ron is a driving instructor who teaches performance and defensive driving courses as well. He continues to race, campaigning a 2-litre formula car and he is an accomplished musician who performs professionally. 

Direct download: Ep1294-Ron_Baker.mp3
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Randy Kerdoon is a multi-award-winning sportscaster who has been on the airwaves for 30 years on KFWB, Fox-11, and currently KNX 1070 Newsradio in Los Angeles, California. He has earned numerous broadcasting awards including a “Best of Radio”, a Gold Medal and Golden Mike awards. In 2014, he decided to wrap his passion for cars into a podcast that he calls “Talking About Cars” where he interviews a wide variety of guests who love classic cars. I was honored to be a guest on his show during my attendance at The Classic Auto Show in Costa Mesa, California where I was interviewed by Randy and past Cars Yeah guest Bob Beck. Randy loves old cars and he currently has two collector cars, a 1957 Pontiac Custom Safari 2 door wagon and a 1964 Dodge Polara hardtop.

Direct download: Ep1293-Randy_Kerdoon.mp3
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Andy Leach is the owner of Cal Automotive Creations where he and Ron Cizek, and their team build custom cars. His father got him into cars at the age of 14 and his first car was a 1937 Ford that he learned how to weld and form metal on. He worked with Troy Trepanier at Rad Rides by Troy for 5 years where he honed his talents. Andy and Ron built a 1940 Ford they titled Checkered Past and won the 2013 Ridler Award which was an incredible accomplishment given it was the first car out of their newly formed shop. I had the honor of meeting Andy at The Classic Auto Show in Costa Mesa California where I interviewed him on their Celebrity Stage along with his friend Wayne Carini, another past Cars Yeah guest.

Direct download: Ep1292-Andy_Leach.mp3
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Burt “BS” Levy is known as the World’s Fastest Novelist. He is an award-winning motorsports journalist, an infamous author, a lifelong British car nut, and notorious racecars ride mooch who has earned over 80 amateur and vintage race wins. He is the author of the celebrated cult classic 1950s sports car novels The Last Open Road, its sequels Montezuma’s Ferrari, The fabulous Trashwagon, Toly’s Ghost, The 200 MPH Steamroller and his utterly hilarious short story collection, A Potside Companion. Today Burt returns to Cars Yeah to share his latest venture, The Last Open Road audiobook. A true automotive entrepreneur, Burt is sure to fill our ears with his humor and iconic “BS”, so hide your car keys and listen up.

Burt was first on Cars Yeah way back on August 3 and 4, 2014, and he was my first two-part show being guest on episodes #47 and #48.

Direct download: Ep1291-Burt_Levy.mp3
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Mike Dennison is the President of Powered Vehicles Group and CEO of Fox Factory. For more than 40 years, FOX Factory has been an industry leader in the design and development of high-performance shock absorbers and racing suspension products for bicycles, on-road and off-road vehicles and trucks, side-by-side vehicles, all-terrain vehicles, snowmobiles, specialty vehicles and applications, and motorcycles. Prior to FOX Mike was entrenched in Silicon Valley’s high-tech industry, spending almost 20 years with Flex Ltd., a diversified technology manufacturer of products from printers and smartphones to audio systems and wearables. As CEO Mikes oversees relationships with Ford Performance, Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta, Carroll Shelby International’s Raptor development programs, and countless other projects that allow him to live his automotive dreams. 

Direct download: Ep1290-Mike_Dennison.mp3
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Ben Clymer is the founder and Chief Executive Officer of HODINKEE. Widely considered a leading voice in the watch industry, Ben founded the company in 2008 as a means to write about his passion for wristwatches, a passion that started when he received his grandfather’s Omega Speedmaster. Ten years later, Ben has grown HODINKEE into the foremost destination for all things in the world of horology - a robust media and retail platform that brings its readers and consumers the best wristwatch content and products in a way that is approachable, authentic and honest. 

Ben is an avid photographer, watch collector and classic car enthusiast. He has been recognized as part of the Hypebeast 100, Digiday’s Changemakers, and Crain’s New York’s 40 Under 40, while HODINKEE has been named as one of Time’s 50 Best Websites, and Fast Company’s Most Innovative Companies Of The Year. 

Direct download: Ep1289-Ben_Clymer.mp3
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Dean Cusano is the CEO of Motorcars Incorporated in Plainville, Connecticut. He is involved in the Automotive Restoration industry and a certified judge for Concours d'Elegance by Jaguar Cars. Dean has been responsible for the restoration of over 215 E-type Jaguars and has been a worldwide distributor of Vintage Jaguar Motorcars for over 35 years. Dean is the North East Regional Director for Jaguar Clubs of North America and serves on many automotive Concours Judging teams in the North East. Dean is the Lead Judge and also the initial creator of the “Dream Show” in Farmington Connecticut for the Hometown Foundation that is based in Cheshire Connecticut. Started in 2013 the Dream Show has grown to one of the largest Cause-related Motorcar shows in North America. The Hometown foundation has donated over 2 million dollars to benefit various charities ranging from Special Olympics and Unified sports and programs for the developmentally disabled to Pet Rescue programs.

Direct download: Ep1288-Dean_Cusano.mp3
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Rupert Banner is the Group Motoring Director for Bonham Auction House based at Bonhams, New York and is responsible for overseeing the International Motoring Department. He is an auctioneer, business acquisition extraordinaire, cataloguer, researcher and valuer with 25 years' experience in the auction industry, at all three major international houses. In 1994, he began converting his lifelong automotive enthusiasm into a career, which has included 13 years with two other major fine art auction houses and for the last dozen years at Bonhams the most car-centric of the three. He has handled numerous major collections auctions including celebrities, large collections, and automobile museums. Throughout his career, he has retained an overriding passion for cars from the dawn of motoring, campaigning a variety of jalopies on the British London to Brighton Run each November since the 1980s.

Bonhams will hold an auction at this year’s Greenwich Concours d’Elegance.

Direct download: Ep1287-Rupert_Banner.mp3
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Michael Arnolt is the son of Stanley H. Arnolt who customized sports cars, including the legendary Arnolt-Bristol. In all, 142 Arnolts were built for the track and the street. The Greenwich Concours will be celebrating Arnolt cars including the Arnolt-MGs, Arnolt-Bristols, and Arnolt-Aston Martins at this year’s event. Michael is a journalist working as a newspaper reporter and columnist and he has been integral in helping his mother run the family business after his father passed about 10 years ago. Michael is also a high-level competitive racquetball player.

Direct download: Ep1286-Michael_Arnolt.mp3
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Mary Wennerstrom is the Chairman of the Greenwich Concours d'Elegance that takes place the weekend after Memorial Day each year in Greenwich, CT. She is also the director of the legendary Madison Avenue Sports Car Driving and Chowder Society that meets monthly at Sardi's Restaurant in Manhattan. Mary helped her mother-in-law, Genia, and her father-in-law, Bruce Wennerstrom with the Greenwich Concours since it began back in 1996. Genia passed away in 2011, and then Bruce passed in late 2015, and Mary has taken the reigns since that time. Raised in Greenwich with her 6 older brothers, Mary was exposed to cars and racing at an early age. When she met her husband, Leif, her love of cars grew even more. Together they continue the legacy of the concours and the chowder club that Bruce and Genia so greatly cherished.

Direct download: Ep1285-Mary_Wennerstrom.mp3
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Jack Griffin is the Co-Founder of Garages of Texas, a property where automotive enthusiasts own their own space. Garages of Texas provides owners a luxury garage suite that is an optimal place for their cars and themselves, a perfect place for both man, woman, and machine.

Jack has over 40 years of experience in real estate development, brokerage, and motorsports. For 12 years he was partner in charge of developing suburban office building properties in Texas for Trammell Crow Company developing over two million square feet of office buildings. Motorsports has always been his passion including touring, collecting, restoring, and racing old cars. He’s raced at venues including Daytona, Sebring, LeMans, Mosport, Road America and many other tracks around the world. Jack’s collection has been featured in magazines and he is a past Board member at his local Porsche Club. You can see more of Jack with me on the Cars Yeah TV show.

Direct download: Ep1284-Jack_Griffin.mp3
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Linda Vaughn is perhaps the most photographed personality in automotive and motorsports history. This year she was inducted into the Motorsports Hall of Fame. She’s entertained fans and has been a premier marketer of automotive good for more than 55 years. From her first days as Miss Atlanta Raceway representing the iconic Hurst brand through her annual appearances at America’s top automotive and racing events, she engages her fans with a beautiful smile and energetic personality. In her new book, published by CarTech, The First Lady Of Motorsports Linda Vaughn takes us on a journey through her career in motorsports and promotions sharing her personal photographs and stories. I had the pleasure of spending some time with Linda at The Classic Auto Show in March where she appeared with a panel of Women on Wheels. 

One lucky listener will win a copy of Linda’s new book Linda Vaughn: The First Lady Of Motorsports.

Direct download: Ep1283-Linda_Vaughn.mp3
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Bob Beck is a lifelong automotive enthusiast who has built vehicles that gained prominence in automotive magazines, shows, and books. His career after college started as a High School auto shop instructor. Later he worked for major vehicle manufacturers at the corporate level including BMW, Nissan, Isuzu, GM, and most recently as the Collector Car Representative for AAA in Southern California. Bob has been an NHRA drag racing announcer at multiple tracks over the last 40 years and he has been an announcer for the California Hot Rod Reunion and Holley National Hot Rod Reunion for the past 20 plus years. He is a regular contributing personality at Speed Scene Live TV and he does guest spots on the nationally syndicated Horsepower for an hour radio show and on Talking About Cars with Randy Kerdoon. Bob is also the host of the Great American Auto Scene show.

Direct download: Ep1282_-_Bob_Beck.mp3
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