THE WEEKLY DRIVER

In this special The Weekly Driver podcast episode, Michael Kahn takes the reins from longtime hosts James Raia and Bruce Aldrich in an interview with Raia, who reflects on the journey in automotive journalism and podcasting over the past seven years. Raia leans forward and with a bit of a journalistic tone, he casually shares, "After reviewing cars every week for 21 years, I still find myself asking, 'What's the story behind this car?'” With candid humor and heartfelt anecdotes, Raia shares the story of how he and Aldrich built the podcast from scratch, interviewing everyone from car enthusiasts next door to industry giants like the CEO of Fiat. This conversation covers career-defining moments, memorable guests, and why cars are more than just machines—they're connections to our history, personalities, and even families. "Some of our best episodes were just like having a coffee with a friend—it's like you forget the mic is even there," Raia reminisces fondly. Whether you're a car lover or just love a great story, James Raia and Michael's final chat offers a look back at the people, places, and stories that made "The Weekly Driver" an enduring success and where it is going from here. Michael Kahn and James Raia driving the 2023 Lucid Air Pure. Transcript Michael Kahn: All righty. Well, weekly driver podcast final episode with James Raia being taken over by myself, Michael Kahn. What are we doing here? James Raia: We're doing a final podcast of the weekly driver Bruce Aldrich and I started it more than seven years ago, and I think we're, we went past 275 episodes. We mostly did it weekly because the site's the weekly driver, and that was corresponding to the fact that I test drove cars for each week for about 20 years before you purchased the site. And Bruce and I decided to do this podcast on a whim and we just had a blast that we got to meet a lot of important people in the car world some internationally famous, some locally famous, people with used cars, people with vintage cars, people with new cars, book authors, all kinds of different people. Analysts, anybody who was marginally related to the automotive field; we interviewed a lot of people. Michael Kahn: Yeah, in listening through all of your episodes over the past seven years, you have such a diverse array of subjects and people you've talked to, friends you've made, and just the way that you ask your questions and tell people or let people tell their stories. It's a really good podcast. James Raia: Thank you. Michael Kahn: And I know that I'm taking over and of course I have my own personality and my own direction, which is fine. James Raia: Sure. Michael Kahn: But I'm excited just to leave these episodes up and let people continue to listen to them. And also they're, they're timeless. The things that you talk about aren't relevant to whether they were published last week or seven years ago, they remain very interesting and they're certainly worth revisits and I'm sure you have plenty of favorites. James Raia: Oh, absolutely. I think, before discussing some of the favorites, one of the things that made the podcast work, at least as far as I'm concerned, is that Bruce and I have been friends for a very long time. Michael Kahn: Yeah, how did you meet Bruce? James Raia: Bruce was a Triathlete, a pretty prominent local triathlete, and I worked at the Sacramento Bee years ago, and I did a story on him. Michael Kahn: Sacramento Bee, being the Sacramento based newspaper. James Raia: Yeah, back then Sacramento Bee was it was the daily newspaper in Sacramento for a long time and now it's six days a week. And it back in the day, you know 30 years ago, it had a large budget and I was interested in endurance sports, I still am. And Bruce, I'd heard about Bruce and we met, did a story on him. And, we struck up a friendship and, Bruce inherited from his father a 1959 Volkswagen bug, and I had an old Volkswagen bug.

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.

It was just before the opening evening session of the recent 2024 Nvidia GTC conference at the San Jose Convention Center and it got quiet quickly. Alwin Bakkenes, Russell Datz, the carmaker's national media relations manager, Bruce Aldrich, the co-host of The Weekly Driver Podcast, and I all stepped in and closed our respective doors of the 2024 EX90 electric SUV perched in the corner of the expo hall. The 2024 all-electric Volvo EX90 sport utility vehicle was presented at the recent Nvidia GTC conference in San Jose, California. Volvo and Nvidia, the multinational corporation and technology company headquartered in Santa Clara, California, have had a business partnership since 2016. And with the conference an in-person gathering for the conference for the first time in five years, Volvo was among several manufacturers' representatives in attendance. Despite his software engineering expertise and his explanation, Bakkenes didn't need to apologize for his lack of speaking abilities. He's a skilled corporate spokesperson and he was our guest on episode #284 of the podcast Aldrich and I started in August 2017. "This particular car is the start of the new era for Volvo Cars," said Bakkenes. "It's born electric, it's born software-defined and it's very safe. What we have done is build the software architecture based on what we call our core technology which we built with Nvidia." What Bakennes means, and how the soon-to-be-available EX90 is different from the current Volvo lineup, is the subject of our podcast. Please join us as our guest explains how the new vehicle's powertrain, chassis systems, and the driver assistance features all operate on their own computers and what that means to consumers.

Jonathan Clegg and Joshua Robinson are colleagues in The Wall Street Journal's virtual sports department. Clegg, the sports editor, is an Englishman who lives with his family in New York. Robinson is an American based in London. They share global sporting interests, particularly soccer and motorsports. The duo's reporting expertise has led to a long collaboration away from daily journalism. They're now book co-authors for the third time. The most recent effort, published on March 12, is titled "The Formula: How Rogues, Geniuses, and Speed Freaks Reengineered F1 into the World's Fastest-Growing Sport.” (Mariner Books, 304 pages, ISBN: 9780063318625; $29.99). With co-host Bruce Aldrich on vacation, I interview the two writers on this episode of The Weekly Driver Podcast. The once-faltering circuit is now thriving. With its focus for many years at global venues, except North America, the elite motorsports circuit now has three events in the United States. It debuted in Las Vegas last November in the first year of a 10-year contract, joining U.S. stops in Austin and Miami. With events also in Canada and Mexico, five of the 24 races this year are scheduled in North America. The 11-month circuit began in late February in Bahrain, and it continues through December 6 in Abu Dhabi. The 20-car circuit will travel to 21 countries on five continents. "Both of us grew up in Europe with F1 during its first real peak in the late 80s and early 90s," said Robinson. "We both saw it as it fell away; people got bored. It just didn't have the same cultural relevance for about 15 years. That really changed in the last five or six years." The resurgence was substantially assisted by "Formula 1: Drive to Survive." The documentary series on Netflix debuted in 2019 as a behind-the-scenes look at drivers and races and money. The sixth season debuted in February. "We thought the time was right to kind of explain the rise, fall and reinvention of a sport," said Robinson. Clegg and Robinson also co-authored: "The Club: How the English Premier League Became the Richest, Wildest, Most Disruptive Force in Sports,” and "Messi vs. Ronaldo: One Rivalry, Two Goals, and the Era That Remade the World's Game." "We spend a lot of time before we commit a single word to paper or a computer screen," said Clegg. "We spend a lot of time sort of thinking about the characters and episodes we want to include in the book and the narrative arc we are trying to unpack with the story we are telling.” What's detailed is compelling. The authors are veteran reporters, skilled scene-setters and writers who write succinctly about rich subject matter. The cars, teams, and staff require extreme budgets. Drivers are charismatic, fans fanatical, rivalries intense. Races are held in opulent locales among pretty and handsome faces and bling. The sport has emerged from corruption. Two additional major themes of the book: Red Bull and the energy drink's billionaire Austrian owner, Dietrich Mateschitz, and Liberty Media, the American company. It purchased F1 in 2016 in a multi-billion-dollar deal. Mateschitz infiltrated the sport quickly and retains supremacy in Formula 1 unlike any other brand in sport, according to Clegg. Liberty Media drastically changed how the sport is presented. It rebranded the logo, modernized marketing and emphasized streaming broadcasts. For years lapped by the popularity of other motorsports, the authors present F1 as the "world's fastest-growing sport." "I think we realized pretty early on that the one through line that can be traced back from the very beginning of F1 in the early 1950s right through to its current present-day success as a sort of global entertainment monster and streaming property is that this is a sport that has been defined by reinvention," said Clegg. The Weekly Driver Podcast encourages and appreciates feedback from our listeners. Please forward episode links to family,

The autonomous vehicle industry has reduced its speed. Its future is here, but it's not quite as in focus as the next signpost. Even the most fervent believers have re-evaluated their enthusiasm for the human-free driving mode. What's ahead for autonomous driving and an array of other pending driving technology is among the many topics in many industries set for explanation, examination and speculation beginning March 18 during the four-day Nvidia GPU Technology Conference (GTC). Danny Shapiro, Nvidia's vice president of automotive, is our guest on this episode of The Weekly Driver Podcast. With Co-host Bruce Aldrich on vacation, James Raia interviews Shapiro about the pending conference. "The autonomous space is progressing very nicely," says Shapiro. "It's taken longer than we initially thought. "In fact, the entire industry underestimated the complexity of being able to safely navigate." Shapiro was also a guest on The Weekly Driver Podcast (Episode #123) in February 2020. The conference involves the advancing usages of Graphics Processing Units (GPUs) for accelerated computing and AI. The naming sponsor, Nvidia, is the Santa Clara-based multinational corporation that designs and supplies graphics for data science and high-performance computing. It's also the dominant global supplier of AI hardware and software. Founded in 1993, Nvidia took its name from invidia. It's the Latin word for envy, the ancient Greek Titan deity of hatred and jealousy. The company chose its name to symbolize its vision and innovation in the fields of graphics and computing. The quickly evolving automotive industry and its AI future will share the conference with similar advancing innovations in healthcare, accelerated computing and data science. Organizers note more than 900 talks, training sessions, workshops and panels and more than 300 exhibitors and demonstrations are scheduled.
" Any companies that are doing work in AI will have NVIDIA in their data center, in their workstations or their vehicles," Shapiro says. "We have hundreds of car companies and truck companies; robot taxi companies have our have our data platform in their vehicles." According to Shapiro, organizers anticipate 20,000 in-person attendees and several hundred thousand virtual attendees. In the automotive portion of the conference, Shapiro details AI's part in improved safety. Humans still have erratic behavior whether they are driving or pedestrians. Many companies, Shapiro notes, are integrating driver assistance platforms. "The owner of the vehicle, the person behind the wheel is the driver still responsible but artificial intelligence is making the road a lot safer,” Shapiro says. "It can alert them (the driver) and it can take over certain functions on the highway, lane-keeping, emergency braking, adaptive cruise control. "These are all very complicated software systems that are getting better and better. Now, there's the notion of a software-defined car or a vehicle that can get updates just like your phone. Vehicles are just getting smarter and smarter."

A strong argument could be made that Ralph Teetor is responsible for what is now called autonomous driving. Blind since he was a young boy, Teetor invented cruise control in the 1940s. It was one of more than 40 patents granted to a native of Indiana who died in 1982. Inventor Ralph Teetor. Teetor will be inducted posthumously into the National Inventors Hall of Fame on May 9 in Washington, D.C. Jack Teetor, the inventor's great-nephew, is our guest this week on The Weekly Driver Podcast. Co-hosts Bruce Aldrich and James Raia discuss with Teetor the family legacy and the fascinating life of his great-uncle. Teetor has spent many years making the documentary film “Blind Logic: The Ralph R. Teetor Story.” Screenings of the film are scheduled throughout the county in the coming months. As Teetor shares, his great-uncle was remembered primarily for his invention of cruise control. But his life was remarkable in many ways. In our interview, Teetor details the circumstances of his great uncle's blindness and well as how the disability didn't stop the inventor from achieving his goals. Please join us for an intriguing episode on Ralph R. Teetor and presented by Jack Teetor. For more information about Jack or Ralph Teetor, visit: www.blindlogicproductions.com. For more information about the National Inventors Hall of Fame, visit: https://www.invent.org

Ken Karklin, the CEO of Pivotal, has had a several-decade career in engineering, aircraft and robotics. He knows technology as license holder of multiple patents. His latest passion is the Helix. Highlighted at the recent Consumer Electronic Show in Las Vegas, the Helix is the only personal flying vehicle in production in the United States. Public sales began January 8. Ken Karklin is the CEO of Pivotal, the manufacturer of the Helix, the electric personal flying vehicle. Image © James Raia/2024. Karklin is our guest on this week's episode of The Weekly Driver Podcast. Co-hosts Bruce Aldrich and James Raia discuss with Karklin the new vehicle and his experiences flying the Helix. We examine the practical uses of the aircraft, the regulations of the ultralight and the specs of the 15-foot-long machine. It has vertical take-off and a forward-tilting design for flight mode. Weighing just 360 pounds, the Helix falls under the FAA Part 103 (Ultralight) classification, allowing flight without a pilot's license. The EV has dual wings housing eight motors and batteries and can fly for two hours at 62 miles per hour With deliveries scheduled to begin in June, the Helix base model is priced at $190,000. With extensive additional features like 4K cameras and flight-traffic control systems, the price increases to $260,000. Please join us for a look at the future of personal transportation.

Ben Welch blames himself for driving his 1994 Chevy Suburban when he shouldn't have. He knew his van well except for one momentary lapse when the engine warnings were more serious than he thought. It was a long time ago and the vehicle has fared well regardless — it surpassed one million miles on the odometer without any engine overhauls. Welch, a Vietnam veteran who has lived in Lincoln, Nebraska, since 1962, is our guest this week on The Weekly Driver Podcast. Co-hosts Bruce Aldrich and James Raia talk with Welch about his 30-year ownership of his Suburban and his vast experiences driving the vehicle an average of about 33,000 miles per year. Welch, according to information provided by a public relations representative, had driven the Suburban about 400,000 miles before the serpentine belt broke during a long road trip, causing the engine to overheat. The vehicle, of course, was damaged but it "survived," which Welch attributes to only using American-made Conklin lubrication products in his Suburban. He also cites Randy Bloom, his long-time mechanic and friend, for providing great expertise while working on the Suburban. Welch is now an independent distributor for Conklin. When Welch bought the Suburban he planned to retain ownership for about a year and drive it for 35,000 miles trading it in for the next model year's offering. But he didn't like the 1995 Suburban's appearance and some of its features. He kept his original purchase and just kept driving it. Please join Bruce and me as we learn more about the million-mile Suburban.

As co-hosts of The Weekly Driver Podcast, Bruce Aldrich and I have for the past several years picked the top cars of the year at the end of the calendar year. This year, as we do most often, Bruce and I interview a guest on the podcast and then drive the week's review vehicle to lunch. We often extend the day to further drive the vehicle, take images and share our opinions. The 2023 Lucid Air is The Weekly Driver Podcast's 2023 Best Car of the Year. Image © Bruce Aldrich/2023. Bruce has certain interests and knows the mechanics of cars and trucks far better than I do. I write reviews of vehicles for several publications, including TheWeeklyDriver.com since 2004. I usually drive every week for a week. Bruce has contributed images for dozens of vehicles and has produced every podcast episode. Like we do every year, we selected best-of-the-year lists is based only on the model year corresponding to the same calendar year. The plush interior of the Lucid Air. Image courtesy of the manufacturer. This year we individually chose our favorite vehicles of the year based on 2023 models of 37 vehicles fully reviewed. As has also occurred several times, we both selected the same vehicle as The Weekly Driver Podcast's best vehicle of the year. It's the 2023 Lucid Air. The Lucid Air (Grand Touring) and Lucid Air (Pure) both were reviewed. Here's what I wrote in part in my review of the Lucid Air (Grand Touring): "Available in Pure, Touring, Grand Touring, Grand Touring Performance, and the new-for-2023 Sapphire trims, the Lucid Air is a high-performance, handsome, and the-future-is-now vehicle that provides a new definition of a sedan. "Spacious and wide-bodied, the reviewed Lucid Air (Grand Touring) has 819 horsepower and a 112-kWh battery that provides the dual-motor, all-wheel-drive wonder with a 516-mile range and acceleration from 0-to-60 miles per hour in 2.5 seconds." "For performance enthusiasts and the electric vehicle obsessed, the stats are industry-best numbers. For the rest of us, sub-three-second efforts may cause lightheadedness. Conversely, driving from San Francisco to Los Angeles and halfway home isn't possible in many gasoline-powered vehicles. A recharge isn't required for long hours behind the racing-styled Lucid wheel." Please join Bruce and me as we further discuss the upstart Lucid lineup and also reveal the rest of our respective Best-of-the-Year lists.

Like many automotive enthusiasts, when Rodney Kemerer talks about cars his enthusiasm abounds. A lifelong enthusiast, Kemerer is the author of Tales From The Garage. As described in its Amazon profile, the "heartfelt book — the half memoir, have the memories of others — is truly a pop culture snapshot of modern society through the lens of the automobile." Kemerer is our guest this week on Episode #277 of The Weekly Driver Podcast. Co-hosts Bruce Aldrich and James Raia talk with Kemerer, a veteran journalist, about his first book and the surprising reactions he's received from readers. "Kemerer understands that car stories can be the gateway to every aspect of our lives," the book's introduction states. During our interview, Kemerer details his quick entry into automotive journalism. He submitted an article "cold" a decade or so years ago to Hemmings, the car collector magazine. The article was published, although its author was never told. Kemerer noticed it when reading another issue of the magazine. The writer's debut was the impetus for other articles in the Los Angeles Times to Old Cars Weekly. He developed a relationship with the editor and publisher of Garage Style Magazine and began writing a column called "Tales From The Garage. The columns were successful and the new book is a compilation of the columns. "I realized maybe I could have a broader audience for the pieces because they seem to have a universal appeal," says Kemerer. "The book is 30 essays and each one has its own graphic language." Kemerer, who lives in Beverly Hills, California, has a vast collection of model cars and most of the vehicles he's ever owned. Please join us for a 30-minute interview with a new author. He's funny and he loves cars. It's a good match. Tales From The Garage (Amazon, $29.95) is available via TheWeeklyDriver.com's affiliate program with the online retailer. Visit: Tales From The Garage

John Vincent is the Senior Editor and Correspondent/Vehicle Testing on the Autos team at U.S. News & World Report. With more than 25 years of experience in the automotive industry, Vincent knows new cars, manufacturers and trends in the industry. The former long-time newspaper reporter is our guest this week on The Weekly Driver Podcast. Honda was recently named one of the best brands for 2023-2024 by U.S. News & World Report. Image © James Raia/2023. Co-hosts Bruce Aldrich and James Raia talk with Vincent about his publication's recent release of its Best Cars of 2023 and 2024. Besides individual rankings throughout the spectrum of the industry, the publication also selected Best Car Brand (Honda), Best SUV Brand (Mazda), Best Truck Brand (Ram) and Best Luxury Brand (Rivian). Vincent details the publication's methodology and the publication's site also explains it: "The Best Vehicle Brand awards are an objective assessment of quality across all of a brand's offerings in four categories: Cars, SUVs, Trucks and Luxury. "Brand ratings are based on the U.S. News Best Cars overall scores for each vehicle, which incorporate the consensus opinion of the automotive press, as well as safety and reliability data." Vincent also discusses his recent attendance at the Los Angeles Auto Show and his analysis of the show including why several mainstream manufacturers and prominent upstart carmakers weren't there. Please join us for our informative episode #276 as we talk with one of the automotive industry's most prominent journalists.

Craig Jackson is the CEO of Barrett-Jackson, the country's most well-known auction company, and he owns 108 vehicles — from muscle cars to sports cars and modern classics to resto-mods. Immersed in the automotive world since he was a boy, Jackson recently attended the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) annual gathering in Las Vegas. He was our special guest for the latest episode of The Weekly Driver Podcast. Co-hosts James Raia and John Berg spoke with Jackson inside the Barrett-Jackson trailer on the showroom floor in one of several exhibit halls that housed the massive automotive showcase. Jackson, 63, discussed Barrett-Jackson's legacy and details of his vast personal collection. He also shared his business philosophy and thoughts on the expanding electric vehicle industry segment. "For an auction house to be over 50 years old, we've through a lot of changes," said Jackson in the wide-ranging episode. "The changes are that when we first started it we were selling all pre-World War II cars. Then it evolved. It started changing when we decided to go after the cars that the 'boomers' like, muscle cars." Headquartered in Scottsdale, Arizona, Barrett-Jackson began in 1971, as an expected one-time-only event. Its success prompted an annual auction. The Arizona event remained the showcase of the company's auctions around the country. It starts each season and is scheduled for January 20-28, 2024. Jackson took over full operations in 1995 following the death of his brother and his father. Jackson added vendors and live entertainment to the auction events. Barrett-Jackson saw increased popularity when the Speedvision network, later Speed Channel, began broadcasting the auctions in 1996. It was the first collector car auction to be televised, and coverage has since continued across several channels. "We are in the live event business," Jackson said. "We are in a very passionate business. And what it's all about is bringing new people into the hobby."

Jessica Dunham is a veteran journalist whose passion as a travel writer is the open road. She knows the well-traveled roads along Route 66 and Interstate 5. And she knows the less-visited locales, like the night sky over Marfa, Texas, which includes mysterious blinking lights. Dunham, the author of "The Open Road: 50 Road Trips in the USA" is our guest this week on The Weekly Driver Podcast. Jessica Dunham has authored numerous travel books, including an updated edition of "The Open Road: 50 Road Trips in the USA. Co-host Bruce Aldrich and I interview Dunham about her latest book (it's an updated edition) and also about the pleasures of traveling — on good days and bad days. She discusses how the many places she's traveled were condensed into the 50 places in the book. According to its media information, the book comprises "lists of the best coastal drives, cross-country journeys, trips for kids and awe-inspiring views." The book, available on all major online retailers, is organized by region and includes suggestions for a weekend getaway to a cross-country trip. Descriptions include a leaf-peep along the Blue Ridge Parkway, wildflowers on Arizona's Apache Trail, kitschy roadside attractions along Route 66, crossing the Continental Divide in Colorado and falling asleep to the sound of crashing waves at your campsite in Big Sur. Dunman writes about eating your way through Vermont's farms, dairies, orchards and maple houses. She details gulf shrimp and fried okra in the South, oysters and craft beers Oregon and shaved ice along the scenic Oahu Coastal Loop. The comprehensive book features planning resources from easy-to-use maps, helpful info on things to do, lodging and dining for every route, clear directions to each route's starting point and tips for minimizing your environmental impact along the way. Dunham's enthusiasm for travel, whether on a solo trek, with girlfriends or with her husband and the couple's two dogs is evident in her upbeat demeanor. The book also includes essential tips for health and safety on the road, navigating weather conditions, strategies for road-tripping with kids and four-legged friends as well as playlists and podcasts for accompaniment of the open road. Besides her new book, Dunham has vast experience as a travel writer. She was a travel guide editor at Madden Media and has contributed to PHOENIX magazine, Midwest Living, Modern Luxury and Runner's World. She's also co-written and solo written several other travel books. Please join us for a lively half-hour. Dunham shares her keen insight as a traveler and author, and she shares a few travails from the open road.

Doug Berman is the unofficial third brother of the admired comedy team and automotive soothsayer duo of Thomas Louis Magliozzi and Raymond Francis Magliozzi. They were more well-known as "Click and Clack, the Tappet Brothers." They were co-hosts of Car Talk, the NPR radio show, for 25 years. Thinly disguised as a weekly program about automobile repair, the program was more about the banter between the brothers and an endearing relationship with their call-in audience. The former mechanics diagnosed engine problems, but they also provided advice, notably about relationships. Comedy reigned. Ray Magliozzi (L) and Tom Magliozzi co-hosted Car Talk on NPR for 25 years. Image courtesy of cartalk.com. Behind the scenes, Berman has coordinated the show since its early days. A former production assistant and then new director for NPR and several affiliates, Berman took on the producer's role of the then-fledgling auto show as a volunteer. He's remained in charge since. The creator of the NPR show, "Wait, Wait, Don't Tell," Berman is our guest on this episode of The Weekly Driver Podcast. A guest at the recent Best of the Bay gathering of the Western Automotive Journalists (WAJ) in Santa Rosa, California, the long-time journalist spoke with co-host James Raia and guest co-host John Berg about the enduring enterprise that is Car Talk. Tom Magliozzi died in 2014 at age 77. We discuss with Berman the brothers' relationship and how the program has continued in syndication and most recently, the rebroadcast of the long series from the first episode in podcast format. Berman details his relationship with Tom Magliozzi and his current role editing www.cartalk.com as well as collaborating on the syndicated newspaper column the brothers wrote. Berman also runs the program's vehicle donation program, writes car reviews and is the impetus for the enterprise's continuing success. Car Talk show was honored with a Peabody Award in 1992, and the Magliozzis were both inducted into the National Radio Hall of Fame in 2014 and the Automotive Hall of Fame in 2018.

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 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: info@newportcarmuseum.org; 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

Buying a vehicle made in the United States is essential to many consumers. According to Cars.com, about half of the car buyers in the United States say they will pay more for a vehicle that creates U.S. jobs. Additionally, 24 percent of Americans believe a manufacturer has to be headquartered in the U.S. to qualify as "substantially contributing to the U.S. economy." Tesla holds the top four places in the 18th annual American-Made Index announced by Cars.com. Jenni Newman, the editor-in-chief of cars.com, is our guest this week on The Weekly Driver Podcast. We discuss consumers' preferences for cars made in the United States. Co-host Bruce Aldrich is away this week, so I interview Newman, a repeat guest, about the online publication's 18th annual American-Made Index (AMI). The index independently evaluates and ranks the highest-contributing vehicles to the U.S. economy for manufacturing, parts sourcing and employment. The Honda Odyssey is a mainstay on the American-Made Index announced recently by Cars.com. Image © James Raia/2016. Newman speaks to the methodology behind the compilation of the list, the disconnect between consumer understanding and the American-made automotive market. This year, the AMI consideration set comprises 388 vehicles. Only 100 made the cut with Tesla sweeping the first four spots, joined at the top by mainstay Honda and returning Acura. Volkswagen is debuting in the Index's top 10. Here's the list, Nos. 1-10 on this year's AMI list: Tesla Model Y, Tesla Model 3, Tesla Model X, Tesla Model S, Honda Passport, Volkswagen ID.4, Honda Odyssey, Acura MDX, Honda Ridgeline, Acura RDX. Please join me as Newman and I examine the AMI list and further discuss its relevance in today's automotive marketplace. 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

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: james@jamesraia.com. 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: james@jamesraia.com. 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: james@jamesraia.com. 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: james@jamesraia.com. 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: james@jamesraia.com. 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: james@jamesraia.com. 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: james@jamesraia.com. 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: james@jamesraia.com. 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: james@jamesraia.com. All podcast episodes are archived on theweeklydriver.com/podcast Every episode is also available on your preferred podcast platform.

Bonnie and Grant Sinclair are high school teachers in Georgia who also enjoy the outdoors as part-time RV enthusiasts. As wife and husband, Bonnie Sinclair has co-authored an RV travel book with her husband Grant Sinclair. Grant Sinclair The Sinclair's first book USA RV Adventures has just been published by Moon Travel Guides. The authors' comprehensive debut includes 25 flexible RV trip itineraries. While taking a break from teaching and RVing, the Sinclairs were our guests on Episode #254 of The Weekly Driver Podcast. We spoke with the couple on their vacation on a cruise ship near Cozumel, the Mexican island in the Caribbean Sea. Co-hosts Bruce Aldrich and James Raia discuss with the Sinclairs their enjoyment of RVing and the process of writing about it. They select some of their favorite places. The Sinclair's book is meticulously detailed. Every itinerary includes the road trip loop, ideas for side trips and strategies for linking routes together. The best routes for national parks, historic sites, natural wonders, beaches and pet-friendly destinations are all featured. USA RV Adventures offers locations from coast-to-coast — from camping on the beach in the Florida Keys to following the ruts on the historic Oregon Trail. The Sinclairs offer their expertise on wildlife-watch in Yellowstone, hiking in Acadia with a dog, and enjoying morning mountain-peak views in Colorado. Bonnie Sinclair The book is promoted as a comprehensive planning resource. It features easy-to-use maps that highlight where you can (and can't) drive an RV. It also provides thorough lists of nearby grocery stores for each campground, plus tips for health and safety on the road, navigating weather conditions, RV-ing with pets and minimizing your environmental impact. Please join us as we get to know the Sinclairs and discover their interest in RVing and all it encompasses. The Sinclair's book is available via all major online retailers. 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: james@jamesraia.com. 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  

John Berg is passionate about cars and trucks, notably vintage vehicles with an emphasis on Corvettes. The automotive columnist for the Alameda Post owns two of "America's Sports Car." Berg is our repeat guest this week on Episode #253 of The Weekly Driver Podcast. We first spoke with Berg last November shortly after the Los Angeles Auto Show. During Episode #248 we talked about the vintage vehicles on display at the prominent show. We also discussed debuts and concepts, including the convertible concept vehicle from Genesis. The spotlessly clean 1996 Corvette C3 owned by John Berg, automotive columnist for the Alameda Post. It's the last year of the third edition of "America's Sports Car." All images courtesy of John Berg. Berg has spent decades in the automotive industry including as a reporter and photographer. In our new interview, co-hosts Bruce Aldrich and James Raia talk with Berg and his 1996 C4, the last year of the fourth generation, and his 2003 C5. "The '96 has the enormous clam-shell hood, reminiscent of an F1 car," Berg details. "Even though it's 25 or what, 27 years old, it's still an outstanding sports car. It's a lot of fun to drive. If you want to get into sports cars, they are still pretty undervalued. You can get a really nice example for under $10,000 and they really perform to current sports car standards." Berg's C5 is the 50th-anniversary edition, which he also describes as an "excellent performing sports car." Berg, who drove from the San Francisco Bay Area to the Los Angeles Auto Show in his new, sixth-generation Chevy Camaro, has a varied automotive collection. John Berg's 2003 Corvette C5, the sports cars' 50th-anniversary edition. But Corvettes capture his attention with special reverence. He knows every year of the car dating to its 1953 debut. He knows the major changes through its eight generations as well as the subtle differences between years of the Corvette's now 70-year tenure. Later in the podcast, we talk with Berg about his idea for a complete guide to the Corvette's year-to-year changes. Please joins us for a conversation with the veteran automotive journalist, historian, enthusiast and collector. Here's a link to The Weekly Driver Podcast's previous conversation with Berg: #248, Auto journalist John Berg talks LA Auto Show T0 read John Berg's automotive column, visit: Alameda Post/Automotive 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: james@jamesraia.com. 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

Karl Brauer is an automotive analytics wonk. It's a compliment to the work and enthusiasm the lead analyst for iSeeCars.com has for number crunching, comparisons, trends and all things related to buying, selling, appreciation and deprecation of cars and trucks. He's eloquent while discussing what might otherwise seem mundane. Brauer is our guest on this episode of The Weekly Driver Podcast. He's a repeat guest for all of the above reasons. The Jeep Wrangler is a prominent car in the used car data compiled by iseecars.com Co-host Bruce Aldrich and I can't get enough of the site. Its surveys include data from millions of cars and the topics are relevant, including the least and most depreciation of new cars from three and five years after ownership. The lowering prices of used. A new study details the cars with the top percentages of value above their MSRP from three years ago. Here's what editors at iSeeCars.com commented on the use car industry. "Depreciation is the most expensive part of car ownership, and with the drastic rise in car prices over the past two years, finding a vehicle that retains its value can provide significant savings for consumers." "In the current high demand, low supply vehicle market, the average new car loses just 16.9 percent of its value after three years, and 33.3 percent of its value after five years. How is Tesla faring in the used market, according to iseecars.com? "However, some cars retain their value and depreciate far less than average (7.3 percent or $2k for the Jeep Wrangler after 5 years), while others do the opposite (56.9 percent or $62k for the BMW 7 Series after 5 years). As an unprecedented sign of the times, there are five models that have actually appreciated over the past 3 years, meaning their current used value is now higher than their original new MSRP. " With the automotive industry always in flux, and particularly during a supply chain shortage, Bauer provides insight into the current buying and selling trends in the industry. We also talk with Brauer about the electric vehicle segment. What's its current status? Can any manufacturer challenge Tesla? How does the depreciation of the EV segment compare to gasoline and hybrids? The Weekly Driver Podcast has featured iSeeCar.com experts, Julie Blackley and Brauer, several times during our more than five years online. Besides the latest episode, we're provided the link to previous episodes: #174, iSeeCars.com: Ford Tops New/Used 2020 Sales #121: iSeeCars.com: Best Used, Enduring Cars #110: iSeeCars.com: Best Deals In A Used Car Color #57: iSeeCars.com: Jeep Gets Depreciation Honors: 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: james@jamesraia.com. 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: james@jamesraia.com. 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

Selecting the cars of the year helps celebrate another year reviewing new cars and trucks, visiting auto shows and talking with vintage car owners, book authors and industry experts about their cars of the year. There are always great and not-so-great moments driving vehicles. The industry is always abuzz. There are always changes, oddball statistics, recalls and new models and makes. What has Elon Musk done now? Will autonomous driving and EVs ever make a significant difference? Will low-profile tires stop blowing while negotiating small divots in the road? Will Audi ever change its front-grille design? As much as the automotive industry changes, sometimes not much happens. In 2007, the year the iPhone debuted, the starting price of the Toyota Corolla was $14,925; In 2022, the year a robotic toy cat that nibbles for human comfort made its debut, the starting price of a Toyota Corolla was $20,245. The average price of a new car in 2007 was $27,958. In 2022, the new car price average surpassed $48,000. Three years after TheWeeklyDriver.com debuted, I began to compile a list of top-10 cars of the year. It was also in 2007. The list is now in its 16th year. The 2022 Ford Lightning is the first full-size electric pickup truck. It was on the TheWeeklyDriver.com's list of cars of the year. Image © James Raia/2022. As co-hosts of The Weekly Driver Podcast, Bruce Aldrich and I have expanded my yearly list of cars of the year and detailed the choices during a podcast episode. We're now in our sixth year. Many automotive publications select their best vehicles of the year at the start of the calendar year. I've always announced the selections at the end of the year. Bruce and I agree it's a better approach while reviewing current model year cars throughout the calendar year. Sometimes, a new year's model debuts prior to its corresponding calendar year. Sometimes, new models arrive later in the year. The 2017 Bentley Bentayga is the fastest SUV ever made. It topped TheWeeklyDriver.com's list of cars of the year in 2017. Image © Michael Kahn/Frogstone Media, 2017. This year, as per usual, I reviewed about 40 cars. Bruce also drove most of them, often to lunch after our podcasts and sometimes for extended review sessions. For several years, we made videos before switching to a podcast format. During some years, we've picked a car of the year, like the 2020 Corvette Stingray, the debut year of the mid-engine model. In 2017, the Bentley Bentayga was easily our favorite. In our 250th episode, Bruce and I discuss our respective lists of cars of the year, an exercise we compile individually and then share during the podcast. We mostly make the same selections. The 2020 Corvette stunned the auto world with its mid-engine design and new interior and exterior styling. It was theweeklydriver.com's top pick for 2020 Cars of the Year. Image © James Raia. One exception this year: Bruce selected the BMW M3 Competition; it didn't make my list. We didn't pick a top car of the year in 2022, but we agreed the Ford Lighting was the vehicle we liked the most for its innovation in the expanding electric vehicle segment. The rest of the list doesn't represent the most expensive, most powerful or most of anything else. It's just 10 cars and trucks that stood out for  a reason or two. My lists dating to 2004 are listed below. Follow the year links for more details on each vehicle. Bruce discusses his list on the podcast episode. Enjoy. 2022 Ford Lightning, Genesis GV70, Kia EV6, Mercedes-AMG ESQ, Cadillac CT5, Mazda MX-5 Miata, Genesis G70, Toyota Corolla Hybrid, Mercedes-Maybach, Subaru Outback. 2021 Honda Odyssey, Honda Accord Hybrid, Chevrolet Silverado, Ford F-150, Genesis GV80, Toyota RAV4 Prime XSE, Genesis GV90, Aston Martin Vantage, Mustang Mach-E, Rolls-Royce Ghost 2020 Corvette Stingray, Aston Martin Vantage, Genesis G90, Ford Bullitt Mustang, Hyundai Palisade, Jeep Gladiator,

With the recent announcement of the 2023 Formula 1 schedule, automobile racing's most lucrative series will have three events in the United States for the first time. The international circuit doesn't include any drivers from the United States, but enthusiasts in this country can next year travel to Austin, Texas; Las Vegas, Nevada; and Miami, Florida to witness the sport's finest. Formula 1 is expensive for its participants and spectators. A recent article on Robbreport.com detailed one package to attend the new Las Vegas stop on the international circuit for $1 million. The Formula 1 international racing circuit will have three races in the United States for the first time in 2023 — Austin, Texas; Las Vegas, Nevada; and Miami, Florida. Co-host Bruce Aldrich and I discuss the Formula 1 phenomenon as one of three topics on episode #249 of The Weekly Driver Podcast. "I would just call it the pinnacle of racing, unbridled," Bruce explains. "Obviously there are rules; there's always rules, some kind of rules to keep the price from being astronomical, which it kind of already is in Formula 1. But's only half astronomical because there are rules that limit things. "But it's the fastest cars. It attracts rich people from all over the world. They follow it through the different races and money's no object. Also in this episode: A letter writer commenting on a recent column I wrote about the 2022 Ford Mustang, explained the iconic vehicle is a pony car, not a muscle car. Bruce and I discuss the "gray area" of what defines a pony car and what defines a muscle car. Formula 1 cars and muscle cars don't have much in common, with one exception — performance. "It's a hard topic because you can't win," says Bruce. "A pony car is often a muscle car, but it doesn't have to be. It depends on the motor." Lastly, Bruce and I discuss a recent analysis of the least and most expensive cars to operate. The study was presented by Zutobi, the online international driver's education company with courses in the United States, United Kingdom, Sweden, Australia, France, and Germany. Lots of automotive sites publish surveys. Bruce and I discuss the legitimacy of surveys, particularly the size of the sampling used to compile 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: james@jamesraia.com. 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

John Berg has spent decades in the automotive industry including as a reporter and photographer. John and I met recently at the LA Auto Show. We both had work to do, but we ended up talking for quite a while the media room at the Los Angeles Convention Center The automotive columnist for the Alameda Post, Berg is our guest this week on The Weekly Driver Podcast. A convertible Genesis concept with "wrap-around" lights was displayed at the recent LA Auto Show. All images @ James Raia. Berg, who drove from the San Francisco Bay Area to Los Angeles to the recently concluded 10-day show in his new, sixth-generation Chevy Camaro, is also a car collector. He owns nearly 20 vehicles. Co-host Bruce Aldrich and I talk with Berg about the car industry and his passion for cars. We also ask for his impressions of the show, the vintage vehicles on display to debuts and concepts. Several manufacturers at the LA Auto Show recognized their past while also presenting current models and concepts, including this 1956 Lincoln Continental. What did he make of the Genesis concept and its wrap-around headlights? What about Vinfast, the Vietnamese company that showcased two more vehicles and is now taking orders? And what of the absence of Tesla, Rivian and others? We discuss all of it in our usual half-hour of light-hearted banter To read more of Berg's work, visit: https://alamedapost.com/automotive/   New rich exterior paint colors were among the themes of the LA Auto Show, including the stunning green on a Genesis sedan. 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: james@jamesraia.com. 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

Charge Cars was founded in 2016 and its first project is now available. Without the manufacturer mentioned, the London-based company has for order 499 of its bespoke "The '67 By Charge Car." Created individually and built like the original Ford Mustang but electric and built from the "ground up," the '67 is on display during the LA Auto Show. Bill Morse, a marketing spokesperson for the London-based company is the first of my three guests during the opening day of the 2022 LA Auto Show. The '67 by Charge Car presented at the LA Auto Show. All images © James Raia/2022. While co-host Bruce Aldrich remained in Sacramento to produce the episode, I traveled to Southern California for the first major auto show of the season. LA Auto Show: Bespoke Icon Stuns A former actor who has worked with several manufacturers, Morse discusses the new company, now six years into its build process. Morse details the long process of making each vehicle, some of which have already been purchased before they've been made. The '67 By Charge Car vehicle features an impressive list of specs and a hefty price.   Hagerty had a low-key presence at the 2022 LA Auto Show, but the 1994 Ferrari 248 stood out and it was fun to drive. Charge Cars uses a snowflake as its cars' badge, with Morse explaining "each car is slightly different, "like a snowflake." LA Auto Show: Hagerty Goes Vintage Morse said Charge Cars has two other iconic cars planned but wouldn't name the choices. "If I told you, it would bring a smile to your face." Jeremy Malcomb works for Hagerty, the Michigan-based automotive lifestyle and membership company, specializing in vintage cars. Hagerty had a low-key presence at the auto show. But its booth has prominently situated the front of the main entrance to the show and it had two vehicles available for test drives, including a 1994 Ferrari 248. Pizza Hut uses a small fleet of ElectraMechannica vehicles for theSOLO's convenience and EV efficiency. Three of the company's vehicles were showcased at the LA Auto Show. With Jeremy as my guide and front-seat passenger, I drove the Ferrari on a two-mile loop around the city streets near the convention center. Later in the day, Jeremy was my second guest and we talked about the increase in vintage car values. The Ferrari I drove, cost about $100,000 new and it's now also worth about $100,000. LA Auto Show: Ferrari Cruises Downtown "Certainly, it was probably the cheapest Ferrari at the time, it's a mid-engine V8, a gated manual transmission, a great receipt for a much-loved car," said Jeremy. "Today, they've been widely considered a great place to start if just you're getting into Ferraris." Jeremy and I also discussed the market-wide increase in vintage car prices and Hagerty's ride-share program, Drive Share. Owners from around the country list their collectible cars for rent. ElectraMeccanica is a Canadian-designed and manufactured single-seat electric vehicle called the Solo. It's considered an enclosed motorcycle. Ingeniously designed to be sleek, fun, easy-to-charge, and earth-friendly, SOLO transforms your daily routine with its maneuverability, a top speed of 80 mph, and up to 100 miles of range on a single charge. The company, which debuted last year at the LA Auto Show, presented its update this year and it's my third segment. ElectraMeccanic had three vehicles on display, including one wrap for a Pizza Hut franchise. Its one commercial application that's been a success for the convenient, about-town little machines. 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 onlin...

As we do periodically throughout the year, on this week's episode of The Weekly Driver Podcast co-host Bruce Aldrich and I get caught up on the automotive industry news. There's always a lot happening, and our topics cover a wide range. First, car names can mean a lot toward the success or failure of an automobile. We found a recent list on a prominent auto site that lists the top-25 worst car names in history. The list comes to mind with the not-too-long-ago naming of the pending new Ferrari sport utility vehicle. It will be called the Purosangue. The concept cars at 2021 LA Auto Show included the Mullen Five. The EV sedan hasn't been made. Image © Bruce Aldrich/2021. Ferrari, of course, has long been associated with horses and its "Prancing Pony" logo. The new Ferrari is named after the word for an Italian thoroughbred. It's pronounced PURO-o-SAN-gue, and it's a hideous name. The list of the 25 oddball names of cars is a fun read, so have a listen. Also on this episode this I will be attending the LA Auto Show this week (Nov, 16-18) while Bruce produces my daily podcast interviews from the Los Angeles Convention Center. Electric vehicles will again be emphasized this year, and VinFast, the Vietnamese manufacturer, will be again be part of that portion of the show. VinFast will be the first Vietnamese car available in the United States with the pending debut in 2023. Speaking of debuts, as always the LA Auto Show will have its share of global and North American debuts. Manufacturer ambassadors are always par of the LA Auto Show. Image © James Raia/2014. The 115th The LA Auto Show will be held Nov. 18-26 at the Los Angeles Convention Center. Alfa Romeo, Aston Martin, Charge Cars, Chevrolet, Chrysler, Dodge, ElectraMeccanica, Fiat, Genesis, GMC, Hummer, Hyundai, INDI EV, Jaguar, Kia, Land Rover, Lexus, Lincoln, Mazda, Porsche, Subaru, Supernal (Advanced Air Mobility), Volkswagen, Volvo and the abovementioned VinFast will have all exhibitions. But arguably the best bets, the most consistent, the cars for the every person, are presented every year. New models from the top-10 best-selling vehicles from 2021 will all be presented. Ford continued its dominance with the F-Series pickups accounting for 726,004 sales. The Ram pickup (569,388), Chevrolet Silverado (519,774), Toyota RAV-4 (407,739), Honda CR-V (361,271), Toyota Camry (313,795), Nissan Rogue (285,602), Jeep Cherokee (264,444), Toyota Highlander (264,128) and Honda Civic (263,787) completed the top-10. Despite the continuing chip shortage and Covid-19 ramifications, only the Chevrolet Silverado (down 13 percent), Ford F-Series pickup trucks (8 percent) and Toyota RAV4 (5 percent) had lower sales tallies in 2021 than in 2020. Bollinger Motors exhibited its concept vehicles for the past several years at the LA Auto Show. They've never been manufactured. Image © James Raia/2019. Manufacturers aren't required to detail what vehicles will be shown at the LA Auto Show. Some new offerings have been announced, others will be unveiled as late as the week of the show. Honda recently announced the public availability of the 315-horsepower 2023 Civic Type R. It's the most powerful production vehicle the manufacturer has ever sold, and its will have a starting MSRP of $42,895. Toyota has eliminated V6 Highlander, replacing for 2-23 with a 2.4-liter, four-cylinder. The new model will also feature new multimedia dashboard-area screens and new exterior paint choice, Cypress Green. 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.

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: james@jamesraia.com. 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: james@jamesraia.com. 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: james@jamesraia.com. 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 Felderstein is a passionate collector of vintage automobiles and he shares his interests with friends and neighbors in East Sacramento and at the California Automobile Museum. Felderstein is the Exhibits Committee Chair and Board Secretary for museum, which opened in 1987 as the Towe Ford Museum. It was renamed the Towe Auto Museum 1997 and has has held it current name for nearly 15 years. The California Automobile Museum has a varied selection of vintage cars and trucks. Images courtesy of Gabriel Ionica. Felderstein is my guest this week on The Weekly Driver Podcast. While co-host Bruce Aldrich remains on assignment, I talk with Felderstein about his varied collection of vehicles and about the museum. The museum's largest event of the year, the California CruiseFeast, will be held Oct. 8 from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Proceeds of the event benefit the California Vehicle Foundation - a 501c3 charitable organization. With several prominent streets closed, hundreds of cars of all makes and models and thousands of spectators will take in the varied history of the automobile. Food trucks, music and beer garden are all included in the 11th annual event. Besides its collection of vehicles, the California Automobile Museum has vehicles for sale. Felderstein, who rotates through his collection of vintage cars to complement his daily drivers, discusses his interest in mechanics, the history of cars and his work at the California Automobile Museum. Please join me for a varied episode about Sacramento's enduring automobile museum. For more information Sacramento CruiseFest, the museum's exhibits and community events, visit: www.CalAutoMuseum.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. 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: james@jamesraia.com. 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: james@jamesraia.com. 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

Visiting a grandparent as a youngster often includes affection, treats and wisdom, all offered for free. It leads to buying a Bugatti in parts for $150,000 less frequently. Nathanael Greene's childhood visits to New Hampshire resulted in his 65-year history with the iconic automobile introduced by Italian-French carmaker Ettore Bugatti in 1924. Greene owns three, including the 1925 Bugatti Type 35 he's competed in at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca for many years beginning in 1997. The former investment executive was my recent guest on The Weekly Driver Podcast during this year's automotive gathering, the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion. He participated for five straight days in his rare vehicle. Nathanael Greene, 80, and his 1925 Bugatti Type at Weather Raceway Laguna Seca. All images @ James Raia/2022 While co-host Bruce Aldrich was on vacation, talked with Greene about his lifelong passion for cars and his three Bugattis. "I was visiting my grandmother in New Hampshire; I must have been 12 or 14," Greene explained. "One day, there was this blue car going vroom down the street and vroom coming the other way, several different times. "I thought, 'this is fantastic.' I had no idea at the time. Jump forward at least 20 years and I buy my grandmother's house. I got to know the neighbor. He bought Bugatti Type 43 in 1952. He was a great car enthusiast, a great Bugatti enthusiast." The Bugatti undergoing road tests on suburban New England streets was given to Greene's neighbor to sell. It became hugely successful in Europe. It also impressed Greene to the degree that bought his 1925 Bugatti Type in 1997. It was in parts. Nathanael Greene owns three Bugattis. He participates in vintage races around the country. "It (the Type 35) had been taken apart 20 years earlier," said Greene. "But the guy bought another car, concentrated on that and this one got pushed to the back and nothing was done for a long time. I came along and said I would buy it and he said OK." Greene's passion for Bugatti combines his keen interests in fine mechanics, driving, history and the umbrella of the automobile industry. He no longer works on the Bugatti Type 35, but he knows the minutiae of the brand and originator's varied innovation. Greene also has two daily drivers, a Suburb Outback and a Volkswagen Sportwagen diesel. "Bugattis were never the fastest cars, but they were the easiest to drive," he said. "The races were generally 300 to 500 miles. Cars like Maserati would simply wear the drivers out. Everything about this car is so light." The Type 35, is a three-valve, two-liter engine with a four-speed transmission. It weighs 1,700 pounds and has 90 horsepower. The vehicle was driven to more than 1,000 wins, including the 1926 Grand Prix World Championship. Nathanael Greene lives in New Hampshire. He participate in vintage car events at Laguna Seca since 1997 in his 1925 Bugatti. Greene's father was an engineer who had more interest in steam than cars. The younger Greene has a degree in mechanical engineering from Yale University. "I think somewhere between the ages of 12 and 15 there wasn't anything I owned that I hadn't taken apart and put back together," said Greene who retired from an investment management career in 2004. Greene only competes in his Type 35 and has completed more than 500 laps at Laguna Seca. He has also completed the Mille Miglia, the 1,0000-mile roundtrip event for vintage cars from Brescia to Rome. As a vintage race competitor, Greene defines the events as competitions of respect. "For racing, I think the pre-war is the best because everybody really respects the cars much more than the modern cars," he said. "Everybody is really careful. In some ways, it's more high-speed driving around the track as much as it is racing. I am never going to win. I know that. It's the experience." As an octogenarian, Greene says his driving skills, including reaction instincts,

Todd Lappin is a self-described Japan geek. He visits the country often and says he speaks the language badly. He has also spent several years combining his interest in cars with his fondness for the Orient. A former magazine editor who lives in San Francisco, Lappin has imported two vehicles from Japan, including his latest find, a 1990 Daihatsu HiJet Firetruck. It's named "Kiri." Todd Lappin purchased his 1990 Japanese firetruck in 2020. All Images © James Raia/2022. Lappin, who showcased his truck at the recent The Little Car Show in Pacific Grove during Monterey Auto Week, is my guest this week on The Weekly Driver Podcast. Lappin, who bought the truck two years ago, qualifies. While uncertain of its detailed service history, the vehicle's new owner communicates with residents of the city where it lived largely unscathed. "I have gotten to know a bunch of the people in the town where it's from through social media, which is really cute," said Lappin, an interface designer. "They thought they were done with this firetruck and then it shows up on Instagram having the party lifestyle in San Francisco." The firetruck's legacy is unspectacular. When Lappin purchased it had been driven 2,500 miles in 30 years. It has right-hand drive, a three-cylinder, mid-engine and four-wheel drive. It has 12-inch wheels and uses regular-grade fuel. Todd Lappin's petite firetruck had only 2,500 miles on its engine after 30 years of service. "It's not actually slow until it is," Lappin said. "You top out at about 50 miles per hour, but getting to 50, it's actually pretty quick. Unlike traditional firetrucks, the Daihatsu Hijet doesn't have a water tank. Because Japan is a "wet" country, as Lappin explained, firefighters assume a water source is nearby when they respond to a fire. The truck has a removable pump that's brought to a water source and its hoses are utilized. The firetruck served in Kirigamine, a city in Nagano Prefecture. Lappin compared it to a smaller version of Auburn. It had a 30-year tenure as part of the volunteer fire department but was rarely called into service. Relegated to the Japanese auction system it is retirement, Lapin purchased via a wholesale transaction. Todd Lappin purchased in 1990 Japanese firetruck for about $10,000. Shipped to San Francisco, the firetruck arrived intact. With all costs involved, Lappin paid less than $10,000. "I have always been a car person, too, and the two things started blending," said Lappin, 55. "I imported a Nissan Skyline from Japan about five or six years ago, which I always say was my gateway drug to the firetruck." 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 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: james@jamesraia.com. 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 nearly 20 years at Consumer Reports, Jon Linkov is an expert among automotive experts. The Deputy Auto Editor, Linkov is our guest this week on The Weekly Driver Podcast to discuss one of the publication's most popular features — its annual most reliable cars list. Join co-hosts Bruce Aldrich and James Raia as we discuss with Linkov the "Top 10 Most Reliable Cars For 2022." The 2022 Mazda MX-5 has a few upgrades and it's on Consumer Reports' most reliable cars list for 2022. Photo © Gretchen Gaither/2022 "What we do is survey our members, our millions of members, and ask about their experiences with the cars they own or have owned," said Linkov of the most reliable cars list. "We just don't look at current vehicles, we look at used cars, the ones they've had for years. We have data going back 20 years." 2022 Most Reliable Cars The current most reliable cars list involves a database of information for about 320,000 vehicles. The publication's analysts calculate the list on their prediction of which new car models will give car owners the fewest number of problems covering 17 trouble areas. The criteria range from ranging minor nuisances to expensive repairs. "We have data for all different years of vehicles," Linkov said of this year's most reliable cars list. "But we also have robust data that allows us to predict for the new model year." The 2022 Toyota Highlander is among the most reliable cars in 2022, according to Consumer Reports. Three Toyota models, two vehicles from Mazda and one car each from Cadillac, Honda, Kia, Lexus and Subaru are also on the list "We've been around for more than 70 years; We certainly have evolved over time in the sense of our relationships with manufacturers," said Linkov of Consumer Reports' enduring reputation. "We still hold them accountable. I've been there almost 20 years and early in my career and before I was even there, there might have been a little bit of an adverbial relationship." Most Reliable Cars 2022: Three Toyotas "They didn't really understand us and we really wanted to have a closed-off wall from communicating with them. Now it's different. We don't take advertising. We pay the rent of the getting a press car from them. But we do have a better sharing of data and a better rapport. In the end, that makes a vehicle for a consumer." The 2022 Lexus GX, a luxury midsized sedan, is Consumer Reports' most reliable vehicle for 2022. It has a price range of $56,125 to $65,365. It's rated at 12 miles per gallon in city driving and 24 mpg on the highway. Here's the top-10 list: 1. Lexus GX Price Range: $56,125 - $65,635 CR MPG: Overall 17 / City 12 / Hwy 24 mpg 2. Kia Niro Electric Price Range: $39,090 - $44,650 CR MPGE: Overall 112 / City 123 / Hwy 102 mpge 3. Toyota Prius Prime Price Range: $28,670 - $34,450 CR MPG: Overall 69 / City 56 / Hwy 81 mpg 4. Toyota Prius Price Range: $25,075 - $33,370 CR MPG: Overall 52 / City 43 / Hwy 59 mpg 5. Cadillac XT5 Price Range: $43,995 - $55,895 CR MPG: Overall 20 / City 13 / Hwy 30 mpg 6. Mazda MX-5 Miata Price Range: $27,650 - $38,550 CR MPG: Overall 34 / City 25 / Hwy 42 mpg 7. Honda Insight Price Range: $25,760 - $29,790 CR MPG: Overall 54 / City 44 / Hwy 62 mpg 8. Toyota Highlander Price Range: $35,855 - $51,460 CR MPG: Overall 22 / City 14 / Hwy 32 mpg 9. Subaru Crosstrek Price Range: $23,145 - $36,345 CR MPG: Overall 29 / City 20 / Hwy 39 mpg 10. Mazda CX-9 Price Range: $35,630 - $47,560 CR MPG: Overall 22 / City 15 / Hwy 32 mpg For additional details of the Consumer Reports' most dependable car for list for 2022 as well as the publication's diverse content, visit. www.consumerreports.org. 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.

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: james@jamesraia.com. 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

Reporter Joe White of Thomson Reuters. Joe White has reported on the automotive industry for more than 40 years. Primarily based in Detroit throughout his career, White worked for The Wall Street Journal for 28 years, including tenures in Brussels and the United Kingdom. Since 2015, White has been employed by Thomson Reuters, the international data company and news service. He writes Auto File, a free, three-day-per-week electronic auto newsletter. It's chock-full of business-oriented news stories and trends in the automotive industry. While co-host Bruce Aldrich is traveling, I interview White on this week's episode of The Weekly Driver Podcast. Like the always changing financial landscape, the automotive industry is ever-evolving. White and I discuss the landscape, Elon Musk to autonomous driving, start-ups like Rivian and Lucid, to continuing saga of the supply change strain. A graduate of Harvard University, White and former Wall Street Journal bureau chief Paul Ingrassia were awarded a Pulitzer Prize for beat reporting for their 1992 coverage of the management turmoil at General Motors Corp. "I started doing the Auto File almost as a personal side project, most to connect with sources and to connect with people on the (auto) beat," says White. "I was using a free and easy-to-use email service. Anyone who follows the auto industry knows it's a total fire hose of news every day; it just is." White determined there's so much news, enthusiasts and even those immersed in the industry likely couldn't keep up. Auto File is White's way to aggregate the news and inject his analysis into an electronic auto newsletter. "Newsletters have definitely become a creative, vital and growing form of delivering news," he says. "A lot of the traditional outlets, like The Wall Street Journal, are starting to use newsletters for the very same reason. They realize that people are just swamped. They're looking for someone to cook down the news in a certain sector." White was producing the auto newsletter five days a week, but the three days per week is the current format. "Three days is both plenty and not enough at the same time," jokes White. "You could do a whole newsletter on Elon Musk. You might regret it, but you could do it." While writing seriously in his auto newsletter on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, White also presents the news with clever headlines, such as references to rock & roll music. He also incorporates  images and video. "It's to lighten things up a bit and not be excessively serious," he says. Please join me during this episode as my guest provides his opinion of the founder of Tesla, autonomous driving, electric start-up and his preferred personal vehicle of choice. Subscribe to Auto File and other free newsletters at Reuters Newsletters . 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: james@jamesraia.com. All podcast episodes are archived on theweeklydriver.com/podcast

Jen Collins knows digital business partnerships from more than two decades of career experience, Fox Entertainment to the Los Angeles Times. In her current capacity, Collins is senior vice president of business development at TuneIn, the world's leading live streaming audio service. Collins is our guest this week to discuss TuneIn's new relationship with Rivian, the electric pickup truck and sport utility vehicle manufacturer. TuneIn and Rivian have a new partnership. Co-hosts Bruce Aldrich and James Raia discuss with Collins the TuneIn platform and its integration with the innovative manufacturer as well as other carmakers. TuneIn Expands in Auto Industry "We are really a one-stop shop for the automotive field," says Collins of the expansive TuneIn collection of global music, podcasts, news and sports content . TuneIn is really the radio for Rivian. AM-FM dials are really far away from where we are today." Bruce and I also talk with Jen about TuneIn's partnership with more well-established manufacturers. "This is really an exciting time to be working with the automotive industry," she says. "Whether it's upstarts like Rivian or brands that have been known for generations that are reinventing themselves. There's so much creativity, there's such a spark of innovation. Rivian has the access to the full catalog. But I anticipate that how forward-thinking Rivian we will be evolving the service for years to come." TuneIn: News, Sports, Podcasts, Etc. TuneIn reports it has more than 75 million monthly active users and broadcasts over 100,000 owned & operated and partner radio stations. The platform's premium subscribers get exclusive access to commercial-free news from CNN, Fox News Radio, MSNBC, CNBC and Bloomberg, as well as live NFL, NHL and college sports programming and commercial-free music channels. 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. 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: james@jamesraia.com. 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