The Mechanicians - Racing Stories

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The Mechanicians – Racing Stories is a motorsports‑interview podcast hosted by Rob Klyver. The focus is on the people behind the scenes in racing — the engineers, mechanics, composites specialists, those working in education or training, as well as occasionally drivers — all the folks who make motorsport possible beyond the spotlight

  1. Apr 3

    update 4/2/26

    Bit of an update

    1 min

  2. Apr 3

    live_SRO_at_Sears_Point_today_visiting_with_Cosmo_and_Tyler__20260328_110542

    Testing sound at the SRO event at Sears Point last week

    1 min

  3. Feb 19

    Moving Mountains & Formula Cars: The Final Days of the US Jim Russell School with Bob Butte

    The logistics of racing aren't always glamorous—sometimes they involve dinosaur ramps, sea containers, and a balancing act across time zones. In this third and final installment with Bob Butte, host Rob Klyver dives into the high-stakes, low-budget reality of managing the world’s most famous racing schools. Bob recounts the "stupidity" and "youthful enthusiasm" of running four locations across the continent with only five people, including a fascinating look at the short-lived Skip Barber Hawaii and the technical "dumb luck" behind balancing a fleet of Mitsubishi school cars. In this episode, you’ll hear about: The Global Grind: Managing parts and logistics from Italy to England to the Midwest. The Great Migration: How the school moved an entire fleet of cars from Canada to Bridgehampton and Florida using creative (and questionable) methods. The "Kiss of Death": Bob’s tenure during the closure of legendary tracks like Riverside, Ontario, and Bridgehampton. Building the Mitsubishis: How Rob and Jacques Couture built a fleet of school cars from scratch that were so well-balanced they didn't need front stands. Tom Sawyer’s Fence: The reality of the Mechanic Training Program (MTP) and turning seat time into professional careers. Whether you're a fan of racing history or curious about the "men and women who do the work," this episode provides a raw, unfiltered look at the business of speed. Jim Russell Racing School, Motorsports Logistics, Racing History, Skip Barber West, Formula Ford, Van Diemen, Motorsports Careers, Racing School Management, Hawaii Raceway Park, 4G63 Racing, Lola Cars       Music tracks: Synergy by Aylex Source: https://freetouse.com/music Royalty Free Background Music Free Vlog Music Without Copyright  Creative Commons_Attribution 3.0 Unported - CC BY 3.0 Music promoted by Vlog Music

    1h 26m

  4. Feb 6

    Bob Butte: Dinosaurs, All-Nighters, and the Birth of Formula Mazda

    "In part two of our conversation with legendary mechanic Bob Butte, we dive into the high-stakes logistics of the Jim Russell Racing School in the early '80s. Bob shares the harrowing reality of loading cars onto 'dinosaur' ramps, the frantic debut of the Formula Russell at the 1984 Long Beach Grand Prix, and the sleepless 72-hour grinds required to keep the wheels turning. From the birth of Formula Mazda to the inner workings of Mont-Tremblant, this episode is a raw look at the grit behind the glamour of motorsports.   People: Bob Butte, Jim Russell, Jacques Villeneuve, Rob Swarthout, Vince Loughran, Tommy Kendall, Johnny O'Connell, Lawrence Stroll. Tracks & Locations: Laguna Seca, Riverside International Raceway, Mont-Tremblant, Long Beach Grand Prix, Ontario Motor Speedway. Racing Classes & Cars: Formula Mazda, Formula Russell, Formula Ford, IndyCar, Hayashi Wheels, Formula One. Industry Terms: Race Mechanic, Motorsports Engineering, Track Management, Racing School, Race Transporters, Prototype Development, Fasteners, Aerospace Hardware. Music tracks: Synergy by Aylex Source: https://freetouse.com/music Royalty Free Background Music Free Vlog Music Without Copyright  Creative Commons_Attribution 3.0 Unported - CC BY 3.0 Music promoted by Vlog Music

    22 min

  5. Feb 5

    Bob Butte, Jim Russell, and the Birth of a Racing School (Part 1)

    Part 1 of this three-part series, The Mechanicians – Racing Stories features Bob Butte, the first mechanic student of the legendary Jim Russell Racing School. Bob shares how a passion for racing led him from Midwest SCCA events to Mont-Tremblant, working alongside Jacques Couture during the school’s earliest days. From Formula Ford racing to wrenching for seat time, this episode explores the origins of professional racing schools and the mechanics who built them from the ground up. A rare, first-hand look at the people behind the scenes—before racing schools became institutions.   motorsports, racing, mechanics, racing school, jim russell, formula ford, racing history, motorsport stories, race cars, racing education, engineers, motorsports industry, vintage racing, behind the scenes   Music tracks: Synergy by Aylex Source: https://freetouse.com/music Royalty Free Background Music Free Vlog Music Without Copyright  Creative Commons_Attribution 3.0 Unported - CC BY 3.0 Music promoted by Vlog Music

    32 min

  6. Jan 17

    Ty Cota-Robles, Part 5: Jim Russell Tuition Secrets, Race Car Costs, and The Value of Hands-On Learning

    y Cota-Robles concludes his five-part conversation by revealing the true financial value of the Jim Russell Mechanics Training Program. He breaks down how the cost of tuition effectively covered the expenses for the racing portion of the school, including multiple races and practice days that otherwise would have cost students thousands of dollars. Ty discusses the high expense of specialized racing tools and why top professional teams use custom solutions over popular brands. Finally, he underscores the irreplaceable value of the school's hands-on experience, where students could repair cars they wrecked and gain a deep, practical understanding of their trade.   Music track: Synergy by Aylex Source: https://freetouse.com/music Free Vlog Music Without Copyright  Creative Commons__Attribution 3.0 Unported - CC BY 3.0 Music promoted by Vlog Music     racing podcast motorsport podcast racing history podcast Formula 1 stories podcast best racing stories podcast behind the scenes racing podcast motorsport legends interviews racing drivers interviews Formula 1 racing stories IndyCar racing history Le Mans racing stories endurance racing legends sports car racing history historic racing interviews grassroots motorsport stories racing mechanics stories pit lane stories untold racing stories behind the wheel stories legendary motorsport moments racing heritage and culture real stories from the racetrack racing pioneers and innovators racing garage secrets forgotten racing history best motorsport podcast for racing fans untold Formula 1 and IndyCar stories racing drivers share their journeys behind the scenes of racing history historic motorsport interviews podcast best podcast about racing mechanics and drivers racing stories from the golden era of motorsport classic motorsport podcast episodes The Mechanicians podcast The Mechanicians racing stories The Mechanicians motorsport podcast Rob Klyver podcast The Mechanicians

    14 min

  7. Jan 10

    Ty Cota-Robles, Part 4: Racing Secrets, The Pitfalls of NDAs, and The Jim Russell Labor Lawsuit

    Ty Cota-Robles continues this five - part  series by discussing the strict confidentiality that governs the motorsports industry, explaining why so many details and stories must be omitted due to Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDAs)—a rule every serious professional lives by. He provides unique insight into a high-stakes moment at the Jim Russell School when students brought a labor lawsuit against the school, claiming they were overworked. Ty offers an insider's perspective on the trial and the irony of students complaining about the demanding work ethic that is essential to success in professional racing. Music track: Synergy by Aylex Source: https://freetouse.com/music Free Vlog Music Without Copyright  Creative Commons__Attribution 3.0 Unported - CC BY 3.0 Music promoted by Vlog Music   racing podcast  motorsport podcast  racing history podcast  Formula 1 stories podcast  best racing stories podcast  behind the scenes racing podcast  motorsport legends interviews  racing drivers interviews  Formula 1 racing stories  IndyCar racing history  Le Mans racing stories  endurance racing legends  sports car racing history  historic racing interviews  grassroots motorsport stories  racing mechanics stories  pit lane stories  untold racing stories  behind the wheel stories  legendary motorsport moments  racing heritage and culture  real stories from the racetrack  racing pioneers and innovators  racing garage secrets  forgotten racing history  best motorsport podcast for racing fans  untold Formula 1 and IndyCar stories  racing drivers share their journeys  behind the scenes of racing history  historic motorsport interviews podcast  best podcast about racing mechanics and drivers  racing stories from the golden era of motorsport  classic motorsport podcast episodes  The Mechanicians podcast  The Mechanicians racing stories  The Mechanicians motorsport podcast  Rob Klyver podcast The Mechanicians

    22 min

  8. Jan 6

    Bob Earl on Bob Bondurant (Part 2): Racing School Legends, Pranks, and Life Inside Motorsports

    In Part 2 of our conversation, Bob Earl shares unforgettable stories from inside the legendary Bob Bondurant Racing School — from pranks and rivalries to hard lessons about teaching, racing, and survival in motorsports. Host Rob Klyver and Bob Earl dive deep into Bondurant’s personality, his business instincts, and the real culture behind one of the most influential racing schools in history. Earl recounts moments of humor, tension, and respect, including stories of rival schools, famous drivers, helicopters, firings (and re-hirings), and the realities of making a living in racing. This episode pulls back the curtain on what it was really like to work for Bob Bondurant, how racing education evolved in the 1970s and ’80s, and why mentorship, mechanics, and instructors were just as important as the drivers themselves. If you love racing history, behind-the-scenes motorsports stories, or the people who made racing happen — this episode is for you. Bob Bondurant Bob Earl Bondurant Racing School The Mechanicians Podcast Motorsports history Racing school stories Racing instructors Racing mechanics IMSA racing Formula Ford Can-Am racing Racing legends Behind the scenes motorsports Racing education Motorsports podcast Vintage racing stories Professional racing careers Racing mentorship Automotive history podcast Music tracks: Synergy by Aylex Source: https://freetouse.com/music Royalty Free Background Music Free Vlog Music Without Copyright  Creative Commons_Attribution 3.0 Unported - CC BY 3.0 Music promoted by Vlog Music

    35 min
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The Mechanicians – Racing Stories is a motorsports‑interview podcast hosted by Rob Klyver. The focus is on the people behind the scenes in racing — the engineers, mechanics, composites specialists, those working in education or training, as well as occasionally drivers — all the folks who make motorsport possible beyond the spotlight

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