BREAK/FIX the Motorsports & Vehicle Enthusiast Variety Show

Motoring Podcast Network

Cool Careers, Awesome People, along with Unusual & Inspiring Histories from all over the Autosphere. From wrench turners to artists, authors, racers, designers and everyone in between. The road to success is paved by all of us. Because #everyonehasastory

  1. Evening With A Legend: Mark Raffauf

    4d ago

    Evening With A Legend: Mark Raffauf

    In this “Evening With a Legend” episode, we interview Mark Raffauf, IMSA’s Senior Director of Competition, tracing how IMSA’s early relationship with the ACO grew from the 1970s through the creation of GTP, the split from FIA Group C’s fuel-formula approach, and the IMSA-driven development that helped shape cars like the Porsche 962. Mark recounts 1980s GTP’s manufacturer battles and behind-the-scenes antics, then explains the 1990s shift to World Sports Car, Ferrari’s 333 SP, and how rule changes at Le Mans affected competitiveness. He details IMSA’s organizational split that led to ALMS and Grand-Am, the rise of Daytona Prototypes, and today’s cost-control challenges. The conversation culminates in a deep discussion of Balance of Performance, LMDh vs hypercar sustainability, lift-and-coast strategy, and the need for a common future platform beyond 2030, while emphasizing Le Mans as a global mega-event. ===== (Oo---x---oO) ===== 00:00 Meet Mark Raffauf 02:20 Early IMSA and ACO Ties 04:25 Birth of GTP Rules; Group C vs GTP Debate 09:02 Porsche 956 to 962 Shift 11:26 Golden Era Grid Battles 17:45 Nineties Reset and WSC 20:39 Ferrari 333 SP Moment 23:44 Rule Drift and Audi's Rise 26:19 ALMS & Grand Am Split 30:23 Cost Control Lessons 32:43 How BOP Really Works 33:28 LMDh versus Hypercar Basics 37:56 Why One Rulebook Matters 43:32 "Lift and Coast" Energy Management Explained 46:33 Getting more Hypercars to IMSA 50:35 Endurance Racing As Events 54:58 Future Platform, 2030 and beyond 59:27 Final Thanks And Wrap Up ==================== The Motoring Podcast Network : Years of racing, wrenching and Motorsports experience brings together a top notch collection of knowledge, stories and information. #everyonehasastory #gtmbreakfix - motoringpodcast.net More Information: Visit Our Website Become a VIP at: Patreon Online Magazine: Gran Touring Follow us on Social: Instagram To learn more about or to become a member of the ACO USA, look no further than www.lemans.org, Click on English in the upper right corner and then click on the ACO members tab for Club Offers. Once you become a Member you can follow all the action on the Facebook group ACOUSAMembersClub; and become part of the Legend with future Evening With A Legend meet ups.

    1h 3m
  2. Cars, Community, and Compassion: How Bob Hammer Is Driving Hope With A Brighter Day

    Jun 4

    Cars, Community, and Compassion: How Bob Hammer Is Driving Hope With A Brighter Day

    Break/Fix Podcast returns with co-host Don Weberg from Garage Style Magazine to interview car enthusiast and fundraiser Bob Hammer about using car culture to support A Brighter Day, a nonprofit helping teens and young adults facing stress, depression, and suicidal ideation. Bob shares his automotive roots (including a ’66 Barracuda, a long-owned ’65 Mustang he sold during two bouts of testicular cancer, a ’68 Corvette, and restoring his uncle’s 1957 Chevy stake bed to stock after his uncle’s death) and his fundraising background through the Have a Ball Foundation, which has raised $5.4 million for cancer. Now as A Brighter Day’s development director, Bob is expanding the charity’s car show into downtown Danville, CA on Sunday, June 14, with sponsors, vendors, music, awards, and a goal of growing attendance and fundraising over time. ===== (Oo---x---oO) ===== 00:00 Meet Bob Hammer 01:43 Car Guy Origins 03:11 Family Truck Tribute 04:00 From Cancer to Foundation 05:54 Danville Car Show Revival 07:08 Joining A Brighter Day 09:32 Car Show Success Tips 12:59 A Brighter Day Mission 14:12 New Downtown Event Details 19:38 Future Growth & Fundraising Goals 25:21 How to Get Involved 27:27 Closing Sponsors Outro ==================== The Motoring Podcast Network : Years of racing, wrenching and Motorsports experience brings together a top notch collection of knowledge, stories and information. #everyonehasastory #gtmbreakfix - motoringpodcast.net More Information: Visit Our Website Become a VIP at: Patreon Online Magazine: Gran Touring Follow us on Social: Instagram

    29 min
  3. Consumers Reports: The Most Interesting Episode In The World

    Jun 2

    Consumers Reports: The Most Interesting Episode In The World

    Jon Summers, The Motoring Historian, recaps a Consumer Reports session led by Alex Knizek, outlining CR’s nonprofit testing operation (36 cars yearly, 330-acre Connecticut track) and its scoring pillars: road test, reliability, owner satisfaction (380,000 member surveys), and safety, including real-world/track ADAS evaluation. He reads key rankings, including five-to-ten-year reliability led by Lexus, Toyota, Mazda, Honda, and Acura, with Tesla last; he contrasts this with the 2026 brand report card topped by Subaru, BMW, Porsche, Honda, and Toyota, and notes Rivian’s low reliability but high satisfaction. He shares takeaways that hybrids show 15% fewer issues than ICE, while plug-ins have 80% more issues than hybrids, and discusses model-specific drags (Honda Prologue, Mazda CX-90). He explains his wife’s purchase of a 2026 Cadillac Optiq, influenced by pricing, free workplace charging, and Super Cruise. ===== (Oo---x---oO) ===== 00:00 Why Consumer Reports? 02:07 Inside CR Testing 03:22 Elk Test Explained 04:36 How CR Scores Cars 06:29 Used Car Reliability 09:01 New Car Software Woes 10:56 Brand Report Card 12:54 Surveys Versus Desire 17:01 Hybrids PHEVs EVs 22:23 ADAS & Super Cruise 25:10 EV Reliability Problems 26:46 Safety Rankings 27:37 Top 10 Picks Wrap 28:55 Thanks And Credits ==================== The Motoring Podcast Network : Years of racing, wrenching and Motorsports experience brings together a top notch collection of knowledge, stories and information. #everyonehasastory #gtmbreakfix - motoringpodcast.net More Information: Visit Our Website Become a VIP at: Patreon Online Magazine: Gran Touring Follow us on Social: Instagram Jon Summers is the Motoring Historian. He was a company car thrashing technology sales rep that turned into a fairly inept sports bike rider. On his show he gets together with various co-hosts to talk about new and old cars, driving, motorbikes, motor racing, motoring travel. Copyright Jon Summers, The Motoring Historian. This content is also available via jonsummers.net. This episode is part of the Motoring Podcast Network and has been republished with permission.

    30 min
  4. Formula Fanatics #6 - Bienvenido a Miami!

    May 28

    Formula Fanatics #6 - Bienvenido a Miami!

    This episode of Formula Fanatics and recaps the Miami GP weekend, including Hulkenberg missing the sprint with engine issues, Antonelli’s repeated poor launches despite pole pace, on-track tension with Russell, Ferrari’s rotating “flippy” rear wing, Verstappen’s early spin and recovery, Leclerc leading before finishing with a damaged car and receiving a 20-second post-race penalty for unsafe condition, and crashes involving Hadjar and Gasly (with Lawson flipping Gasly). We also share F1-related experiences in Boston: seeing a Ferrari F1 car and IBM telemetry/AI demo at IBM Think, trying simulators, and visiting F1 Arcade with Arrow for McLaren merch. And the episode covers an upcoming Monopoly F1 Edition (July 15, $39.99), Verstappen testing a Nissan Z Nismo GT500 at Fuji and competing at the Nürburgring 24 Hours before a drive axle failure, and reports of BYD discussing Christian Horner, then preview the Canadian GP. ===== (Oo---x---oO) ===== 00:00 Bienvenido a Miami! 01:03 Miami Sprint Recap 01:38 Antonelli Launch Woes 04:36 Miami Race Chaos 05:30 Leclerc Breakdown Penalty 06:54 Crashes and Gearbox Drama 08:47 IBM Think & Ferrari AI Tech 10:32 F1 Arcade Boston Night with ARROW 11:30 Monopoly F1 Edition 13:32 Max Verstappen at Fuji Super GT and Nurburgring 24 Heartbreak 19:30 F1 Crocs - You Should Get Some! 21:42 Horner to BYD Rumors 23:27 Canadian GP Signoff ==================== Formula Fanatics, is the high-octane sub-series of Break/Fix Podcast’s Drive Thru Motorsports News! This is your pit stop for all things Formula 1 — from breaking headlines and race recaps to insider analysis and paddock buzz. The Motoring Podcast Network : Years of racing, wrenching and Motorsports experience brings together a top notch collection of knowledge, stories and information. #everyonehasastory #gtmbreakfix - motoringpodcast.net More Information: https://www.motoringpodcast.net/ Become a VIP at: https://www.patreon.com/gtmotorsports Online Magazine: https://www.gtmotorsports.org/

    25 min
  5. Drive Thru News #68 - From Overheated to Overjoyed

    May 26

    Drive Thru News #68 - From Overheated to Overjoyed

    This month's Drive Thru News mixes banter and headlines with a “What Should I Buy?” story: Brad abandons his troubled orange Mk4 GTI “Pumpkin Spice” after finding oil-and-coolant “chocolate milk” from internal failure and frame misalignment, then buys a high-mileage Vortex Blue Turbo Beetle (one of 2,000 U.S. cars) that’s clean, street legal, and likely chipped, prompting naming jokes and parts-swapping plans. The crew debates VW’s business turmoil, an allegedly Mk4-inspired Mk9 Golf design, the 2027 ID.Buzz return, Porsche EV uncertainty, a Cayenne Electric Coupe, simulated “manual” shift-by-wire, and Brembo’s non-hydraulic brake system. Other topics include Stellantis moves and factory health complaints, BMW killing the Z4 but teasing a manual M3 CS, an ugly Mercedes EV, discounted Hertz Shelby Mach-Es, an Outlander recall and handling rant, a pristine 1992 Scirocco auction, Cybertruck mishaps, books and upcoming events, Florida flying-car talk, sim-racing updates, and 24 Hours of Lemons prep including a risky wheel-sourcing tow story. ===== (Oo---x---oO) ===== 00:00:00 Drive Thru Kickoff 00:00:49 Buying yet another VW?!? 00:05:27 Pumpkin Spice Autopsy 00:09:15 Naming The Blue Beetle 00:11:09 Parting Out The Orange GTI and Resisting The Porsche Temptress 00:18:01 VW Business Model Panic 00:19:41 Mark 9 Golf Controversy 00:21:21 ID.Buzz Returns? Price Debate! 00:24:24 Porsche EV Hype and Cayenne Electric Coupe Roast 00:30:22 Fake Manual "Shift By Wire" and "Brake By Wire" Warning 00:37:39 Nurburgring Record Eye Roll 00:39:15 What's going on at Stellantis? 00:44:59 BMW Z4 Farewell and Manual M3 CS rumored for US 00:46:55 Ugly Mercedes Concept - The AMG GT 4 door 00:49:40 Hertz Shelby Mach-E Fire Sale 00:51:49 Mitsubishi Outlander Rental Nightmare 00:54:59 Lost and Found Scirocco GT-II 00:57:42 Cybertruck Recall Chaos 01:00:42 Book Club Updates 01:02:49 Events and Automobilia 01:04:16 Flying Cars and Florida Men 01:09:38 Motorsports Legends Series 01:13:12 Sim Racing Updates 01:16:24 Our Lemons Prep and Towing Nightmares 01:26:46 Wrap Up and Thanks ==================== The Motoring Podcast Network : Years of racing, wrenching and Motorsports experience brings together a top notch collection of knowledge, stories and information. #everyonehasastory #gtmbreakfix - motoringpodcast.net More Information: Visit Our Website Become a VIP at: Patreon Online Magazine: Gran Touring Follow us on Social: Instagram

    1h 29m
  6. Jackie Chan's Thunderbolt! Reviewed (EILFM Crossover)

    May 21

    Jackie Chan's Thunderbolt! Reviewed (EILFM Crossover)

    The Gran Touring Motorsports team (Eric, Brad, and Tania), along with Steve & Izzy from Everything I Learned From Movies, review the 1995 Jackie Chan film 'Thunderbolt'. They discuss various motorsports, including the intricate car chase scenes, Jackie Chan's stunts, the film's production issues, and the unique elements of the movie. They dive into technical aspects like the featured car models, racing sequences, and significant action scenes, blending humor with detailed critique. The podcast humorously navigates the convoluted plot, appreciates the choreography, and comments on the movie's cultural impact. ===== (Oo---x---oO) ===== 00:00:00 Guest Introductions, Banter, Drinks and Movie Review Setup 00:03:15 Jackie Chan's Thunderbolt: Initial Impressions 00:04:20 Director and Cast Overview 00:11:38 Movie Viewing Experiences 00:12:50 Trailer and Opening Scene Discussion 00:17:20 Jackie Chan's Playful Style 00:18:05 The Bonneville Salt Flats Scene 00:19:33 Hong Kong Racing and Junkyard Fight 00:23:08 Police Checkpoint and Car Chase 00:31:48 Cougar's Arrest and Interrogation 00:32:32 Junkyard Interview and Fight Scene 00:35:57 Cougar's Escape Plan 00:37:24 Comparing Thunderbolt to Fast and Furious 00:39:31 Explosive Escape, Grenades and Gory Scenes 00:40:54 Nighttime Junkyard Chaos 00:45:03 Hospital Drama and Confrontation 00:47:38 Racing Preparations and Mishaps 00:50:26 Pachinko Parlor Showdown 00:54:18 Final Race and Climactic Finish 01:06:14 Concluding Thoughts and Recommendations ==================== The Motoring Podcast Network : Years of racing, wrenching and Motorsports experience brings together a top notch collection of knowledge, stories and information. #everyonehasastory #gtmbreakfix - motoringpodcast.net More Information: Visit Our Website Become a VIP at: Patreon Online Magazine: Gran Touring Follow us on Social: Instagram

    1h 23m
  7. Evening With A Legend: Ricky Taylor

    May 19

    Evening With A Legend: Ricky Taylor

    This episode of Evening With A Legend features endurance driver Ricky Taylor talking about his Le Mans experiences, from attending in 2001 with his father (Wayne Taylor) to racing there from 2013 onward. Ricky describes the event’s scale, the track’s dusty first laps, narrow roads, tricky slow corners, night-time loneliness, and the WEC vs IMSA differences in culture, rules, and precision. He explains Le Mans’ low-energy surface and long tire life, plus how top-level simulators and Michelin tire models aid preparation. Ricky also reviews Wayne Taylor Racing Cadillac’s recent Le Mans effort, including qualifying pace, missing Hyperpole, and an engine failure, and reflects on racing with his brother Jordan and teammate Filipe Albuquerque. He discusses Jackie Chan’s LMP2 program, LMP2’s competitiveness, Garage 56’s Camaro impact, Cadillac’s 2026 F1 plans, and goals to improve after a difficult season. ===== (Oo---x---oO) ===== 00:00 Ricky's early Le Mans Memories 03:09 First Racing Laps 2013 04:55 IMSA vs WEC Culture 06:25 Night Stints, Track Surprises and Passing 10:50 Training and Simulator Prep 14:53 2025 Cadillac Le Mans Postmortem 16:50 Family Racing Together 17:59 Jackie Chan LMP2 Story & Why LMP2 Matters 22:04 Garage 56 24:01 Filipe Albuquerque's Hybrid Knowhow 27:09 Are the Cars Too Reliable? 28:48 Audience Q&A 33:29 Thoughts on Cadillac F1 in 2026 34:40 Le Mans 2026 Plans  38:03 Why Le Mans Matters Most and Final Thanks! ==================== The Motoring Podcast Network : Years of racing, wrenching and Motorsports experience brings together a top notch collection of knowledge, stories and information. #everyonehasastory #gtmbreakfix - motoringpodcast.net More Information: Visit Our Website Become a VIP at: Patreon Online Magazine: Gran Touring Follow us on Social: Instagram To learn more about or to become a member of the ACO USA, look no further than www.lemans.org, Click on English in the upper right corner and then click on the ACO members tab for Club Offers. Once you become a Member you can follow all the action on the Facebook group ACOUSAMembersClub; and become part of the Legend with future Evening With A Legend meet ups.

    43 min
  8. The Unfair Advantage: A Tribute to Hurley Haywood & The Audi Quattros

    May 12

    The Unfair Advantage: A Tribute to Hurley Haywood & The Audi Quattros

    In this Break/Fix Pit Stop Minisode, the hosts welcome back legendary sports car driver Hurley Haywood to revisit his defining years with Audi in Trans-Am and IMSA. Hurley explains how Bob Tullius and Audi brought him into the program after he broke his leg, describes Group 44’s professionalism, and contrasts team dynamics once Audi factory engineers controlled strategy and development. He recounts early surprises with the Quattro, learning all-wheel-drive technique, and how the cars became overwhelmingly dominant, winning a Trans-Am championship before SCCA banned four-wheel drive and IMSA piled on weight and engine restrictions that rarely slowed them. Haywood discusses the advanced 90 Quattro GTO, politics that ended Audi’s program, his brief Ferrari F40 IMSA experience, lessons from Walter Röhrl, and reflections on technology, dominance, and Audi’s prospects in Formula 1. ===== (Oo---x---oO) ===== 00:00 Hurley Haywood Returns 01:54 Injury to Audi Opportunity 03:21 Audi Quattro First Test 04:49 Bob Tullius Team Culture & Factory Team Dynamics 08:25 Quattro Dominates TransAm 09:47 IMSA 90 Quattro Monster 14:17 Penalties Couldnt Stop Audi 16:26 Rivals Rage and BOP Politics Begin 20:03 Audi Track Antics ... Hans' Mischief Stories 21:53 Walter Röhrl Wisdom: Turbo Lag Techniques 24:31 Le Mans 911 Turbo Reunion 25:46 The Five Cylinder Sound 26:41 NASCAR Talladega Test 27:33 IMSA Exit Politics & The Ferrari F40 Detour 30:20 Revisiting Legends Today 36:04 Can Audi Win F1? 36:53 Final Thanks and Outro ==================== The Motoring Podcast Network : Years of racing, wrenching and Motorsports experience brings together a top notch collection of knowledge, stories and information. #everyonehasastory #gtmbreakfix - motoringpodcast.net More Information: Visit Our Website Become a VIP at: Patreon Online Magazine: Gran Touring Follow us on Social: Instagram

    39 min
4.9
out of 5
13 Ratings

About

Cool Careers, Awesome People, along with Unusual & Inspiring Histories from all over the Autosphere. From wrench turners to artists, authors, racers, designers and everyone in between. The road to success is paved by all of us. Because #everyonehasastory

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