The Fast Pod - A motorsport podcast unlocking the secrets of speed The Fast Pod

What's the secret to success on and off the rally stages?

Tune in as we welcome another history-making competitor to The Fast Pod.

In 2021 Garry Pearson became the first rally driver to lift four major UK national championship crowns in a single season.

Key highlights

 We chat to multiple title-winner Garry about:


the highs of winning 'the big four'
the mental toughness needed to bounce back from career lows
the mounting commercial pressures of modern motorsport

Quotes:


"After the first two rounds it was almost as if 'what are we doing here?', it was a bit of a difficult start, but then you've got to keep the head down and reset." - Garry Pearson
"Having someone at that world level come to the UK was brilliant. It just improves your level because you have to look at everything in more detail." - Garry Pearson
"You have to be prepared to make sacrifices in other parts of your life to be doing the British Championship." - Garry Pearson

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Welcome to The Fast Pod, where we delve into the world of motorsport and explore the stories of the incredible individuals who make it all happen.

In this episode, we have a very special guest joining us all the way from the USA – Bryce Kenny.

Bryce Kenny is a professional monster truck driver who competes in Monster Jam events.

His passion for motorsports runs deep in his family. Growing up around a family drag strip, he was immersed in the world of high-speed racing from a young age.

His dream was to make a career out of top fuel drag racing, and he even had the opportunity to drive a dragster at the age of 20. However, the challenges of securing sponsorship and the economic downturn led Bryce to re-evaluate his path.

It was during this time that Monster Jam came calling. Initially hesitant, Bryce attended his first Monster Jam event and was captivated by the excitement and engagement of the fans. He saw an opportunity to continue his career and make a name for himself in a different discipline. Bryce made the leap from drag racing to Monster Jam - and it turned out to be a decision that would change his life.

Monster Jam is a unique form of motorsport that combines the power and spectacle of monster trucks with thrilling performances and jaw-dropping stunts.

Bryce is known for driving the Mohawk Warrior, and is the first person to hit three figures in speed in a monster truck - setting a world record of over 100 miles per hour.

We dive into Bryce's career, his record-breaking achievements, and his new book "Geared for Life" that offers a fresh perspective on finding purpose and shifting gears in life.

Quotes


"Any motorsport out there, it's all about the application of horsepower. Even though I was trying to get 10,000 horsepower to apply to concrete in drag racing, now I've got something that weighs 10,000 pounds that we're trying to get to apply that horsepower to dirt through our big, giant tires. The physics are so different in terms of having to control the machine."


"Being on the edge of out of control somehow gives you more control."


"Our goal should not be results in life. It should be momentum."


"As long as you know what you believe, you're never going to stay burnt out for long. And you're always going to be able to shift into that next gear. And that's when life gets really good."

Links

Official profile - Bryce Kenny Monster Jam Driver | Monster Jam

Order Bryce's book - Geared for Life: Making the Shift Into Your Full Potential

Follow Bryce on Instagram - Bryce Kenny (@warriorbryce)

Check out The Fast Pod website - The Fast Pod | A motorsport podcast unlocking the secrets of speed

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In this episode of The Fast Pod, host Graeme Cleland interviews Oly Collins - team manager for NAPA Racing UK / Motorbase Performance in the British Touring Car Championship.

One of the most experienced pit lane chiefs in the UK, Oly has worked with some of the biggest names in motorsport including West Surrey, Team Dynamics, and Motorbase.

He's been instrumental in the success of these teams, helping them countless race wins and achieve multiple championship titles.

Oly shares his insights into what it takes to make a racing team into a winning outfit - and the role of a team manager in bringing all the different elements together.

And he covers not only what goes on during a race weekend, but what needs to happen between races to ensure it all comes together at the circuit.

He emphasises the importance of having talented individuals who work well as a team, racing drivers and engineers being open and honest in communication, and fostering a culture of respect and learning within a squad even when the pressure is on.

The Kent-based team boss also discusses the challenges and highlights of his career in motorsport, including the stellar 2023 season Motorbase are enjoying in the BTCC.

Key Takeaways:


Success in racing requires a team of talented individuals who work well together.
Openness and honesty are crucial in building a strong team dynamic.
Drivers should respect and learn from each other to improve as a team.
The role of a team manager is to bring all the different elements of a racing team together and ensure effective communication and coordination.
Getting into motorsport requires persistence, taking every opportunity, and working hard to make a good impression.

Give Oly a follow: @OlyCollins / X (twitter.com)

Joe Tanner is a renowned helmet painter who has worked with top motorsport competitors, including Formula One stars like Lando Norris and Nigel Mansell.

He accidentally fell into the world of helmet design, but has since become the go-to person for racers who want to look fast.

A racer himself, Joe shares his journey into helmet design and the evolution of racing helmets. He discusses the importance of a distinctive helmet design and the challenges of running a business in this field.

Joe also talks about the physical process of painting helmets in his workshop, the time and effort it takes, and the pressure of meeting deadlines.

He picks out some of his personal favourite designs - and explains the unexpected difficulties in recreating classic designs from the past.

Key Highlights:


Designing and painting a crash helmet is a time-consuming process that requires careful planning and attention to detail.
Dealing with customers who have unrealistic expectations or make last-minute changes can be a real challenge.
Simple designs can be just as iconic as complex ones, and accuracy is crucial when recreating classic designs.
Joe takes huge pride in his award-winning designs and great satisfaction in seeing his helmets on top racers.

Quotes:


"I was always intrigued by helmet design. It's like the man's version of what women are like about handbags." - Joe Tanner
"I have probably made this business a lot harder than it needed to be over the last 15 years." - Joe Tanner
"I've never been to a race meeting with less than five helmets to drop off with people." - Joe Tanner


Check out Joe's awesome custom paint jobs at:

www.rennatdesign.com

facebook.com/rennat.helmetdesign

instagram.com/rennatdesign/

twitter.com/Rennatdesign

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What's the secret to winning consistently and setting records on track?

In this new episode The Fast Pod brings you a racer who has tasted success in single seaters, touring cars and endurance racing across the globe.

Now an FIA driving standards advisor, hypercar development driver, race team brand ambassador and Le Mans commentator, Peter Dumbreck is an expert on what it takes to make people and cars go fast.

We chatted to the rapid Scotsman just before he attended the British Grand Prix about:


the challenges of being a race steward and the need for balance in enforcing the rules in motorsport
his success and enduring cult hero status in Japan
the race car he enjoyed driving the most in his career
that memorable win at Macau
developing extraordinary machines like the Aston Martin Valkyrie and NIO EP9

Quotes:
"As a steward, you see the other side of the story. You have access to all the information and different factors that come into play. It's a challenging role, but it's necessary to ensure fair competition and maintain the integrity of the sport." - Peter Dumbreck

"The fans in Japan are truly amazing. Their commitment and enthusiasm for the sport are unparalleled. It's a privilege to race in front of such passionate fans." - Peter Dumbreck

"I wish I had raced more in America and taken it all in a bit more." - Peter Dumbreck



GC and JD also debate other intriguing storylines from the world of motorsport, including:


the controversy over unpaid prize money in the W Series
the Martin Brundle vs Cara Delevingne showdown at Silverstone and the social media fallout from it
plus a friend of the show makes a surprise return from racing retirement at a kart track to show GC how it's done

We hope you enjoy the show - and don't forget to hit the subscribe button!

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Psst, check this out... The Fast Pod shop

In this episode The Fast Pod brings you a motorsport world champion.
Tom Harris has firmly established himself as one of the leading lights in stock car racing.
After making the early switch from a fledgling motocross career to short circuit racing, he has proven to be one of the fastest drivers in the category.
Tom has won nearly every championship possible in cars he has designed, constructed, prepared and raced.
After securing titles in the UK and Europe, including the ultimate accolade of winning the World Final, Tom is now racing against the world’s best short oval competitors in the US.
As well as speaking to Tom, GC and JD discuss:


MotoGP's run of bad crashes and injuries
lucky escapes in rallying
hidden gem race circuits
the rebirth of a legendary car in the US
recent controversial instances of bending the rules in some of motorsport's biggest events.

They also touch on bad family planning and why that stops you from enjoying motorsport.
And yes a baby cries in the background at one point, which we deliberately left in as it totally underlines the point.