Latest / In Wheel Time Podcast / How Does A Barn-Built Miata Take On Million-Dollar Teams at Pike's Peak?

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How Does A Barn-Built Miata Take On Million-Dollar Teams at Pike's Peak? · In Wheel Time Podcast

• 0:04
  Don Armstrong: From our dual city studios in Texas, USA, it's the award-winning in-wheel time car talk show just ahead.
• 0:13
  Don Armstrong: Third time's the charm.
• 0:16
  Don Armstrong: Richard Tomley Apex Auto Works.
• 0:20
  Don Armstrong: What did you say?
• 0:20
  Don Armstrong: Maybe maybe.
• 0:21
  Don Armstrong: Did you say maybe?
• 0:22
  Don Armstrong: Yes.
• 0:23
  Don Armstrong: Why did you say maybe?
• 0:24
  Don Armstrong: Because he's not here yet.
• 0:26
  Jeff Dziekan: I was just telling him when we were in the commercial, I said, I don't see that Richard popped in yet.
• 0:31
  Mike Marrs: I'll be right back.
• 0:32
  Don Armstrong: He's not goodbye.
• 0:33
  Don Armstrong: We're going to turn you down, Mike.
• 0:34
  Don Armstrong: Yeah.
• 0:35
  Don Armstrong: We need to cut him off, is what we need to do.
• 0:38
  Don Armstrong: Jeez.
• 0:41
  Don Armstrong: You know him.
• 0:42
  Don Armstrong: You know, and I I realize that I grew up in radio and broadcasting, and the clock, we all lived by the clock, still do today.
• 0:51
  Don Armstrong: And you know, if you've got a time that you're supposed to be on the air, it doesn't make any difference what you're doing, where you're doing it.
• 0:59
  Don Armstrong: You need to be in front of the microphone that's going to be connected to the transmitter of some way to get the signal out to the world.
• 1:06
  Jeff Dziekan: Our guests don't do that.
• 1:07
  Jeff Dziekan: Our guests aren't radio TV guys, so they're they they have their own style and their own way of doing it.
• 1:13
  Don Armstrong: When you put something in your phone on the on the calendar, you have the choice of uh it telling you, oh, you got ten minutes before you need to be here, five minutes or two, whatever the case may be.
• 1:25
  Don Armstrong: So what's the deal?
• 1:25
  Don Armstrong: You don't put it on a calendar.
• 1:27
  Jeff Dziekan: If it's not on the calendar, then you'll just Then you go to Time Out Heaven.
• 1:32
  Jeff Dziekan: Then you you drive Don Armstrong up a wall.
• 1:35
  Don Armstrong: Totally.
• 1:38
  Don Armstrong: Well, at any rate, uh, we're gonna have in this segment uh Jeff's motor minute, and I'm gonna review the Land Rover Range Rover.
• 1:46
  Don Armstrong: Okay you did you even look inside that car?
• 1:49
  Don Armstrong: I don't think you did, did you?
• 1:50
  Jeff Dziekan: No, I didn't.
• 1:50
  Jeff Dziekan: I didn't do that one, no.
• 1:51
  Jeff Dziekan: Um we didn't connect for some reason.
• 1:55
  Don Armstrong: It was outside.
• 1:55
  Jeff Dziekan: Yeah, I we just I just didn't get in it.
• 1:57
  Jeff Dziekan: Must have been raining or something.
• 1:58
  Jeff Dziekan: Yeah, it was raining.
• 1:59
  Jeff Dziekan: It was because it was uh we you had guests over for your daughter.
• 2:03
  Don Armstrong: Oh yeah.
• 2:05
  Don Armstrong: Well, anyway, along with Mike out of this world Mars, who's uh beating the bushes for Gallivant in Neeterville, beautiful downtown.
• 2:14
  Don Armstrong: Yeah, trying to uh get Richard Tomlin uh rounded up.
• 2:18
  Jeff Dziekan: Yeah, he's got a lot to say, and we just can't connect with him.
• 2:21
  Jeff Dziekan: Richard lives in a particular area that's uh more of a rural area.
• 2:25
  Don Armstrong: Listen, you would never ever want to go there and try to steal something because you couldn't find out where he lives.
• 2:31
  Jeff Dziekan: Or get out, yeah, or get out.
• 2:32
  Jeff Dziekan: Yeah, yeah.
• 2:34
  Don Armstrong: I it it go this way, that way, then this way, and then back this way, and then that way, and then he lives down that street.
• 2:42
  Don Armstrong: I don't oh, what about going to Fireman Jack's?
• 2:46
  Don Armstrong: Oh my god.
• 2:48
  Don Armstrong: Jeff and I went to Fireman Jack's, he's got this thing that he does in January, it's the middle of winter, and that's fine.
• 2:54
  Don Armstrong: The kickoff, yeah.
• 2:55
  Don Armstrong: Yeah, and uh he's got this piece of property way off the highway.
• 3:01
  Don Armstrong: And it's one of those.
• 3:04
  Don Armstrong: And it's and it gets to the point where they said too gravel road.
• 3:09
  Don Armstrong: We're not gonna do asphalt out here.
• 3:10
  Don Armstrong: We just give him a gravel road.
• 3:12
  Don Armstrong: Okay.
• 3:12
  Don Armstrong: What are you driving, Don?
• 3:14
  Don Armstrong: My really nice Corvette that uh you know has a really nice paint job that's been massaged by Gulf Coast Auto Shield.
• 3:22
  Jeff Dziekan: And I no, but you know what?
• 3:26
  Jeff Dziekan: Three quarters of the cars that were out there, and they were a lot, were all super duper nice.
• 3:30
  Jeff Dziekan: They really were.
• 3:31
  Jeff Dziekan: They all had to take the same road we did.
• 3:32
  Jeff Dziekan: I'm just I'm just you just have to be careful and not kick up the dust.
• 3:36
  Jeff Dziekan: But yeah, he lives in a pretty rural area as well.
• 3:39
  Don Armstrong: Well, is that is that his full-time residence out there?
• 3:42
  Don Armstrong: I think so.
• 3:42
  Jeff Dziekan: Well, he had his barn, he had all his memorabilia, he had his cars out there.
• 3:46
  Jeff Dziekan: Yeah, I would assume that yeah, he lives on the road.
• 3:48
  Don Armstrong: Well, he used to be a firefighter.
• 3:49
  Jeff Dziekan: Yes, yes.
• 3:51
  Don Armstrong: I would imagine that yeah, I know.
• 3:52
  Don Armstrong: But so he had to have a house somewhere around the Houston area, if not in it, to be able to go back and forth.
• 3:58
  Jeff Dziekan: Jack is uh he's probably saved his pennies and dimes, and that's his retirement.
• 4:03
  Don Armstrong: Yeah, yeah, yeah.
• 4:04
  Don Armstrong: What what year is that?
• 4:05
  Don Armstrong: Nova sixty-six?
• 4:08
  Don Armstrong: I think so.
• 4:08
  Don Armstrong: 67.
• 4:10
  Don Armstrong: It's beautiful.
• 4:11
  Jeff Dziekan: Did didn't he run it through uh Meekham or Barrett Jackson, or is that where he bought it from?
• 4:16
  Jeff Dziekan: I don't remember.
• 4:18
  Mike Marrs: I don't remember.
• 4:18
  Mike Marrs: I don't think he's actually ran it through there to see what I'm saying.
• 4:21
  Don Armstrong: Did you find uh why are you back on without without without without uh Mr.
• 4:25
  Don Armstrong: Disappearance?
• 4:27
  Mike Marrs: Well good question.
• 4:31
  Don Armstrong: Okay.
• 4:33
  Don Armstrong: All right, well, there is that.
• 4:35
  Jeff Dziekan: You want me to do my motor a minute?
• 4:36
  Don Armstrong: No, I don't want you to do that.
• 4:39
  Jeff Dziekan: All right.
• 4:39
  Don Armstrong: I have something uh that uh I've been hanging on to for this very thing.
• 4:49
  Don Armstrong: Now it is summertime, and you know, not everybody has two cars for one purpose, and then that's yourself.
• 4:58
  Don Armstrong: People have two cars, one that they drive every day back and forth to work, and the other one that they show or specialty drives.
• 5:06
  Don Armstrong: Yeah.
• 5:07
  Don Armstrong: Well, so let's just say, for instance, that you've only got one, but you're really proud of it and you want to spruce it up to take to a cruise in on a Saturday night.
• 5:17
  Don Armstrong: Well, um most of us want to keep our vehicles looking the best when they're a full classic, a 50s icon muscle car, or more contemporary collectible this time of year.
• 5:28
  Don Armstrong: Uh we get those vehicles ready for another season of shows, tours, lazy afternoon, cruises.
• 5:34
  Don Armstrong: Uh often reach for a quick spray, uh spray and go, a wipe style detailer to clean up our cars.
• 5:41
  Don Armstrong: Think of these products as some sort of panacea for cleanliness.
• 5:45
  Don Armstrong: Ooh.
• 5:45
  Don Armstrong: I like that word, panacea.
• 5:48
  Don Armstrong: Not every cleaner can be used for every situation though, so a few things to consider before you stock up on spray product for the season.
• 5:55
  Don Armstrong: And let me tell you, I could spend it's like kind of like going back to the Western Auto when you had a bicycle, and they had the huge bicycle department, and they had all the junk that you could stick on your bicycle.
• 6:06
  Don Armstrong: You sit there and you think, hmm, well, that's only two ninety-five.
• 6:10
  Don Armstrong: How long do I have to save up for that, right?
• 6:13
  Don Armstrong: Well, in this particular case, now you've grown up and you're into cars, you look at all of the creams, the polishes, the license plate frames, fuzzy dice, yeah, all of that.
• 6:24
  Jeff Dziekan: Air fresheners.
• 6:25
  Don Armstrong: The car care section of the local auto parts store, or Walmart, brimming with options from multiple companies today, which in turn offer similar products to achieve different results.
• 6:35
  Don Armstrong: For instance, some sprays and wipes are designed for tougher tasks, such as light duty degreasing and bug and tar removal, whereas others are designed as protectants, often for interiors, in exterior plastic trim and soft rubber components against weather and UV rays.
• 6:52
  Don Armstrong: All of this stuff.
• 6:54
  Don Armstrong: Go and spend some time, check it out online, do the research online, then go up there and see what they got.
• 7:01
  Don Armstrong: You know, so I I didn't look, but I found at the Walmart Jay Leno's products.
• 7:08
  Don Armstrong: And I'll tell you what, I really like his tire shine.
• 7:12
  Don Armstrong: And it's not really called tire shine, it because it doesn't really shine it, it just cleans it and makes it look really, really nice.
• 7:18
  Don Armstrong: It doesn't sling when you drive it.
• 7:20
  Don Armstrong: No, none of that stuff.
• 7:21
  Don Armstrong: So uh that's where I bought my Jay Leno's tire treatment.
• 7:25
  Don Armstrong: Nice.
• 7:25
  Don Armstrong: Whatever it's called.
• 7:26
  Jeff Dziekan: Nice.
• 7:26
  Jeff Dziekan: Uh you know, you go in there and well, speaking of Walmart, and you get the the guidebook for wiper blades or oil filters, it's the book is never together.
• 7:34
  Don Armstrong: No, because it's been pawed pawed through.
• 7:36
  Jeff Dziekan: And you ask and they don't.
• 7:38
  Don Armstrong: So you need to check the effectiveness of the product, consider the paint type that you're dealing with.
• 7:43
  Don Armstrong: You're looking at a clear coat.
• 7:45
  Don Armstrong: Have you had any kind of uh fit like you've been you've been to see the Gulf Coast Auto Shield?
• 7:49
  Don Armstrong: Well, call John, ask him what to get.
• 7:52
  Don Armstrong: He might even sell it to you.
• 7:53
  Jeff Dziekan: Exactly.
• 7:53
  Jeff Dziekan: And when you're up in Granberry, look around and ask, hey, how did you get that shine?
• 7:58
  Jeff Dziekan: Yeah, and what color is that?
• 7:59
  Jeff Dziekan: And you know what?
• 8:00
  Jeff Dziekan: All of those people are gonna have it in their trunk because they all have their little chairs set up and they all have their little signage for the vehicle, how it's made, when it was made, what it costs, and everything, and they're gonna have their products there.
• 8:10
  Jeff Dziekan: So that's what you do.
• 8:12
  Don Armstrong: Absolutely, and you get to know the people, yeah.
• 8:14
  Don Armstrong: Yeah, you probably get out of there now a new member of about three or four different clubs, and you don't even have a car.
• 8:22
  Don Armstrong: The other thing is always read the directions, and I know that you you're like, oh my god, I gotta read the directions.
• 8:27
  Don Armstrong: Well, yeah, yeah, you you definitely want to read the directions and uh not apply some of things like you know, the tire dressing to the rubber around the around the window.
• 8:42
  Jeff Dziekan: Spray your your dashboard with it or something, exactly.
• 8:45
  Jeff Dziekan: Or do your seats that somebody keeps uh ringing the bell.
• 8:52
  Jeff Dziekan: Is that what it is?
• 8:54
  Don Armstrong: Anyway, I just I just thought that I would bring that up.
• 8:56
  Don Armstrong: I I've had that story laying around, waiting for the very moment.
• 9:00
  Mike Marrs: But um yeah, yeah, I I I do think I've got Tomlin lined up now.
• 9:05
  Mike Marrs: Okay, it looks like it.
• 9:07
  Don Armstrong: Well, that's what you get for thinking, Mike.
• 9:09
  Mike Marrs: I know that's why I'm scared to push this last button.
• 9:12
  Don Armstrong: Without further ado, fire him up.
• 9:15
  Don Armstrong: Yeah, let's see.
• 9:16
  Don Armstrong: There he is.
• 9:17
  SPEAKER_00: One more button.
• 9:17
  SPEAKER_00: It's working today.
• 9:18
  SPEAKER_00: We tested all this.
• 9:19
  Don Armstrong: Well, you know, yeah, except except they didn't test your watch.
• 9:23
  Don Armstrong: That was the only problem.
• 9:25
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, but it's a good thing we have these things called phones because he can just hit me up because we were head down working on the race car, prepping for our last uh week and a half before we head off to Colorado.
• 9:36
  Don Armstrong: Well, let's talk about that.
• 9:37
  Don Armstrong: Richard Thomas with us now with Apex Auto Works and um in Alvin, Texas.
• 9:42
  Don Armstrong: And so, you know, we've tried several attempts to talk to you about going to Pikes Peak.
• 9:49
  Don Armstrong: You're two weeks away.
• 9:50
  Don Armstrong: So let which car are you taking or cars are you taking?
• 9:54
  Don Armstrong: Let's start with that.
• 9:55
  SPEAKER_00: Okay, so we've got the Apex O set, which is the Miata that you love.
• 9:59
  SPEAKER_00: Um that was 12th overall two years ago.
• 10:02
  SPEAKER_00: We will leave with it in two weeks.
• 10:04
  SPEAKER_00: The other one is the 68 Roadrunner that we affectionately call Big Bird, which is already in Colorado.
• 10:10
  SPEAKER_00: Um, and it's already puked a transmission and had some carburetor issues.
• 10:14
  Mike Marrs: Oh boy.
• 10:15
  SPEAKER_00: Like it's racing, right?
• 10:16
  SPEAKER_00: Like things are supposed to break and fail, but better before the race than during the race.
• 10:20
  SPEAKER_00: So yeah.
• 10:20
  Don Armstrong: So which one do you want to talk about?
• 10:22
  Don Armstrong: Now, the one that we have up, I don't know whether that has anything to do with it.
• 10:26
  SPEAKER_00: Is it a Miata?
• 10:27
  Don Armstrong: Is that the Miata?
• 10:28
  SPEAKER_00: Is it OpenU Miata?
• 10:30
  SPEAKER_00: Yep, that's the Miata.
• 10:32
  Don Armstrong: Well, how can you call it a Miata?
• 10:34
  Don Armstrong: It looks like uh it looks like a sprint car with a big wing on the back of it.
• 10:37
  SPEAKER_00: Well, kind of.
• 10:38
  SPEAKER_00: So it is uh Miata.
• 10:41
  SPEAKER_00: It's Miata suspension all the way around, Miata brakes, Miata wheelbase, Miata track, Miata steering rack, Miata brakes.
• 10:48
  SPEAKER_00: Um we just got rid of everything we didn't need and tried to make it a little lighter and sleeker.
• 10:53
  Don Armstrong: Like, for instance, the body and the engine.
• 10:56
  SPEAKER_00: Right.
• 10:56
  SPEAKER_00: I mean, it's eighteen hundred and three pounds, and we make over 600 at the wheel now.
• 11:01
  Don Armstrong: So well, that's not a stock Miata engine.
• 11:05
  SPEAKER_00: No, that's like started kind of like what your Corvette was, but a couple generations later, so it's an LS7.
• 11:11
  Jeff Dziekan: There you go.
• 11:13
  Mike Marrs: And it's been tubbed, obviously.
• 11:15
  Mike Marrs: Look at the wheels.
• 11:16
  Don Armstrong: Tub is tubless, it's tubless.
• 11:19
  Don Armstrong: There's not there's not a tub to be seen on that car.
• 11:22
  Don Armstrong: So uh what have you done anything to the engine other than pull it out of a Corvette and put it in the car?
• 11:27
  SPEAKER_00: Oh no, it's it's a full custom build that we had done a few years back, so it's not stock.
• 11:32
  Jeff Dziekan: Okay, now this you said this came in 12th last year or two years ago.
• 11:36
  SPEAKER_00: Um so we didn't go last year.
• 11:37
  SPEAKER_00: We took a year off because we had had three years of good weather.
• 11:40
  SPEAKER_00: So you're racing the mountain, but you're already also racing Mother Nature at Pike's Peak because you only get one day once a year.
• 11:47
  SPEAKER_00: And the theory goes after you get two to three good years of weather, you're going to get a bad year.
• 11:51
  SPEAKER_00: Mother Nature is just not going to give it to you.
• 11:53
  SPEAKER_00: Well, we had had three good years of weather, and it was like we're just not going back.
• 11:57
  SPEAKER_00: We're taking a year off.
• 11:58
  SPEAKER_00: So we took that year off, we upgraded the car with more arrow, um, which you can see in the picture, it's got dual elements now.
• 12:04
  SPEAKER_00: We've got belly arrow underneath the car, basically what they call floor and tunnels.
• 12:08
  SPEAKER_00: Um, we added ABS, we added traction control, and a little more power.
• 12:13
  SPEAKER_00: So we're going back with expectations or hopes, high hopes, of a top ten.
• 12:19
  SPEAKER_00: Um, and we'll see.
• 12:20
  SPEAKER_00: Like it takes a lot of things falling in line.
• 12:22
  Don Armstrong: So all of these changes that you've made, does that put you in a different class?
• 12:26
  SPEAKER_00: No, so we're in what I call the big dog class.
• 12:29
  SPEAKER_00: Um, this class you can do anything as long as you meet a weight to uh displacement.
• 12:36
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, weight to placement.
• 12:37
  SPEAKER_00: So yep, so it's that's what I was gonna ask.
• 12:40
  Jeff Dziekan: You came in twelfth.
• 12:41
  Jeff Dziekan: I was gonna that's and you answered the question where you anticipate uh you know finishing this year top ten.
• 12:46
  SPEAKER_00: We hope top ten.
• 12:47
  SPEAKER_00: Okay.
• 12:48
  SPEAKER_00: The big challenge is you're going up against teams like I'll throw the names out there because everybody knows this.
• 12:53
  SPEAKER_00: So Ford,$11 million a year budget, Hyundai,$7 million a year budget.
• 12:58
  SPEAKER_00: Um, some of the smaller Colorado teams are on multi-million dollar budgets as a local team for this event, and we are built in a barn in Texas.
• 13:07
  SPEAKER_00: So um, ours is a little different, you know?
• 13:11
  Don Armstrong: So well, I mean, did you not go after the big sponsorship money?
• 13:16
  SPEAKER_00: Oh, we have, we've tried, and we get told no a lot.
• 13:19
  SPEAKER_00: So um, I'm trying to take lessons from you guys on that.
• 13:22
  SPEAKER_00: Um, and see if we're gonna be able to do that.
• 13:24
  SPEAKER_00: We get told no a lot on this.
• 13:25
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, we were real good at hearing.
• 13:28
  Jeff Dziekan: I'm learning even from our wives.
• 13:31
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
• 13:32
  SPEAKER_00: But uh, yeah, so it should be a fun car this year.
• 13:35
  SPEAKER_00: It's it should do well.
• 13:36
  SPEAKER_00: We keep our nose clean, keep everything working.
• 13:38
  SPEAKER_00: Big bird's gonna have some teething pains, but the goal with it is just get it to the top.
• 13:42
  SPEAKER_00: And that's the 68 Roadrunner.
• 13:45
  SPEAKER_00: Um, it has a 2015 NASCAR, the NASCAR motor from 2015.
• 13:53
  SPEAKER_00: It is rowdy, it is crazy.
• 13:55
  SPEAKER_00: Um, I got to drive it twice now um before Ben politely destroyed a transmission, so it's gone.
• 14:01
  SPEAKER_00: So we got a new transmission going in it.
• 14:03
  SPEAKER_00: Um changes some carb issues.
• 14:06
  SPEAKER_00: It's it's a riot.
• 14:07
  Don Armstrong: So what kind of transmission puked to use your word?
• 14:11
  SPEAKER_00: Um, this is uh it's a most people would know it as a Jericho, but this was a company called Mid Valley, but basically same thing.
• 14:18
  SPEAKER_00: Just a four-speed dirt track old ras NASCAR oval trans.
• 14:22
  Don Armstrong: But you d you don't have to use a clutch.
• 14:24
  SPEAKER_00: No, they're all dog boxes.
• 14:26
  SPEAKER_00: Everything we've got tr car-wise is a dog box.
• 14:28
  SPEAKER_00: But what's interesting is we have the dog box, we'll use it for going up, but we use the clutch going down because we're not confident enough.
• 14:36
  SPEAKER_00: Um because you make one wrong and the transmission is laying beside you, and it's we're not doing 500 miles at the exact same corner.
• 14:43
  SPEAKER_00: We're gonna hit 156 corners in basically 10 minutes and try and get that right every time.
• 14:48
  SPEAKER_00: So it makes more sense to use the clutch on the downshift, get on the brake, then go back in gears and use your dog box going up.
• 14:56
  Don Armstrong: Now, what kind of class is this car in?
• 14:59
  SPEAKER_00: This one is gonna be in one called uh time attack, and it's just the best one that it fit into um because the motor was still stock.
• 15:07
  SPEAKER_00: We looked at Pike Speak Open, which allows it to run pretty much anything.
• 15:11
  SPEAKER_00: The big issue there was there are some really, really heavy hitters um in that class.
• 15:15
  SPEAKER_00: So goal is to just go up there and finish with this car.
• 15:18
  SPEAKER_00: If it finishes, we'll be in you know top 50, top 60 percentile, which is amazing.
• 15:23
  SPEAKER_00: Um, we could be higher if things go well for us.
• 15:25
  SPEAKER_00: Ben gets really comfortable in the car, it has the potential.
• 15:28
  SPEAKER_00: Uh, we just not had a bunch of time driving it around track yet.
• 15:31
  Don Armstrong: So why are you not driving this?
• 15:34
  SPEAKER_00: Um because I work for one of the uh tech inspectors and then uh I take care of protest at the end as well.
• 15:41
  Jeff Dziekan: So you're you're saying that there's no real class for this one, so it's not like the Miata where it's a power to weight ratio.
• 15:47
  Jeff Dziekan: This is just all no no holes barred on this one?
• 15:50
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, there's there's a lot of classes like that at the end.
• 15:52
  Jeff Dziekan: Rip it and rip it.
• 15:53
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, they've got I think we're running five classes, six classes now.
• 15:57
  SPEAKER_00: Um we'd have to pull it out and see, but it uh we found a home for it.
• 16:01
  SPEAKER_00: It'll be fine.
• 16:02
  SPEAKER_00: Um, I don't expect it to be on the podium at all.
• 16:04
  Jeff Dziekan: So okay, so you had mentioned that there's some big big sponsorships, the Fords and the Hyundai's and things.
• 16:10
  Jeff Dziekan: Are those multiple car teams?
• 16:12
  Jeff Dziekan: I mean, do that three, four, five, or is it uh four to eleven million dollars is one car.
• 16:17
  Jeff Dziekan: One car, wow.
• 16:18
  SPEAKER_00: Hyundai, Hyundai is three cars.
• 16:20
  SPEAKER_00: Um and then I mean you've got some of the other smaller guys, they're one and two million dollar cars, but we took the cars that had over a million dollar budget, and that took eight of the 12 cars in front of us out.
• 16:31
  SPEAKER_00: So we were very, very pleased to be standing, you know, fifth.
• 16:36
  SPEAKER_00: So there's uh definitely people faster than us, people with more talent, uh for sure, but we're giving it hell, you know.
• 16:42
  Don Armstrong: So, what do you hope to get out of all of this time and effort that you've spent on these cars?
• 16:46
  Don Armstrong: I mean, once you place, let's just say, in the top 10 with that one particular car, do you get phone calls saying, hey, I want you to build me a car?
• 16:55
  SPEAKER_00: Um, we do get those.
• 16:56
  SPEAKER_00: Uh we've built quite a few peaks Pikes Peak cars.
• 16:59
  SPEAKER_00: Um, I think we're at 16 that have competed at Pikes Peak now that we've built.
• 17:03
  SPEAKER_00: Um, don't have any in stock other than mine right now.
• 17:06
  SPEAKER_00: Um, but that's how it works.
• 17:07
  SPEAKER_00: You just uh continue to grow and prosper.
• 17:09
  SPEAKER_00: And then I get to have phone calls of people like you, so it's it's not all bad.
• 17:15
  Don Armstrong: Yeah, well, I don't know about that because we're obviously interrupting your your doings, your goings on over there.
• 17:21
  Mike Marrs: Well, this is all for tomorrow.
• 17:23
  Mike Marrs: Yeah, before we run out of time, you got an event coming up tomorrow?
• 17:26
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, so tomorrow we'll be at Velocity Sim Lounge uh from one to five, where we'll be doing a reveal of the apex of set um because it's changing greatly.
• 17:36
  SPEAKER_00: We've all tried to bring something from Houston to um this year we uh set it in with space.
• 17:44
  SPEAKER_00: So don't want to give much more than that away, but uh there'll be a bunch of picks on Facebook and uh Instagram tomorrow if you can't make it.
• 17:51
  SPEAKER_00: Uh we'll probably live stream it, but if you make it down, swing on through velocity lounge, uh just north on uh I 10 and 610 area.
• 17:59
  Don Armstrong: Okay, well we're audio win.
• 18:01
  Don Armstrong: Pretty much lost your audio.
• 18:03
  Don Armstrong: We're gonna put it up on our uh website and everybody can go there and find out more information.
• 18:08
  Don Armstrong: Okay.
• 18:09
  Don Armstrong: Richard, thank you.
• 18:09
  Don Armstrong: It's good to talk to you.
• 18:10
  Don Armstrong: Apex Auto Works, Pike's Peak in a couple of weeks for them.
• 18:13
  Don Armstrong: Be sure and follow them.
• 18:14
  Don Armstrong: Just ahead, Jeff's Motor Minute and uh review of the new Land Rover Range Rover when the in-wheel time car talk show continues right after this quick break.
• 18:24
  Don Armstrong: The Tex Max dining experience is defined by Lupi Tortilla, your destination for Texas's best beef fajitas and frozen margaritas.
• 18:33
  Don Armstrong: Since 1983, Lupi Tortilla has served authentic and time-tested recipes made with the freshest ingredients.
• 18:39
  Don Armstrong: Atmosphere is part of the award-winning experience of Lupi Tortilla, all developed in a little house near Highway 6 and I-10 in Houston.
• 18:46
  Don Armstrong: Visit any of the Loopy Tortillas and you'll see the same attention to detail in each and every location.
• 18:51
  Don Armstrong: Start your loopy experience with queso flamillato and guacamole, along with a classic frozen margarita.
• 18:57
  Don Armstrong: Dine on famous loopy beef and chicken fajitas or pepper shrimp brochette, or a fish or vegetarian entree, and finish with a scrumptious flan for dessert.
• 19:05
  Don Armstrong: Find loopy tortilla in Houston, College Station, Beaumont, Austin, San Antonio, and Dallas, Fort Worth.
• 19:11
  Don Armstrong: There's a Texas location near you.
• 19:13
  Don Armstrong: The recipes are authentic and time-tested.
• 19:15
  Don Armstrong: The ingredients always fresh.
• 19:17
  Don Armstrong: Loopy tortilla.
• 19:19
  Don Armstrong: He's pretty good.
• 19:24
  Don Armstrong: Apple or Android In Wheel Time Podcasts can be found everywhere, on the stream and through downloads.
• 19:29
  Don Armstrong: Whether you're on the road or at home and searching for a fun car talk show, give In Wheel Time a try.
• 19:34
  Don Armstrong: Honest new car reviews, fun informative interviews with real car people, weekly automotive news, features like Jeff's car culture, Mike's driving destinations, all on In Wheel Time.
• 19:44
  Don Armstrong: Check us out on SiriusXM Podcasts, iHeartRadio, or while you're shopping on Amazon through Amazon Music.
• 19:50
  Don Armstrong: Inwheeltime.com has a list, so check us out.
• 19:55
  Don Armstrong: Always invited for our live version of the In Wheel Time Car Talk Show every Saturday at our regular time, 10 to noon Central, on Inwheeltime.com, YouTube, and Facebook.
• 20:07
  Don Armstrong: And then again, you can always grab a 30-minute podcast from your favorite podcast store, and it is free.
• 20:14
  Don Armstrong: Time now for the motor minute, Jeffrey?
• 20:16
  Jeff Dziekan: Yeah, well, we just had the uh Indy 500 last week.
• 20:19
  Jeff Dziekan: We had the Coca-Cola 600 last week, and that's another story for racing.
• 20:23
  Jeff Dziekan: Uh and then we also had the Formula One Canadian Grand Prix, which really no one kind of watched or found out about it because it's always online.
• 20:31
  Jeff Dziekan: But the Canadian Grand Prix is facing renewed pressure over wildlife safety after Alex Alabun's violent collision with the groundhog.
• 20:38
  Jeff Dziekan: This happened in a test session Friday before the race.
• 20:41
  Jeff Dziekan: The incident happened during the only practice session in this in the sprint weekend at the Circuit Villaneux in Montreal, Circuit Villaneux, Montreal.
• 20:50
  Jeff Dziekan: Uh the driver struck a Marrimon in turn seven, causing damage to the Williams and ending his track time early.
• 20:57
  Jeff Dziekan: The impact was so severe that he could not practice the sprint qualifying the rest of the year.
• 21:01
  Don Armstrong: What kind of Mary?
• 21:02
  Jeff Dziekan: It's a Merrimack Groundhog.
• 21:04
  Jeff Dziekan: They call it a Merrimaut up in Canada.
• 21:11
  Jeff Dziekan: It turned into a promising weekend into damage control for Formula One, the Grand Prix organizers.
• 21:16
  Jeff Dziekan: It reopened an issue over the sport that never fully resolved it after the most famous venue.
• 21:21
  Jeff Dziekan: Evidently it happens quite a bit up there.
• 21:24
  Jeff Dziekan: Organizers have attempted to keep the animals away from the racing surface, but the problem clearly has not disappeared.
• 21:29
  Jeff Dziekan: PETA made a point to immediately after Friday's crash calling for stronger deterrent measures to protect both the wildlife and the drivers.
• 21:37
  Jeff Dziekan: Of course, wildlife comes first.
• 21:39
  Jeff Dziekan: Animals rights organization praised the driver for trying to avoid the groundhog before the impact happened.
• 21:44
  Jeff Dziekan: At the same time, it pushed for more aggressive action of the race officials to prevent incidents on the track.
• 21:50
  Jeff Dziekan: Drivers are expected to operate extreme speeds and near perfect reactions, but wildlife remains unpredictable and a hazard sitting completely outside of their control.
• 21:58
  Jeff Dziekan: In the driver's case, The situation became even worse because he reportedly attempted to avoid the animal hitting the animal the impact.
• 22:06
  Jeff Dziekan: So he could have actually done more damage.
• 22:08
  Jeff Dziekan: He could have killed himself trying to avoid this little rodent.
• 22:12
  Jeff Dziekan: Anyways, it goes on that uh PETA's finding changes, they say they understand it.
• 22:17
  Jeff Dziekan: It's all Mars' fault.
• 22:18
  Jeff Dziekan: It's all Mars fault.
• 22:19
  Jeff Dziekan: Uh so Mars, why are we looking at the marrions, brown songs, beavers, keep them off the track.
• 22:27
  Jeff Dziekan: I can't hear them.
• 22:28
  Jeff Dziekan: We can't hear you.
• 22:28
  Jeff Dziekan: We can't hear you, Mike.
• 22:30
  Mike Marrs: I was reflecting back to whenever I was trying to teach my 16-year-old daughter, granddaughter, or daughter to drive, and we were going down the highway at 75 miles an hour trying to get her used to it, and she sees a turtle.
• 22:44
  Mike Marrs: And what does she do?
• 22:45
  Mike Marrs: She screams, puts her hands over her eyes.
• 22:47
  Mike Marrs: Oh my god, I'm gonna kill the turtle.
• 22:49
  Mike Marrs: I do that a lot.
• 22:51
  Don Armstrong: That's great.
• 22:53
  Don Armstrong: You just sat there and went, okay.
• 22:55
  Don Armstrong: Here we go.
• 22:56
  Mike Marrs: No, not exactly.
• 22:58
  Mike Marrs: But yeah, it was one of those things you remember.
• 23:01
  Mike Marrs: PETA.
• 23:02
  Mike Marrs: People uh eating tasty animals.
• 23:04
  Jeff Dziekan: Is that what that's right?
• 23:05
  Jeff Dziekan: I think so.
• 23:05
  Don Armstrong: Yeah, that's what it is.
• 23:06
  Don Armstrong: Yeah.
• 23:06
  Don Armstrong: Uh timeout for this hour's car review.
• 23:08
  Don Armstrong: Had a chance to drive the 2025 Land Rover Range Rover that is built in Sully Hall, England.
• 23:20
  Jeff Dziekan: Sully Hall.
• 23:21
  Don Armstrong: Okay.
• 23:22
  Don Armstrong: Um so it's available in these trim levels.
• 23:24
  Don Armstrong: Don't laugh.
• 23:26
  Don Armstrong: The P400 S E, the P550E, the S E, the P530 S E.
• 23:38
  Don Armstrong: And um I had the S E L W B.
• 23:44
  Don Armstrong: What does that mean?
• 23:46
  Don Armstrong: Long wheelbase.
• 23:47
  Don Armstrong: Okay.
• 23:47
  Don Armstrong: Is that what it is?
• 23:48
  Don Armstrong: Yeah.
• 23:48
  Don Armstrong: Okay.
• 23:49
  Don Armstrong: Long wheelbase.
• 23:50
  Don Armstrong: Seven seats, the autobiography, uh P615 SV.
• 23:57
  Jeff Dziekan: A lot of P's in that, right?
• 23:58
  Don Armstrong: There's I I don't quite understand all of that, but whatever the case may be, a beautiful vehicle.
• 24:04
  Don Armstrong: Standard SUV, so body on frame, seven seats, all new in 2022.
• 24:10
  Don Armstrong: They don't change these over a quick period of time.
• 24:13
  Don Armstrong: Look at that interior.
• 24:14
  Don Armstrong: Yeah.
• 24:15
  Don Armstrong: So exterior, straight lines and smooth body panels.
• 24:19
  Don Armstrong: Front fascia is straightforward in design with a rectangular grille, very conservative.
• 24:25
  Don Armstrong: Unique rear hatch with the rectangular highlight.
• 24:29
  Don Armstrong: It is stunning to look at.
• 24:31
  Don Armstrong: Concentric wheel openings.
• 24:33
  Don Armstrong: I'm sorry.
• 24:33
  Jeff Dziekan: I was gonna say that you know an old school watch from you know the 50s to square.
• 24:38
  Jeff Dziekan: That's what that looks like.
• 24:39
  Jeff Dziekan: It does.
• 24:39
  Jeff Dziekan: Yeah.
• 24:39
  Don Armstrong: Yeah.
• 24:40
  Don Armstrong: Uh what I liked about it, the fit and finish of this thing is unbelievable.
• 24:44
  Don Armstrong: There's no side sculpting in the bodywork.
• 24:46
  Don Armstrong: Think smooth and no stupid roof rack.
• 24:51
  Don Armstrong: Roof rack.
• 24:52
  Don Armstrong: What a dumb thing.
• 24:53
  Don Armstrong: I know.
• 24:54
  Don Armstrong: And why ruin all that line with a roof rack?
• 24:56
  Don Armstrong: Well, they don't have that.
• 24:58
  Don Armstrong: Or could use improvement, nothing.
• 24:59
  Don Armstrong: Interior highlights.
• 25:01
  Don Armstrong: Overall, beautiful, high-class design with top-of-the-line materials, large tablet style center infotainment screen, horizontal dash lines with a smallish instrument screen, but who looks at that anyway, unless the red light comes on.
• 25:17
  Don Armstrong: This is luxury at its finest.
• 25:20
  Don Armstrong: Take note, Cadillac.
• 25:21
  Don Armstrong: Something for Lincoln also that they should look into to mirror this.
• 25:26
  Don Armstrong: Um what I liked about it, classy Luxo vibe.
• 25:31
  Don Armstrong: What could use improvement?
• 25:33
  Don Armstrong: Third row is for two kids only.
• 25:35
  Don Armstrong: That's it.
• 25:36
  Don Armstrong: They squeeze the thing back there, and you can put the grandkids back there, then they'll love it.
• 25:40
  Don Armstrong: Squealing with delight.
• 25:42
  Don Armstrong: Uh screen controls can be hard to understand.
• 25:46
  Don Armstrong: It is an English vehicle designed in England, owned by an Indian company called Tata.
• 25:53
  Don Armstrong: Tata Motors.
• 25:54
  Don Armstrong: Engine.
• 25:56
  Don Armstrong: Three-liter turbocharged inline six-cylinder with 395 horsepower, 406 pound feet of torque, eight-speed automatic transmission.
• 26:06
  Don Armstrong: Toll rating, 7,715 pounds.
• 26:10
  Don Armstrong: That's from that straight six.
• 26:12
  Don Armstrong: Uh mileage.
• 26:14
  Don Armstrong: Do we really care?
• 26:15
  Don Armstrong: But just in case you did, it gets 19 in the city, 24 in the highway for a combined at 21.
• 26:21
  Don Armstrong: I got 19.4 miles per gallon over 371 miles.
• 26:28
  Don Armstrong: What I liked, plenty of power through this straight six.
• 26:32
  Don Armstrong: This is the same straight six that they use in the Jaguar lines as well.
• 26:35
  Don Armstrong: What could use improvement?
• 26:38
  Don Armstrong: The 5,240-pound curb weight is a little on the heavy side.
• 26:44
  Don Armstrong: And it kind of feels that way.
• 26:46
  Don Armstrong: Yeah.
• 26:46
  Don Armstrong: Start and stop needs to go away.
• 26:48
  Don Armstrong: That is the dumbest feature ever.
• 26:50
  Don Armstrong: And especially when you're dealing with a luxury cars that are going to make you feel better because you're saving ounces of gas?
• 26:57
  Don Armstrong: Yeah.
• 26:58
  Don Armstrong: No, that needs to go away.
• 26:59
  Jeff Dziekan: So there's no there's no offshore switch.
• 27:00
  Jeff Dziekan: You couldn't turn on the side.
• 27:01
  Jeff Dziekan: I couldn't find it.
• 27:02
  Don Armstrong: Oh wow.
• 27:02
  Don Armstrong: If there is one, I couldn't find it.
• 27:04
  Don Armstrong: So was it really?
• 27:05
  Don Armstrong: Ryan handling.
• 27:06
  Don Armstrong: This thing is as smooth as glass.
• 27:08
  Don Armstrong: What could use improvement?
• 27:09
  Don Armstrong: Nothing.
• 27:10
  Don Armstrong: This is not a corner carver.
• 27:13
  Don Armstrong: Uh this is a you drive this thing with respect like a sophisticated driver should.
• 27:19
  Don Armstrong: Turn your nose up, say what you will.
• 27:22
  Don Armstrong: This is one awesome SUV.
• 27:25
  Jeff Dziekan: Get the great coupon.
• 27:27
  Jeff Dziekan: Get it ready.
• 27:27
  Don Armstrong: Okay.
• 27:28
  Don Armstrong: Now you also have to get ready for the price.
• 27:29
  Jeff Dziekan: Oh, yeah.
• 27:30
  Jeff Dziekan: I'm sitting down.
• 27:30
  Don Armstrong: You ready?
• 27:31
  Don Armstrong: Yep.
• 27:31
  Don Armstrong: Okay.
• 27:33
  Don Armstrong: Base trim price,$117,200.
• 27:38
  Don Armstrong: Price is tested.
• 27:40
  Don Armstrong: I got to drive the$128,695 version.
• 27:46
  Don Armstrong: Wow.
• 27:46
  Don Armstrong: Now you can catch you.
• 27:49
  Don Armstrong: You can slip into one of these at the base model price of$107, yeah,$900.
• 27:56
  Mike Marrs: Oh, what a big one.
• 27:56
  Don Armstrong: So when you see one of these, you're gonna you got to look at the guy that's driver girl that's driving it and going, I I need to get to know you.
• 28:03
  Jeff Dziekan: Yeah.
• 28:04
  Don Armstrong: For whatever the reason me.
• 28:06
  unknown: All right.
• 28:06
  Don Armstrong: So competitors, the Lexus LX 600,$107,000.
• 28:12
  Don Armstrong: Cadillac Escalade, Cheapo at$91,100.
• 28:16
  Don Armstrong: And the the only other thing that I could really come close to is the Mercedes-Benz Maybach GLS for$180,000.
• 28:24
  Jeff Dziekan: Oh wow.
• 28:25
  Jeff Dziekan: It's the other direction.
• 28:26
  Jeff Dziekan: Yeah.
• 28:27
  Don Armstrong: Um next week, the GMC Sierra EV Truck Mobile.
• 28:31
  Don Armstrong: That's what I'll review.
• 28:32
  Don Armstrong: So that was a fun ride.
• 28:34
  Don Armstrong: Thank you very much, Land Rover, Range Rover, for letting me drive it.
• 28:38
  Don Armstrong: I promise I didn't put a dent or ding in it anywhere, and I turned it in just like I found it.
• 28:43
  Mike Marrs: It was exactly well, yes, Mike.
• 28:49
  Mike Marrs: I was wondering, by it being such a luxury vehicle, was it really that noticeable?
• 28:55
  Jeff Dziekan: Like it would in a start stop is noticeable.
• 29:01
  Mike Marrs: Well, I think I just thought maybe they hit it a little bit better.
• 29:03
  Jeff Dziekan: No, they didn't.
• 29:04
  Jeff Dziekan: If I if I don't turn mine off, I've I've well wait a minute.
• 29:07
  Jeff Dziekan: Next thing I gotta do is I gotta turn that off.
• 29:09
  Don Armstrong: Hey, if you'd like to get in touch with us, send us an email.
• 29:11
  Don Armstrong: The address is info at nwheeltime.com.
• 29:13
  Don Armstrong: We're back after this quick break.
• 29:15
  Don Armstrong: Your car is a direct reflection of you, so don't be satisfied with color fade or a dingy dull appearance.
• 29:21
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• 29:24
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• 29:27
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• 29:32
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• 29:37
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• 29:41
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• 29:42
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• 29:44
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• 29:51
  Don Armstrong: John will help you understand the many options and pricing right on the spot.
• 29:55
  Don Armstrong: He's your guy to have your ride looking its best and protected too.
• 29:58
  Don Armstrong: See the state of the art shop yourself.
• 30:00
  Don Armstrong: Free tours anytime.
• 30:01
  Don Armstrong: Gulf Coast Auto Shield is easy to get to, located just south of the Southwest Freeway on the Sam Houston Parkway.
• 30:07
  Don Armstrong: Gulf Coast Auto Shield, full service luxury car care today and online at gcautoshield.com.
• 30:15
  Don Armstrong: Gift giving should be meaningful, and we have an idea: a hand-painted custom illustration of your car from one of the nation's leading artists.
• 30:22
  Don Armstrong: Now you can get one or a car show poster customized for you, a friend, or a loved one.
• 30:27
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• 30:30
  Don Armstrong: No matter what the day, birthday, anniversary, or any day, an autographics custom illustration adds an extra touch of class to any home.
• 30:37
  Don Armstrong: Call Bill today, 832-922-0963.
• 30:41
  Don Armstrong: That's 832-922-0963.
• 30:46
  Don Armstrong: That's it for this podcast episode of the In Wheel Time Car Show.
• 30:50
  Don Armstrong: I'm Don Armstrong, inviting you to join us for our live show every Saturday morning on Facebook, YouTube, Twitch, and our InWheelTime.com website.
• 31:00
  Don Armstrong: Podcasts are available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, iHeartPodcast, Podcast Addict, TuneIn, Pandora, and Amazon Music.
• 31:09
  Don Armstrong: Keep listening, and we'll see you soon.