Latest / In Wheel Time Podcast / Rochelle Salinas Explains How The Houston Auto Show Is Reinventing Exhibits, Experiences, And Community Impact;

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Rochelle Salinas Explains How The Houston Auto Show Is Reinventing Exhibits, Experiences, And Community Impact; · In Wheel Time Podcast

• 0:00
  SPEAKER_03: Welcome to another In Wheel Time podcast.
• 0:05
  SPEAKER_03: And welcome to the In-Wheel Time Car Talk Show.
• 0:11
  SPEAKER_03: President of the Houston Auto Show is our first guest out of the box this morning.
• 0:17
  SPEAKER_03: And uh I think you're gonna be surprised.
• 0:19
  SPEAKER_03: Later, Jeff's Car Culture, shipping Chevies in a Verti Pack.
• 0:24
  SPEAKER_03: What?
• 0:24
  SPEAKER_03: And Mars has his driving destinations.
• 0:27
  SPEAKER_03: Howdy, along with Mike out of this world, Mars, in Neederville, Texas.
• 0:32
  SPEAKER_03: We always need more Jeff Zeke and Chief Engineer David Ainsley.
• 0:35
  SPEAKER_03: We've been on the phone with him all morning.
• 0:36
  SPEAKER_03: All morning.
• 0:37
  SPEAKER_03: I'm Don Armstrong.
• 0:39
  SPEAKER_03: I don't like to admit it, but uh looks like uh you got me whether you like it or not the morning.
• 0:45
  SPEAKER_03: It's been quite a morning.
• 0:46
  SPEAKER_03: It's been actually quite a couple of weeks.
• 0:48
  SPEAKER_03: Started early and everything.
• 0:49
  SPEAKER_03: Yeah.
• 0:50
  SPEAKER_03: Um you know, a couple of weeks ago when we joined you for our full two-hour show, we were at a car show in Spring Branch, Texas.
• 1:00
  SPEAKER_03: Spring Branch High School Foundation put that on, had a great time out there.
• 1:05
  SPEAKER_03: Last week we're ready to do the show.
• 1:07
  SPEAKER_03: And there was something back in the studio meeting.
• 1:10
  SPEAKER_03: Yeah, but last week we were getting ready to do the show, and uh come to find out that uh there was a problem over in Neederville.
• 1:17
  SPEAKER_03: Wasn't there?
• 1:18
  SPEAKER_03: It was internet.
• 1:20
  SPEAKER_03: It was everywhere.
• 1:21
  SPEAKER_03: It was in Neederville, is where it was.
• 1:23
  SPEAKER_03: Besides the point of you know what it was, it doesn't make any difference.
• 1:27
  SPEAKER_03: It was coming from Neeterville.
• 1:31
  SPEAKER_03: You gotta be famous for something.
• 1:33
  SPEAKER_03: Well, um this week, um, we had a power outage here this morning.
• 1:38
  SPEAKER_03: Ten minutes of nine turn.
• 1:40
  SPEAKER_03: My turn.
• 1:41
  SPEAKER_03: And then uh that kind of jacked everything up.
• 1:44
  SPEAKER_03: And um here we are.
• 1:46
  SPEAKER_03: Don't ask me how we're here, but we made it.
• 1:49
  SPEAKER_03: I made it.
• 1:50
  SPEAKER_03: But thank you for joining us anyway.
• 1:51
  SPEAKER_03: I think we owed you that explanation as as jacked up as it was.
• 1:56
  SPEAKER_03: All right.
• 1:57
  SPEAKER_03: Um, joining us now is the newly crowned president of the Houston Auto Show.
• 2:04
  SPEAKER_03: Ladies and gentlemen, here she is, Rochelle Salinas.
• 2:08
  SPEAKER_03: You look the same.
• 2:09
  SPEAKER_03: She's not wearing a crown.
• 2:10
  SPEAKER_03: No, but she's got her sunglasses on.
• 2:12
  SPEAKER_03: Yeah, good morning.
• 2:15
  SPEAKER_03: Congratulations, how are you?
• 2:17
  SPEAKER_00: Thank you.
• 2:18
  SPEAKER_00: Thank you so much.
• 2:18
  SPEAKER_00: I'm I'm sorry to hear you had such a hectic morning.
• 2:21
  SPEAKER_00: It makes me feel less bad about coming to you from a baseball game, though.
• 2:25
  SPEAKER_00: So that's why I got my sunglasses on.
• 2:28
  SPEAKER_03: Let me ask you this: did you happen to have any Halloween celebrations at your house last night?
• 2:34
  SPEAKER_00: Um, we had two hours of trick-or-treating, so I think that and a bag full of candy was plenty.
• 2:40
  SPEAKER_03: And how did everybody dress last night?
• 2:43
  SPEAKER_00: Oh, we had a wide variety.
• 2:45
  SPEAKER_00: We had a nerd and a scary clown and something these teenagers are calling shisties wearing a vest.
• 2:52
  SPEAKER_00: I don't I don't really know.
• 2:53
  SPEAKER_00: Sounds like in wheel time.
• 2:56
  SPEAKER_00: Sounds like in wheel time.
• 3:01
  SPEAKER_03: So uh this is this when I got the press release, I sent it over to Mars and I said, OMG.
• 3:10
  SPEAKER_03: I knew you win, and uh it was uh it wasn't in our world, it wasn't that long ago.
• 3:16
  SPEAKER_03: You've come a long way, and uh congratulations.
• 3:19
  SPEAKER_03: Um so what what what's transpired?
• 3:22
  SPEAKER_03: What's happened?
• 3:23
  SPEAKER_03: Give us the skinny, yeah.
• 3:24
  SPEAKER_00: Well, it's been you know 15 years, and I've been working on the auto show and representing it, being the spokesperson, spokesperson for everything.
• 3:33
  SPEAKER_00: And you know, our board got together this year at their committee meeting with our president Wyatt and and they for the Houston Auto Dealers Association, and they said, I think it's about time we want to make sure Rochelle doesn't start looking elsewhere and stays with the auto show and HADA.
• 3:48
  SPEAKER_00: So let's go ahead and promote her to the president and and make sure she's you know continues on with the great leadership she's been doing.
• 3:55
  SPEAKER_00: So I was really, really humbled, really um happy for it, and definitely a a good validation of of all the hard work I've been putting in.
• 4:03
  SPEAKER_03: Absolutely.
• 4:04
  SPEAKER_03: Well, really and truly, you've been doing it.
• 4:06
  SPEAKER_03: Yeah, yeah, and we we can we can validate it as well because uh I think that the Houston Auto Show is in the best place that it's ever been in, thanks to you, uh, on and many levels.
• 4:17
  SPEAKER_03: I mean, I know that it takes a lot of people to put that show on, but it also takes leadership, and you've done such a great job.
• 4:24
  SPEAKER_03: And um, you know, you have so many irons in the fire beginning now, all the way through the show.
• 4:32
  SPEAKER_03: And the funny thing about it is is that you start on the show as soon as this past one is over with.
• 4:37
  SPEAKER_03: And uh I don't think that people realize that what goes on at car shows.
• 4:42
  SPEAKER_03: They think, oh, the cars show up and they just put them in slots, and yeah, that's all there is to it.
• 4:47
  SPEAKER_03: And we know that there's a lot more to it.
• 4:49
  SPEAKER_03: Um, and working with manufacturers in particular.
• 4:52
  SPEAKER_03: Um, speaking of that, let's talk a little bit about that and the upcoming show.
• 4:57
  SPEAKER_03: Um, I know that you can only talk about limited things because we are a little bit early here.
• 5:02
  SPEAKER_03: But um uh what's the response like with the manufacturers?
• 5:06
  SPEAKER_03: Because let's face it, manufacturers are kind of in a turmoil right now with with the whole EV thing and the billions and billions of dollars that they put into EVs, and they're having to back off of it because they're they're just not selling like they thought that they would.
• 5:19
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
• 5:20
  SPEAKER_00: Uh first, thank you for the compliment of the show being in a good place.
• 5:24
  SPEAKER_00: You know, we there is a lot of challenges we've been facing, you know, since 2020, after after the 2020 show with COVID and now tariffs and inventory challenges, and it's just there's a lot of hurdles to get through to pull off such a large-scale event.
• 5:40
  SPEAKER_00: And so it is the best that it can be in these situations.
• 5:45
  SPEAKER_00: And yeah, there are some manufacturers that are definitely having some challenges, like Nissan, for example.
• 5:51
  SPEAKER_00: Um, and we're not sure where they'll be for this year at the show, if if at all, um, which is really disappointing because they've been a long-standing um exhibitor of ours.
• 6:01
  SPEAKER_00: And so we're hoping maybe the dealers can pull it off uh and be there.
• 6:05
  SPEAKER_00: And then, you know, there's other high-end ones that have no inventory, so really struggling with being at the show.
• 6:13
  SPEAKER_00: So we've come up with some few things to do that.
• 6:16
  SPEAKER_00: We've come up with a few things to kind of make that happen, and we're happy to have Camp Jeep back.
• 6:22
  SPEAKER_00: We got that confirmation yesterday, which is early to tell you that.
• 6:28
  SPEAKER_00: And then we're working with Modern Luxury Magazine, and they're going to put on a luxury exhibit, and this luxury exhibit will help fulfill some of those spots of the luxury manufacturers that we don't always have.
• 6:41
  SPEAKER_00: And they're also going to be really curating some experiences and VIP experiences each night within the show.
• 6:47
  SPEAKER_00: So I'm happy to have all of those people, you know, coming back.
• 6:50
  SPEAKER_00: And then, you know, traditional Ford, uh, Chevy, Kia, Hyundai, you know, we're looking forward to all of them returning and and they've all committed to to being at the show.
• 7:00
  SPEAKER_03: Is Cadillac coming this year?
• 7:02
  SPEAKER_03: I know last year they they they kind of had uh some reservations and the dealers had to step up in that.
• 7:08
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, we'll have uh dealer support for the Cadillac again this year, as well as Lincoln.
• 7:12
  SPEAKER_00: Uh I had some hopes for Lincoln because Lincoln did come back at is or is coming back to the LA show in uh later this month.
• 7:19
  SPEAKER_00: Um but they said they're just doing two shows this year and we'll they'll consider next year.
• 7:24
  SPEAKER_00: So we've got um West Point Lincoln putting up the display for this year too.
• 7:29
  unknown: Great.
• 7:29
  SPEAKER_03: Wow.
• 7:30
  SPEAKER_03: So the challenges continue.
• 7:33
  SPEAKER_03: Yeah, no, no, no, no doubt.
• 7:35
  SPEAKER_03: Um, and that's that's really what it's all about.
• 7:38
  SPEAKER_02: Are are you taking over the the the uh boat of side of it as well?
• 7:41
  SPEAKER_02: It's going to be an auto-botive again this year, or is that all still working?
• 7:45
  SPEAKER_00: Yes, so this is our fifth year with the boat show, and so the boat the boat show will continue to run their side of the show.
• 7:53
  SPEAKER_00: We'll still split the building about 50-50, and they've got some great things coming in, um, even some off-roading opportunities out front of the of the energy center this year.
• 8:03
  SPEAKER_00: So some some lots of fun stuff happening on that end too.
• 8:07
  SPEAKER_03: Well, that that's uh and I assume that you're still gonna have the uh ride and drives.
• 8:12
  SPEAKER_00: Yes, we do have, yeah, we will have ride and drive outdoors.
• 8:15
  SPEAKER_00: I know right now we have Toyota, Subaru, Stilantis, and one more that I'm not remembering off the top of my head at the moment.
• 8:26
  SPEAKER_00: And we'll also have um some adding I'm adding in a new opportunity for tours.
• 8:33
  SPEAKER_00: So working with some of you guys, the Texas uh Auto Riders Association, and I have some expert tour guides to take you on a tour around the auto show so that you can maybe save some time, get some opinions from others that that are not the auto that are not the product specialists, but have opinions on all the brands.
• 8:51
  SPEAKER_00: And so you can sign up for one of those tours and go see all the SUVs at one time, all the pickup trucks at one time, maybe all the family vehicles at one time, and really get an expert opinion on someone that's driven these, done car reviews on them, and can tell you all about them.
• 9:04
  SPEAKER_02: That's a great idea.
• 9:05
  SPEAKER_02: Well, that's a great idea.
• 9:06
  SPEAKER_02: We could we could give tours of the concession stand.
• 9:11
  SPEAKER_03: We could.
• 9:11
  SPEAKER_03: As long as there's hot dogs involved, islands and beers.
• 9:15
  SPEAKER_03: Yeah, yeah.
• 9:16
  SPEAKER_03: So there's that.
• 9:17
  SPEAKER_03: Uh yeah.
• 9:18
  SPEAKER_03: Uh so uh are you going to have the preview party?
• 9:21
  SPEAKER_00: Absolutely.
• 9:22
  SPEAKER_00: Yes.
• 9:22
  SPEAKER_00: VIP night continues the first Tuesday, that'll be January 27th.
• 9:26
  SPEAKER_00: Uh, tickets for everything go on sale right after Thanksgiving.
• 9:30
  SPEAKER_00: And modern luxury is also supporting that VIP night and bringing in a lot of good elevated ideas to make some some unique experiences for this year.
• 9:41
  SPEAKER_03: It sounds really exciting.
• 9:42
  SPEAKER_03: Okay, now as far as your responsibilities are concerned, not only are you doing marketing in PR, but you're also president this year.
• 9:51
  SPEAKER_03: How is that going to change things for you?
• 9:53
  SPEAKER_00: I don't think it'll change too much besides the pressure that comes with the title.
• 9:57
  SPEAKER_00: You know, I I still do a lot of running around and all the interviews, and I I think that will stand.
• 10:03
  SPEAKER_00: I just might be even asked even more questions every single day.
• 10:07
  SPEAKER_03: There you go.
• 10:07
  SPEAKER_03: Yeah.
• 10:08
  SPEAKER_03: Uh have you have you visited any other car shows uh this year that uh you might perhaps steal an idea or two?
• 10:15
  SPEAKER_00: Well, we have a new group called the auto the automotive excellent alliance, and we have been going around to a couple auto shows, meeting with manufacturers, we've added in some new survey, um, survey and data collection aspects to all of our auto shows around the country so we can really exhibit the importance of the shows.
• 10:33
  SPEAKER_00: So last year I attended LA, I went to the New York show, um, our whole team also went to Chicago.
• 10:39
  SPEAKER_00: So I've I've definitely been seeing some great examples and and also things that I know we're doing good at, and so we're sharing good ideas of of ways to keep improving our auto shows.
• 10:50
  SPEAKER_03: And uh speaking of uh the Chicago Auto Show, you know, I've been a couple of times there, and I've also been to the Detroit show, but I will say that that Chicago show, in the past anyway, has really been a premier show uh that I've ever attended, the most attended show that I've ever gone to.
• 11:07
  SPEAKER_03: Let me put it that way.
• 11:08
  SPEAKER_03: It was it still the same this year for you?
• 11:11
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, so it's one of the most beautiful shows for me.
• 11:13
  SPEAKER_00: The lighting in that building and the way that they set up all of their decor and signage and everything, it is a spectacular show.
• 11:21
  SPEAKER_00: Jen Moran does a great job leading her team over there, another woman president of the auto shows.
• 11:26
  SPEAKER_00: And it's it they're definitely still having the similar challenges that we are, and really having to work with their local dealer network to put in some of these displays.
• 11:35
  SPEAKER_00: But we're all thinking out of the box.
• 11:37
  SPEAKER_00: Another area that they grew in and we're copying is the overland experience.
• 11:41
  SPEAKER_00: So we know overland is a really growing popular niche in automotive aftermarkets and camping and adventure and getting out there with your vehicle as a tool.
• 11:50
  SPEAKER_00: And so we're adding an exhibit like that as well this year, and they did a really good job in bringing that into the auto show space.
• 11:57
  SPEAKER_03: That's interesting.
• 11:58
  SPEAKER_03: Is it going to be coupled with the manufacturer or is it just a standalone?
• 12:02
  SPEAKER_00: This is gonna likely be mostly a standalone for us this year.
• 12:05
  SPEAKER_00: So bringing in some private groups, but we're trying to make it experiential.
• 12:09
  SPEAKER_00: So also working with Boy Scouts in the area.
• 12:11
  SPEAKER_00: So we've got the camping aspect, the you know, adventure areas, and and really making it a full experience.
• 12:18
  SPEAKER_03: It brings a smile to my face.
• 12:19
  SPEAKER_03: You bring it in the Boy Scouts.
• 12:21
  SPEAKER_03: That's gonna be a very unique and different uh display.
• 12:24
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
• 12:25
  SPEAKER_00: And the the one other thing we're also adding this year um to do something different is we're we're hosting Houston Give Back Day.
• 12:32
  SPEAKER_00: So partnering with the boat show, we're bringing in about 20 nonprofits on the Thursday of the show, and they're gonna all be set up, you know, creating their aware, building awareness about their nonprofits and their missions and causes.
• 12:44
  SPEAKER_00: Uh, we'll also have the Gulf Coast Blood Bank having a blood donation outside that whole day.
• 12:49
  SPEAKER_00: And they'll all of those nonprofits will have a discount code for anyone that wants to support them to get tickets to the auto show as well.
• 12:56
  SPEAKER_00: So uh it's it's gonna be a really good day to really show off every all of the great things in our community that Houston has.
• 13:04
  SPEAKER_03: Do you have any slots open for um for these nonprofits?
• 13:07
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, we might be able to fit a few more in.
• 13:09
  SPEAKER_00: We've got 20 already, so happy to grow it.
• 13:11
  SPEAKER_03: Wow.
• 13:12
  SPEAKER_03: Okay, so how does how does that I I I did a uh a charity event here a few weeks ago and uh really touched my heart.
• 13:18
  SPEAKER_03: It's out here uh in the Fort Bend County area, and um it uh has to do with children, and I I thought, wow, that would really be cool if we could get them there as well.
• 13:29
  SPEAKER_03: Yeah, absolutely.
• 13:30
  SPEAKER_03: So do they get in who do they get in touch with?
• 13:32
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, you can send me a message.
• 13:33
  SPEAKER_00: You've got my my email, you can have them send me a message.
• 13:36
  SPEAKER_03: You know I've got your email.
• 13:38
  SPEAKER_03: I bugger all the time.
• 13:40
  SPEAKER_03: And you got you blocked too.
• 13:42
  SPEAKER_03: She's got me blocked, unblocked me for that one.
• 13:45
  SPEAKER_03: But uh yeah, uh that would I think that would really be uh a cool thing because you know, Houston Auto Show, it does have the Houston tag to it, but let's face it, Houston involves a lot of different communities throughout the Houston area and surrounding it as well.
• 14:00
  SPEAKER_00: Absolutely, yeah.
• 14:01
  SPEAKER_00: And that's uh I'm not sure if you had it on your list to talk about still, but one of the other upcoming things we've got going on right now, bringing in all of the Houston surrounding area is our student technician competition.
• 14:12
  SPEAKER_00: And I believe you guys did an interview with some of the winners um maybe last year, or the competitors, and we've grown the competition.
• 14:20
  SPEAKER_00: So we've got 23 teams this year, and you know, it's doubling the first year that we've had it.
• 14:25
  SPEAKER_00: So now we're in our third year and we're moving out to the Texas State Technical College in Rosenberg because we have so many teams and kids involved.
• 14:33
  SPEAKER_00: We've got you know almost 70 students competing in this from all over Houston, from as far as El Campo and down to Dickinson and and back up to all of the Cyprus area and across.
• 14:44
  SPEAKER_00: So it's a really exciting event having these students have a real life experience mentoring in the dealerships, and then coming to compete for scholarships and cash prizes and tools from Milwaukee.
• 14:54
  SPEAKER_00: It's gonna be a really, really awesome event.
• 14:57
  SPEAKER_02: Well, if you need any help with that, let us know.
• 14:59
  SPEAKER_02: I know that campus, it's a very nice campus, and they do a lot for the students.
• 15:02
  SPEAKER_02: There's diesel electric, there's gas, there's all kinds of things that go on on that campus.
• 15:08
  SPEAKER_03: Yeah, yeah.
• 15:08
  SPEAKER_03: You know, I find it interesting, Rochelle, that these are the kinds of things that weren't in place at the Houston Auto Show not that long ago.
• 15:17
  SPEAKER_03: And uh I see that smile on your face, and congratulations.
• 15:20
  SPEAKER_03: Because I mean, yeah, a lot of this has to do with you, and uh, you know, congratulations on your new title.
• 15:26
  SPEAKER_03: And oh, we're real we're so excited.
• 15:28
  SPEAKER_03: When I got that press lease, I'm going, yes.
• 15:31
  SPEAKER_03: He sent it immediately to all of us.
• 15:32
  SPEAKER_03: Yeah, I I did, I sent it to everybody.
• 15:34
  SPEAKER_03: So anyway, congratulations.
• 15:36
  SPEAKER_03: I know you're at a baseball game.
• 15:38
  SPEAKER_03: So who's winning?
• 15:39
  SPEAKER_03: Who's winning?
• 15:39
  SPEAKER_03: Do you know?
• 15:40
  SPEAKER_00: I'm watching you guys.
• 15:41
  SPEAKER_00: I don't know.
• 15:43
  SPEAKER_03: We're winning, we're winning.
• 15:45
  SPEAKER_03: We're gonna let you get back to it.
• 15:47
  SPEAKER_03: But uh again, congratulations and thanks for so so much for joining us today.
• 15:51
  SPEAKER_03: Taking your time today.
• 15:52
  SPEAKER_00: Uh thank you guys, as always.
• 15:53
  SPEAKER_00: I really appreciate it.
• 15:54
  SPEAKER_03: All right, we'll talk to you soon.
• 15:56
  SPEAKER_03: Thank you.
• 15:56
  SPEAKER_03: Bye-bye.
• 15:56
  SPEAKER_03: Rochelle Selena with the uh Houston Auto Show.
• 15:59
  SPEAKER_03: Um, wow, really cool.
• 16:01
  SPEAKER_03: You know, I'm I'm looking for a new submarine, too.
• 16:04
  SPEAKER_03: Submarine?
• 16:04
  SPEAKER_03: Yeah, for the on the boat of the side.
• 16:05
  SPEAKER_03: Well, then I was gonna say that'd be on the auto botive side.
• 16:07
  SPEAKER_03: They probably have connections there.
• 16:09
  SPEAKER_03: Take Kathy to the submarine races, yeah.
• 16:12
  SPEAKER_03: Huh.
• 16:12
  SPEAKER_04: You know, I told my wife something I was going to take her to the submarine races the other day, and she said, What?
• 16:20
  SPEAKER_04: She didn't have any clue what I was talking about.
• 16:22
  SPEAKER_03: Coming from you, Mars, it has a different connotation altogether.
• 16:24
  SPEAKER_03: That makes sense.
• 16:25
  SPEAKER_03: Yeah.
• 16:26
  SPEAKER_03: So anyway, just had to go there.
• 16:30
  SPEAKER_03: All right.
• 16:30
  SPEAKER_03: Uh, time for a break.
• 16:31
  SPEAKER_03: Just ahead.
• 16:32
  SPEAKER_03: Jeff's car culture.
• 16:33
  SPEAKER_03: Shipping in a Verta pack.
• 16:35
  SPEAKER_03: All right.
• 16:35
  SPEAKER_03: You're gonna like this one.
• 16:36
  SPEAKER_03: Plus, uh review the Chevy Tracks SUV.
• 16:40
  SPEAKER_03: That more coming up here on the In Wheel Time Car Talk Show.
• 16:43
  SPEAKER_03: Stay with us.
• 16:45
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  SPEAKER_03: Loopy Tortilla, the speedy booth.
• 17:44
  SPEAKER_01: Time to fire up those engines and pay tribute to the folks who make freedom possible.
• 17:49
  SPEAKER_01: Bass Drop's own heroes and hot rides is rolling in for Veterans Day weekend.
• 17:54
  SPEAKER_01: Friday night, downtown cruise.
• 17:57
  SPEAKER_01: Saturday, 400 of the coolest rides in Texas.
• 18:01
  SPEAKER_01: Proceeds help veterans, shelters, food pantries, and scholarships.
• 18:06
  SPEAKER_01: Sponsored by Craig's Jewelry, November 7th and 8th, Main Street.
• 18:10
  SPEAKER_01: Fast Drive.
• 18:11
  SPEAKER_01: Don't miss it.
• 18:16
  SPEAKER_03: Love it.
• 18:17
  SPEAKER_03: This is the last week that we get to advertise for these guys.
• 18:19
  SPEAKER_03: We can still do it though.
• 18:20
  SPEAKER_03: I mean, we can still go, hi.
• 18:22
  SPEAKER_03: We could.
• 18:22
  SPEAKER_03: We'll end every show like that.
• 18:24
  SPEAKER_03: Well, that would be Mars because he he's he's he's more he's closer to that kind of action over there in New York.
• 18:30
  SPEAKER_03: And he knows his action.
• 18:31
  SPEAKER_04: Well, I could record some late at night for you.
• 18:34
  SPEAKER_04: Right.
• 18:35
  SPEAKER_03: A lot of screaming?
• 18:36
  SPEAKER_03: Well, close to that.
• 18:38
  SPEAKER_03: Yeehaw.
• 18:39
  SPEAKER_03: Oh Lord, have mercy.
• 18:41
  SPEAKER_03: Hey, in will time, invite you to join us 10 to noon Central Time every Saturday for our live show about all things automotive.
• 18:48
  SPEAKER_03: And we thank you for being with us today.
• 18:50
  SPEAKER_03: All right.
• 18:50
  SPEAKER_03: Time now for Jeff's Car Culture.
• 18:52
  SPEAKER_03: And today, Jeff talks about Vertipak Chevy Shipping.
• 18:58
  SPEAKER_03: And you gotta be careful when you say it.
• 19:00
  SPEAKER_03: Vertipak Chevy Shipping.
• 19:03
  SPEAKER_02: Okay.
• 19:04
  SPEAKER_02: Careful.
• 19:05
  SPEAKER_02: Just set it all for everybody.
• 19:06
  SPEAKER_02: There you go.
• 19:06
  SPEAKER_02: Well, uh the Chevy Vega was a subcompact car sold by Chevrolet or in the 70s.
• 19:11
  SPEAKER_02: 70 to 77 mile years.
• 19:13
  SPEAKER_02: The goal was to take a new Japanese, European, small fuel efficient car with an American-made uh body, innovative features, and all kinds of good stuff, but it had to be competitively priced.
• 19:24
  SPEAKER_02: Major cost uh efficiencies of the Vega uh again through a quick vehicle development process.
• 19:30
  SPEAKER_02: It had an aluminum engine, it had advanced automation in the assembly plant.
• 19:34
  SPEAKER_02: Uh getting the Vega to the dealers needed to find a cheaper way to ship the cars.
• 19:39
  SPEAKER_02: So what they did was uh typical car in the 70s could rail car that is, could fit about 15 vehicles due to its compact size.
• 19:47
  SPEAKER_02: It was possible to fit 18 of the Vegas in that same configuration.
• 19:51
  SPEAKER_02: It was a small gain, but not good enough because one of the things was that to ship a Vega from Lordstown, Ohio assembly plant to the furthest point on the west coast was about forty eight hundred bucks.
• 20:03
  SPEAKER_02: The car itself cost around two grand.
• 20:05
  SPEAKER_02: So that was not very, very efficient.
• 20:07
  SPEAKER_02: No.
• 20:08
  SPEAKER_02: So what they did was uh the new method came from a form of what they call a vertipak rail car developed by General Motors and Southern Pacific Railway.
• 20:16
  SPEAKER_02: By placing the cars nose down, thirty cars could fit where eighteen previously did.
• 20:21
  SPEAKER_02: Getting those extra vehicles loaded into each rail car reduced shipping charges.
• 20:24
  SPEAKER_02: However, it required additional rail car features and vehicle packaging.
• 20:29
  SPEAKER_02: In order to the have the Vega packaged in this, the new rail car design, each one was fitted with four removable cast steel sockets to the undercarriage.
• 20:38
  SPEAKER_02: Plastic spacers were wedged beside the powertrain to prevent damage to the engine and transmission mounts.
• 20:44
  SPEAKER_02: These were removed when the cars were unloaded.
• 20:47
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah, right.
• 20:49
  SPEAKER_02: The rail ramp doors uh were opened and closed via forklift.
• 20:53
  SPEAKER_02: What could go wrong there?
• 20:54
  SPEAKER_02: Not only do the doors double as ramps, they also provided security from weather vandalism and theft.
• 21:00
  SPEAKER_02: Something uh which the typical air, uh the typical tri-level racks were exposed to.
• 21:07
  SPEAKER_02: Then uh Chevrolet Marketing wanted to put uh the tout the the Vega as ready to drive off the Vertipak ramps without any fluid fills.
• 21:15
  SPEAKER_02: Unfortunately, the cars were not meant to be suspended nose down for any length of time.
• 21:20
  SPEAKER_02: Since the Vertipak shipment method was known early, Chevrolet engineers were able to design the Vega with this in mind.
• 21:27
  SPEAKER_02: Now check this out.
• 21:28
  SPEAKER_02: Engineers performed vibration and low speed crash testing to ensure Vegas did not sustain physical damage in the rail cars.
• 21:35
  SPEAKER_02: They also included following the preventative of actually to prevent fluid spills and internal engine damage while the vehicle was vertical.
• 21:43
  SPEAKER_02: An engine oil baffle prevented the oil from entering the number one cylinder.
• 21:48
  SPEAKER_02: Battery filler caps were located on the edge of the battery, the battery prevent acid spilling.
• 21:53
  SPEAKER_02: The carburetor float bowl had a tube that drained into the vapor canister during shipping.
• 21:58
  SPEAKER_02: Windshield washer bottles stood at a 45 degree angle.
• 22:02
  SPEAKER_02: Nothing could go wrong with any of those.
• 22:04
  SPEAKER_02: All these design considerations were meant to get the Vega to a market in a safe, efficient manner.
• 22:09
  SPEAKER_02: In real life, the Vertipak system created challenges.
• 22:12
  SPEAKER_02: Now there's more to this story because they interviewed a lot of the rail people uh that did this, and there were a lot of problems.
• 22:19
  SPEAKER_02: The doors failed, the uh forklifts uh jammed them up in there, damaged the vehicles, they fell back.
• 22:26
  SPEAKER_02: So there was a lot of things that were not actually uh conducive to making this a proper way.
• 22:31
  SPEAKER_02: They they saved some money, but in the long run it cost them because of all the damages, they had to get the rail cars right, and then of course the the uh broken vehicles.
• 22:39
  SPEAKER_02: So uh it was an it was an event, it was an expense that they did, and for the seven years at the Vega, I don't know if it was cost effective or not.
• 22:47
  SPEAKER_03: Well, you know, it wasn't that long ago that they shipped cars in open rail cars.
• 22:54
  SPEAKER_03: Do you remember that?
• 22:55
  SPEAKER_03: Yeah, oh my god, and they'd arrived to their destination dirty, broken, beat up.
• 23:00
  SPEAKER_03: Yeah, it looked like it looked like they'd gone through hell and back.
• 23:03
  SPEAKER_02: And the ones that you see now that on the on the tracks that we have in the area, those were actually designed by General Motors.
• 23:08
  SPEAKER_02: General Motors designed that for the theft, and I think they came out of Detroit doing that.
• 23:12
  SPEAKER_02: So, and uh you see the pictures there.
• 23:14
  SPEAKER_02: That's just a little bit about what how they did it back in the 70s.
• 23:17
  SPEAKER_03: Well, I vaguely remember the 70s, and uh we'll just leave it at that.
• 23:22
  SPEAKER_02: Okay, all right, but you had two of them, you know that.
• 23:24
  SPEAKER_03: Uh yeah, well, yeah, two two Vegas.
• 23:27
  SPEAKER_03: I thought you meant you had two seventies.
• 23:29
  SPEAKER_03: No, just one.
• 23:30
  SPEAKER_03: Like I no, I couldn't have survived two.
• 23:32
  SPEAKER_03: All right.
• 23:33
  SPEAKER_03: Time now for this hour's car review.
• 23:35
  SPEAKER_03: I had a chance to drive the 2026 Chevy Tracks.
• 23:39
  SPEAKER_03: This thing is made in the Shanghuan, Korea province.
• 23:45
  SPEAKER_03: Oh, yeah.
• 23:46
  SPEAKER_03: And it comes, and I didn't know that.
• 23:48
  SPEAKER_03: Have you been there?
• 23:49
  SPEAKER_03: I have not.
• 23:49
  SPEAKER_03: Have you?
• 23:50
  SPEAKER_03: No, no.
• 23:51
  SPEAKER_03: Um available trim levels.
• 23:53
  SPEAKER_03: My mind was racing at about 100 miles an hour to come up with something, and I did, but I can't repeat it on the air.
• 23:59
  SPEAKER_03: Available trim levels, LS, one RS, LT, two RS, and Active.
• 24:07
  SPEAKER_03: Active is the new model.
• 24:08
  SPEAKER_03: I had the two RS, so pretty much loaded up.
• 24:12
  SPEAKER_03: Small SUV, seats five.
• 24:14
  SPEAKER_03: It was all new in 2024.
• 24:18
  SPEAKER_03: Large split grille with squinty headlights, it's very attractive.
• 24:24
  SPEAKER_03: Side sculpting is just the right amount with upswept rear glass, small rear hatch window with a sunshade over it, and attractive lighting back there in the back.
• 24:35
  SPEAKER_03: Wheels, they change with the trim level that you select.
• 24:39
  SPEAKER_03: What I liked about it, the overall design in my mind gets high marks.
• 24:43
  SPEAKER_03: I really did like this.
• 24:44
  SPEAKER_03: Uh what could use improvement, but I'm not exactly sure what the roof rack rails are for anymore.
• 24:50
  SPEAKER_03: Yeah, it's just a look because they don't serve any purpose other than looking from the side, you can see a rail up there, but why?
• 24:57
  SPEAKER_03: I don't I don't get it.
• 24:58
  SPEAKER_03: They just don't make sense.
• 24:59
  SPEAKER_03: Well, anyway.
• 25:00
  SPEAKER_03: Interior highlights, um, optional big infotainment screen, one of the best, and it's one of the biggest as well.
• 25:08
  SPEAKER_03: Our RS trim had attractive red accents uh stitched on the seats and piping, uh, which adds some pop to the interior.
• 25:19
  SPEAKER_03: Easy to use and find dash controls, steering wheel controls are not complicated.
• 25:25
  SPEAKER_03: I am glad to report.
• 25:27
  SPEAKER_03: Cargo room, more than you would expect in a small SUV like this.
• 25:32
  SPEAKER_03: What I liked again, high marks overall, including comfortable seats.
• 25:36
  SPEAKER_03: What could use improvement?
• 25:38
  SPEAKER_03: Nothing.
• 25:39
  SPEAKER_03: Here's a killer.
• 25:40
  SPEAKER_03: Really surprised.
• 25:41
  SPEAKER_03: All right.
• 25:42
  SPEAKER_03: A 1.2-liter three-cylinder turbocharged engine that powers this thing.
• 25:49
  SPEAKER_03: A three-cylinder.
• 25:50
  SPEAKER_03: You wouldn't know it.
• 25:51
  SPEAKER_03: 137 horsepower.
• 25:53
  SPEAKER_03: You're thinking, what this thing is gutless.
• 25:55
  SPEAKER_03: No, it's not.
• 25:56
  SPEAKER_03: 162 pound feet of torque, six-speed automatic transmission, and that combination actually works very well.
• 26:03
  SPEAKER_03: You'd think that the thing is a slug from the stoplight.
• 26:06
  SPEAKER_03: It is not.
• 26:07
  SPEAKER_03: Uh tow rating, 1,263 pounds on a three-cylinder turbocharged motor.
• 26:13
  SPEAKER_03: And this I really like.
• 26:14
  SPEAKER_03: Uh miles per gallon rated 28 city, 32 highway for a combined of 30 miles per gallon.
• 26:21
  SPEAKER_03: I got 29.3 miles per gallon over 477.5 miles, and 90% of that is driven on the uh on the uh highway.
• 26:32
  SPEAKER_03: What I liked, zippy, despite that small engine, and it gets good gas mileage.
• 26:38
  SPEAKER_03: What could use improvement?
• 26:40
  SPEAKER_03: Maybe a little more power as an option, but why?
• 26:44
  SPEAKER_03: Because then you kill the price point.
• 26:46
  SPEAKER_03: Ride and handling, smooth and comfortable.
• 26:49
  SPEAKER_03: Yes, he said that.
• 26:50
  SPEAKER_03: What could use improvement?
• 26:52
  SPEAKER_03: It only comes in two-wheel drive.
• 26:54
  SPEAKER_03: Now, here in Houston, good, because we get to save the money on not having a four-wheel drive.
• 26:59
  SPEAKER_03: Now, if you have the thing in some place that's got a snow, well, that could be a problem.
• 27:05
  SPEAKER_03: But uh then you've got other options when it comes to that in the Chevrolet lineup.
• 27:10
  SPEAKER_03: Uh this two-wheel drive model keeps the price down.
• 27:13
  SPEAKER_03: Four-wheel drive again for the snow belt.
• 27:16
  SPEAKER_03: Base trim price$25.3.
• 27:19
  SPEAKER_03: Price is tested,$28,385.
• 27:23
  SPEAKER_03: Base model price$21,600.
• 27:28
  SPEAKER_03: Nice base model price.
• 27:31
  SPEAKER_03: $21,600.
• 27:32
  SPEAKER_03: Nice starter vehicle.
• 27:34
  SPEAKER_03: Uh competitors, Mazda CX30 starts at$25,975.
• 27:40
  SPEAKER_03: The VW Tows,$26.5, and the Chevy Trailblazer.
• 27:45
  SPEAKER_03: And I say that because the Trailblazer is just a tiny bit bigger, but it does have a four-wheel drive option if that's what you want.
• 27:52
  SPEAKER_03: It starts at$23,000, which again is a couple of thousand dollars more than the base model price of the Chevy tracks.
• 28:01
  SPEAKER_03: Next week we're going to review the uh Kia Sorrento.
• 28:06
  SPEAKER_03: Yep.
• 28:06
  SPEAKER_03: Something like that.
• 28:07
  SPEAKER_03: Yeah, I believe that's correct.
• 28:09
  SPEAKER_02: The thing about the are is aren't the manufacturers relying too much on a turbo to do the work?
• 28:16
  SPEAKER_03: Well three-cylinder turbo.
• 28:18
  SPEAKER_03: Well, uh the a three-cylinder engine, you're not going to get a whole lot of horsepower out of it without the turbo.
• 28:23
  SPEAKER_03: Mine's a four-cylinder turbo.
• 28:24
  SPEAKER_03: And it's got it's got spunk.
• 28:25
  SPEAKER_03: It's got but you know, they don't press it that hard.
• 28:29
  SPEAKER_03: Uh it you know, it it's a kind of a little boost, but it's not some you know, 65-pound PSI add to it.
• 28:36
  SPEAKER_03: Yeah, it's it's not that.
• 28:37
  SPEAKER_04: No, and I think the way it produces that boost is a little different.
• 28:41
  SPEAKER_04: Uh you know, it kind of comes on kind of gradually because it's dependent on the engine for it to actually drive.
• 28:47
  SPEAKER_04: And as well as the uh person that has that right foot.
• 28:50
  SPEAKER_04: It's a little bit.
• 28:51
  SPEAKER_02: Mine has a two-wheel option or all-wheel drive option, so uh I can go back and forth on that.
• 28:56
  SPEAKER_02: But it's pretty much the same mileage I get with mine as that one on the tracks.
• 28:59
  SPEAKER_02: But Kylie looked at those at the auto show a couple years ago when they first came out.
• 29:02
  SPEAKER_02: She was interested in that.
• 29:04
  SPEAKER_02: So it's an eagle car.
• 29:05
  SPEAKER_03: I agree.
• 29:06
  SPEAKER_03: All right, time to take a break.
• 29:07
  SPEAKER_03: In real time car talk continues right after this.
• 29:10
  SPEAKER_03: Stay with us.
• 29:12
  SPEAKER_03: Who doesn't like a social event?
• 29:15
  SPEAKER_03: How about one that centers around your love for all things automotive?
• 29:19
  SPEAKER_03: Another Gulf Coast Auto Shield Car Social is back Saturday, December 6th, 9 to noon, at 11275 South Sam Houston Parkway, just south of the Southwest Freeway.
• 29:29
  SPEAKER_03: It's a morning packed with incredible cars, some of the finest rides in town, from classics to modern exotics.
• 29:36
  SPEAKER_03: Here's your chance to talk to fellow car lovers.
• 29:38
  SPEAKER_03: Grab a coffee, and check out how Gulf Coast Auto Shield keeps these rides looking perfect.
• 29:43
  SPEAKER_03: Meet the team, take a look around the shop to see firsthand how Gulf Coast Auto Shield gets the most of the look you're trying to create.
• 29:50
  SPEAKER_03: In real time, we'll be there with their live car talk show.
• 29:53
  SPEAKER_03: You might just be one of the guests.
• 29:55
  SPEAKER_03: Don't miss this free, fun, and fast paced car gathering of fellow car lovers.
• 30:00
  SPEAKER_03: And their rides.
• 30:01
  SPEAKER_03: Saturday, December 6th at Gulf Coast Auto Shield, 11275 South Sam Houston Parkway.
• 30:07
  SPEAKER_03: Bring your car, bring your friends, and bring your love for all things automotive.
• 30:10
  SPEAKER_03: We'll see you then.
• 30:13
  SPEAKER_03: The award-winning In Wheel Time Car Talk Show down reaches 5.3 million folks each year.
• 30:19
  SPEAKER_03: Check us out on Inwheeltime.com, YouTube, Facebook, and podcasts available from your favorite go-to source, including our live broadcast every Saturday, 10 to noon central time.
• 30:29
  SPEAKER_03: The In Wheel Time Car Talk Show has informative automotive guest interviews, new car reviews, along with popular features including driving destinations, Jeff's car culture, latest car news, cruise ins, and racing dates.
• 30:40
  SPEAKER_03: It's all on InWheeltime.com.
• 30:42
  SPEAKER_03: Join us.
• 30:45
  SPEAKER_03: That's it for this podcast episode of the In Wheel Time Car Show.
• 30:49
  SPEAKER_03: 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.
• 30:59
  SPEAKER_03: Podcasts are available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, iHeartPodcast, Podcast Addict, TuneIn, Pandora, and Amazon Music.
• 31:07
  SPEAKER_03: Keep listening, and we'll see you soon.