Latest / In Wheel Time Podcast / How A Texas Jeep Club Rebuilt After COVID

Transcript

How A Texas Jeep Club Rebuilt After COVID · In Wheel Time Podcast

• 0:04
  Don Armstrong: From our dual city studios in Texas, USA, it's the award-winning Inwheel Time Car Talk Show.
• 0:11
  Don Armstrong: Just ahead, Tim Mahaffey, President Lone Star Jeep Club, plus Jeff's Motor Minute, and I'll review the 2026 Kia K4.
• 0:19
  Don Armstrong: Very interesting car.
• 0:20
  Don Armstrong: Howdy, along with Mike, out of this world, Mars, we always need more Jeff Seacon.
• 0:25
  Don Armstrong: And Chief Engineer and Head Bottle Washer, David Ainsley.
• 0:32
  Don Armstrong: I'm Don Armstrong.
• 0:33
  Don Armstrong: Glad you could join us today.
• 0:35
  Don Armstrong: Thank you very much.
• 0:36
  Don Armstrong: Beautiful day here in the Houston, Texas area.
• 0:38
  Don Armstrong: So I think that the same holds true over there where you are, Mr.
• 0:41
  Don Armstrong: Mars.
• 0:42
  Mike Marrs: Absolutely gorgeous.
• 0:43
  Mike Marrs: You know, the sun's out, not a cloud in the sky after that drenching rain yesterday.
• 0:48
  Don Armstrong: Yeah.
• 0:48
  Don Armstrong: Yeah.
• 0:49
  Don Armstrong: I'll say that.
• 0:50
  Don Armstrong: Do we have Tim with us?
• 0:51
  Mike Marrs: Yes, sir.
• 0:52
  Don Armstrong: Tim Mahaffey.
• 0:54
  Don Armstrong: Here he is, ladies and gentlemen.
• 0:55
  Don Armstrong: Tim, how in the world have you been?
• 0:57
  Don Armstrong: I haven't talked to you in forever.
• 0:59
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah, it's been a hot minute.
• 1:00
  SPEAKER_02: Uh things have been really good, actually.
• 1:02
  SPEAKER_02: Um I'm looking forward to this rain ending on the weekend, so I don't have to keep cleaning a Jeep every time I go out.
• 1:08
  SPEAKER_02: But uh things are things are great.
• 1:10
  Don Armstrong: Tim, you know what?
• 1:12
  Don Armstrong: People that own Jeeps, they like to go out and find mud and have it slung all up and down the side of it and then parade it in the local grocery store parking lot as they're getting groceries on Sunday morning.
• 1:25
  Don Armstrong: Now you and I both know that.
• 1:27
  Don Armstrong: Yeah, that's true.
• 1:28
  SPEAKER_02: That's true.
• 1:29
  Don Armstrong: So you just need you just need to let go of the car wash.
• 1:32
  Don Armstrong: That's what you need to do.
• 1:34
  SPEAKER_02: That's what the power wash is for, right?
• 1:36
  Don Armstrong: Yeah, exactly.
• 1:37
  Don Armstrong: Exactly.
• 1:38
  Don Armstrong: So uh let's talk about the first of all the Jeep Club.
• 1:42
  Don Armstrong: Um how are things there?
• 1:43
  Don Armstrong: What's the uh what's the status like?
• 1:45
  Don Armstrong: How many uh how many club members do you have?
• 1:48
  SPEAKER_02: Things are going really well this year.
• 1:50
  SPEAKER_02: Um, you know, there's a kind of a story there.
• 1:53
  SPEAKER_02: After coming through COVID, the club was sort of in a downward spiral.
• 1:57
  SPEAKER_02: Um we were losing over, I think our attrition rate was somewhere over 20%.
• 2:02
  SPEAKER_02: The club used to have, so the club is made up of paid members and$55 a year and then sponsors.
• 2:08
  SPEAKER_02: And um, you know, that money goes into raffle prizes, it goes back into the community and things like that.
• 2:14
  SPEAKER_02: At one point, we had over 500 members.
• 2:17
  SPEAKER_02: Um COVID hit and those numbers just just dwindled down to nothing.
• 2:22
  SPEAKER_02: And coming out of COVID for a couple of years, um we were challenged with trying to figure out what to do with the club.
• 2:30
  SPEAKER_02: Did we even want to maintain it?
• 2:32
  SPEAKER_02: Did we want to shut it down?
• 2:33
  SPEAKER_02: We're a we're a 50C7 organization in the state of Texas.
• 2:38
  SPEAKER_02: We'll be around for 30 years next year.
• 2:40
  SPEAKER_02: Um so yeah, it's been, I mean, some of our members weren't even born when the club formed 97.
• 2:46
  Don Armstrong: So what does that say about you and your age, Tim?
• 2:51
  SPEAKER_02: Well, like fine wine or a good whiskey, right?
• 2:54
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah, there you go.
• 2:54
  SPEAKER_02: There you go.
• 2:55
  SPEAKER_02: That's what we were looking for.
• 2:57
  Jeff Dziekan: You said that the the the the registrations and uh that they're all dwindled during COVID.
• 3:02
  Jeff Dziekan: It was it was it because of the uncertainty of COVID, or they just figured they're not gonna do it anymore.
• 3:07
  Jeff Dziekan: I mean, was there any reason for that besides COVID?
• 3:10
  SPEAKER_02: Uh besides COVID, yeah, I think you know a lot of people just you know stayed inside.
• 3:14
  SPEAKER_02: They didn't really go out.
• 3:15
  SPEAKER_02: We couldn't really meet as a as a club every month anymore.
• 3:19
  SPEAKER_02: Um, and people just became less interested.
• 3:23
  SPEAKER_02: And then what happened at the same time was a lot of other groups are like a competitor, right?
• 3:30
  SPEAKER_02: Um, you can go wheel in other groups, you don't have to save$55 a year, right?
• 3:35
  SPEAKER_02: So we had to think about what did we have to offer to our members?
• 3:39
  SPEAKER_02: How do we how do we, you know, other than hey, let's go meet and wheel, which our events have always been good.
• 3:44
  SPEAKER_02: We always get great turnouts at our events.
• 3:46
  SPEAKER_02: Um, so what can we do to actually give them something?
• 3:50
  SPEAKER_02: And you know, that led into things.
• 3:52
  SPEAKER_02: We just signed uh an agreement with Metter.
• 3:55
  SPEAKER_02: So any person that purchases a Jeep with Metter at their dealership, um, will if they join the club, will get 10% off of their service.
• 4:03
  SPEAKER_02: And what is Metter?
• 4:05
  SPEAKER_02: Metter is a uh Jeep Chrysler dealership in Fort Worth.
• 4:09
  SPEAKER_02: Okay, that's the name of the dealership.
• 4:11
  Jeff Dziekan: So for about a buck a week you could join the club.
• 4:14
  SPEAKER_02: About a buck a week you could join the club.
• 4:16
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah, and you know, you take your you take your vehicle, and it doesn't have to be a Jeep, it has to be a you know, a Chrysler, you know, Dodge, of course, ran vehicle.
• 4:23
  SPEAKER_02: Um, you go in for one-time service, you're gonna fifty-five dollars, you're gonna make your fifty-five dollars up getting 10% off of service.
• 4:31
  SPEAKER_02: So um we have a big event coming up with them called May Day, May the 15th or 16th, I think.
• 4:38
  SPEAKER_02: So we're pretty excited about that.
• 4:40
  SPEAKER_02: That was uh and they came to us.
• 4:42
  SPEAKER_02: They came to us, they saw that we're a family-friendly Jeep club.
• 4:45
  SPEAKER_02: You know, there are certain when you look at the landscape of Jeep clubs, um, there are certain niches, right?
• 4:51
  SPEAKER_02: You've got ones that just meet that never wheel.
• 4:54
  SPEAKER_02: I know a person that runs a club around here in Dallas, he's never been on the trail, but he has a nice Jeep.
• 5:00
  SPEAKER_02: Um the groups that like to go out and party and you know, engage, and but that's not us.
• 5:07
  SPEAKER_02: No, our message is we're a family-friendly Jeep Club, and we're seeing we're we're known as the wheeling club in North Texas.
• 5:14
  SPEAKER_02: So if you want to go off-road, we've got the the process, we've got the way to do it, we've got certified trail leaders, we've got it planned, we put you in groups, and you know, we want a safe environment for people, and it's really exciting.
• 5:28
  SPEAKER_02: So um, yeah, it's just and it's turned around, by the way.
• 5:31
  SPEAKER_02: So, our goal this year was to have 190 paid members, and we're setting it about 180 right now.
• 5:38
  SPEAKER_02: Oh, very good.
• 5:39
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah, pretty sure we'll exceed that.
• 5:41
  SPEAKER_02: Um, our internal goal and uh goal on the board was 175, so we've exceeded our internal goal.
• 5:46
  SPEAKER_02: Um, and I'm sure we'll hit about we'll hit 190.
• 5:49
  Don Armstrong: Sure.
• 5:50
  Don Armstrong: Do you have any do you have anything to do with any of the other clubs?
• 5:52
  Don Armstrong: I mean, you do you have multi-club events?
• 5:55
  SPEAKER_02: Um we talked about that, but we don't.
• 5:58
  SPEAKER_02: We talked, we don't, but we've talked about that on the board.
• 6:01
  SPEAKER_02: And there's this uh new cheap club that is just started, and my age is catching up to me, I can't remember their name.
• 6:10
  SPEAKER_02: Um, but they they're interested in getting together, you know, for a combined combined wheeling event.
• 6:14
  Jeff Dziekan: Do you do you ever go out of state and wheel?
• 6:16
  SPEAKER_02: Oh, yeah, yeah.
• 6:18
  SPEAKER_02: Actually, the club just went to New Mexico a few weeks ago, um, out to Las Cruces and did some wheeling there.
• 6:23
  SPEAKER_02: Um, we we've been to Wind Rock, Moab.
• 6:27
  SPEAKER_02: Um, we're going to Missouri, the southern Missouri off-road park in September.
• 6:32
  SPEAKER_02: So yeah, we get we get out of state too.
• 6:34
  Jeff Dziekan: So do you do you have a spare supply of fenders or you are you do you go fenderless?
• 6:39
  SPEAKER_02: Um, I have steel fenders.
• 6:41
  SPEAKER_02: Um, I take a shock with me now.
• 6:43
  SPEAKER_02: Since the last last November when I was out, I actually broke a shock um on a show called Ingrid's Revenge.
• 6:50
  Don Armstrong: And you know, it's only a Jeep person that breaks a shock.
• 6:53
  Don Armstrong: You know, you don't you don't you don't hear that on your uh you know Oldsmobile 98.
• 6:58
  Don Armstrong: Walmart broke a shock.
• 7:00
  Don Armstrong: That's right.
• 7:02
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
• 7:02
  Mike Marrs: But that was one of the one of the things I noticed about your club, uh, you know, and we kind of talked about that, is how involved you are for the club members.
• 7:12
  Mike Marrs: It's not just, hey, let's get together on Wednesday night, have a beer, and eat.
• 7:16
  Mike Marrs: You know, you actually you just signed an agreement uh and you've got several sponsors so that your your members get some value out of being part of the club beyond the fellowship.
• 7:27
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah, yeah.
• 7:28
  SPEAKER_02: That's a that's a great point.
• 7:29
  SPEAKER_02: And social media has really helped us there too.
• 7:32
  SPEAKER_02: Um, so that's really helped us engage with our members.
• 7:35
  SPEAKER_02: And now we get questions, you know, um should I like should I get a rock crawler lift kit?
• 7:40
  SPEAKER_02: Should I get a noticloak lift kit?
• 7:42
  SPEAKER_02: And we're able to, you know, give some advice and our own personal opinion.
• 7:47
  SPEAKER_02: And we have one strict rule on our social media site.
• 7:51
  SPEAKER_02: If anyone is a jerk, they're banned from the site.
• 7:56
  SPEAKER_02: We do not tolerate anybody treating other members with any disrespect.
• 8:00
  SPEAKER_02: Period.
• 8:01
  SPEAKER_02: That's not the club that if you want that, go to another club.
• 8:04
  SPEAKER_02: That's not the one started club.
• 8:05
  SPEAKER_02: It's built on respect, it's built on, as you said, on the community, um, it's built on respect and support.
• 8:10
  SPEAKER_02: And I think that's one thing that distinguishes us from others and beyond our you know amazing, amazing events.
• 8:16
  SPEAKER_02: I mean, wheeling's the best thing in the world.
• 8:19
  SPEAKER_02: So, you know, you know, if you have a bad week, you go out on a Saturday, you know, it's just a lot better.
• 8:25
  SPEAKER_02: But um so yeah, it's a good point.
• 8:28
  SPEAKER_02: It's that social media has really helped us engage in lieu of not being able to have our our monthly meetings anymore.
• 8:34
  Jeff Dziekan: Do you do you have uh equal amount maybe men and women that are in the club, or is it is it one-sided?
• 8:40
  SPEAKER_02: No, you know, it's it's pretty equal.
• 8:42
  SPEAKER_02: Um, in fact, on our board, we've got two, three, so we have Suzanne, Christine, Alan.
• 8:52
  SPEAKER_02: Four four females are on our board.
• 8:54
  SPEAKER_02: So it's a it's a it's a good balance and a good balance of families too.
• 8:58
  Jeff Dziekan: It's good to know.
• 8:59
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah, yeah.
• 9:01
  Don Armstrong: So do you uh once you get into uh Lone Star, does that mean that you'll be able to get some discounts uh at your local Jeep dealer for you know some Bemini Tops or whatever the case may be?
• 9:15
  SPEAKER_02: Absolutely.
• 9:16
  SPEAKER_02: You can go to Metter, um, they'll offer that discount, and then our other sponsors like Colling County Off-Road offer discounts.
• 9:24
  SPEAKER_02: Um yeah, all across the all across the several sponsors that are yeah, so there are advantages uh to being a club member, there's no doubt about that.
• 9:34
  Don Armstrong: You know, it's uh very interesting.
• 9:35
  Don Armstrong: Uh uh back in the day, I'm a Corvette guy, and I've been in clubs throughout all of the years that I've been doing this.
• 9:43
  Don Armstrong: And uh it's interesting how the club scene has evolved since back in my day.
• 9:49
  Don Armstrong: I'm not uh currently in a club, but um it's evolved.
• 9:52
  Don Armstrong: And but the same thing holds true back in in my day, we had the racers and we had the show car people.
• 10:00
  Don Armstrong: And uh and we we all got along and it was great and we all respected each other within the club, but there were those that you know really weren't into the racing because the racing took the cost into another level that most of us weren't really into.
• 10:15
  Don Armstrong: And I think that you you can relate to that.
• 10:18
  SPEAKER_02: Very similar, very similar.
• 10:19
  SPEAKER_02: Um, we had people that had daily drivers, you know.
• 10:22
  SPEAKER_02: This this is that's my daily driver right there.
• 10:24
  SPEAKER_02: Yes, so you know, when I go off-road, I I push it, but not over the limit.
• 10:30
  SPEAKER_02: And then we have when we we go to our events, we have an easy, medium, and hard group, which we call group Z.
• 10:38
  SPEAKER_02: Those are the guys with 42-inch tires with roll cages, they trailer their Jeep, but they're the ones done, you know, just crazy stuff, rear steer, I mean, some really amazing jeeps, right?
• 10:49
  SPEAKER_02: And yeah, then and the money that goes into investing into a vehicle like that is just you know beyond.
• 10:54
  Don Armstrong: It's not just but it's not just Jeeps, and you know that as well as I do.
• 10:59
  Don Armstrong: You know, pick a car, and uh you know, if you want a resto mod, how much money do you have in your pocket?
• 11:04
  Don Armstrong: It ain't enough.
• 11:05
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah, yeah, yeah.
• 11:06
  Don Armstrong: That's true.
• 11:07
  Don Armstrong: That's true.
• 11:08
  Don Armstrong: So, do you have any events coming up?
• 11:10
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah, we do.
• 11:11
  SPEAKER_02: We have the event with um Metter coming up um in May, and I'm headed to Hot Springs um at that weekend as well.
• 11:19
  SPEAKER_02: And then June is our Father's Day event, which is a poker run.
• 11:23
  SPEAKER_02: We're excited about that.
• 11:24
  SPEAKER_02: That'll be at Barnwell Mountain Recreational Area.
• 11:27
  SPEAKER_02: We're gonna be in the Colony Parade, which is just a blast.
• 11:30
  SPEAKER_02: Have all those little kids come running up when we toss some ducks.
• 11:34
  SPEAKER_02: Um, that's a lot of fun.
• 11:35
  SPEAKER_02: And then um August, we have called Beat the Heat up in Davis, Oklahoma at Crossbar off-road park.
• 11:43
  SPEAKER_02: And then we go to S'more in September.
• 11:46
  SPEAKER_02: We have another 101 class, which is where we bring people in and teach them how to prep their Jeep for off-roading.
• 11:52
  SPEAKER_02: We teach them how to off-road, how to engage in the four low, how to go over obstacles and how to winch.
• 11:57
  SPEAKER_02: And then we have our Jeepers Creepers run in October out at Barnwell Mountain Recreational Area.
• 12:03
  SPEAKER_02: And then our biggest event of the year is the Veterans Day run and hot springs in November.
• 12:08
  SPEAKER_02: We typically bring like 20 or 30 Jeeps to that event.
• 12:11
  SPEAKER_02: So that's been growing you know every year.
• 12:14
  Don Armstrong: And I would imagine, I would imagine that you guys uh, you know, obviously you belong to a club and you want to be involved, but you can't be involved in everything, but that's okay.
• 12:24
  SPEAKER_02: Yes, that's why we offer so many events, right?
• 12:26
  SPEAKER_02: Right?
• 12:26
  SPEAKER_02: We know people can't go out every month, and we have some amazing members in our club.
• 12:30
  SPEAKER_02: I mean, I can't I can I just they're amazing people who join our club.
• 12:35
  SPEAKER_02: I just can't brag about them enough, right?
• 12:38
  SPEAKER_02: You go on a chair with us and you have an issue, we don't push you, we help you, right?
• 12:43
  SPEAKER_02: We want people to enjoy this experience, right?
• 12:45
  SPEAKER_02: Like we do.
• 12:46
  SPEAKER_02: So basically, but yeah, exactly.
• 12:49
  SPEAKER_02: So yeah, we offer a lot of events, not to not so not so people have to go to them every month, but you know, you get to pick and choose, like, you know, arrange your vacation if you wanted to go to New Mexico.
• 12:59
  SPEAKER_02: We're gonna go to Rubicon Trail next spring up in Lake Tahoe.
• 13:03
  SPEAKER_02: So we're gonna we have started our planning for that.
• 13:05
  SPEAKER_02: Very cool.
• 13:06
  Jeff Dziekan: So when you go to these put when you go to these places like Hot Springs, do you all caravan together or you all just meet up there separately?
• 13:13
  SPEAKER_02: We mostly caravan together.
• 13:14
  SPEAKER_02: So when they went to New Mexico, they all met up, they caravanned together.
• 13:18
  SPEAKER_02: Moab, Colorado, that was the that was the caravan.
• 13:21
  SPEAKER_02: Because you know, something can happen along the way, right?
• 13:23
  Mike Marrs: Um that's part of the fellowship in in going.
• 13:29
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah, that's right.
• 13:30
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah, you do, right?
• 13:31
  SPEAKER_02: You build you kind of build that solidarity when you go on a trip um together, right?
• 13:36
  SPEAKER_02: Sit around at night and over dinner and talk about you know what broke, what was fun, and you get to know people at a personal level.
• 13:43
  SPEAKER_02: It's just that's amazing.
• 13:45
  Jeff Dziekan: We could do that and get to a campsite and eat beans and by the fire.
• 13:48
  Jeff Dziekan: Yeah, yeah.
• 13:49
  Jeff Dziekan: Blazing saddle complete creation all over again.
• 13:52
  Jeff Dziekan: Yeah, that's right.
• 13:53
  Don Armstrong: Tim, it's great to talk to you, my friend.
• 13:55
  Don Armstrong: Uh great to catch up with you.
• 13:56
  Don Armstrong: Thanks for bringing us up to date.
• 13:58
  Don Armstrong: And uh, whenever you're in Houston, be sure and look us up.
• 14:00
  Don Armstrong: Yeah, come see us and come see us and save.
• 14:03
  Don Armstrong: There you go.
• 14:04
  Don Armstrong: We'll definitely definitely do that.
• 14:05
  Don Armstrong: Thanks for having us on again.
• 14:06
  Don Armstrong: We really appreciate being here.
• 14:07
  Don Armstrong: Thank you very much.
• 14:08
  Don Armstrong: Uh anybody's interested.
• 14:09
  Don Armstrong: So, how how do we get a hold of you if we're up there in the North Texas area?
• 14:13
  SPEAKER_02: You can uh lsjc.org.
• 14:16
  SPEAKER_02: Lone Star Jeep Club lsjc.org.
• 14:19
  SPEAKER_02: LSJ.
• 14:19
  SPEAKER_02: That'll take you to our website.
• 14:20
  SPEAKER_02: You can find us on Instagram, Facebook now.
• 14:25
  SPEAKER_02: Um, we have over 11,000 social media followers versus like 1,500 three years ago.
• 14:32
  SPEAKER_02: So we've seen some amazing growth there.
• 14:34
  SPEAKER_02: So yeah, Facebook and they're we're active too.
• 14:37
  SPEAKER_02: Um, so our our secretary Madeline posts a ton of videos on Instagram.
• 14:44
  SPEAKER_02: Um, you can see us in action there.
• 14:46
  SPEAKER_02: They just got some of the Las Cruces videos posted.
• 14:49
  SPEAKER_02: So it's pretty exciting.
• 14:51
  SPEAKER_02: We have a Facebook page and a Facebook group.
• 14:53
  SPEAKER_02: Facebook page, of course, you know, you can follow the Facebook group.
• 14:56
  SPEAKER_02: You actually have to, you know, qualify for it.
• 14:59
  Don Armstrong: Well, we'd love to have uh the in-wheel time bunch on there as well and uh welcome everybody over.
• 15:04
  Don Armstrong: So, Tim, thanks again.
• 15:06
  Don Armstrong: We appreciate you and hope to talk to you again soon.
• 15:08
  Don Armstrong: Take care.
• 15:08
  Don Armstrong: All right, thank you.
• 15:09
  Don Armstrong: Have a good weekend.
• 15:10
  Don Armstrong: Thanks.
• 15:11
  Don Armstrong: Tim Mahaffey, president of the Lone Star Jeep Club.
• 15:13
  Don Armstrong: Just ahead, Jeff's motor minute, and a review of the new Kia K4.
• 15:18
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• 17:00
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  Don Armstrong: Thousands of minutes.
• 17:23
  Don Armstrong: Thousands of uh you uh are invited to join us for the live version of the In Wheel Time Card Talk Show every Saturday at our regular time, 10 to noon Central Time on InWheelTime.com, YouTube, and Facebook, or you can always grab a 30-minute podcast of our show, any one of them, from uh your favorite podcast store, and it is free.
• 17:47
  Don Armstrong: All right, time now for the motor minute, and Jeffrey has that.
• 17:49
  Jeff Dziekan: Yeah, check this out.
• 17:50
  Jeff Dziekan: I'm gonna pull it up, Mike.
• 17:52
  Jeff Dziekan: You know, next weekend is Mother's Day.
• 17:54
  Jeff Dziekan: Did you know that?
• 17:55
  Jeff Dziekan: And uh Martha Yanko, Mrs.
• 17:57
  Jeff Dziekan: Yanko says every day would be Mother's Day with a brand new 69 Chevrolet from Yanko Chevrolet.
• 18:05
  Jeff Dziekan: So if you're out there and we appreciate you, Martha Yanko, uh get out there and buy your mom a 69 Chevrolet.
• 18:12
  Jeff Dziekan: Look at that.
• 18:13
  Don Armstrong: The old bargain is the 1969 Bel Air.
• 18:18
  Jeff Dziekan: Yeah.
• 18:18
  Don Armstrong: $27.95.
• 18:19
  Don Armstrong: Now they didn't say it was a two-door or four-door.
• 18:23
  Don Armstrong: Don't matter.
• 18:24
  Don Armstrong: The$27.95.
• 18:25
  Don Armstrong: This isn't$69.
• 18:26
  Don Armstrong: Yeah.
• 18:27
  Don Armstrong: Um, let's look at some other prices on there.
• 18:29
  Don Armstrong: What is this one here?
• 18:30
  SPEAKER_00: That's that's a wagon.
• 18:32
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
• 18:33
  SPEAKER_00: The air conditioner is brown.
• 18:35
  SPEAKER_00: The Kingswood.
• 18:36
  SPEAKER_00: Kingswood.
• 18:37
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
• 18:38
  SPEAKER_00: Air conditioning brown for$38.50.
• 18:41
  Jeff Dziekan: So there you go.
• 18:41
  Jeff Dziekan: Mike, that's pocket change for you, buddy.
• 18:44
  Don Armstrong: But we what we would really like to have that$69 Yanko Camaro.
• 18:48
  Jeff Dziekan: Oh, yeah.
• 18:49
  Jeff Dziekan: Yeah.
• 18:49
  Jeff Dziekan: But the point is, it's Mother's Day.
• 18:52
  Jeff Dziekan: So, you know, flowers, candy, all.
• 18:54
  Don Armstrong: And they have many more Mother's Day specials.
• 18:57
  Jeff Dziekan: There you go, and that's what we're talking about.
• 18:58
  Jeff Dziekan: So go out there and celebrate Mother's Day.
• 19:00
  Don Armstrong: Are they still in business?
• 19:01
  Jeff Dziekan: Uh Yanko Chevrolet.
• 19:02
  Jeff Dziekan: Gosh, I would love to.
• 19:04
  Jeff Dziekan: I'll get a hold of Martha and uh find out.
• 19:07
  Jeff Dziekan: Well, you're gonna have to go visit her at the graveyard, I think.
• 19:10
  Jeff Dziekan: Could be it could be a Martha Jr., you never know.
• 19:13
  Jeff Dziekan: But Mother's Day, go celebrate Mother's Day next week at Yanko Chevrolet.
• 19:16
  Jeff Dziekan: However, you however you want to do that.
• 19:18
  Jeff Dziekan: So uh get out there that's really weird flowers, roses.
• 19:22
  Don Armstrong: I love those old commercials.
• 19:23
  Don Armstrong: Yep.
• 19:23
  Jeff Dziekan: There you go.
• 19:24
  Don Armstrong: Yeah, I as a matter of fact, I every once in a while I run across an actual film.
• 19:29
  Jeff Dziekan: I know I don't do I see I'm trying to incorporate that as a story, but you can't because there's a lot of trademark stuff in the world.
• 19:36
  Don Armstrong: No, it's fine.
• 19:36
  Don Armstrong: You can do that.
• 19:37
  Don Armstrong: And as a matter of fact, let's let's do a feature commercial of the week, and then we can sit and laugh at it.
• 19:45
  Jeff Dziekan: Okay.
• 19:46
  Don Armstrong: Matter of fact, I ran across a 1963 Chevrolet commercial, but I think it was more than a minute, but it highlighted all of the Chevrolets that are available, including the two the two Corvettes, the split window coupe and the all new convertible.
• 20:03
  Don Armstrong: Coupe.
• 20:04
  Jeff Dziekan: We'll do that.
• 20:05
  Jeff Dziekan: I'll work on that for a couple of weeks.
• 20:07
  Jeff Dziekan: I did it.
• 20:13
  Mike Marrs: They finally went out of business.
• 20:15
  Jeff Dziekan: Well, there you go.
• 20:16
  Mike Marrs: Which I didn't realize they even made it that far.
• 20:18
  Jeff Dziekan: She was probably in her 80s.
• 20:21
  Mike Marrs: Yeah, she looked like she could be.
• 20:24
  Jeff Dziekan: Okay.
• 20:26
  Don Armstrong: And guess the weight.
• 20:28
  Don Armstrong: All right.
• 20:28
  Don Armstrong: Uh time now for this hour's car review.
• 20:31
  Don Armstrong: I had an opportunity to drive the 2026 Kia K4.
• 20:36
  Don Armstrong: It comes in these trim levels.
• 20:38
  Don Armstrong: You ready?
• 20:39
  Don Armstrong: The LX, the LXS, the EX, the GT Line, and the GT Line turbo.
• 20:50
  Don Armstrong: I drove the GT line turbo, and it was that color.
• 20:56
  Don Armstrong: This is a large car.
• 20:58
  Don Armstrong: It's a four-door saloon style hatchback.
• 21:03
  Don Armstrong: Uh a traditional sedan is also available under the K-4 banner.
• 21:09
  Don Armstrong: This looks like a regular SUV.
• 21:12
  Don Armstrong: But if you stand next to it, you're going, wait a minute, is this a car?
• 21:15
  Don Armstrong: Is this an SUV?
• 21:16
  Don Armstrong: What is it?
• 21:17
  Don Armstrong: They call it a large car, four-door seats and five people, including the driver, all new in 2025.
• 21:24
  Don Armstrong: Where have I been?
• 21:24
  Don Armstrong: I guess I just missed it.
• 21:26
  Don Armstrong: It is built in Mexico, and this car replaces the Kia Forte, if you remember that thing.
• 21:33
  Don Armstrong: Long body uh with a fast back to it, looks like a cross between a sedan and a station wagon.
• 21:42
  Don Armstrong: Unique styling gives this car a very cool look, in my opinion.
• 21:47
  Don Armstrong: Sleek, aerodynamic front fascia, concentric wheel well openings.
• 21:52
  Don Armstrong: Uh what I liked about it, the saloon or wagon style of the design.
• 21:57
  Don Armstrong: It really stands out.
• 21:58
  Don Armstrong: Yes, there are other.
• 22:00
  Don Armstrong: Out there, but not like this one.
• 22:02
  Don Armstrong: Somehow, some way they've made it all work, and it is really cool.
• 22:06
  Don Armstrong: What could use improvement?
• 22:08
  Don Armstrong: Nothing.
• 22:08
  Don Armstrong: This is a winner in the Don Armstrong category.
• 22:12
  Don Armstrong: Interior highlights.
• 22:14
  Don Armstrong: Big 12.3 inch screen includes the instrument and infotainment systems.
• 22:20
  Don Armstrong: Adjustable cup holders and roomy cell phone cubby.
• 22:26
  Don Armstrong: A cool upholstery with comfortable seating and plenty of rear leg room.
• 22:31
  Don Armstrong: HVAC controls can be a little hard to see behind the steering wheel.
• 22:36
  Don Armstrong: You've got to kind of peek around it.
• 22:39
  Don Armstrong: Cargo, adequate when compared to other small SUVs, but it is a hatchback.
• 22:46
  Don Armstrong: What I liked?
• 22:47
  Don Armstrong: The abundant headroom in the rear seat because it's the saloon style.
• 22:52
  Don Armstrong: So the roof line continues on past the rear seat and doesn't slope down behind it.
• 22:57
  Don Armstrong: What could use improvement?
• 22:59
  Don Armstrong: Nothing.
• 22:59
  Don Armstrong: It gets high marks from Don Armstrong for its great overall design.
• 23:04
  Don Armstrong: As far as power is concerned, it has a 2.0 liter turbo four-cylinder.
• 23:11
  Don Armstrong: Now, it puts out 147 horsepower and 132 pound feet of torque.
• 23:16
  Don Armstrong: There is a 1.6 liter turbo that puts out 190 horsepower and 195 pound feet of torque.
• 23:23
  Don Armstrong: I did not have that one, although I think I should have.
• 23:26
  Don Armstrong: I don't know whether they got the engines mixed up or the labeling or my confusion.
• 23:31
  Don Armstrong: Somewhere in there, it has a CVT transmission too.
• 23:35
  Don Armstrong: 26 miles per gallon in the city is what it's rated, 33 on the highway for a combined of 28.
• 23:43
  Don Armstrong: I got 30.7 miles per gallon over 453 miles.
• 23:51
  Don Armstrong: Would have preferred more horsepower, that 190 horsepower unit would have been nice.
• 23:57
  Don Armstrong: But I certainly did like the gas mileage, there's no doubt about that.
• 24:00
  Don Armstrong: And I didn't have to plug it in either.
• 24:01
  Don Armstrong: What I liked about the ride and handling, it has car-like ride quality.
• 24:06
  Don Armstrong: What could use improvement?
• 24:08
  Don Armstrong: The GT line, I think, could be a little bit more tossable.
• 24:12
  Don Armstrong: In other words, stiffen up that suspension a little.
• 24:15
  Don Armstrong: Yeah, a little bit sporty because it's already got a GT, which stands for Gran Turismo.
• 24:21
  Jeff Dziekan: Yeah.
• 24:22
  Don Armstrong: If you remember correctly.
• 24:23
  Don Armstrong: Now I don't know whether Magato.
• 24:26
  Jeff Dziekan: That would be the GTO.
• 24:27
  Jeff Dziekan: Yeah.
• 24:28
  unknown: Yes.
• 24:29
  Don Armstrong: So here's the pricing.
• 24:31
  Don Armstrong: Base trim price,$28,790.
• 24:33
  Don Armstrong: Price is tested$32,870.
• 24:36
  Don Armstrong: But you can get into one of these for$22,290.
• 24:42
  Don Armstrong: Really?
• 24:43
  Don Armstrong: Competitors?
• 24:44
  Don Armstrong: Honda Civic$24,695.
• 24:48
  Don Armstrong: The Mazda 3$24,550.
• 24:53
  Don Armstrong: How about the Subaru Impreza Hatch for$26,595?
• 24:59
  Don Armstrong: See, I keep hearing all these things.
• 25:01
  Don Armstrong: We can't find a vehicle under$30,000.
• 25:04
  Don Armstrong: Yes, you can.
• 25:04
  Jeff Dziekan: You can.
• 25:05
  Don Armstrong: You haven't looked hard enough.
• 25:07
  Don Armstrong: And this is one that I would suggest that you definitely put on the go check it out list.
• 25:13
  Mike Marrs: Yeah.
• 25:14
  Mike Marrs: It's a good looking car.
• 25:16
  Mike Marrs: It sounds like it's got some great functionality.
• 25:18
  Don Armstrong: Yeah, it does.
• 25:19
  Don Armstrong: Subaru Outback is my car review next week.
• 25:22
  Don Armstrong: And so uh we do a new car review every week.
• 25:25
  Don Armstrong: And that is my car review this week.
• 25:28
  Don Armstrong: That is all, then there ain't no more.
• 25:30
  Jeff Dziekan: That is all.
• 25:31
  Don Armstrong: That is all.
• 25:31
  Jeff Dziekan: Don't forget to uh visit the In Wheel Time um what is it?
• 25:36
  Jeff Dziekan: Well, subscribe.
• 25:37
  Jeff Dziekan: You can subscribe to us.
• 25:39
  Jeff Dziekan: I was kind of thinking the word.
• 25:41
  Jeff Dziekan: Don't forget to subscribe.
• 25:43
  Mike Marrs: Yeah, and if you can get it, we'll have cookies and tea this afternoon.
• 25:48
  Jeff Dziekan: Contact Mike at info at inwheel time.com.
• 25:50
  Jeff Dziekan: Cookies and tea.
• 25:52
  Jeff Dziekan: And the uh yeah.
• 25:54
  Jeff Dziekan: Mars, you you don't get out much, do you?
• 25:57
  Mike Marrs: No, unfortunately not.
• 25:59
  Jeff Dziekan: Well, you drink tea, Mike, don't you?
• 26:00
  Mike Marrs: I do.
• 26:01
  Mike Marrs: I drink a couple of glasses or hot tea in the morning.
• 26:04
  Mike Marrs: I'm not a coffee drinker.
• 26:06
  Don Armstrong: That would make sense.
• 26:08
  Don Armstrong: You would drink a tea totaler.
• 26:10
  Jeff Dziekan: And what's the uh the tea drink?
• 26:12
  Jeff Dziekan: Oh gosh.
• 26:14
  Jeff Dziekan: Hot?
• 26:15
  Jeff Dziekan: No, the the the alcohol drink with the uh tea iced tea and long island tea?
• 26:19
  Jeff Dziekan: Long island iced tea.
• 26:20
  Jeff Dziekan: I couldn't think of that.
• 26:22
  Jeff Dziekan: Well, you're not from that part of the world.
• 26:25
  Jeff Dziekan: And don't forget to visit the In Real Time gift shop on your way out.
• 26:28
  Don Armstrong: Do we have one of those?
• 26:30
  Mike Marrs: It's under construction.
• 26:31
  Mike Marrs: It's being revamped.
• 26:33
  Don Armstrong: Really?
• 26:34
  Mike Marrs: Yeah, we had a supplier issue, so we were having to rebuild.
• 26:36
  Don Armstrong: Well, you know what?
• 26:37
  Don Armstrong: It just so happens that we have a supplier, and he's sitting right next to me right here.
• 26:43
  Don Armstrong: Did you know that?
• 26:44
  Mike Marrs: I I know that some things, yes.
• 26:47
  Mike Marrs: But he doesn't drop ship.
• 26:49
  Don Armstrong: I'll bet you he could work that.
• 26:51
  Don Armstrong: We could talk.
• 26:52
  Don Armstrong: Yeah, we'll talk, yeah.
• 26:54
  Don Armstrong: Okay, cool.
• 26:55
  Don Armstrong: Um, I have some great news stories that I want to get in before the end of the show today.
• 27:00
  Don Armstrong: Um one of them, um and it's not gonna be this one because it I think it's too heavy duty into finances.
• 27:08
  Don Armstrong: Oh yeah.
• 27:09
  Don Armstrong: Yeah, so uh but I had to think.
• 27:11
  Don Armstrong: Yeah, we all had to think about that.
• 27:13
  Don Armstrong: Um This I thought was very interesting.
• 27:17
  Don Armstrong: Ford Motor Company is in early discussions with the Trump administration about working on defense projects, according to CEO Jim Farley.
• 27:27
  Don Armstrong: Farley's comment signals the company is considering a broader working relationship with the Pentagon.
• 27:32
  Don Armstrong: U.S.
• 27:33
  Don Armstrong: military officials have sought to court commercial manufacturers to help produce weapons and other military hardware that today is largely supplied by a relatively small number of defense contractors, such as Lockheed Martin and General Dynamics.
• 27:48
  Don Armstrong: Senior defense officials have spoken to auto executives, including Farley, about weapons production, according to the Wall Street Journal.
• 27:55
  Don Armstrong: Farley said investors should expect Ford to play an outsized role in onshoring critical minerals and other components, such as manufacturing grade semiconductors.
• 28:08
  Don Armstrong: I just thought that that was an interesting story, sir.
• 28:10
  Don Armstrong: They're getting back in the war business, basically.
• 28:13
  Jeff Dziekan: Yeah.
• 28:13
  Don Armstrong: Which uh they apparently did during World War II quite significantly.
• 28:19
  unknown: Yeah.
• 28:20
  Don Armstrong: So there's uh some news for you that you probably hadn't heard.
• 28:24
  Jeff Dziekan: What happens if you build a weapon and you have to recall it?
• 28:27
  Don Armstrong: Well, Ford would be able to handle that because they're big on the recall list.
• 28:31
  Don Armstrong: Hey, if you'd like to get in touch with us, send us an email.
• 28:33
  Don Armstrong: The address is info at nwheeltime.com.
• 28:36
  Don Armstrong: We're back after this quick break.
• 28:37
  Don Armstrong: Stay with us.
• 28:38
  Don Armstrong: Your car is a direct reflection of you, so don't be satisfied with color fade or a dingy dull appearance.
• 28:44
  Don Armstrong: Get rid of those terrible automated car wash scratches.
• 28:47
  Don Armstrong: Gulf Coast Auto Shield is your save the paint company.
• 28:50
  Don Armstrong: John Gray and his team of detailing experts can help your cars finish without a full repaint.
• 28:55
  Don Armstrong: Searching for real experts in window tint or windshield protection, Gulf Coast Auto Shield.
• 29:00
  Don Armstrong: Dash cams, radar detectors, Gulf Coast Auto Shield.
• 29:04
  Don Armstrong: Got a new car?
• 29:05
  Don Armstrong: Get it protected as soon as you take delivery.
• 29:07
  Don Armstrong: If you don't know which of the multitude of protection products to go with, John Gray will give you an honest opinion and won't sell you something you don't need.
• 29:14
  Don Armstrong: John will help you understand the many options and pricing right on the spot.
• 29:18
  Don Armstrong: He's your guy to have your ride looking its best and protected too.
• 29:22
  Don Armstrong: See the state-of-the-art shop yourself, free tours anytime.
• 29:24
  Don Armstrong: Gulf Coast Auto Shield is easy to get to, located just south of the Southwest Freeway on the Sam Houston Parkway.
• 29:30
  Don Armstrong: Gulf Coast Auto Shield, full service luxury car care today and online at gcautoshield.com.
• 29:38
  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.
• 29:45
  Don Armstrong: Now you can get one or a car show poster customized for you, a friend, or a loved one.
• 29:50
  Don Armstrong: Bill's sites will be happy to guide you through the process.
• 29:53
  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.
• 30:00
  Don Armstrong: Call Bill today, 832-922-0963.
• 30:04
  Don Armstrong: That's 832-922-0963.
• 30:10
  Don Armstrong: That's it for this podcast episode of the In Wheel Time Car Show.
• 30:13
  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.
• 30:23
  Don Armstrong: Podcasts are available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, iHeartPodcast, Podcast Addict, TuneIn, Pandora, and Amazon Music.
• 30:32
  Don Armstrong: Keep listening, and we'll see you soon.