Namsayin: Cars & Convos

The three amigos are full of laughs this episode, catching up with each other on personal items as well as talking about the latest automotive news and entertainment.

Starting with Hyundai breaking ground on their newest EV and battery plant, right here in America. Hyundai is investing billions into US jobs and future economic development with this mega plant. The fellas dive deep into what this means for the American car and American car brand identity. The guys discuss the future of cars made in America and what that tells us about the American work force, and what more EV adoption in the US means for EV worldwide.

Next up is the million dollar mustang, recently Ford auctioned off one of their 2023 GT500 mustangs and it fetched a hefty $1,000,000 dollars for charity. The fellas talk about the good, charity like this can do for the community at large when handled responsibly and what owning a million dollar mustang truly means.

Then the boys talk about the ever growing EV market. Specifically, what seems to be a bit of an over saturation of the market in certain areas. The fellas touch on specific models by manufacturers that seem to fill no spot in the lineup. The guys discuss who these models are being made for and does it make sense, in a new technology market, to have so many options that are not drastically different from each other.

Moving into factory performance and upgrades, the troop discusses the 2.7 inch factory lift kit, available for the Toyota Tundra. This completely manufacturer supplied kit keeps the warranty intact and will bolt up exactly as intended with no fabrication or DIY need. The guys discuss the bonus in having performance supplied by manufacturers. What it means for other major manufacturers that a conservative brand, like Toyota, is starting to really fill the needs requested by its customers, and of course the guys go over some of the choice parts they hope will be produced in the future.

The fellas then circles back to a topic from previous episodes, the new Acura Integra, this time from SEMA. The guys each give their feedback on 3 specific builds Acura brought to the show from Daijiro Yoshihara, Sara Choi, and Coco Zurita.

Ken Block and his incredible Audi drift missile are next on the docket. The new Audi S1 is on full display as the boys go frame for frame on the new electrikhana gymkhana video. Highlights, surprises and overall feeling of the all out, over the top entertainment experience that is always expected from gymkhana.

Finally the clan discuss community and recent events. The fellas go over the Namsayin x @MiiR event that had people from all over the PNW, including Canada, in attendance. Walt and Al highlight what made the event so special and what personal lessons they took away from the event. Garrett touches on the 4x4 and brunch with Ashley aka @mamayota_t4r held at The Shop and lastly the fellas discuss the ins and outs of our diverse car community both good and bad behaviors

-Reach out to us at-

[email protected]

Walt F.

IG: Waffledesigns

Al-Michael F.

IG: almichaelfranco

Garrett N.

IG: g_rat206

Media and event minds collide on this episode of Cars & Convos as Vinnie Nguyen joins the trio on the couch. Vinnie is current owner and operator of NWmotiv a local media and event company known for apparel, throwing fantastic events like Hondafest NW and creating community for car enthusiasts of all types.

Vinnie opens the floor with his history and journey into the automotive world.  How a passion for taking photos brought him to NWmotiv and the car community at large. Vinnie talks about how the humble beginnings in cars lead him to the camera lens before ever owning a sporty car, let alone a manual transmission car like his current NSX. Vinnie shares the ups and downs of finally choosing the NSX, a car he calls a personal treat for his hard work. Along with that Vinnie gives us the tale of learning to drive stick, on a car like the Honda NSX.

Next Vinnie opens up about the NWmotiv journey. Starting at the photography stage, while assisting with event production and eventually blossoming into full ownership, when he was offered to take over the company and did so at the beginning of 2018. Vinnie talks about the lessons learned and the goals reached with NWmotiv since the change over and the future goals he has for the company, the scene and community.

Then all the guys discuss car community, car builds and car meets. What makes a good / well-attended event, what issues one can find when trying to organize attendees/vendors and what are some key points of wisdom to take away when planning your own automotive gathering. The boys go deep on what a good build means, who are some true creative to watch out for as well as learn from and what wins when it comes to todays hottest builds and designs.

Finally its time for automotive news, starting with BMW and their new EV plant located in the good old US of A. This 1.7 billion dollar investment is a true testament to the brands commitment to EV and the US economy; the boys discuss the benefits and what it means to be an American car now. Then darling Tesla is on the topic block, with an identity crisis. Tesla was always touted as the future and the new wave, but now major automotive media corporations are discussing it primarily as a luxury brand. The fellas discuss what this change means in terms of brand identity as well as does the tesla measure up to such luxury heavy hitters as the Mercedes S class when laid side by side. Speaking of Mercedes Benz, the new G-wagon is all-electric and the fellas poor over the whole idea of the G-wagon, what the new one means for the classic brute and does this make the idea of the electric toaster cool?

Lastly, the fellas discuss a classic tire company, Diamond Back Tires. They are throwing their efforts at making classic white and black wall tires with colors, treads and sizes not seen in years. The guys talk about the need that a company like this really fills in a community where options are scarce, what detail options tires like these can add to a ride and what other hotrod products we hope to see in the future for our own builds.

-Reach out to us at-

[email protected]

Vinnie Nguyen

IG: @vinnienguyen & @nwmotiv

www.nwmotiv.com

Walt F.

IG: Waffledesigns

Al-Michael F.

IG: almichaelfranco

Garrett N.

IG: g_rat206

The studio is stuffed and the couch is full this week! A very special power couple joins the trifecta for all things automotive, Stefan and Keerati Tomalik. Stefan is an avid amateur racer and BMW aficionado, not to mention, the rep for Motul oil products here in the PNW. His fiancé Keerati is a powerhouse of skills, not only being a decorated amateur motorcycle racer but also an automotive and culture influencer.

The episode starts out by diving into the history of each of our guest unique pasts, starting with Keerati aka Miss K. Keerati talks about growing up outside the united states and what moving to the states did for her motorcycle opportunities. She explains the true grit it takes to go racing, from just improving your time and training, to financially affording and accepting the responsibility of inevitable breakdowns that happen to every racer and every machine. Keerati also talks about the building blocks of balanced relationship and how both her and Stefan keep both their passion for each other and passion for petrol alive.

Then its Stefan’s turn, Stefan started young in the JDM scene, with some of the oddest platforms, racing such rare items as the Isuzu Impulse until finally finding his real track partner, the BMW E46 3 series. From there Stefan studied and honed his racing skill in SoCal, rising to each challenge and eventually finding himself behind the seat of a Porsche 997 cup car. Stefan also opens up about the ins and outs of a balanced relationship, how he and Keerati met and eventually fell for each other, finally moving the two of them back to the PNW.

Next the couple goes into future plans, both on and off the track as well as the positives that having a great product like Motul, has for the future of our motorsport scene locally.

Lastly, since both the guests are avid BMW fans, the group discusses new BMWs. Starting with BMW’s motorcycle division’s new 1000cc sport bike. The styling, the performance and all the new tech. Mrs. Keerati weighs in on what she would keep and loose on the new BMW model, having owned previous BMW racing models and Walt tells us what future design language tells us about the 22nd century bike.

Finally everyone throws their 2 cents in about the latest M2 from BMW, the power train, the design, the size and the price. There is a lot to unpack so stay till the end.

Reach out to us at

[email protected]

Reach out to Stafan Tomalik

IG: stefantomalik

Website: g2-distribution.com

Reach out to Keerati

IG: ms.keerati

Walt F.

IG: Waffledesigns

Al-Michael F.

IG: almichaelfranco

Garrett N.

IG: g_rat206

The studio is packed with history this episode, The Namsayin boys are joined by local car legend and nationally celebrated cannabis grower, Buddha Matsui, of Gold Leaf cannabis. Buddha takes us through the late 80s, 90s and present day of the car culture here in Seattle and especially the energy found around local 206 neighborhood, Beacon Hill.

First up however, new models, starting with the Germans. Mercedes Benz has released a new C63 AMG, a popular model in the states for its classic V8 in a small RWD sedan layout. But, the new version ditches the big powerful V8 for hybrid motors on the wheels, hybrid motors on the turbo and a 4 cylinder. The new version of the C class makes well into the 600 horsepower range as well as a staggering 752 foot-pounds of torque, making it the fasted C63, Mercedes has ever produced. The fellas discuss whether the new power plant will help or hinder the sales of the beloved model. Will the future look more like this, across all manufactures? Lastly, we go over the dynamics of the new ride and highlight the F1 technology being used and shared with other amazing machines like the AMG One hyper car.

Then the platoon talks about natural disasters and automobiles. Florida is experiencing some bad hurricanes this season and the car gods have not been kind to a few individuals. The guys highlight a viral video of a very rare McLaren P1 hyper car, getting washed down the road along with its stable mate, a new Rolls Royce. A discussion of auto insurance and how cars in places like this get covered when the worst happens gets bounced around and we have all have a chuckle at the absurdity of it all.

Next, we highlight a good old American company who is keeping the spirit of hot-rodding alive. Classic Performance Products makes a great deal of parts and accessories, but their newest item is a real sweet treat. They have developed a DIY bed shortening kit for the Ford F-100. Hardware, step-by-step video instructions, exact cut locations and measurements, making the entire setup a true weekend project. Hotrods will always have a special place in fella’s hearts and highlighting the companies is always a labor of love.

Staying in the Ford gear, the guys discuss factory performance upgrades and the benefits of OEM+. Ford is offering a plug-in engine and transmission upgrade that makes the 4 cylinder Bronco jump from 300 horsepower to a healthy 330 horsepower, matching that of the heavier, automatic only V6 Bronco. The fellas discuss the true potential and value available from Ford, when not a single bolt has to be removed and warranty stays intact.

Finally, we dive into the 80s, 90s and 2000s Pacific Northwest car scene with Buddha Matsui. Buddha takes us through his youth, highlighting influences that cultivated his love of cars and sharpened his business skills. Buddha opens up about his father and the influence his father not only had on him, but on the world of denim / fashion as well. Buddha discusses the early days of car cruises and the creation of Syndicate Car Club when he was a young man. He then draws connections from the past to today, as he brings to light the successes he has had in the recreational cannabis industry and how the mindset of the car club and car community that club built, he tries to instill into his business practices and life everyday.

Reach out to us at:

[email protected]

Reach out to Buddha M:

-The Aloha Friday project-

IG: @goldleaf420

Walt F.

IG: @Waffledesigns

Al-Michael F.

IG: @almichaelfranco

Garrett N.

IG: @g_rat206

The crew assembles this week to catch up with each other and the PNW car community at large. It's a big helping of Walt, Al and Garrett this week, starting with upcoming Namsayin events. The first being MiiR x Namsayin on October 15th, this event has been a long time coming and has taken a great deal of care, to create something truly special for the community. Specialty vehicle sized vessels with laser etched Namsayin logos will be available as well as steep discounts on all of MiiR products, while supplies last. Then, it's the Namsayin media release and community connections on November 6th. This special media release/community connections will be held at The Shop, in Sodo Seattle, and highlight the release of the Namsayin website, YouTube channel and other media platforms. Special merchandise will be available on sight and all members of the Namsayin team will be in attendance to share in the festivities.

Next up, new cars! Starting with the BMW XM, this all new, all M division SUV is set to hit the ground running as the first ever exclusive SUV from BMWs performance division. The guys discuss the hefty price tag and even heftier horsepower numbers. Walt talks design and where a car like this falls in today's current market and everyone gives their impression on what the future of M at BMW will be.

Continuing with new models, the fellas go down to the old Dodge saloon for last call. Dodge is rolling out 7 "last call" models that will cover both charger and challenge platforms. These are the fastest, widest, most unique packages Dodge has ever released and it seems that anything the brand teased over the years, will be offered on the final run of the Challenger/Charger. The boys discuss each model and highlight some of their personal favorites. The fellas round out the segment by talking about what something like this means for a brand such as dodge and what is the future of the electric muscle car?

Then it's catch up time, as the hosts open up about personal life, love and projects. The fellas discuss what projects each one has been working on, Al discusses his time on the race track with the GSR and what improvements are coming next, Walt talks about his century ride and Garrett discuss a 10 year RX7 project that is finally finished. Lastly the fellas answer some emails as well as some comments from listeners like you, thank you.

Reach out to us at

[email protected]

Walt F.

IG: Waffledesigns

Al-Michael F.

IG: almichaelfranco

Garrett N.

IG: g_rat206

Sonny DeVera and Robert Hibbitt aka “Bo” of Lifetime Car club join the boys in studio to talk about the way it was and the way things rolled back in the day. Before the Internet, and before cell phones.  Sonny and Bo first talk about what started their passion for not only cars but also community. What lead the first threads of Lifetime Car club to intertwine?  How did the club grow and organize? How did the communication in that Era work? What challenges were there in just wanting to hang out?

Then Sonny and Bo get into some stories from the past. Lifetime car club was the beat to its own rhythm. Sonny and Bo paint a vivid picture of the overlapping Hip Hop culture and movement that was taking place, how the car club and local legends, like Sir-Mix-Alot, tapped in together to create some of the vibes and cultural ideas found throughout the 90s. The club was featured in music videos; clients such as Snoop Dogg and other tapped individual members such as Tazroc for personal art and album work. It was a exciting time to say the least

Switching gears, Sonny is first in the hot seat as he enlightens the group to the world of car audio and car audio tuning. Sonny is still one of the best in the world when it comes to stereo tuning and he shares some insight into the world of competition sound.

Next the spotlight is on Bo, as he explains the paint game. What a true show winner will have when it come to paint and what types of techniques can be used to achieve the look your going for. Finally Bo talks about how he and Sonny are putting out knowledge to the younger generation. Trying to help young men and women learn these skilled trades and have a self-fulfilled and financially lucrative life.

Finally the tribe goes over the current car market. What will happen to the old school cars as parts become more rare and “newPop” parts are not up to the same standard/ quality? Wisdom and services to use to help you get a true car of your dreams that matches the numbers and what is available right now to get your hands on.

Encore: Our final segment is a photography share by Bo, as we try to describe and wrap our head around the most amazing photos from back in the last 80s.

Sonny DeVera:

[email protected]

IG: Sondizzle

Robert “Bo” Hibbitt

[email protected]

IG: @rhibbitt

The Podcast has a big first, as John Zuberek and Chloe Vazquez, of Griot’s Motors, join the fellas and Chloe is our first female guest! Griot’s motors is a specialty car garage the prides itself on placing owners with the most unique rides. On top of that Griot’s motors is an OVER restoration facility, capable of taking vehicles and restoring them past their original specs leaving nothing between you, the car, and the moment.

First the group talks about what brought both John and Chloe into the car world. What jobs and experiences lead them to the positions they find themselves in at Griot’s Motors today and what car builds in the past have shaped their choices in personal rides today

Then the talk turns personal as both John and Chloe open up about what it means to share a personal passionate relationship as well as a passion for cars. John talks about the Eve build, his red E30 M3, and how Chloe played a hand in it. Rounding out the segment with stories of how the whole car came together on a set of very specific wheels.

Next the topic lands on current cars and the car market as a whole. John has worked in car sales for over 15 years and has sold all types of vehicles, from high end exotics to rare spec muscle cars, John dives into what he believes the market is going to do and what cars to get your hands on now if you can.

Lastly, Chloe and John share with the group the inside day to day and of what makes Griot’s Motors tick. The restoration powerhouse plans on having cars at some of the most prestigious car shows in the country, including Monterey and Pebble beach. Chloe shares how running a complete marketing department for a shop so ambitious works, and what open events, Like Oktoberfest this weekend, Oct 1st 2022, do for the community at large.

Chloe can be reached

IG: chlolani / griotsmotors

John can be reached

IG: slowprogress

Griot’s Motors – 3625 S Warner Street, Tacoma, Wa 98409 / email: [email protected]

The guys are joined in studios by drift racer and b-boy extraordinaire Mark Dalisay AKA b-boy Gyroe. Radiologist by day and dedicated drift driver by night, the fellas dive into the journey that Mark took to get to the semi-professional circuit, what obstacles and triumphs lead him to where he is today and what is the future of racing in Mark’s eyes.

But first, new models! The fellas jump into the new OEM+ catalog from Honda for the type R and pick apart the must haves and the let it pass items. Then the guys review the price of the GR Corolla, a car that all the hosts have been looking forward to, now comes in with a sweet price as well, $36,500. The guys discuss which brand is giving you more of what you want for a better price.

The spot light then moves to Walt and Al as they give us feedback from their Nitto tire off-road event, highlighting Nitto tires new product, the Nomad Grappler. Walt explains some of the science and design behind the new tire and what Nitto Tire is trying to do in the 4x4 / off-road market, while Al goes over the experience of driving the tire and highlights some moments from the trail run, including some scrapes and high centers.

Finally we tell the tale of Mark Dalisay, Racer/B-boy/Drifter.  We go over all the aspects, both high and low, that made Mark the driver he is today.  What lessons he has taken away from a life spent sliding sideways, how community in different forms has helped shape his character as well as style of driving and what goals Mark has set for his bright future, both personally and with his drift team Level Up Drift

You can reach/ follow Mark: @gyroe.drift / @levelupdrift

Your fearless hosts are back, minus Al who was off celebrating all that is love and marriage. In his place is the one and only Micheal Bush, racing team owner, comic lover, amateur driver, expert fundraiser / logistic master and suicide survivor.

First the troupe starts off their convo with super cars, starting with the Bugatti la voiture noire and take a deep dive into the crazy $19 million dollar hyper tribute to the 57SC Atlantic, 16 cylinders, 4 turbos and a vast amount of styling make this one of the most incredible machines ever produced.  Then the guys’ head over to world famous Koenigsegg, where the automaker turned 50 and made a tribute to the first car Koenigsegg ever built, the CC8S back in 2002. It’s called the CC850 and at only 3.5 million it’s a steal compared to the Bugatti. The fellas discuss the power and technology that can be found in the new car, the design and styling cues taken from the original car and lastly a walk through all the wild bespoke items that Koenigsegg is inventing.

Second, the guys open the floor to Micheal Bush, September is Suicide awareness month and Micheal has a unique and personal experience with suicide, and the journey out of the darkness. Micheal shares his up bringing, personal family life and circumstances that lead to his choice to attempt to take his own life. The three discuss the journey Micheal took to find drive, community and personal success through the greater motorsport world. Micheal shares what changes he had to make and efforts he had to put in to achieve not only the success he has today, but, the positive out look on life he now carries forward and tries to instill in the world every day.

Micheal can be reached at the below links

IG: Trackspecdailydriver or Trackspecdd

IG: maxboostcomic

Honda.autocannon.com

And if you or any of your loved ones are contemplating suicide please reach for help by texting “HEAL” to the Crisis Text Line at 741741

or simply dial 988

The fellas are in studio and in rare form, starting with a recap of the Namsayin night cruise. From start to finish and all the details in between, Walt, Al and Garrett dive into what made the Namsayin night cruise such a movie level event. Play by play, hour by hour, if you missed it, you missed a once in a summer event, but don’t worry, the guys have all the highlights and stories to catch you up on the movement.

Then the guys jump into the world of car clubs. The bonds we form with our fellow petrol heads last generations, blossom into family and keep us all motoring. The guys discuss car clubs of the past and present, highlights of a life full of car club meets and competitions and what the Namsayin car club stands for.

Next up, the Los Angeles TAKEOVER busts! The boys discuss the LAPD crack down on takeovers. Over 80 citations given out in one night and 30 arrests, the guys discuss the moral sides of takeovers both good and bad. Each host weighs in on the “flash mob” mentality and what ripples are created from these types of behaviors.

In the corner of shame this week we find Hyundai and Kia. After praising Hyundai for its bold design and stunning power choices in the Vision N74, both brands are getting a wag of the finger for creating faulty electrical equipment that can spontaneously combust. The issue is in the wiring harness for the towing connection; so new palisade/telluride owners please park your cars outside for the time being.

Finally, it’s on to new models, starting with the 2023 Cadillac CT5-V wagon. With 668hp and a lower asking price than any of its competitors. Has Cadillac struck a new cord? The bargain grocery rocket comes with a new interior, that’s more refined and well orchestrated than wagon models of previous generations. Is Cadillac ready to challenge its European rivals to a long roof off? Then the fellas weigh in on a little local automotive headline making some national waves as our very own Bellevue Nissan here in Washington State has received a new Nissan Z model, one of the limited first editions, and promptly placed a $74,000 dealer mark-up on it. Each host gives their 2 cents about the $130,000 Z car that can be found right in our own back yard.

As always, email us at [email protected]