Spirit of Build

We catch up with Rob Riter, former Formula D Pro-Am champion (true) and Earthworm Jim stuntman (false). We discuss what it was like being around during the dark days of drifting, the early days at Touge Factory, and how he ended up in Japan for a few years, before ultimately landing in Hawaii. Then, we talk about what he's been up to the last decade since he's returned to America. 

At some point, we cover how he went from a Miata in Chicago to a S15 Silvia in Japan, only to get a LHD 240SX because he couldn't use a RHD e-brake. Ridiculous. 😂 

We mainly catch up on life and what he's been up to the last ten years. We plot on how to pawn off our kids to our parents, so we have a liquor-filled vacation in Japan and Korea. Then, we just get drunk and gush over what's been happening in Chicago since we both left.

Smoke Wagon Desert Jewel - Rob: B+, Hoeun: A-, Earl: B+

Blanton's (Takara Red) - Rob: B-, Hoeun: A-, Earl: B

Whistlepig The Boss Hog VI: Samurai Scientist - Rob: A, Hoeun: A, Earl: A-

#👻 #clubfr #nb #miata #mx5 #s13 #s15 #240sx #silvia #smokewagon #desertjewel #blantons #takara #whistlepig #bosshog #samuraiscientist

Young Simbarashe hails all the way from Zimbabwe via London. He's the smartest African I know by far (1/3). I met the young cub (you see what I did there) back when he had a purple hatch. It was cursed. We share a love for Nando's chicken but only in England. We go way back so we talk a lot of nonsense in this one, like how him being an ex-Grip Gambler ruined Proceed's perfect Four Roses marketing opportunity.  Since we suck at podcasting we forgot to record the whiskies letter grades, so here they are (surprisingly, Hoeun came up with identical scores independently:  Willett Family Estate 5 Year Bourbon B+ Matsui The Peated: C- (D- from Earl) Four Roses: B- (C+ from Earl)  You can say I'm a bitter Asian dad.  #👻 #clubfr​ #s13​ #willett​ #wfe​ #matsui​ #peated​ #fourroses​ #whisky​ #chicago

We start episode one with Phillip Lee aka ClubFR Phill aka 2L because for some reason, he spells Phil with two L's. (You'll eventually learn everyone in Chicago drifting is named Phillip, Rob, Dave, or Eric, so they all have their own nicknames 😂). The guy is a professional photographer (but you'll have to hear about that on another podcast), an entrepreneur, and all-around goofball. Between my internet connection cutting out and the whiskey arriving late, he and Hoeun completely derail the interview I had planned but c'est la vie. Please excuse the sound quality, not sure what's causing it.

We get into some deep cuts on the origins of street drifting in Chicago, starting from R3 with @revgasm_josh and #johnams to how ClubFR was founded; his 3rd AE86 Corolla and how that came to an end; why there was such a long gap between owning his 3rd and 4th AE86; and what the 4th AE86 means to him... eventually.

Since I shipped out his whisky late, it arrived mid-episode but we try Taketsuru Pure Malt (Phill's choice), Hibiki Japanese Harmony (what I think represents the build), and Jameson x Revolution Brewing IPA Caskmates, basically Jamo aged in an old Revolution Brewing IPA barrel (a classic with a Chicago twist).

#👻 #clubfr #ae86 #nikka #taketsuru #hibiki #jameson #revolution #revolutionbrewing #whisky #beer #ipa #chicago

This week, I interview Hoeun, my producer and co-host. We've known each other for over twenty years, but this is the first (or third) time we've actually had an interview with each other. It was a dumpster fire. He just gets me so off topic, I can never just get through a straight interview 🤣  We drink New Riff Rye, mainly because it's a solid, but relatively new player in the industry, not unlike us in the podcast space. We forgot to give it a rating in this recording, but Hoeun gives it a solid B. I give it a B+.

Arbitrage (noun): the simultaneous buying and selling of securities, currency, or commodities in different markets or in derivative forms in order to take advantage of differing prices for the same asset.  We discuss alternative investments, what we consider life-changing money, and why even after you have life-changing money, you still get another 128i M-Sport.

#👻 #spiritofbuild #bmw #newriff

What is Spirit of Build? Simply, it's a podcast about whiskey and wheels. Yet, we struggle to explain the show and for me to introduce myself. This was a terrible idea...

Bottled-in-Bond: to be labeled as bottled-in-bond or bonded, the liquor must be the product of one distillation season, by one distiller at one distillery. It must be aged in a federally bonded warehouse under U.S. government supervision for at least four years and bottled at 100 (U.S.) proof (50% alcohol by volume). The bottled product's label must identify the distillery where it was distilled and, if different, where it was bottled. Only spirits produced in the United States may be designated as bonded.

Lee Myung-Bak: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lee_Myung-bak

My cousin's song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pgM-zxN-gdw

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A short teaser of what to expect from the show.