The Bucket Seat

I had a chance to sit down with Lane Skelton of Driving While Awesome, the day before the most epic of car shows I've ever been to, and it goes by the name of Radwood. This was only the second, of what I expect to be many. The cars were staggeringly cool. Some wildly rare in their vintage, and others simply badass mementos to a generation some of us hold near and dear to our hearts. In this episode you'll get a chance to understand Lanes perspective on how he, and the DWA crew have approached Radwood, Cars & Coffee, the Costal Range Rally, and of course their very own very awesome, twice weekly podcast. Lane and I were sitting down at Cerveteca, a patio bar in Venice Beach, so you'll get a distinct ambiance that I think was fitting for this one. I was also rolling off a wicked cold, and into a night of brutal flu - so bare with me!

Mark was on the show for episode 19, which ended up being two parts. Throughout that episode we learned about how Mark got into cars, and how Targa Truck evolved into the beast that it is. In this episode, we get a glimpse into 3 major events that Mark had visited and documented just recently; The Optima Ultimate Street Car Challenge, Pikes Peak, and Sema. To end it off we hear a bit more about that crazy machine of his, Targa Truck.

In this episode I embark upon another $15k Used Car Challenge. I take 15 minutes to find 15 cars for $15k or less. To remind everyone, the reason I'm doing this is because I'm always told that fun cars are SO expensive. Guess what, $15k isn't a drop in the bucket, but it also isn't an absolute fortune - and there are many cars to be had for this budget! Enjoy!

In this chat with Laurance we start out with the move he recently made at Pfaff automotive, to become Creative Director. Some of the inspiring things Pfaff is doing these days thats influencing the companies direction, are now under Laurance's careful control. We move on to discuss the great vehicles he's recently been in.... the likes of a McLaren 720s, and the Pfaff Commissioned 911 by Singer. And then we move completely in a different direction, and talk about the $10k race car challenge they've put on for the various Pfaff Auto dealerships across Ontario.Lastly we talk about Radwood2, LA,  Singer, Icon, Magnus Walker - and Laurances connection to all those great folks!

This is episode 32 of The Bucket Seat podcast, and I have my first discussion with automotive journalist Its Sami Haj-Assaad!Previously the Features Editor at AutoGuide, but on the eve of this recording, Sami is officially the Road Test Editor for Autoguide.  On top of that gig, he's also the co-host of his own podcast, The Unnamed Automotive Podcast. Highly recomended!In this episode Sami gives us a glimpse inside the life of an automotive journalist. We get into how he started into journalims, who he looks up to, and then some really valuable tips on how he digs for and shares stories. If there are any ambitious listeners out there that want to become a journalist, this is certainly an episode to listen to, start to finish.Enjoy!

I've started a quick fire impression format, and this is the first of what I hope are many, Jaguar F-Pace R-Sport......I wasn't in love at first, but listen in to find out how the romance evolved.

In this episode I had the opportunity to speak with Justin Sookraj of Wells Auto. Justin is a fascinating guy, with a very clear passion, for unique things in the automotive world. Tune in to learn about his exploits in the world of the Delorean DMC-12, and a few great Hondas and Acuras he has. Wells Auto knows what they're up to!Find Justin: www.wellsauto.caIG: @wellsauto.ca

I'm lucky enough to have the one and only Laurance Yap back onto the show for the second time. I was nervous enough the first time I had him on the show that I forgot to start where I start with everyone: The spark that got them into cars.

In this episode I have Friend of the show, Phil Oliveira, back on for a chat about what they're up to these days at drivermod, This includes some of the reviews they've done (including the highly acclaimed Golf R), the basics of how to get into LeMons or Chumpcar in Canada, and a full update on Phils EcoTec Miata. We end the episode off on the topic of Safety and driving aids, and how they are beginning to effect high performance driving days in the BMW community. I'ts certainly something we'll see more and more of as cars are adorned with the nannies we've come to hate, and love.

In this episode we bring back the fifteen thousand dollar used car Challenge. However, in this one, we solely focus on convertibles. Most of you know that drop tops aren't my fave, but after many years of searching, I have to admit that you can find some pretty good value in them if you look closely.