The Weekly Driver Podcast

Chris Bright is a vintage car enthusiast with an empathetic ear toward other automotive fanciers who can have difficulty finding parts for their unique vehicles. Or maybe they have a garage full of parts and don't know what to do with the load.

To help, Bright recently debuted CollectorPartExchange.com. It's a modern-day swap meet. As the site is promoted it's "Open 24/7/365 and spans the globe. Oh, and the weather is always perfect."

Bright, a competitive age-group cyclist who lives in Portland, Oregon, is our guest on Episode #190 of The Weekly Driver Podcast.

Collector Part Exchange is a new online automotive resource.

Co-hosts Bruce Aldrich and James Raia discuss with Bright the idea for Collector Part Exchange and the impressive response it's received in its short time online.

Collector Part Exchange

"We have thousands of rare, authentic, and remanufactured parts," the site details. "Plus, we welcome project cars, automobilia, and services too."

As Bright further explains on the site:

"Time to get real. You're not using all the parts you've been saving, and someone out there needs them. Why not list them in minutes, for free? You'll have shelf and floor space, and cash - to buy parts you can use now." Win-win."

Collector Part Exchange also features a Part Ping. It's the site's part locator.

The site's text explains: "Can't find what you need Use Part Ping and we’ll see if we can find it for you through our network. The cost? Nada."

In its brief time online, the site's offerings have become increasingly varied. How about a 9000cc Marine Motor? Or maybe you're seeking a 1955 Chevy Body Shell or an original Porsche 356-B Original Speedometer?

Bright explains how Collector Part Exchange works including the key FAQs: It's free to post on the site and the site receives five percent commission on transactions.

Please join Bruce and me for a lively 30 minutes with Chris Bright. And if you're considering buying or selling, car stuff, check out CollectorPartExchange.com.

The Weekly Driver Podcast encourages and appreciates feedback from our listeners. Please forward episode links to family, friends and colleagues. And you are welcome to repost links from the podcast to your social media accounts.

Support our podcast by shopping on Amazon.com.

Please send comments and suggestions for new episodes to James Raia via email: [email protected]. All podcast episodes are archived on theweeklydriver.com/podcast

Every episode is also available on your preferred podcast platform:

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Stitcher

Sandra Button has judged thousands of cars, Bentley to Bugatti, Maserati to Mercedes-Benz. But a masterpiece from yesteryear can still give the chairwoman of the Pebble Beach Concours a jolt.

It happens early Sunday mornings when 200 cars emerge at Pebble Beach Golf Links for the annual homage to automotive beauty and tradition.

"I have seen cars drive onto the field from the mist and thought, 'that's the one; that's got a run for the roses,' "said Button. Sometimes, I'm right and sometimes I'm not. Sometimes, they don't even make it out of their class.

Sandra Button is celebrating her 35th anniversary as chairwoman of the Pebble Beach Concours.

"But I've been surprised many, many times seeing a car come around the corner onto the field and saying, ‘wow, what is that?' It didn't translate in a photo. It's the stance, the height and everything about the car."

Button, celebrating her 35th year as the event's chairwoman is our guest this week on The Weekly Driver Podcast.

Pebble Beach Concours: 70th anniversary

Co-host Bruce Aldrich and James Raia talk with Button about the upcoming Monterey Auto Week and the enduring status of the Pebble Beach Concours.

While Button celebrates her anniversary, the event is celebrating its 70th anniversary.

"One of the things that's pretty neat about the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance is that our roots are definitely in motorsport," said Button. "Actually, as we are celebrating 70 years of the Pebble Beach Concours we are also celebrating 70 years of the Pebble Beach Races, which really were the star of the show in 1950."

"The Concours was honestly just an afterthought. The races were the show and all the attention was on that. But we thought, 'Let's kick tires and talk cars after the races are done.' "

Sandra Button, chairwoman of the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance.

To commemorate the occasion, the Concours d'Elegance will include a Reunion Class. So far, 40 of the best of show winners will return. The vehicles will be showcased on the golf course paralleling the Pacific Ocean.

"You can imagine what that's going to be like seeing what the tastes were back in the day," said Button. “Was it a more formal, bigger car? Or was it more of a French coachwork or European coachwork? They'll all be there."

John Kraman spends his work career immersed in automotive auctions. He's the lead TV commentator and analyst for NBCSN during Mecum Auction broadcasts. He can barely curb his enthusiasm.

There's no doubt the broadcaster is ready for the return of the three-day Mecum Auction during Classic Car Week beginning Aug. 12.

A vintage Rolls-Royce on the carpet during the Mecum Auctions three-day sale in Monterey Auto Week. Image © James Raia/2018.

Kraman is my guest on this episode of The Weekly Driver Podcast. Co-host Bruce Aldrich is on vacation, so Kraman and I discuss the upcoming Mecum Auction during Monterey Auto Week.

"This pandemic really hasn't slowed us down," said Kraman. "We have been on the go. Our foot has been on the gas pedal, making adjustments to scheduling and having some safety issues we've had to deal with at the venues.

Mecum Auctions Monterey: "Reset the Bar."

"It looks like a lot of that has started to relax a bit and we are starting to get back to the way things used to be. I have to tell you, man, the upcoming Monterey auction is really about to reset the bar. It's such a high profile and important event."

Mecum Auctions will return to Monterey following a late July auction in Orlando, Florida. Mecum calls the occasion a "pickup auction.”

The mix of a sale at Mecum Auctions during Monterey Auto Week. Image © Bruce Aldrich/2018.

In previous years, the time slot would be reserved for an auction in Harrisburg, Pa. The city plans to return to the Mecum Auctions auction rotation in 2022.

"I have to confess, I have to tell you as much excitement as there is toward Orlando, it's really all about Monterey in my mind at this point," said Kraman.

Mecum's auction at the Hyatt Regency is among its smallest with 600 vehicles. But its average price per sale is annually the company's highest.

Kraman is my guest for third time. Here are links to previous occasions:

Episode #95: Mecum Auctions defines fun during Monterey Auto Week

Episode #45: Fast and Furious Monterey Auctions returns to Monterey

The Weekly Driver Podcast encourages and appreciates feedback from our listeners. Please forward episode links to family, friends and colleagues. And you are welcome to repost links from the podcast to your social media accounts. The idea of more eyeballs on more content works for us.

Support our podcast by shopping on Amazon.com. A graphic display at the bottom of the post links to automotive selections of the online retailer. But there's also a search function for anything available directly from the site.

If you shop via this site, we receive a small commission. It helps us continue to produce independent content. The site began in 2004 and includes more than 700 reviews.

The podcast is in its third year, and we've had a diverse collection of guests — famous athletes, vintage car collectors, manufacturer CEOs, automotive book authors, industry analysts, a movie stuntman and episodes from auto shows and car auctions.

Please send comments and suggestions for new episodes to James Raia via email: [email protected].

All podcast episodes are archived on theweeklydriver.com/podcast

Every episode is also available on your preferred podcast platform. Several of the more prominent platforms are listed below.

Amazon.com

Google Play

iheartradio

iTunes

Spotify

Tesla innovation has changed the automotive world with a lot of industry firsts. Its latest designation is the top spot on the latest American Made Index (AMI).

Introduced 16 years ago by the editors of Cars.com, the AMI analyzes a range of factors to determine the  percentage of new cars and trucks made American

The Tesla Model 3 has a new title: the most Anerican made

Kelsey Mays, the assistant managing editor at the online motoring website that debuted in 1998, is our guest on this episode of The Weekly Driver Podcast. He discusses with co-hosts Bruce Aldrich and James Raia the latest index result and Tesla's top spot.

"We like to think that the index is fairly relevant," says Mays, a staffer since 2006. "When we survey consumers this year we found out 72 percent said that the domestic nature of a vehicle is an important part of their shopping position."

"The whole point of it is to really help the consumer deduce what the economic contribution to a given vehicle he or she may buy turn out to be."

Tesla Gets Top American Made Honors

Using a five-point criteria, the Tesla Model 3 became the first electric vehicle to claim the top sport considering where a vehicle is assembled to the amount of American and Canadian made parts. Three other components of what Mays calls a matrix also determine the index rankings.

The top-five positions on the AMI for 2021 include: Tesla Model 3 (Fremont, California), Ford Mustang (Flat Rock, Michigan), Tesla Model Y (Fremont, California), Jeep Cherokee (Belvidere, Illinois) and Chevrolet Corvette (Bowling Green, Kentucky).

According to the AMI findings, 68 percent of car shoppers said they would consider an electric or hybrid vehicle as their next car. Additionally, 29 percent of respondents found it unpatriotic not to buy American.

Please join co-hosts Bruce Aldrich and James Raia and Mays as we examine this year's ratings, including some surprising results as well as what Tesla's designation means to the auto industry.

Visit Cars.com to read the complete index.

The Weekly Driver Podcast encourages and appreciates feedback from our listeners. Please forward episode links to family, friends and colleagues. And you are welcome to repost links from the podcast to your social media accounts. The idea of more eyeballs on more content works for us.

Support our podcast by shopping on Amazon.com. A graphic display at the bottom of the post links to automotive selections of the online retailer. But there's also a search function for anything available directly from the site.

If you shop via this site, we receive a small commission. It helps us continue to produce independent content. The site began in 2004 and includes more than 700 reviews.

The podcast is in its third year, and we've had a diverse collection of guests — famous athletes, vintage car collectors, manufacturer CEOs, automotive book authors, industry analysts, a movie stuntman and episodes from auto shows and car auctions.

Please send comments and suggestions for new episodes to James Raia via email: [email protected].

All podcast episodes are archived on theweeklydriver.com/podcast

Every episode is also available on your preferred podcast platform. Several of the more prominent platforms are listed below.

Amazon.com

Google Play

iheartradio

iTunes

Spotify

Tim McGrane has a long, varied career in the automotive industry. It's steered him to his current role as the CEO of M1 Concourse in Pontiac, Michigan. The 87-acre playground for auto enthusiasts includes the world’s largest community of Private Garages and a 1.5-mile Performance Track with its own private Motorsports Club.

A native of England whose previous experience tenures at Blackhawk Museum in Danville, California, and WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, McGrane is my guest this week on The Weekly Driver Podcast. Co-host Bruce Aldrich is on assignment.

The M1 Concourse in Pontiac, Michigan is back with a full calendar of events for the 2021 season.

McGrane assumed his latest position in March and like the management of other automotive facilities, M1 Concourse has had to adapt its business during the Covid-19 pandemic.

M1 Concourse, with proper protocols, is now ready for its full season of activities, and we discuss it during Episode No. 186.

In the current issue of his regular online newsletter, McGrane describes M1 as "a place where enthusiasts can keep, show and exercise their vehicles in the company of other enthusiasts and enjoy unforgettable experiences in a social setting unavailable to people who keep their cars at home or in a traditional storage facility."

A Family Affair

"In short, M1 Concourse is the epicenter of all things automotive in metro Detroit and provides the largest concentration of auto enthusiasts in the world a venue to enjoy their passion with friends and family."

A new featured event this season is the Woodward Dream Show, August 19-21. The gathering was initiated to complement the famed Woodward Dream Cruise with historic and legendary hot rods and muscle cars on display.

This year's schedule also includes Motor Bella (September 21-26) and the American Speed Festival (Sept. 30-Oct. 3). The remaining M1 Cars & Coffee are scheduled July 24, Sept. 4. and Oct. 16.

The M1 Concourse in Pontiac, Michigan, is the hub for regional and international motorsports activities.

McGrane details all of M1 Concourse events and his experience in his new role at the five-year-old facility. Event specifics are available here: m1concourse.com.

The Weekly Driver Podcast encourages and appreciates feedback from our listeners. Please forward episode links to family, friends and colleagues. And you are welcome to repost links from the podcast to your social media accounts. The idea of more eyeballs on more content works for us.

Support our podcast by shopping on Amazon.com. A graphic display at the bottom of the post links to automotive selections of the online retailer. But there's also a search function for anything available directly from the site.

If you shop via this site, we receive a small commission. It helps us continue to produce independent content. The site began in 2004 and includes more than 700 reviews.

The podcast is in its third year, and we've had a diverse collection of guests: famous athletes, vintage car collectors, manufacturer CEOs, automotive book authors, industry analysts, a movie stuntman and episodes from auto shows and car auctions.

Please send comments and suggestions for new episodes to James Raia via email: [email protected]. All podcast episodes are archived on theweeklydriver.com/podcast

Every episode is also available on your preferred podcast platform. Several of the more prominent platforms are listed below.

Amazon.com

Google Play

iheartradio

iTunes

Spotify;

Motorcycle racing and lots of related activities will add to the always-full calendar of motorsports with the debut of West Coast Bike Week at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca.

The community-focused, 10 days of racing and fan interaction will be geared toward those who enjoy all things on two wheels.

Barry Toepke, Director of Heritage Events & Public Relations for the raceway, is our guest on this episode of The Weekly Driver Podcast.

The inaugural West Coast Bike Week will be held July 9-18 at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca and other Monterey Peninsula locations.

Co-hosts James Raia and Bruce Aldrich discuss with Toepke the new series as the racetrack's future as pandemic restrictions have been upgraded.

Activities will begin July 9 at the MotoAmerica in downtown Pacific Grove from 5-9 p.m. The new showcase of events will be highlighted by the GEICO Motorcycle MotoAmerica Superbike Speedfest at Monterey, July 9-11, followed by exciting vintage racing with the AHRMA Classic Motofest of Monterey, July 16-18.

West Coast Bike Week: Family Fun

"It's going to be fantastic," said Toepke of the Superbike Speedfest. "They were here last year during the pandemic to a close paddock and had some super racing.

"There were some people who came into the park to watch. But now that we are open to the public, we are selling tickets. As of now, we are open and mask-free for those people who are vaccinated. We are excited."

For the Pacific Grove event, Lighthouse Avenue will be shut down between Forest Avenue and Congress Avenue, where live music, merchandise and other surprises await at this free event that is presented by the Pacific Grove Chamber of Commerce. Fans are encouraged to bring their motorcycles to help launch West Coast Bike Week.

The inaugural West Coast Bike Week will be held July 9-18 at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca and other Monterey Peninsula locations.

Toepke is enthusiastic about all things at Laguna Seca, but he stressed the unique "bagger" competition. It's called "King of the Baggers." Harley-Davidson and Indian touring bikes – complete with saddlebags – compete.

"To see these bikes go through the corkscrew and accelerate out of that is something you actually have to see," said Toepke. "It will bring a smile to your face. People are enjoying their bikes."

During the podcast, the co-hosts and Toepke also discuss the year-long calendar and the new racetrack management. It has revitalized the racing calendar and improved marketing, public relations and community outreach programs at the famed track and surrounding recreational area.

Please join for a comprehensive look at the new West Coast Bike Week in Episode #185

For additional information on West Coast Bike Week, visit: www.weathertechraceway.com.

The Weekly Driver Podcast encourages and appreciates feedback from our listeners. Please forward episode links to family, friends and colleagues. And you are welcome to repost links from the podcast to your social media accounts. The idea of more eyeballs on more content works for us.

Support our podcast by shopping on Amazon.com. A graphic display at the bottom of the post links to automotive selections of the online retailer. But there's also a search function for anything available directly from the site.

If you shop via this site, we receive a small commission. It helps us continue to produce independent content. The site began in 2004 and includes more than 700 reviews.

The podcast is in its third year, and we've had a diverse collection of guests — famous athletes, vintage car collectors, manufacturer CEOs, automotive book authors, industry analysts, a movie stuntman and episodes from auto shows and car auctions.

Please send comments and suggestions for new episodes to James Raia via email: [email protected].

All podcast episodes are archived on theweeklydriver.com/podcast

Every episode is also available on your preferred podcast platform. Several of the more prominent platforms are listed below.

Amazon.com

Google Play

iheartradio

iTunes

Spotify

Monterey Auto Week. Monterey Car Week. Classic Car Week. By any name, the now nearly two-week presentation of all things automotive will be back in mid-August.

After a one-year hiatus because of the Covid-19 pandemic, most of the usual annual attractions — shows to auctions, speakers' forums to memorabilia — will unfold throughout the Monterey Peninsula.

Andrew Herrala and Kim Foxx own Ferrari Literature and will also organize this year's memorabilia show during Monterey Auto Week. Images © James Raia/2019

Recently approved as an indoor show, the Automobilia Pop-Up Show, with a new one-year-only husband-wife organization team, will be held Aug. 10-11 at Embassy Suites in Seaside.

Monterey Auto Week Is Back

While long-time show organizer Everett Anton "Tony" Singer (www.vintageautoposters.com) continues plans for a full-field 2022 return, Andrew Herrala and his wife Kim Foxx will coordinate this year's edition. It will include about 25 vendors of memorabilia — hood ornaments to owner manuals, vintage scale models to apparel, books to keychains.

Herrala is my guest this week on The Weekly Driver Podcast. Co-host Bruce Aldrich is on vacation, but my guest, a Ferrari memorabilia expert, and I discuss all things auto memorabilia.

Herrala and Foxx own Ferrari Literature (www.ferrariliterature.com). It caters to owners of the Italian supercar seeking the vehicles' often rare paperwork as well as a kaleidoscope of other Ferrari-related stuff.

We discuss the increased interest in automotive memorabilia and how interest changes in different parts of the country. We talk about fraud in auto memorabilia collecting and how the industry changed during the pandemic.

Robert Carter, who creates large-sized automobile-themed paintings, in his studio in Chico, California, will return to Monterey Auto Week.

As a long-time freelance writer for the Monterey Herald, I first interviewed Herrala two years ago, the first year the memorabilia event had expanded to three days.

“We have factory, original printed literature for Ferraris,” Herrala said on the show’s opening day in 2019. “You can get some of this stuff online, but you have to be careful it’s authentic. Some guys are real sticklers. If you have a ’65 car, you don’t want a ’67 manual. You want all the details perfect.”

Herrala has been involved with Ferrari for years and has owned several of the supercars. He's traveled to memorabilia shows around the country. Pouches, brochures, manuals, dealer directories, posters, books, parts and tools, posters, yearbooks and other collectibles are all offered beginning from 1947 models.

While smaller this year, many of the regular vendors will be back, including Robert Carter, who owns Carter Artworks.

Carter’s paintings, which range from $5,000 to $20,000 are often sold to museums, restaurants, homeowners and, of course, vintage car owners. He also sells limited edition posters.

“I did fruit labels for about 12 years,” Carter in 2019. “I was still a motorcycle nut and into cars, so one day I just took a fruit truck label and instead of oranges, and put a Ferrari in there. It looked much better. This (a painting of a red Ferrari) is the best canned tomato label you’ll ever see.”

Please join me for comprehensive 30 minutes all about automotive memorabilia on episode #184 of The Weekly Driver Podcast.

Our podcast encourages and appreciates feedback from our listeners. Please forward episode links to family, friends and colleagues. And you are welcome to repost links from the podcast to your social media accounts. The idea of more eyeballs on more content works for us.

Support our podcast by shopping on Amazon.com. A graphic display at the bottom of the post links to automotive selections of the online retailer. But there's also a search function for anything available directly from the site.

If you shop via this site, we receive a small commission. It helps us continue to produce independent content. The site began in 2004 and includes more than 700 reviews.

The podcast is in its third year, and we've had a diverse collection of guests — famous athletes, vintage car collectors, manufacturer CEOs, automotive book authors, industry analysts, a movie stuntman and episodes from auto shows and car auctions.

Please send comments and suggestions for new episodes to James Raia via email: [email protected].

All podcast episodes are archived on theweeklydriver.com/podcast

Every episode is also available on your preferred podcast platform. Several of the more prominent platforms are listed below.

Amazon.com

Google Play

iheartradio

iTunes

Spotify

Proud car owners aren't often at a loss for words. It's part of the enjoyment of sharing artwork of wheels. The artists at Respoke Collection offer another way to showcase a favorite machine or a showroom full of automobiles or motorcycles.

Forward a quality image online to the company's online presence, and it will return a vehicle rendering on canvas or on paper in dimensions as large as 24x36. It's an ideal, unique Father's Day gift for the car collector in the family.

A 1959 Bug is the subject of a new offering from Respoke Collection.

On this episode of The Weekly Driver Podcast, co-hosts Bruce Aldrich and James Raia discuss Father's Day gifts for auto enthusiasts.

We start with the Respoke Collection.

According to the website, here's how the idea works: Find the best photo of the car you're looking to print. The image can be taken from any angle but with clear quality and lighting.A new book on the history of the Ford Model T is an ideal Father's Day gift.

Respoke Collection's designers will recreate a detailed illustration. Customers approve the rendering with unlimited revisions from printing on canvas or poster. All pieces include hanging hardware and an acrylite front protector. Framed posters feature black frames made from semi-hardwood alder wood. Canvas prints have oak frames.

All artwork is made in the United States. Company response occurs within 24 hours with a three-day turnaround on designs. Secure checkout is done via Shopify. Visit: respokecollection.com for sizes and various collections.

We also discuss several books perfect for Father's Day, June 20. Here's a synopsis of a few gift options:

Here are three other Father's Day gift ideas for automotive enthusiasts:

A new book on the history of the Ford Model T is an ideal Father's Day book.

* Chas Parker is a long-time motor racing enthusiast and veteran motorsports and historic racing car author. He has a new title: Ford Model T an Enthusiast’s Guide 1908 to 1927.

The model T, according to the book's marketing, transformed American society. It brought mobility through car ownership to millions of middle-class Americans when horses and the railroad were previously the only viable means of transportation.

The author, who has also has written about Jaguar, Buggati and Lola, among other topics, explains how arguably the most influential car in history was made on assembly lines. An estimated 16.5 million model Ts were made between 1908 and 1927. The 160-page book includes more than 220 images.

Carmaker Henry Ford's legacy was astonishing. By 1918, half of the cars built in American were Model Ts. About 8,000 made daily. The selection of body styles varied from two-and four-seat open and closed models – tourers, town cars, runabouts, landaulets, cabriolets, vans and pick-up trucks.

The iconic vehicle's racing history and the restoration projects of three England-based Model T owners provide more further context of the car's importance. Visit: www.quartoknows.com or online booksellers.

BMW has a new line of sunglasses.

* Vehicle technology is ever-advancing, but it has drawbacks. Navigation systems and other infotainment visuals aren't always legible with polarization and other eyewear features. The new BMW Eyewear Drop Collection is optimized with a polarization filter. It allows clear views of LCD screen map road signs and other environment details pending on the road.

Developed by Dalloz Creations, the sunglasses, launched this summer, are integrated with Vi/ON lenses. They reduce the polarization filter and protect again intense forms of glare.

A wide range of modern and easy-to-wear men's and unisex models are available and are offered with the BMW community and followers in mind. They're sunglasses for drivers. Styles range from sporty to youthful, with racing-inspired color-block combinations and dynamic profiles. Visit: www.shopbmwusa.com.

The Weekly Driver Podcast encourages and appreciates feedback from our listeners. Please forward episode links to family, friends and colleagues. And you are welcome to repost links from the podcast to your social media accounts. The idea of more eyeballs on more content works for us.

Support our podcast by shopping on Amazon.com. A graphic display at the bottom of the post links to automotive selections of the online retailer. But there's also a search function for anything available directly from the site.

If you shop via this site, we receive a small commission. It helps us continue to produce independent content. The site began in 2004 and includes more than 700 reviews.

The podcast is in its third year, and we've had a diverse collection of guests — famous athletes, vintage car collectors, manufacturer CEOs, automotive book authors, industry analysts, a movie stuntman and episodes from auto shows and car auctions.

Please send comments and suggestions for new episodes to James Raia via email: [email protected].

All podcast episodes are archived on theweeklydriver.com/podcast

Every episode is also available on your preferred podcast platform. Several of the more prominent platforms are listed below.

Amazon.com

Google Play

iheartradio

iTunes

Spotify

Many cars have failed, but none quite like the Edsel. Scott Gunnari knows all the stories. But the vintage car collector enjoys the car named after Henry Ford's his son as much as any collector of any brand.

Gunnari, the lead inspector for Page One Automotive, the automotive fleet and event management service company in Brisbane, California, has had six of the much-maligned machines in his collection. He now owns three.

1958 Edsel. The car was only made for three years.

Gunnari is our guest this week on Episode #182 of The Weekly Driver Podcast.

Co-hosts Bruce Aldrich and James Raia talk with Gunnari about three his 1958 Edsels: a Corsair 4-door and Pacer 2-door and 4-door. He also owned a 1958 Bermuda nine-passenger wagon, which he sold about three years ago to another Edsel enthusiast.

'It's Weird; That's Why I Like.'

"I've been an Edsel nut for years," said Gunnari. "It started at a very young age. I was about 7 or 8 years old when the Edsel came out. I was fascinated by the design. It was so different than anything else. It was weird and that's what I liked about it."

"The three that I have I would say are in various states of disrepair I like to say rather than show cars or even driver quality at this point. They're projects and I seem to have an affinity for that sort of thing, for bringing a car back to life, making it a decent driver and enjoying it."

The Edsel was short-lived but has a following among vintage car collectors, including Scott Gunnari.

Edsel vehicles were manufactured from in model years 1958-1960 and were developed in an effort to give Ford a fourth brand to gain additional market share from Chrysler and General Motors.

"It was just mistimed," said Gunnari of Edsel's short tenure. "There are many, many reasons for the demise. One of the major reasons is that it came out at the wrong time. It was too late. If it had come out in 1955, we might still have an Edsel. But it was late in 1957 and there was a recession."

Please join Bruce and me for an entertaining conversation about Edsel. We encourage and appreciate feedback from our listeners. Please forward episode links to family, friends and colleagues. And you are welcome to repost links from the podcast to your social media accounts. The idea of more eyeballs on more content works for us.

Support our podcast by shopping on Amazon.com. A graphic display at the bottom of the post links to automotive selections of the online retailer. But there's also a search function for anything available directly from the site.

If you shop via this site, we receive a small commission. It helps us continue to produce independent content. The site began in 2004 and includes more than 700 reviews.

The podcast is in its third year, and we've had a diverse collection of guests: famous athletes, vintage car collectors, manufacturer CEOs, automotive book authors, industry analysts, a movie stuntman and episodes from auto shows and car auctions.

Please send comments and suggestions for new episodes to James Raia via email: [email protected].

All podcast episodes are archived on theweeklydriver.com/podcast

Every episode is also available on your preferred podcast platform. Several of the more prominent platforms are listed below.

Amazon.com

Google Play

iheartradio

iTunes

Spotify

Dr. Katia Nicolet, a marine biologist, is part of two, five-person crews rotating on board the Energy Observer. The self-sufficient, 100-foot catamaran is the first round-the-world, hydrogen-powered sea vessel. It's a working lab designed to showcase zero-emission technologies and demonstrate that clean energies can be accessible to everyone.

As part of its six-year odyssey, the Energy Observer arrived in early May on Pier 9 in San Francisco about two weeks after entering the United States in Long Beach, California.

The Energy Observer is on a global voyage to promote zero-emission technologies  All images © Bruce Aldrich/2021

Nicolet, who has been involved with the project for about a year, is our guest on this episode of The Weekly Driver Podcast.

After joining several other guests for Nicolet's extensive tour of the vessel, co-hosts Bruce Aldrich and James Raia interviewed our host about a wide range of topics — sustainable energy to living on the ocean for extended durations.

Dr. Katia Nicolet, a marine biologist, is a crew member on the Energy Observer.

"Everything is covered in solar panels and looks black," said Nicolet at the beginning of our podcast recorded in a makeshift sit-in area on the pier and among storage containers. "The primary source of our electricity comes from the solar panels.

Energy Observer: Six-Year Worldwide Voyage

"The main goal here is to be fully autonomous in energy and to go around the world only using renewable energy and hydrogen and not a single emission of C02 or any other kind of greenhouse gasses."

The Catamaran is a hybrid-propelled vessel. It also has two sails, described by Nicolet as "more like wings."

The hydrogen fuel tanks on the Energy Observer.

"Let's say if we have 10 or 15 knots of wind, we are able to sail with what we call ocean wings," she explained.

Energy Observer began its voyage in Saint-Malo, France in 2017. It has navigated more than 30,000 nautical miles.

While two crews rotate about every six weeks, each five-person team includes a captain, engineer, a reporter, a scientist and boatswain, who Nicolet describes as "kind of the Swiss Army Knife of the ship." All crews share duties, cooking to cleaning.

The Energy Observer is about 100 feet long and has two "wing sails."

Toyota is among the Energy Observer's primary sponsors.

"Yes, Toyota is one of our sponsors and we really like them," Nicolet said

Two years ago, engineers from the manufacturer and the Energy Observer collaborated to create the fuel cell the vessel is currently using. Toyota is using its fuel cell in the Mirai, the hydrogen car introduced in California in 2015.

The Energy Observer was docked at Pier 9 in San Francisco.

"They adapted those cars' fuel cells to be more compact, to fit inside the boat and that's the fuel cell we've been using for two years now," Nicolet said. "It's much more efficient than what we had created when the project began in France.

"People tend to think that hydrogen is very dangerous, but I have been sleeping two meters away from big hydrogen tanks and it's really rough seas this boat has been experiencing. We have big swells and lightning storms and really rough conditions and we've never had any issues."

The Energy Observer is now en route to Hawaii. It will then continue to Japan.

F0llow the global voyage of the Energy Observer on the website: www.energy-observer.org

Please join us for our interview with Dr. Katia Nicolet as she details her life at sea with an engaging combination of science and a sense of humor.

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