The Weekly Driver Podcast

Ray Elliott, a tow truck driver in the south San Francisco Bay Area, has viewed the mistakes motorists make so often he started a website several years ago called Idiots on the Interstate (idiotsontheinterstate.com).

The site is void of advanced graphics and is perhaps best described as primitive. But it's chock-full of information, videos and Elliott's opinions about the pathetic, often tragic and often preventable accidents and incidents he's witnessed throughout his long career.

Ray Elliott, a tow truck driver in the south San Francisco Bay Area, discusses how the coronavirus has changed driving habits.

Elliott has arrived on the scene of every kind of accident imaginable, sometimes before law enforcement personnel or first responders. He has seen fender benders and death, and he has saved lives and comforted many in need.

Part of Elliott's introduction on his website, lets the reader quickly know what he's all about:

"I have saved lives, fought fires, washed dishes, driven nails, and now I tow. If there is one thing I know, it’s towing. And you people can’t drive, so I have job security. That said, let’s get to what you should expect when you call for a tow truck.

"Let me tell you what it’s like being a tow truck driver. I come to rescue you and your vehicle in any situation you can put your vehicle in. I have removed cars from places you can’t get a car into. I have seen cars on all four sides and front and end. Quite often, I arrive at the scene of an accident before the fire department.

"I know all the streets in all the cities I work in. I know every short cut to get you where you need to take your car. I know most of the automotive shops in my area. I know we all make mistakes, myself included. I have set tow rates that I cannot bargain lower prices.

"I know what your car needs. I have done this for a long time and have seen your situation more than once. My goal being there, at your aid, is not just to tow your car, but to make sure that you, being my customer, are also safe and off of the side of the road, and hopefully, driving away."

Tow Truck Driver: Times Have Changed

It's the reason Elliott is among our favorite guests on The Weekly Driver Podcast.

On episode #148, co-hosts Bruce Aldrich and James Raia discuss with Elliott how the coronavirus has changed the driving landscape and his job as a tow truck driver.

As many have likely noticed, fewer vehicles are on the highway. One major result — drivers are driving faster. And Elliott is busy.

Elliott has written two essays for theweeklydriver.com:

NEVER BUY A CHRYSLER PRODUCT and DRIVING IS A PRIVILEGE, IT'S NOT YOUR RIGHT

Elliott was also our guest on Episode #60 in November 2018. He told us about the crappy engineering in cars, chastised the use of frontal airbags and his many experiences. He says want he wants without a filter.

Join us for another lively episode of The Weekly Driver Podcast.

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Driving across the United States in an electric vehicle takes planning and patience. For car owners driving an EV or considering a green car alternative, the challenge has been simplified.

Electrify America recently announced the completion of the first of two cross-country routes. It allows EV drivers to travel from coast to coast using the largest open DC fast-charging network in the United States.

Electrify America recently announced the completion of the first of two cross-country routes. It allows EV drivers to travel from coast to coast using the largest open DC fast-charging network in the United States.

Rich Steinberg, Senior Director of Green Cities, Marketing and Communications for Electrify America, is our guest on this episode of The Weekly Driver Podcast.

Electrify America, Coast-to-Coast

Co-hosts Bruce Aldrich and James Raia discuss with Steinberg the new route and the pending second route. We also discuss the overall EV industry, from new vehicles to charging stations to the public's awareness of the technology.

And with a nod to our podcast's headquarters in Sacramento, we also discuss the capital city's status as the Green City/Electrify America national hub.

The debuting route extends from Los Angeles, CA to Washington, DC. It spans 11 states and more than 2,700 miles utilizing Electrify America's open DC fast-charging network. It's called the Northern Route.

The first cross-country route travels along Interstates 15 and 70, providing high-powered chargers with speeds up to 350kW. Electrify America charging stations are on average about 70 miles apart in metro areas and near highway routes located conveniently by shopping and dining amenities.

The second route, expected to be completed by the end of summer, is the Southern Route. Electric vehicle travelers can cross the southern portion of the U.S., from Jacksonville to San Diego, on interstate highways starting near I-10 and finishing along I-8.

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Jim Brainard has a law degree, but he's spent the past quarter-century thinking about circles. It's a compliment, and it's likely the reason why Carmel, Indiana is internationally famous.

The mayor of the 102,000-population city, located 23 miles northeast of the state's capital of Indianapolis, is the country's leading expert on the benefits of roundabouts.

Mayor Jim Brainard of Carmel, Indiana believes in the benefits of roundabouts.

Brainard, who has overseen the construction of 132 roundabouts in the 47-square-mile city, is our guest on this episode of The Weekly Driver Podcast.

Co-hosts Bruce Aldrich and James Raia talk with Brainard about his roundabout advocacy and how Carmel has adapted to its world prominence.

Brainard first became interested in roundabouts as a graduate student at Oxford University in England. The first modern roundabout, built in 1909, is located in Letchworth, England.

Mayor Jim Brainard, Roundabouts Save Lives

“Roundabouts have reduced traffic fatalities by 90 percent in Carmel,” said Brainard, who has traveled to many countries to study roundabouts. "The U.S. average fatality rate per 100,000 people is 14. It tends to be higher in suburban areas because the roads are built wider for faster speeds. Indianapolis has done a little bit better than normal: 11.7 per 100,000. The average in Carmel is two.”

By definition, a roundabout (also called a circle, traffic circle, road circle, rotary, rotunda or island) is a circular intersection or junction in which road traffic is permitted to flow in one direction around a central island. The priority is typically given to traffic already in the junction.

Brainard has been Carmel's mayor since 1996. In addition to the current roundabouts in the city, at least another seven more are planned. The mayor has also consulted with many cities around the country about the benefits of roundabouts. He often cites safety.

"With cars moving at 10-15 mph, a pedestrian who gets hit has a much better chance of surviving than if someone blows through a light or a stop sign at 50,” he said.

According to Brainard, a stoplight encourages drivers to increase their speed to get through an intersection. In a roundabout, he says drivers have to decrease their speed to 15 to 25 miles per hour. As a result, Brainard notes vehicle accidents involving occupant injuries requiring hospital visits have been reduced by more than 75 percent.

Modern roundabouts became more popular in the United States in the 1990s, much in part to Brainard. About 5,000 roundabouts are located throughout the country. Carmel has the most of any city by several-fold.

Not everyone is a believer. According to Wikipedia, the first modern roundabout in the United States was constructed in Summerlin, Nevada in 1990. It dismayed many residents, and a local news program reported, "Even police agree, roundabouts can be confusing at times."

Eighty years earlier, architect John McLaren designed one of the first American roundabouts for both autos and streetcars (trams) in the Hatchett Residence Park. It's now named San Jose, California.

In many European countries, roundabouts are the rule, not the exception. France, by its latest official government tally, has more than  50,000 roundabouts. The United Kingdom has about 25,000 roundabouts.

During the podcast, Brainard also discusses the costs of making roundabouts, environmental aesthetics and the public's response to the city's reputation as the "Roundabout Capital of the World."

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As if the pending Tesla Cybertruck hasn't received enough attention, leave it to company owner Elon Musk to generate more attention for the futuristic-looking machine.

After announcing the electric-vehicle manufacturer's plans to build a new factory in Austin, Texas, Musk hinted at a few of his new truck's color choices. The possible options are as unique as the car.

The Tesla Cybertruck may be offered with a rainbow exterior paint theme.

Musk suggested a pure white option or a treatment to offer a rainbow option.

If the Cybertruck in rainbow adornment is ever offered, it will likely be an aftermarket option, not a dealership choice.

And it wouldn't the first rainbow-colored Tesla. Several models have received rainbow wraps in Tesla's support of various events.

Tesla Cybertruck: Color me rainbow

The rainbow option has also been presented on other supercars in recent years. But there wouldn't be any more polarizing vehicle on the road than a multi-colored Tesla Cybertruck.

Musk doesn't do subtle well. So, while the rainbow the idea doesn't seem shocking for the Tesla Cybertruck, it still won't present the innovative new vehicle at its best.

The new truck its described as “an all-electric, battery-powered, light commercial vehicle.” Three models have been announced, with range estimates of 250–500 miles and an estimated 0–60 mph time of 2.9–6.5 seconds, depending on the model.

According to Tesla specs, the Cybertruck will be constructed “with cold-pressed, unpainted stainless steel.” It will have a towing capacity of as much as 14,000 pounds.

Jerry W. Cox has a stark warning for the driving public. He says 12 million cars and trucks on U.S. roads have defective Takata-made airbags that still have not been replaced.

Cox, a former consultant for the now-defunct Japanese automotive parts company, discusses the details in his new book "Killer Airbags: The Deadly Secret Automakers Don’t Want You To Know."

Now an automotive consultant, Cox is our guest on Episode #145 of The Weekly Driver Podcast.

Jerry W. Cox is the author of the new book, "Killer Airbags."

Co-hosts Bruce Aldrich and James Raia discuss with Cox what he believes is a catastrophe waiting to happen.

Killer Airbags details the events that led to the airbag scandal that rocked the automotive industry. Cox also criticizes a recent decision by the Trump Administration not to recall an additional 30 million newer-model cars with Takata airbags.

Killer Airbags in 70 million vehicles

Ammonium nitrate, the chemical used in the airbags made and installed in 70 million cars in 19 different models by Takata, exploded in the defective airbags and led to hundreds of deaths and thousands of serious injuries, Cox states.

The airbags were eventually recalled in the largest consumer product ever, but 12 million cars still have these devices that still have not been replaced.

Cox writes he warned the company to recall the devices completely in 2014, but it didn't listen.

"Takata chose ammonium nitrate to inflate its airbags because it was vastly cheaper than more stable propellants,” Cox said. “They faked reports showing ammonium nitrate was suitable and lied about the danger until 2017 when the company was convicted of criminal fraud and went bankrupt.”

In 2015, federal regulators gave Takata until the end of 2019 to prove these “desiccated” inflators safe or to recall the 30 million affected 2018 and later-model vehicles.

Instead of seeking an independent assessment, the Trump Transportation Department secretly solicited an engineering study from the motor vehicle manufacturers who were responsible for paying for the recall. It decided in May 2020 not to recall those vehicles.

"The Transportation Department never asked the Takata engineers who designed those inflators whether they are safe,” said Cox. “All of those experts insist the inflators eventually will turn into hand grenades and that nobody should be driving a car with ammonium nitrate in their airbags.”

By that time, Cox hadn't been consulting with Takata for a few years. In 2016, Cox viewed a gruesome image of Joel Knight.

As Cox details in the podcast, Knight was driving his pickup truck and hit a cow. It was a minor accident, but the Takata airbags deployed. The canister blew like a hand grenade sending a chunk of shrapnel the size of a hockey puck through the airbag and through Knight’s neck – killing him instantly.

Cox said he then vowed to tell the inside story of how Knight and now at least 23 others have been killed and more than 300 have been injured by Takata airbags.

The book details how Takata’s fraud scheme worked and exposes actions by current and former federal government officials that delayed and prevented safety recalls.

"I feel I am morally obligated to write the book," said Cox, who further details the airbag issue on his website: www.killerairbags.com.

The book is available on the author's website as well as on Amazon.com.

Please join Bruce Aldrich and me as we hear from the author in a compelling episode.

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.

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Rolls-Royce has long represented elegance and sophistication in automobiles most often named after ghosts. There have been years of exception. Used Rolls-Royce models, particularly in the company's native England, were hard to sell for years.

But now the bespoke machines are back in a big way. In 2019, Rolls-Royce sold more than 5,100 vehicles worldwide, the best annual sales volume in the company's 116-year history.

The 2020 Rolls-Royce Wraith defines power, opulence and obsession. Image © Bruce Aldrich/2020

Elizabeth Williams, the company's product communications manager, discusses the Rolls-Royce return to prominence on this week's episode of The Weekly Driver Podcast.

Rolls-Royce has a 116-year legacy

Co-hosts Bruce Aldrich and James Raia discuss all things Rolls-Royce with Williams — the legacy of the brand to the current lineup.

The podcast episode seemed like a natural after my recent opportunity to review a 2020 Rolls Royce Wraith.

The Wraith remains the company's high-performance model. It features a twin-turbocharged 6.6-liter V12 engine that produces 624 horsepower. It's the most powerful car the company has ever made. It weighs 5,380 pounds but has serious, controlled speed.

Named after the Scottish word meaning the image of a ghost or spirit, The Wraith debuted in 2013 as a 2014 model.

For 2020, The body style is a two-door, pillar-less coupe with iconic suicide doors. The door handles are likely the largest ever installed in a car. Their girth suggests they weigh more than a Chevy Spark.

The Wraith's interior is an opulent living room where the old world meets modern, understated technology. The analog features are complemented by the digital age working in the background.

Every surface has a unique texture and color. The stitching and hides are different. Rolls-Royce has all the top-scale necessities in the back, but it forgot a place for adult-sized legs, so the rear seats are only for the small

A Rolls-Royce's performance is always at least equally matched by its beauty. The lines are a juxtaposition. Its battle-tank strength front flows into elegant curves at the rear of the beast.

The Wraith offers a poised and unassuming in city driving — as if a Rolls-Royce can be understated. Feel the need to accelerate to merge into traffic at ease or maneuver around a pending situation, the Rolls' power prevails.

Beyond the Wraith, Williams discusses the uniqueness of Rolls-Royce, including the new Black Bade trim. It's a $50,000 option — 21-inch carbon wheels to illuminate treadplates.

Rolls-Royce extravagance also includes signature features, the shooting star headliner to its Teflon-coated hidden umbrella.

Williams details who's buying the Wraith and its stature as a vehicle weighing more than 5,000 pounds, possessing 624 horsepower and with 0-to-60 miles per hour acceleration in 4.4 seconds

Please join for an episode full of facts and figures and the glorious history of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars.

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There's always news in the automotive world. Sometimes, The Weekly Driver Podcast doesn't schedule a guest so co-hosts Bruce Aldrich and James Raia can discuss a few topics, like cars that will no longer be manufactured and a 55-year-old Mustang selling for an eye-opening record.

That's what we do in this episode. The Chevrolet Sonic and Honda Fit will no longer be manufactured after the cars' current editions. Bruce and I discuss why we say good riddance to the Sonic and a hearty farewell to the Fit.

The 2020 Rolls-Royce Wraith defines power, opulence and obsession. Bruce Aldrich and I discuss it and several other topics like the recent sale of a 1965 Ford Mustang for a record price during this episode of The Weekly Driver Podcast. Image © Bruce Aldrich/2020.

Mustang, Mustang. How about a Mustang?

Who would have known, a Mustang selling for nearly $4 million? It's true. A 1965 Ford Mustang Shelby GT350R sold for a record $3.85 million The vehicle has a great heritage. It was once driven by Ken Miles of “Ford v Ferrari” fame. It sold at the recent Mecum Auctions event in Indianapolis.

The sale marked the second record Mustang sale this year. In January, the long-lost 1968 Mustang featured in the Steve McQueen film “Bullitt” sold for $3.74 million.

Bruce and I discuss that, too.

This 1965 Ford Mustang sold recently for a record $3.85 million at Mecum Auctions in Indianapolis

In this episode, we talk about the cancellation of all but one event of Monterey Auto Week. More than 30 events are held annually for about 10 days in August. The only event left is a 100-mile auto rally in Pacific Grove. The vehicles involved won't be on display as usual, but the yearly drive for charity will remain.

And was there any bigger news recently than the return of the Ford Bronco? We've got that covered, too

And lastly, Bruce and I chat about my recent review of a 2020 Rolls-Royce Wraith. It's among the most opulent vehicles I've ever driven during my 16 years as a car reviewer.

As always, 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.

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Editor's note: This post has been corrected. Chevrolet will discontinue the Sonic, not the Spark as previously written,

Amir Daneshvar is accustomed to selling unique, high-end, modern-day cars — Audi to Porsche, BMW to Mercedes-Benz. But how about a 1958 Chevrolet Apache Fleetside?

It's more unusual considering its appearance. It's an homage on wheels to the San Francisco Giants.

The pickup truck was made for one of the team's "super fans." The year of the truck is the year the Giants relocated from New York to San Francisco. It has a 350 crate motor and a 700R4 transmission.

A 1958 Chevy pickup truck in the SF Giants colors is for sale at Zen Auto Sales in Sacramento, California. Image © Bruce Aldrich/2020.

Daneshvar is our guest on Episode #142 of The Weekly Driver Podcast.

Co-hosts Bruce Aldrich and James Raia visit with Daneshvar in his office at Zen Auto Sales in East Sacramento. The 1958 Chevrolet Apache Fleetside is parked outside, a few feet away.

A one-of-a-kind 1958 pickup truck

Apache was Chevrolet's terminology for the light-duty trucks of the so-called Task Force line. It was introduced as a replacement for the Advance Design line. The Apache was sold in the Fleetside configuration starting in 1958 and it's become an industry favorite for customization.

The pickup truck's exterior paint is dominated by the team's primary colors, orange and black. The team logos on the pickup truck are original 1958 Giants decals.

"We just call it a nice daily driver," said Daneshvar, who has owned Zen Auto Sales since June of 2006. "It's a vehicle somebody took the time to dedicate to the appreciation and his love of the team."

"I guess with any of these vehicles you can pick it apart with a fine comb. But for the most part, anybody who likes to have a token of a sports team, this is a really nice example of it. We are pleased and honored to have it."

Not all details of the pickup truck are known. It's had a few owners and on consignment by its current owner, Julio Peix. He owns Lefty's, a taproom and grill across the street from Zen Auto.

Peix bought the vehicle years ago and had plans to use it in opening day parades for youth baseball teams. He tried make an arrangement with the Giants to use the vehicle for marketing or promotional events but that didn't happen.

The Sacramento River Cats, the AAA affiliate of the Giants, weren't interested, either. Prix decided owning two food businesses in Sacramento took precedent and the vehicle is now on consignment.

"It's not overdone like some trucks can be," said Daneshvar. "It's tastefully done. It's just a nice example for someone."

"And I think when people buy these vehicles, they understand that they are not the comfort features of the vehicles you buy cars. But this one does have air conditioning, power steering and disc brakes on it."

Daneshvar, a former pharmaceutical salesman whose father works in the same building space in a complementary business, is happy to discuss more details of the truck as well as the histories of his other vehicles. The price of the pickup truck isn't posted on the vehicle, a usual approach in the vintage car business. But the Zen Auto Sales' owner estimated its worth at approximately $22,000.

For additional information, visit or contact Zeno Auto Sales: 5613 Elvas Ave, Sacramento, CA 95819. Tel.

(916) 743-1165; Email: Website: https://www.zenauto.biz.

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.

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

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Nearly a quarter-century after it was last made, the new Ford Bronco makes its debut today (July 13) with as much anticipation as any new vehicle in recent memory.

Often cited as the first Sport Utility Vehicle, the Bronco has a loyal following and its new edition is likely to continue the iconic vehicle's increasing legacy.

The Ford Bronco debuted in 1966 and the 2021 edition was unveiled July 13, 2020.

Brian Rabold, vice president of valuation services for Hagerty, is our guest on this episode of The Weekly Driver Podcast to discuss all things Ford Bronco.

Ford Bronco, its legacy continues

Hagerty, the Michigan-based automotive lifestyle company, provides specialty insurance for collectible vehicles. The Bronco, in its various model years, generations and trims, has increased in value rapidly in recent years.

Co-hosts Bruce Aldrich and James Raia talk with Rabold about the history of the Bronco and Hagerty's insights into the vehicle's chronology and its re-emergence.

According to Hagerty, consider some facts and figures:

* the age of the average owner of Bronco owner is 54, seven years younger than the average collector car owner;

* The first generation (’66-‘77 Broncos) are the most valuable at a median value at $50,600. The ’73-’77 Wagon 4x4 with the 302cid engine is the most valuable model with a median value of $60,200;

* The highest sale for an unmodified Bronco at auction is $143,000 for a 1971 Bronco Stroppe Baja Edition.

Rabold discusses all of the Bronco's attributes and he has an impressive knowledge of the vehicle's place in American automotive culture. He also gives us an opinion about one oddity of the debut of the new Bronco.

Originally scheduled for July 9, the planned debut of the 2021 Ford Bronco coincided with the birthday of O.J. Simpson.

Simpson, the former Heisman Trophy winner and National Football League star, was wanted in the slayings of ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend, Ronald Goldman.

After Simpson failed to turn himself in, a national television audience of 95 million watched for hours as the drama unfolded of Simpson slowly being pursued on Los Angeles Freeways as the passenger in a 1993 white Bronco driven by his friend.

Simpson was acquitted a year later in one of the most closely watched murder trials in American history. But the Bronco has since been associated with the bizarre day.

Ford officials said it was “pure coincidence” when they announced the debut's original date. But Ford dropped the Bronco in 1996.

Rabold said he "gives Ford the benefit of the doubt."

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.

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Chuck Woodbury has traveled in his motorhome for as long as two years at a time. He recently returned to his Washington state home from a seven-month RV trip that began as an expected far shorter journey. It quickly changed.

In February, the first outbreak of COVID-19 occurred in a nursing home in Kirkland, Washington, six miles from where Woodbury lives in Everett. At least 37 people died.

The RV industry is changing quickly during the coronavirus pandemic.

Early in their trip, Woodbury and his companion Gail Meyring heard the news from home and decided to remain on the road.

Woodbury, the editor and publisher of RVTravel.com, is our guest on Episode #140 of The Weekly Driver Podcast.

The coronavirus has impacted the RV industry

Co-hosts Bruce Aldrich and James Raia discuss with Woodbury how the coronavirus affected his journey. How did the virus affect various campgrounds and trailer parks in different states?

Chuck Woodbury, Editor and Publisher of RVTravel.com, discusses the impact of the coronavirus on the RV industry.

Woodbury, previously a guest on our podcast in episodes Nos. 25 and 104, also discusses the industry's boom.

With restaurants, movie theaters, grocery stores and airline travel all suffering during the virus, sales have escalated. For dubious reasons, the motorhome industry, which had tapered in recent years, is returning to a peak when about a half-million vehicles were sold per year.

According to a recent article in the Los Angeles Times, sales have increased by nearly 200 percent in the last year, via statistics provided by an industry association.

The article's author, describing RVing, wrote: "Travelers carry their homes, complete with personally sanitized bedrooms, bathrooms and kitchens, with them in tortoise-like fashion."

As an industry advocate with a critical eye on the lack of quality control in craftsmanship and repair, Woodbury also discusses the manufacturing component of the industry.

Can the new demand be meet by consistency in the manufacture of new motorhomes? Or will quality control remain problematic?

With more travelers on the road in RVs, can the repair industry work efficiently and with consistency in quality control?

Woodbury gives his opinions on those topics and several others during our 30-minute conversation. He's concerned about how reservation systems will work? Will campgrounds and state parks experience overcrowding?

In a recent issue of the RVTravel.com newsletter, Woodbury wrote in his Roadside Journal:

"If this buying frenzy continues, I worry that there may often be times when there is no place to stay with an RV except on public lands or in Walmart parking lot. But that’s not part of the 'RV dream' for most of the newbies."

"They are not campers in the sense of roasting marshmallows over the campfire, and most never dreamed that one day they could be so lucky to sit in their lawn chair in a Walmart parking lot and celebrate solar-heated asphalt."

Please join Bruce and me as we talk with a preeminent industry expert about the current and potential future of RV travel.

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 www.theweeklydriver.com/podcast

Every episode is also available on your preferred podcast platform:

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To listen to previous episodes of The Weekly Driver Podcast with Woodbury as our guest, visit:

Episode #25: Website publisher shares RV horror stories on Facebook

Episode #104: RV expert discusses the ever-changing industry