Episodes

Is it a SUV? Is it a sub-compact or compact pickup? What it is is a new vehicle from Hyundai that was first seen in Detroit a few years ago. At the time, few thought it would actually make it to production as it is too cute. A small SUV/CUV type of cabin space with a pickup bed instead of an enclosed cargo space. Been tried before, but maybe this time.... ----- ----- ----- Be sure to subscribe on your favorite podcast provider for the next episode of In Wheel Time Car Talk six days a week, and...

For some time now, we have been hearing more and more about self-driving vehicles - how much safer the roads will be. The basic idea is that the 'computer' will evaluate all situations and make the most logical decision which is primarily to avoid an accident. We already have adaptive cruise control systems to keep vehicles space, we already have blind spot monitoring, we have systems to keep a vehicle in a lane, and cameras so we can see around us to avoid an accident. So if we have so much tec...

A lot of people are and have been working from home during the pandemic, and even those that have been getting out and about are not going far. With the vehicles not being driven as much, a lot of little things could have gone wrong that regular maintenance while driving would have been taken care of. If you are like a lot of us, thinking about expanding our scope of driving for the summer, there may be some extra things we need to look for. Karolena Serratos with Professional Auto Care in Hous...

Starting off a new week and on this episode of In Wheel Time Car Talk, we get a chance to visit with a fellow automotive enthusiests that we happened to meet just after the Lone Star Throwdown when we were there on remote. Like a lot of people, we were checking out all the pictures of the event thinking about how much fun we had, and getting a look at some of what we missed since it is such a big event. That is when we first saw 'Toon Rides' by Tony Bearb. Remembering the old hot rod style car '...

In the last few years, it seems there are barn finds showing up almost daily! We have seen a few first hand, and it is amazing to see how they have survived. On this episode we get a chance to talk with Mike Helman, the man that rolled into the April Edition of Tailpipes & Tacos about his amazing 1967 Nova. Mike is the proud owner of an almost original vehicle from North Dakota! It is an amazing story, including how to get it from North Dakota down to Houston, Texas. Along with Mike, we are jo...

There are several almost forgotten auto brands that have either been absorbed or simply gone out of business. After working to add some technology via mergers or buying smaller brands, Studebaker managed to eek out a few more years with some really out of the box thinking. The good news is that people like Harvey Grodjesk are keeping the brand alive in the form of his '1961 Studebaker. It is a great story of how he ended up with the Hawk and how it finally got to Houston where Harvey now lives....

What is a hot rod car show without a '32 Ford? Even better, make it a '32 Ford roadster, and even betterer, make it a flathead V8 with dual carbs! Gene McFaddin sits down with the In Wheel Time crew at the April Edition of Tailpipes & Tacos held at the Lupe' Tortilla location on the SW Freeway in Houston. Along with the roadster, Gene brings some interesting stories about taking cars to the Bonneville Salt Flats hunting for speed records. Along with hot rods, imports and some classic muscle ca...

Automotive brand loyalty has been one of the cornerstones of car clubs around the world. Mustang clubs, Camaro clubs, MG clubs, just about any brand or even model groups gather with the common goal of enjoying their ride. Sometimes, specfic vehicles elicite the same tyoe of loyalty. Like maybe a 1967 fastback Corvette with a tri-power big block under the hood. Chet Babbin joins the In Wheel Time crew out at the April Tailpipes & Tacos event to tell us more about his ride. In out feature segmen...

In this segment of In Wheel Time Car Talk, we are visiting with Mike Haney out at the Tailpipes & Tacos April event at the Lupe Tortilla location on the SW Freeway in Houston. There are also a lot of simple cruise-ins where people gather to show their cars, look at everyone elses cars or modifications since the last time. One of the more consistent showings happen at the Lupe Tortilla resturant in Katy, Texas. Every third Saturday, the returant opens at 8a with breakfast tacos, coffee, and othe...

One of the greatest things about being an automotive enthusiest is getting together with other auto minded people - and it doesn't have to be a formal car show. A lot of times it is just crusing the drag, meeting up at the burger drive-in or one of many parking lots to talk cars. There are also a lot of simple cruise-ins where people gather to show their cars, look at everyone elses cars or modifications since the last time. One of the more consistent showings happen at the Lupe Tortilla restur...

In the world of Ford, there is the Shelby contingent that is quietly growing as more enthusiests learn the attributes of the new Shelby Mustang. Working with tracks around the country, the new Shelby Mustang continues to find new enthusiests with events around the country. Jim Owens, Shelby and mustang Marketing joins the In Wheel Time team talking about some of the track events around the country that people can engage in. In the feature segment, we have more 'Automotive History' and wrapup w...

When car people become car people at an early age, one is never enough ... there is always something else to do. Seems like every time there is a car show, someone has a new idea or a new take on an old idea that sparks the next upgrade. There is so much to do in the automotive world - body shops provide training on how to fix or customize a vehicle along with giving the imagination something to work with on what could be. Drag racing is a simple sport - line up with someone, hit the gas and tr...

Autonomous driving is slowly developing into a real thing - using human control agents for the occasional just in case. Sooner than later, the technology will develop to where the human is not needed, but until then, the reseach is making automobiles safer. Joining us today is Jamie Sullivan, VP Sales at DERQ - a develoment company working with some of the OEMs to move things forward in a safe maner. We also have some of this weeks headlines in our Automotive News Segment. ----- ----- ----- 'I...

Each week, we support the automotive enthusiests by spotlighting one of the many car clubs that help keep the sport growing. Car Clubs range from 'open' clubs that accept any vehilce as they are geared more to the fellowship of like minded auto guys and gals. Other clubs have 'year' limitations to narrow down the scope of the vehicles, such as vehilces before 1972. Still others get into specific brands or even models. The national Mustang Club of America is obvisously all about the Ford Mustang,...

For over 25 years, the Lakewood Country Club has been the home of a very unique event - the Keels & Wheels Concours d' Elegance. This event is just what the name says, a car show and a boat show on the water where all the entrants are by invitation only. This means there are some very exclusive vehicles and boats on display. This year the movie cars from 'Ford vs. Ferrari' will be on hand as well as several celebraties from the automotive world. The money raised from this event is used to suppo...

On this episode of In Wheel Time Car Talk, we meet Paul Rocha, our new friend in Canada as we continue our reachout to automotive enthusieats around the world. Paul has several cars, and we learn about the car scene in Canada, and Paul is also an event promoter. Venteruring down into Michigan, particularly around the time of the Woodward Dream Cruise, Paul puts on the Mohawk Track Experience which can be found at MohawkTR2016@gmail.com. In our feature segment, Jeff Dziekan has been in the Pre-...

On this episode of In Wheel Time Car Talk, we continue our look into the growing trend of buying vehicles online. The new vehicle OEMs have expanded your consumer market by reaching out via the internet, showind inventory and inviting people to the dealership. Then there is the smaller group of dealers that are actually selling online, which has been expedited due to the 2020 pandemic. Then along comes the pre-owned online dealers that do have a brick and mortor store, but trying to do the enti...

For a lot of reasons, there is a growing trend in car buying. As more and more providers take to the internet to display inventory, or actually use it for their business model, more people are buying. Buying new cars and pre-owned cars as well without doing the traditional tire kicking or test drive experience. We talk with noted automotive author and host of the "America on the Road' podcast, Jack Nerad about the why and how of this new trend. In the New Car Showroom, Michael Marrs has been dr...

Once a year for ten years, one of the most diverse car shows you will ever see comes to Houston. We are talking about when the Mecum Auction comes to town, and while the auction is the attraction, to go and see what could be one of the greatest car shows availible as well as the auction show that comes to life for everyone to see, is really something to see. Joining us today, John Kraman, the TV voice for Mecom has years of insight to how the auction works and the type of vehicles that will be ...

To own a Jeep is to understand the Jeep Lifestyle - it is about being outdoors, being with like minded people, it is about being in the moment that brings about one of the strongest brand loyalties to be found. On this episode of In Wheel Time Car Talk, we are joined by the N.A. Head of Jeep, Mr. Jim Morrison. Jim is a long time friend of the show and is always eager to share his insights into the world of Jeep. Jim recently returned from the annual Easter Jeep Safari out to Moab where Jeepers ...

Nissan has been kind'a quiet for the last several months even though there have been a lot of headlines for the company. The good news is that it appears things are getting better. In fact, Nissan was in Houston recently showing just how good things are getting. Don Armstong was able to catch up with some of our Nissan friends when they came through Houston to show a few select auto journalist some of the new models we will be seeing in the showrooms in the near future as well as some peaks at ...

The talk of autonomous driving seems to come and go, but the research doesn't stop, it just keeps rolling on. One of the areas that seems to br developing quicker than others is in the short range, small capacity, local shuttle. Kind'a like a small bus line, vehcles that may only have 6-8 passengers. Joining the In Wheel Time crew on this episode of In Wheel Time Car Talk is Joe Moye, the CEO of Beep, an autonomous mobility solution company. It is a very interesting interview on where the techno...

Automotive fleets are all around us - everything from the post office, the telephone company, the school bus fleet or any of the delivery services. They all have one thing in common, they have to manage the fleet to keep it rolling. Maintenance, repairs, and just keeping up with where they all are for safety concerns can be mindnumbing. Enter Teletrac Navman, a software company that is not only 'tracking' vehicles but developing methods to improve the overall management of the fleet. Marco Encin...

Auto racing has always been one of those 'guy' things, whether in the dirt or on the asphalt. Karah Behrend has a differnt idea, and she is bound an determined to prove her point. After serving in the U.S. Air Force, she developed a love of racing and has been working towards that end. While racing a lot in the dirt such as the Rebelle Rally Desert Race, she is now the first disabled SCCA licensed driver in the country. It is a great story that we are happy to share. Over in the Pre-owned Showr...