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Mega Meet Car Talk!

• In Wheel Time Podcast | Automotive talk with Don Armstrong, Michael Marrs, and Jeff Dziekan • Season 2026 • Episode 47

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A live car meet is supposed to be simple: show up, walk the rows, talk cars. But once we set up at the Team Gillman Mega Meet in Houston, the conversation quickly turns into the stuff drivers actually wrestle with, from new Texas DMV vehicle registration photo ID requirements to the way those rules change the buying process for everyday people.

We also dig into a serious headline: CarMax agreeing to restitution and penalties tied to repossessions involving service members, plus what that says about compliance in auto finance. Jeff’s Motor Minute follows with a practical warning for owners of several 2025 to 2026 GM models as an updated service bulletin links engine ticking noise to manufacturing debris in the valve lash adjuster. If you’re the type who hears one new sound and instantly turns the radio down, you’ll relate.

Then we get into the fun and the shopping decisions. Don reviews the 2026 Lexus NX 450h+ Luxury AWD, a plug-in hybrid compact luxury SUV with a standout 14-inch screen, strong fit and finish, and a price that may push you toward lower trims.

 We also meet Sam Medina from Shaking Auto Club, a family-oriented group built around honoring a lost brother and raising support for kids with cancer, with a clear stance against street takeover behavior. Finally, we lighten it up with a road trip-ready list of the seven best gas station hot dogs in America, a quick racing calendar check-in (IndyCar, F1, NASCAR, NHRA), and a punchy round of automotive history.

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Welcome And Mega Meet Setup

Don Armstrong

Welcome to another In Wheel Time podcast. Team Gilman presents the In-Wheel Time Car Talk Show, the Mega Meat 2K26. Just ahead, guests from today's humongous cruise in. Plus, Jeff has his motor minute, and I'll review the new 2026 Lexus NX. It's just ahead on the In-Wheel Time Car Talk Show. A good Saturday morning to you. It's a beautiful morning in Houston, Texas, and we got lots of cars. And if you think that there's a lot of cars here now, just wait. We understand that there's a lot more coming from another car show that's just closing up for the day, and they're all headed this away. So it ought to be a great morning. County, along with Mike out of this world, Mars, we always need more Jeff Zeke and Chief Engineer David Ainsley. I'm Don Armstrong. Glad you could join us. And if we look a little weird, because uh somebody forgot a little bitty piece of equipment. Don't worry about it. It's about don't worry about it. It's about that big. You're familiar with that size. That big. And uh that thing uh is uh being absconded at the best buy right now, and it should take him about five minutes to get back here, and then we'll be back in order. But anyway, it doesn't matter.

Jeff Dziekan

It started out a little slow coming in this morning, but it seems to be filling up on the uh south end of the parking lot.

Don Armstrong

What are you talking about the car show?

Jeff Dziekan

Yeah, I'm talking about all the time. Oh, I'm talking about this. Oh. Well, I'm talking about the entire car show start off. We ain't got that far yet, Jeff. Okay.

Don Armstrong

You're you're jumping ahead. I'm jumping ahead. I know. Jeff was here at 6 30 this morning. What? Jeff was here at 6 30. This morning. So what do we have coming up today? Well, uh a full boat of uh lots of different people. Uh Carla with the team Gilman folks, and uh she told me she says, Well, there's an influencer here. That uh that girl in the pink car, as soon as she gets set up down there, we're gonna have her on because I'd love to talk to an influencer and find out what how how she how does influencing work. You got me here, you influenced me to come, so yeah. Well, I twisted your arm, and it's not all my fault. Unless it goes bad, then it is my fault. Yeah, you go. I'm familiar with that. So we got our regular stuff, but we also got a bonus hour today, three-hour show, and we're gonna tack on the third hour at noon. So we're gonna go to one o'clock today with the In Wheel Time Car Talk Show, and we hope that you'll stay with us because it's gonna be fun. Um, we're hoping to uh get them folks from the Mazda, the Subaru, and Acura. Acura. It that that sign's hidden back there. But this is a three-dealership complex here, and if you want to know where we are, we are on I-45, the North Freeway in Houston. Uh the highway that comes from Houston and goes to Dallas. And we're just past FM 1960, which is a huge major thoroughfare up here on the north side of town. Anyway, this three dealership threesome. Extravaganza. Extravaganza is just north of 1960 and uh lots of parking and uh lots of fun. I see that Red Bull is here. Uh they're bringing out all their stuff. You got a big display over here and a bunch of bulls at the at the Subaru dealership. Um so you get all of the imports and you get the specialty cars. And I'm looking at the specialty car row right now, and there's a red Camaro out there, and you're gonna see them once we get back with our video the way that it's supposed to be. There's a red Camaro out there. There is a black Corvette, uh C8 Corvette, that's got a lot of horsepower under the hood. I didn't talk to the guy, but he opened the hood, which makes me want to look inside the hood. Well, I think it's a supercharger that's in there. So I'm thinking maybe six, seven hundred horsepower, not sure. And uh then next to the old car there, there's another uh C8. It's black with a red stripe on it. We also have over here, what what is that? Is that an Acura?

Jeff Dziekan

Looks like an Acura, you've got a Mercedes, you got Lexus, another Corvette.

Don Armstrong

So these are the specialty cars that are in front of us. And uh most of the imports are on either side.

Jeff Dziekan

Square body Mustang there.

Don Armstrong

Yeah, old square body Mustang. And you got a Buick over here. Is there a Burek? Oh, there's a great Burec over there. I wonder who owns that.

Speaker 1

I wonder.

Don Armstrong

Probably probably another influencer. You mean to tell me that that Gilman owns the Cadillac dealership? I'm sure he does. Well, there's something about that. So big dealership here in town called Team Gilman, and uh they have lots of dealerships. Three of them right now. Could be a pre-owned. It could be, yeah. That's a nice looking little car. Yeah.

Speaker 1

Yeah.

Texas DMV ID Rules Debate

Don Armstrong

Um anyway, there's also lots of news that uh I wanted to tell you about today. Um one of the things that uh that just jumped out uh the automotive news yesterday, as a matter of fact, and I'll read it to you now, and we can have a little discussion about it. Texas dealers are voicing strong objections to the State Department of Motor Vehicles expanded photo identification requirements for vehicle registrations. You got to have a photo ID. You do? Your driver's life.

unknown

Yeah.

Don Armstrong

The agency said the change will curb fraud and prevent undocumented residents from driving in the state. But vehicle sales will decline and loan delinquencies will increase at dealerships that serve primarily immigrant and low-income car buyers, according to Texas dealers. Under the new rules, car buyers face a slew of changes about what photo ID they can use to register their vehicle. Dealers must now confirm the validity of the identification used before submitting registration paperwork. New car buyers now must use a real ID, that's the thing with the star on your on your driver's license, or bring along their birth certificate, no problem with forging that at all, or citizenship documents to register the vehicle. Previously, any driver's license issued by any state or territory of the United States sufficed, according to the Texas DMV. The agency has accepted passports or a driver's license expired in the past year. Now those IDs have to be current. You can't have an expired driver's license. No. Texas dealers, like those in other states, handled the titling and registration process for their customers. They said the rule changes will hurt sales and increase their responsibilities. Well, increase the responsibilities I get, but I don't know about hurting sales.

Speaker 4

Can I add to that? Yes, please. So I handle 16 vehicles for my work. Yes. I now cannot register online to update the registrations every year. I have to go to the place. I used to be able to do it within minutes online. You have to go to Texas DMV or I have to go down there each time. So wait in line, you know, all that. Can you take all sixteen?

Don Armstrong

Can you take all sixteen?

Speaker 4

No. Because they they come in at different months. Different times of time. So now instead of doing it online, it's in person. Lucky. Much worse. You need an assistant. They've gone back. You need an assistant. I'll do that for you.

Don Armstrong

Okay.

Speaker 4

Will you pay me? No.

CarMax Settlement And Online Sales

Don Armstrong

That's what I'm figuring. Carmax is going to pay nearly $500,000 in restitution and penalties to settle allegations by the U.S. Department of Justice that improperly repossessed 28 service members' vehicles.

Jeff Dziekan

Uh-oh.

Don Armstrong

U.S. alleged that the large national used car dealership group didn't require staff to check the defense manpower data center database to see if a delinquent borrower was a soldier or prohibit staff from repossessing vehicles from reservists who had been called up. That's ridiculous. The settlement required CarMax to pay $420,000 into a fund to compensate service members for repossession violations and add more funds if needed. So shame on you. Yeah, it's terrible. Well, but who who is to know? I mean, you know, you would have to have, of course, I'm sure that they do have full time. You'd have to have full-time lawyers, attorneys, and people looking for this stuff. Because you know the government is really bad about changing the laws and then not telling anybody, oh, well, you're out of compliance, sir. You're gonna you're gonna be fined $50,000.

Jeff Dziekan

But you think if you're a a high-end finance company, you would understand and know But how I guess Because when you get a loan, yeah, what do you do for a living? I'm an electrician, I'm in the army, I'm in the navy, I'm this, that, or the other. So they know going into it by getting a loan. So I think there should be closer watch on them. I'm just saying it's not right.

Don Armstrong

Well, if I'm a dealer, I'm gonna have to designate somebody to read over all of those legal documents.

Jeff Dziekan

Now, if you go to a town that is heavily in the military, like the for instance, Clean or San Diego, there are dealerships, and I know this because I work with several of them, there are dealerships that actually cater to the military, the service members, so that they can give them better rates. They know that they're going to be deployed at some point or another. And they put them in a car that fits their family that they can afford. Now, if they're doing that in the beginning, they should know they're going to be in the military and maybe deployed. That's a good point. So you know, they they actually cater to the military. Like Colleen. Colleen's an example because I'm worked there several times. I just think it's wrong. That's it's a black eye on the dealer. Yeah. CarMax.

Don Armstrong

Shame on them. Shame on you. Well, I think that their car sales have gone down because you know they've got a lot more competition. And apparently Carvana, who I bashed when they first came out, you remember back in the day they all had the vending machines. Right. I don't know of any vending machines left anymore, do you? Are they still around? Maybe one or two round. I don't know if they're here. I think that they got wise and said, you know what, we're spending a half a million dollars on these vending machines for what? Doesn't make any sense. A lot of people, especially uh generations that are younger than us. But they do the stuff online anyway. Yeah. And most people not most people, I will say that a lot of people go online to buy their cars.

Jeff Dziekan

And rightly so. I mean, I understand. Well, there's other issues with Carvana because there's things that we reported on a while ago that you have to go through their financing, you had to go through certain hoops that they want you to jump through for them in order to get the car delivered. Well, I think with this new CEO, I think that they've changed a lot of it.

Don Armstrong

Could be, okay, and I think that uh their car sales have increased. I know their locations have. They're even into new car dealerships now. I noticed that they have uh purchased several car dealerships around the United States, and I think that that will probably continue.

Jeff Dziekan

And they're they've got a lot of they're heavy on the advertising and the marketing on TV. You know, you see all these celebrities saying they're gonna get their car delivered and the commercials, just the marketing stuff.

Don Armstrong

Sure. You know, I think that you need something like that, Jeff. Me?

Jeff Dziekan

No. No, no, no. Uh you know, uh uh a rice rocket. Um I'm we're uh I need six wheels, not four. Do you? I had a I had a buy a tire this week. I had a flat tire. You really? Yeah. It was a chunk of some electrical company probably was in front of me. It was a about three inches long, white, sharp, looked like a fastener of some sort. Right in the middle of the tire, about bigger round as your finger. And luckily I was getting off the freeway when all the gauges were coming on, all the warning lights, and I ended up with a flat tire right in front of a discount tire. Seriously. Only you. So you know, about 250 bucks later, I get one tire.

Don Armstrong

Did you the same same make and model tire?

Jeff Dziekan

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

unknown

Yeah.

Jeff Dziekan

Really, they had it in stock. They had it in stock, believe it or not. Uh the TPC, the tire performance criteria number, is for that vehicle, but it it's not the you know, it's a different compound. It's a continental, it's a good, you know, it's the same thing. Did you put it on the back? Yeah, well, it was the right rear is what went out, so it had to be a good one. Really?

Don Armstrong

Not the front. That's weird. You probably were sliding around a corner sideways as well.

Jeff Dziekan

I was doing about eight around the corner.

Don Armstrong

Eight around the corner.

Jeff Dziekan

No, I was actually on the freeway, coming off the freeway.

Don Armstrong

Weird. There's a lot of stuff on the freeway.

Jeff Dziekan

Yeah, there is, and of course I found it. Yeah.

Don Armstrong

No doubt about it. Um, you know, they've got food vendors here.

Jeff Dziekan

I see they're they're setting stuff up.

Don Armstrong

Yeah. And I'm thinking lunch. What do you think?

Jeff Dziekan

Oh, I I've got to leave to go have lunch.

Don Armstrong

Oh, you're leaving early today.

Flat Tire Stories And Brake Talk

Jeff Dziekan

Yeah, yeah, yeah. In about five minutes. No, you're not. No, you're not leaving that early. No, I just won't be here. I'll be here to the end of the show. It's just I won't be participating in the the uh fun of packing up.

Don Armstrong

And you know, one of the things that I asked David, Ainsley, I said, David, why did you bring the truck, the work truck today? Why didn't you bring the nice cars? And this would be a perfect event for you. If you pull your microphone up, we could hear you. Yeah. Um, so what's the deal with the infinity?

Speaker 4

You could have brought the right-hand drive vehicle. I I need new brakes. I've got metal to metal right now.

Jeff Dziekan

Ah, it's never stopped you before. What do you think? You're gonna go out there and change them yourself? Oh yeah. Well, there's three dealerships here. You can roll it into one of them, had it done like that. I I want it done right now.

Don Armstrong

Well, these guys do it right, don't they, David?

Speaker 4

They do it right here, yeah. But I'm having infinity, so they probably don't do that. Oh, you got specialty washers and stuff.

Don Armstrong

Do you do you have uh do you have pads for it?

Speaker 4

There's a place that sells infinity parts, OEM parts online. Yeah. Have you ordered them? Are they sitting in the box in the garage?

Don Armstrong

No. No. How much are those parts, David?

Speaker 4

About five, six hundred dollars for all rotors and pads.

Don Armstrong

Oh, so you buy rotors as well.

Speaker 4

Yeah, they've got their worth. I've had them turn before.

Jeff Dziekan

You guys are they have different different like good better best on the pads? You got like a maxi pad and all that.

Speaker 4

A maxi pad. Are the big thick ones? The big thick maxi pad. Those really better best in the quality of it. Yeah, you get the uh ceramics. Yeah, and they're really expensive. Slotted. Why? You you don't drive the car like that.

Don Armstrong

You don't need that. Why would you buy the ceramics?

Speaker 4

No, I I'm not. No, no, no, you get the it'd be about two thousand dollars. Yeah, I was gonna say if I got slotted and drilled and all that. You don't need all that unless you race the car. What do you mean? Bring it over.

Jeff Dziekan

I got a drill.

Don Armstrong

That's right. Everybody's got drills. All right. So we're gonna take a quick break. And uh when we come back, no.

unknown

Who's gonna play the break?

Don Armstrong

What?

Speaker 4

Who's gonna play the break? Oh.

Don Armstrong

Oh, he can't we can't play the break.

Speaker 4

You know how to do it? Yeah. Main either. Oh, wait, yeah, hold on.

GM Engine Ticking Motor Minute

Don Armstrong

He does here goes Jeff. So we're having to do this in a roundabout kind of way. Mr. Mars was supposed to be back 15 minutes ago, but that didn't happen. Uh, anyway, so Jeff is gonna sneak around over here. So you're not gonna he's gonna bend down, see all you can see is his head. Put your head in there, Jeff. There you go. So then he's gonna play the commercial. Just ahead, Jeff's Motor Minute, and a review of the new Lexus NX when the in-wheel time car talk show continues right after this. The tailpipes and tacos renowned cruising expands to Beaumont. Golden Triangle cruisers will want to experience tailpipes and tacos at the Loopy Tortilla, I tent south in Beaumont near Washington Boulevard. Grab free Loopy Breakfast Tacos with any donation to Shirley's kids. Enjoy a coffee or an adult beverage. Every cruising vehicle is automatically entered to win one of the beautiful chili pepper trophies for Best Hot Rod, Classic, and Modern Classic. Tailpipes and Tacos Beaumont happens Saturday morning, March 21st, 8 to 11 a.m. If you're a car geek like we are, this is the event you'll want to attend. The info time car talk show will be online live, and you may be interviewed about your ride. Tailpipes and Tacos Beaumont edition Saturday, March 21st, 8 to 11am, at the Lupi Tortilla 2050 ITM South in Beaumont. The Katie Tailpipes and Tacos happens Easter Saturday, April 4th, 8th to 11th. The free Tailpipes and Tacos Cruising is a production of Lupi Tortilla Tex Mex, Beaumont and Katie. It's pretty good. Apple or Android NWTime podcasts can be found everywhere, on the stream and through downloads. Whether you're on the road or at home and Jones in for a different kind of car talk show, give InWheel Time a try. Honest new car reviews, fun, informative interviews with real car people, weekly automotive news, features like Jeff's car culture and Mike's driving destinations, all on In Wheel Time. Check us out on Sirius XM Podcasts, iHeartRadio, or while you're shopping on Amazon through Amazon Music. Mm-hmm. InWheeltime.com has a list, and we know you love lists. Back to the Team Gilman Mega Meet from the Gilman Dealerships at 18202 North Freeway. Want to put that in your GPS and head out here and see some of these cars. There's one for you, David, right there. Uh, we invite you to join us for the live NWL Time car talk show every Saturday, 10 to noon, Central Time on NWLTime.com, YouTube, and Facebook. And don't forget, 30-minute podcasts from our four of our shows can be found at your favorite podcast store. Time now for Jeff's Motor Minute.

Jeff Dziekan

Yeah, I've got several, but I'm going to pick one that's near and here with me. Okay. Engine ticking issues now linked to several GM models. Now, what models are those? Well, let me tell you. General Motors has updated a service bulletin, which addresses an engine ticking noise caused by a manufacturing defect. The revision of this manufacture bulletin uh is is a revision of it, and it includes more than the 25 and 26 models equipped with a 2.0 liter inline LSY turbocharge engine. Here's the kicker. This means that of the owners of the Buick Envision, me, Chevrolet Blazor, Cadillac C T four, C T five, XT4, XT5, and XT6 may now be affected by this issue. So you may be affected by I may be affected by this. So I'm gonna put some ointment on it. However, the ticking noise is infected. Oh, okay. Just off that. Oh, it's a typo. However, the ticking noise is not necessarily an engine design issue, but the rather the result of a manufacturing defect is also a service bulletin, meaning that sent by GM, sent to GM dealers rather than directly to the owners would be typically what the recall would be about. So what's happening? The issue stems from manufacturing debris entering the hydraulic valve lash adjuster, preventing the component from pumping oil properly and resulting in a soft adjuster. Without proper hydraulic pressure, the affected engines may produce a ticking noise. Tick, tick, tick. Uh dealers are instructed to use a stethoscope, of course, and other methods to inspect the valve train first. You sure that's all they're using that stethoscope? The stethoscope, or I don't know. I don't know if my my insurance has covered that. So, anyways, it's the two two-liter, two point five liter. It's uh it can't be good, but I don't have an experience yet, but ever since I read this this past week, I'm listening to it. You listened for sound. Like a time bomb. Exactly.

Don Armstrong

So what are they gonna do? They're gonna replace the whole motor?

Jeff Dziekan

No, they're gonna go, there's gonna be a replacement of the valve lash system, they're gonna flush it out and all that, but they don't know yet because they haven't really uh done it. Oh my god, how many how many cars are affected? Uh well the 20 2025 and 2026 models. So of all of those.

Don Armstrong

A million of them.

Jeff Dziekan

Uh it could be. Uh but there's no specific VIN range because it's like random. It's random right now. Oh my god. Yeah, yeah. So there you go. Keep an eye out. Well, ain't that fun? Yeah.

2026 Lexus NX Plug In Review

Don Armstrong

What do you do? All right. Here's what I do: a review of the 2026 Lexus NX. It comes in so many different trim levels. Let me start. 350H, 350, 350H premium, 350 premium, 358 luxury, and the list goes on and on. I'm not going to bore you with all that. I had the 450H Plus luxury all-wheel drive. This is considered a small SUV. I would consider it a small SUV. Uh, five seats. I'm sorry? No, the Lexus. Um new in uh 2022. Exterior features, attractively curvy body lines. I'm talking about the car now, so you get your mind out of the gutter, with signature spindle grill, different wheels and grills for different trims. The tail has brake cooling ducts back there. Does it need it? No, but it looks really cool. They're fake anyway, but it looks good. Um the C pillar adds a fast back, attractive touch to the design. What I liked about it, the overall design gets high marks, in my opinion. What could use improvement? I don't think anything. It really is a good looking vehicle. Interior highlights, a center screen designed into the dash layout. It's nice, and uh it looks really good. Comfortable seating with lots of adjustments. Leg room for the second row passengers is adequate, which is different for a small SUV. Overall, fit-finish design, excellent. Trunk room, cargo room, adequate for this small SUV, especially with the second row down. What I liked about it, that 14-inch center screen. What could use improvement? The steering wheel multi-function buttons disappear when you're trying to use them. It's frustrating. So if you don't, if you're not using it, the display that tells you what it is that you're moving your cursor to disappears too quick. Going, dang it, where was I? So it comes with a 2.5 liter plug-in. This is a plug-in hybrid electric. Now I did not plug it in. Okay? I'm guilty, I'll I'll admit that. But that's a pain. If it's got a gasoline motor in it, I'm not plugging it in. Because it's a pain. I don't have the setup at the house for net horsepower, 304 combined to plug-in and the engine as well. So if you use both, 304 horsepower. Torque, plenty. Has a CVT transmission. Till rating, one ton. Would you subject your car to towing something? I I wouldn't. Apparently that other car show let out because it is nothing but cars all coming in here. It's crazy. There's some uh WRX STIs. Yep, do. Yeah, 10 bucks to pass by the in-wheel time booth. Wish you could see it. Sorry you can't. Um miles per gallon, 34 with the gas. 84 with the gas plus electric plug-in aspect of it. 84. I got 33.4 because I didn't plug it in. Uh over 103.6 miles. Don, you only drove the thing 103 miles? Yeah. I only drove it 103 miles because that particular week I had two cars, and uh I kind of split the difference between the two cars. What are you doing with two cars? Don't ask me. Don't get me started. What I liked, the mileage. Wish I'd taken the time to plug it in, though. I made a note of that. You know, they do they get out of the way when Mars shows up with the in-wheel time truck? Uh what could use improvement? Uh a non-plug-in would be great, but it would be more expensive. Uh what I liked about it, riding handling, top-of-the-line luxury. And what could use improvement? An F Sport is available. So that would give you a little bit more zip, some more vinegar, as they like to say.

Jeff Dziekan

Ah, Vim and vinegar.

Don Armstrong

Vim and vinegar. Vim, is that a word? Vim, well, my mother used to lose that all the time. Um, okay, so let's talk about pricing. Base trim price, $61,740. Price is tested, $67,289. That counts me out. It's a little bit too expensive to me. Now you can get in an NX starting at 44,775. I think I'd look down at the lower level. That's just me. Competitors, Mercedes-Benz X3, the Acura RDX, and the Genesis G V70. I got another car review, going to do that in the last hour of the show this morning. And um next week I'll review the Ram 1500. Oh yeah. Oh my god, was that thing nice? Jeez. Expensive, but nice. I mean expensive. I think it was like $87,000, David. You need it. It was the Ram 1500 longhorn. It had the etched leather. I mean, it's got bells and whistles on it that I I still was finding stuff. It's worth it. Yeah, well, it is. And if you if you've got the dough, go for it, baby. That's what I say. Um Jeff is standing by over at the computer screen that we're broadcasting this show from, and he's ready to punch the button to go to a commercial break. Um because we don't really have anything else. Actually, I have plenty of stuff, but I've got to kind of space it out a little bit. Because I don't want to blow it all at one fell swoop here. I will tell you what, you know, this is a different kind of car show for me personally. Because it's interesting, you know, back in my day when I was hanging with the hot rod boys and we go down to the d drag strip, we drove basically mom's car, unless one of us had some sort of hot rod. My buddy Ross did. He had the 55 that was open exhaust and it was set for the drag strip, and you couldn't really drive it too too much on the street. Now, these cars are all street ready. Yeah. And uh this is the high school college barge, as well I would imagine. Marla, come and sit down. We want to talk to you. You don't have time? Okay, well, bring them on. Okay. All right. Okay, so apparently he's found the device. Anyway, uh, this is all behind the scenes stuff, but I'll give you an idea. So Mr. Mars has taken thirty minutes to go and find some sort of a little device that we can get our video working properly.

Jeff Dziekan

That's what the aliens put into you when they kidnap you. Really? Yeah, little little devices like that. Is that is that why I got why I've got that going on? Exactly.

Live Show Hiccups And Contact Info

Don Armstrong

So we are going to deal with that in just a minute. So why don't we take a quick break and we're going to regather our thoughts, and we'll be back in about a minute and a half. And if you'd like to get in touch with us, we don't know why, but send us an email. The email address is info at inwheeltime.com. We'll be back right after this quick break. Stay with us. The Easter Bunny's coming. To the tailpipes and tacos cruise in at the Loopy Tortilla Text Max in Katie, April 4th, 8 to 11 a.m. And you're invited to. Bring the kids and grandkids. It's a cruise in like you've never attended before. With a donation to Shirley's Kids, you'll get a free Loopy Tortilla breakfast taco. There'll be coffee and adult beverages, plus chili pepper trophies for the best hot rod, best modern classic, and best classic. There's no entry fee and no registration. Just bring your ride and the kids. Bad bunnies aren't allowed, but the Easter bunny will be there, and he'll be full of joy to help make this tailpipes and tacos a very special one. Photo opportunities abound. The Unwell Time Car Talk Show will be streaming around the globe, and you can be selected to tell your car story to a global audience. It's the Tail Pipes and Tacos Cruise and Easter edition, Saturday, April 4th, 8 to 11 a.m. at the Lupi Torchilla Tex Max in Katy, located on 99, the Grand Parkway, just south of I-10, the Katie Freeway, in Katy. Make plans now. Loopy Torchia is pretty good.

Speaker 9

Houston, get a ready, Sink Hilman is hosting a medical car meet at the North Complex after a lost Subaru. We're collaborating with the Car Meet Network, so you know it's gonna be crazy.

Speaker 8

And that's not enough. We're gonna be wrestling up six cars to be sold at a thousand dollars each. See below for more details.

Speaker 7

You're not gonna want to miss this Houston March 14th. We can't wait to see you here.

Don Armstrong

Just ahead, we immerse ourselves into the specialty cars from Mazda, Subaru, and Acura, and all the cruising competitors here today. All right. Uh in Jeff's car culture, the best seven gas station hot dogs in America. You know what? If you didn't tune in for anything else, this is what you tune for.

Jeff Dziekan

You're going on a road trip, you got spring breaks for the next three, four weeks, whatever it is. You've got summertime coming up. You're going on vacation. You're going somewhere, you're stopping for gas, and you're getting something to eat, and here they are. That's what it's gonna be.

Don Armstrong

Do you eat hot dogs?

Jeff Dziekan

Uh I th I was thinking about having one maybe this week.

Don Armstrong

I'm thinking about having one today. Well, that they got them here. Yeah, they got a lot of stuff out there.

Jeff Dziekan

It could happen. I've been I've been eating for the five.

Don Armstrong

But you know what? There's something special about gas station hot dogs.

Jeff Dziekan

And sushi. Gas station sushi's good too.

Don Armstrong

You know what? I think I'm gonna pass on that, but I will go for the uh I will go for the hot dogs with the gas stores.

Jeff Dziekan

Oh, there's several.

Don Armstrong

And some of them have been on that roller thing for at least a couple of days. Somehow that doesn't surprise me.

Speaker 1

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Shaking Auto Club Gives Back

Don Armstrong

Anyway, uh looking forward to that, along with Mars, who has seven most underrated car tracks in America. Howdy? Along with the disappearing mic out of this world, Mars. We always need more Jeb Zeke and Chief Engineer David Ainsley. I'm Don Armstrong. Glad that you could join us today. So uh what are you guys, what are you doing back here? You're gonna fix it? You know what? We we've never had this kind of relationship before. Easy tiger. But uh Mars just put his arms around me. I know. Because apparently he's full of joy and other things, but joy mainly.

Mike Marrs

It's called adrenaline.

Don Armstrong

Is that what it is?

Jeff Dziekan

Are your eyes brown? Because you're full of it up to here?

Don Armstrong

Yeah. Mr. Mars, did you find the piece of equipment we were looking for? Well, we hope. Well, how come we don't know that yet? Well, we're gonna work in on it. So uh uh we know these guys are sticking around. Where's Marla? She had a guest for us.

Jeff Dziekan

It might be one of them before, but let's get this organized here real quick.

Don Armstrong

Well, uh no, we I need I need to do something. All right. So uh where's Marla? I know. Are you supposed to be our guest? You don't what yes sir? Well, sit down and we'll and I'll just find out who you are. Okay, and um and I'll welcome you to the uh the penitentiary here at the NWL Time Show. There you go.

Jeff Dziekan

Keep the microphone.

Don Armstrong

No, that's got to go on top of your head and the microphone in front of your okay.

Speaker 2

Right there.

Don Armstrong

That's perfect, yeah.

Speaker 5

Could be. And who are you?

Speaker 2

My name is Sam Medina. I'm with uh Sam Medina. Yes, sir, with Shaking Auto Club.

Speaker 5

Shake and Auto Club.

Speaker 2

Yes, sir.

Speaker 5

Tell me about that.

Speaker 2

Uh Shake and Auto Club was started back in 2024. Um, my brother had a car club out in Sugarland. Um he died November 15th of uh pancreatic cancer just out of the b out of the blue. I'm sorry. Um before he had passed, he stated that he wanted me to continue his legacy and give back to the kids. I didn't know if he meant my kids or all kids in general. So after he passed away, I went out and bought a Corvette in honor of him and started uh Shake and Auto Club in order to give back to the cancer patients, which are kids. Um my sister right now uh is battling cancer also. So everything the Shake and Auto Club does is a nonprofit in order to give back to cancer patients.

Speaker 5

Is your car out here?

Speaker 2

Yes, sir. They're actually right over there on that side. I have two Corvettes. I got a green Corvette and a blue Corvette. Yours? Uh 2026 and a 2022.

Don Armstrong

Okay. So the 2022 would be a C7?

Speaker 2

It's a uh no, it's a C8. It's a C A. Yes, sir, and the 2026 is a C8 also.

Don Armstrong

Yeah. Well, that's my uh 25-year-old black Corvette sitting out there, the C5.

Speaker 2

I see it, I love it. There you go. It's old it's old school. It's old school, but it's still beautiful.

Don Armstrong

Thank you. I appreciate that.

Speaker 2

Beautiful.

Don Armstrong

So what'd you say?

Jeff Dziekan

Old school. Never mind. We're moving on.

Don Armstrong

Are you making fun of us? I think he's trying to get away. You're trying to be part of us, that's what it is.

Speaker 1

That's right.

Don Armstrong

So, um, how many cars in the club?

Speaker 2

Uh, right now we have about 18 to 19 cars.

Don Armstrong

Do you need one? Another one? I live out uh Richmond.

Speaker 2

Sure, I'll take it. I'll take anybody. Anybody anybody.

Mike Marrs

That'll let you in for sure.

Speaker 2

Let me let me rephrase that. Yeah, you go, you better. My club, I'm trying to bring back the old school style clubs where you just park, show your car, mingle, have fun, family oriented, bowling shirts, leather jackets. Yes, none of this trying to kill people on the street, running people over, tearing people's property up, taking up parking lots, and then doing takeovers.

Don Armstrong

How about how about 13,000 revs in the parking lot?

Speaker 2

We don't do that neither. It's good. We don't do that neither.

Don Armstrong

Well, if you did, you'd probably blow it up.

Speaker 2

Probably, but we spend a lot of money on our cars, and we do that in order to show our vehicles so we can bring the public out and bring the families out so you can get mom and dads and their children back together and reunited and do family activities.

Don Armstrong

So we've got a deal for you.

Speaker 2

Yes, sir.

Don Armstrong

Easter Saturday. Okay. Tailpipes and tacos. You ever heard of that?

Speaker 2

No, sir.

Don Armstrong

That's at the Lupi Tortilla Tex Mex out in Katy, which isn't that right up 99.

Speaker 2

We're actually out of Katy. We live out we live in.

Don Armstrong

Okay, well, you know what the Lupi Tortilla is there.

Speaker 2

Yeah, right there at uh Kingsland in uh 99.

Don Armstrong

So Easter Saturday. Okay. You'll you'll appreciate the cars that show up there. Well, all are welcome, but uh you know it's mainly a bunch of old school guys.

Jeff Dziekan

Right. And you talked about giving back to the children, the kids. There's actually gonna be a kids' event there as well. There's gonna have the pedal car event and they give trophies out. They've got the one, two, three stand. Yes, it's it's it's a big event for them, so you need them out. Right, okay.

Mike Marrs

Of course, they're open and we're we'll be there from eight to eleven. Right.

Jeff Dziekan

Yeah.

Mike Marrs

And uh that's when it runs. They'll have breakfast tacos, coffee, some other beverages, right? And and the money that people spend on that kind of stuff goes straight to Shirley's kids to find charity from kids.

Jeff Dziekan

Okay. And Stan, the owner, actually matches it. Beautiful. So whatever's race he matches it next donation.

Speaker 2

We'll be more than happy to go and give some of our money away.

Don Armstrong

So how how do how do you get other people in your club?

Speaker 2

Actually, they they can reach out to us on Instagram or TikTok or Facebook or are you a TikToker? Yes, well, unfortunately, I am only for the car club.

Don Armstrong

Okay.

Speaker 2

Yes, sir.

Don Armstrong

Because uh I don't do TikTok myself.

Speaker 2

Well, that's that's how we're advertising, that's how we put out our meets and everything else is on social media, because social media is a big platform right now.

Mike Marrs

Oh yeah.

Speaker 2

You know, and so everybody's all we're old school Facebook. Yeah, we're we're we're old school, you know, but I this I'm old school, I was my space back in the day. Oh my god.

Don Armstrong

Well, I didn't talk I didn't think we were talking to Methuselah, you know.

Speaker 2

Well I'm 52, I might not look at it, but I'm 52 also, so you know.

Don Armstrong

You're a young man.

Speaker 2

Yeah, I'm I'm still young, unfortunately, but you know.

Don Armstrong

Do you uh do you work in the auto industry at all?

Speaker 2

Actually, I own a repossession company and a private investigation company.

Don Armstrong

Very good. TV show.

Speaker 2

Yes, sir.

Don Armstrong

A walk-in TV show, that's you.

Speaker 2

Yes, sir. And my brother was um he was the head tech at uh Classic Chevrolet for 30-something years back when it was uh Bill Hurts Chevrolet. Oh yeah, oh Bill. Yeah, oh yeah.

Don Armstrong

I think he's in the penitentiary, isn't he?

Speaker 2

He's still alive? I don't know. I think he is in jail after all the tricky stuff he did.

Jeff Dziekan

But he was quite quite of age when all that happened, so I don't know.

Speaker 2

Might have. But who knows?

Don Armstrong

Exactly. So have you done anything to the Corvette? You say you got a lot of money in two. Well, a new Corvette is not cheap.

Speaker 2

On my 2026, I especially ordered it out of uh Westside Chevrolet and Katie. Um, did some some add-ons on it.

Don Armstrong

Um I want to know about the add-ons.

Speaker 2

We did the uh I did the exhaust on it, throttle body plates, uh injectors. Instead of the uh 5.5 motor, I got the 6.2 motor in it on a ZL6. So it it gets up and goes.

Don Armstrong

I think it's you you want to smile as you said that you want you holding it back, I can tell. What color is it?

Speaker 2

It's uh a green. It's a real light green with some gold metallic flakes in it.

Don Armstrong

So it's a custom paint show?

Speaker 2

Yes, sir. I think I'm if I'm not mistaken, my vehicle was the first one in Texas. Um, because I ordered it and got it in towards the end of November, beginning of December. I believe there was another one somewhere here in Texas somewhere, and then uh Chevy also said that they were gonna put it on a ZR1 X, uh, and then they were gonna discontinue the color. So it's a rare color.

Don Armstrong

One in a million probably. Yeah. I like that. So do you normally go to the car shows like this?

Speaker 2

Actually, the car shows that I only go to are the ones that we're VIP'd at, and the only reason why we go to the VIP ones is because we don't want to be mixed up in the bad craft. The riff raft, yes.

Speaker 5

So what is the what is a VIP?

Speaker 2

The VIP is that we're getting our own spots. We're getting recognized that my car club is coming out and we're coming out and gonna have a design spot that we're you know people can actually see our vehicles. You know, we're not gonna be in the middle of the riffraff.

Mike Marrs

So, so what would be an example of one of those?

Don Armstrong

No, I want to know, wait a minute. I want to know, first of all, what what is the definition of riffraff to you?

Mike Marrs

He wants to see if he can belong to that club too.

Speaker 2

In real time. Riffraff.com riffraff is, you know, unfortunately, this new era in street takeovers and things takeovers and the kids these days that are, you know, they they think because you have a hot rod or you can make the car louder or faster that they can just go out and just tear everything up in the United States.

Mike Marrs

Generally louder is the criteria.

Speaker 2

Correct, correct. But I don't feel that if you have a sports car that you have to go out and take over somebody's property or do burnouts and donuts in a parking lot, destroy people's parking lots, you know, rev your motor up until you you're popping it, or you let me ask you something.

Jeff Dziekan

Well, they my mother used to call them hoodlums. Hoodlums. My mother used to call them hoodlums. So every don't hang out with the hoodlums.

Don Armstrong

Well, so let me ask you all all the burnouts and and the donuts and all that stuff, dude. I'm thinking dollars.

Speaker 2

But what do you get out of it?

Don Armstrong

Well, that was that. But okay, so I go out there and I burn the back tires off the Corvette. Now I gotta go and spend $500, at least $500 on a new set of rear tires. Yeah, right, correct. Correct. Yeah. I I don't have any clue what that said.

Mike Marrs

No, he was asking about a camera that he was controlling. Yeah, I I I'm out of control.

Don Armstrong

Oh. Well, look at that. Well, are we are we off of that? No, we're on that.

Jeff Dziekan

We're still we're still on that.

Don Armstrong

But so what's the criteria for us to check? Pardon me. Well, we'll go to commercial. Oh, we've got to go next commercial? Technical work, yeah. Technical work commercial because we're we're we're kind of hobbling along here, right? Um, and uh we we don't like that, but we're of age to do that. It's because we're not hungover.

Mike Marrs

Exactly. That's the problem. We're not drinking monster. That's why we're drinking monster. I had to spend too much time getting ready, couldn't get enough time. Is there is there coffee or water around here? Well, I'm fixing to send uh when Paige comes back. I'm gonna get her to go make a channel. Where's Paige now? I'm not sure.

Don Armstrong

You know, that's a scary thing if you don't know where Paige is. Paige is his granddaughter, who's 19, a very attractive young woman, and I'm worried.

Speaker 1

That was her driving off. That was the car killing the riff raff.

Don Armstrong

There's that. Yeah. Yeah. Oh my god. Well, uh you said that Camo. Camo vet. Camo Corvette. You said that you were uh, I thought that you said that you were in Sugarland. Was that your brother that was out there?

Speaker 2

We're we're all originally from First Colony Sugarland area back when Mr. Frost owned all the ranches and Highway 6 was a two-lane road.

Don Armstrong

I remember it well. Um the only restaurant out there back in the day was Los Tilles.

Speaker 2

Yes, Los Tilles. Los Mexican restaurant on Highway 6. Yes. I believe it was uh Highway 6 in uh Williams Trace.

Don Armstrong

That look at you. Dang, he's even got a member there every week.

Speaker 2

Yeah, we were too. Yeah. I I believe that was my first job at Los Tilles. Really? Yes, sir, right there on the corner. And then from Los Tilles, I'd leave Los Tills and go to Randall's and be a stalker at Randall's.

Don Armstrong

There you go. Yeah, Randall's was our grocery store, sir.

Speaker 2

Yeah, but small world. We all left Sugarland and went to Katie when Sugarland started getting overpopulated. My brother and his wife were the only ones that actually stayed in Sugarland, first colony area. But we just we moved over to Katie. But now Katie is getting crazy. Crazy now, too. A lot of crime. So what's next over there?

Don Armstrong

I'll tell you what's next. Honestly, you're the of the age that you could move out there to be in one of those old folks' communities.

Speaker 2

No, no, no. Actually, honestly, we're looking for some land right now. We want to stay around Berkshire, Waller area, any hideout, good place to be. Yes, but I want actually the land that's wooded. I don't because everybody right now is cutting down the woods. I want it wooded, so I can't.

Don Armstrong

You want to live in the woods.

Speaker 2

Yes, I want to cut down the section where I want to put the house. Just a little bit.

Don Armstrong

And let's not forget the garage.

Speaker 2

Right. I want a huge garage. I can park all my toys in there. But I want I want to be able to see you coming in, but I don't want you to see me. One of those. Like a bunker. Rifraf. Yes, sir. Yes, sir. Riffraft.

Don Armstrong

Well, man, it's a pleasure to meet you.

Speaker 2

It's a pleasure meeting you all. And what's the name of the car club again? Shaking Auto Club. Shaking Shaking Auto Club.

Jeff Dziekan

And uh, yeah, so we we need to uh we need to get together. Isn't that a Taylor Swift song? Shake Shaking Auto Club.

Speaker 2

Uh no, I don't know about Taylor Swift. Not right now. I'm old school. I like country, old country music and old country ride.

Don Armstrong

Yeah. Earl Haggard. Yeah. Yeah. Conway Twenty.

Speaker 2

Um Hank Williams Jr. There you go. Kevin Fowler, Doug Supernova.

Don Armstrong

Yeah. You're talking school, man.

Speaker 2

There you go. Hey man, it's great to see you. Yeah, great. Appreciate y'all having me all right.

Don Armstrong

Thank you. We appreciate you. And uh again, be uh tailpipes and tacos Easter Saturday.

Speaker 2

Easter Saturday. It's right down the street from you. It's right down the street from all my club.

Don Armstrong

Got it.

Speaker 2

We'll be there.

Don Armstrong

All right, man. Thank you.

Speaker 2

Thank you.

Seven Best Gas Station Hot Dogs

Don Armstrong

All right. Just ahead in Jeff's Car Culture, the seven best gas station hot dogs in America. David, we're gonna learn something today. Uh-huh. So we'll know exactly where to go to right after this meet. And Mr. Mars has seven racetracks worth visiting. It's called coming up on the In Wheel Time Car Talk Show after this break. Stay with us. The Tailpipes and Tacos renowned cruising expands to Beaumont. Golden Triangle cruisers will want to experience tailpipes and tacos at the Loopy Tortilla, High Ten South in Beaumont, near Washington Boulevard. Grab free Loopy Breakfast Tacos with any donation to Shirley's kids. Enjoy a coffee or an adult beverage. Every cruising vehicle is automatically entered to win one of the beautiful Chili Pepper trophies for Best Hot Rod, Classic, and Modern Classic. Tailpipes and Tacos Beaumont happens Saturday morning, March 21st, 8 to 11 a.m. If you're a car geek like we are, this is the event you'll want to attend. The Info Time Car Talk Show will be online live and you may be interviewed about your ride. Tailpipes and Tacos Beaumont edition Saturday, March 21st, 8 to 11 a.m. at the Loopy Tortilla 2050 I-10 South in Beaumont. The Katie Tailpipes and Tacos happens Easter Saturday, April 4th, 8 to 11. The free tailpipes and tacos cruising is a production of Lupi Tortilla Tex Mex, Beaumont and Katie. He's pretty good. Apple or Android in Wheel Time podcasts can be found everywhere, on the stream and through downloads. Whether you're on the road or at home and Jones in for a different kind of car talk show, give In Wheel Time a try. Honest new car reviews, fun, informative interviews with real car people, weekly automotive news, features like Jeff's car culture and Mike's driving destinations, all on In Wheel Time. Check us out on Sirius XM Podcasts, iHeartRadio, or while you're shopping on Amazon through Amazon Music. Mm-hmm. InWheeltime.com has a list, and we know you love lists. In Wheel Time invites you to join us 10 to noon usually every Saturday for our live show about all things automotive, and we thank you for being with us today. I'm gonna have to change things around a little bit.

Jeff Dziekan

It's up to you.

Don Armstrong

No, I know I want to do it because I teased it and I want to talk about it. Okay. The seven best gas station hot dogs in America. Have you got that?

Jeff Dziekan

I got it. Hot dog. Yeah, here we go.

Don Armstrong

Oh, don't make fun. You know you like them.

Jeff Dziekan

Yeah. All right. So what we got the shiny, juicy skin, warm buns on the counter, and all the. Wait a minute.

Don Armstrong

We're not talking about the beach now.

Jeff Dziekan

No, all and all the toppings to choose from at a low price. We don't like toppings. Of course, some gas convenience chains, dog stands, a head and shoulders above the rest. So here we go. Number one, Michael. Pilot flying J. You've probably seen this gas station and truck stops while making summer road trips across the country. They make that look that looks famous. When you'll find a pilot flying Jay, you got big juicy dogs on a roller grill along with fresh, cold toppings ranging from what? Sauerkraut, sliced jalapeno, banana peppers. We'll move on. The next one is Come and Go. Founded in 1963, the Midwestern chain's name is a play on a phrase Come and Go, using the initials of the founders, Cross and Gentile. With 400 stores in 11 states, it's not difficult to find that there's a tasty dog wrapped in a soft bun. What's outstanding about the dogs is that they're often on special. With two dogs, chips, and a drink running less than six dollars. I am in. Next one, Michael. Is a Circle K. Almost as ubiquitous as a 7 Eleven Circle K. All Angus beef dogs are dependable. Choice for a road trip. I know I had to say that's what we used to call that commie K.

Don Armstrong

That's another story for any day.

Jeff Dziekan

Next one we got is AMPM. The Tapatilla hot dogs and AMPM are spicier versions of our traditional roller dogs made with a tappeteo hot sauce. AMPM. AMPMARCON? They're around. I think there's one in Sugarland. A West Coast convenience store chain with locations in Arizona, California, Nevada, Oregon, Washington. Offers a spicy convenience. You didn't say Texas. Well, I think there's one over there though. They offer the dogs for $1.99. The chain also offers cheddarworst dogs packed with cheese at the same price. If you buy one dog, get the second dog for only $1.50. I am in. Michael, we've got the holiday station for only a dollar. You can get authentic Nathan Jr. all beef dog at the Midwest chain. Dang, a dollar. Locations in where? Alaska, Idaho, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. They're all indoors. Our full serve Nathan's hot dog with classic Johnsonville brats. If a long day in the car has you feeling hangry, go for a hot dog. Hangry. 7 Eleven is the next one. For its price, the 711 Big Bite may be just the best dog. 7. You can get almost anywhere in the country. Seriously, with over 13,000 locations, it gets harder to avoid a ubiquitous brand. Its locations offer gas, and that's right before you eat the hot dog. But you can also find there's a convenience store in many cities. Straightforward, all beef dog starts at around two bucks. It's a quarter pound beef wrapped in a pillowy bun. Several different toppings are available with a very uh and they vary by location, of course. Speedway, which is also owned by 7 Eleven, also offers the big bite. And the last one on the list, Michael, is Sheets. This chain is around 700 stores located in central and western Pennsylvania, Maryland, Ohio, Virginia, North Carolina, southern East Coast. They made to order dogs starting at 99 cents. But they also offer more upgrades with the most convenient set stores, including pretzel bun. Six kinds of cheese, including nacho. 14 different spreads like Dr. Pepper barbecue sauce, four nineteen different toppings from caramelized onions to guacamole. Talk about a dog a pelooza. So there you go. What a deal. How about that?

Don Armstrong

I'm sorry, I was waving at the drone.

Jeff Dziekan

Oh, the drone flying by.

Don Armstrong

I was waving at you.

Jeff Dziekan

Paige thought you were waving.

Weekend Racing Calendar Rundown

Don Armstrong

Yeah, I know. Paige Paige, uh, I love you, but I w I was waving at the drone, but one of the same. You just flying by. Have you had a good time so far? We've missed you. We were worried about you because you know you're out here with a bunch of car guys. Just saying. She needs a headset. She does. Um okay. Um Mr. Mars. I'm gonna kind of mix things up a little bit here. Okay. Um, Jeff, uh, do you want uh do we even want to try to get back on track with this?

Jeff Dziekan

You can if you want. Do you want to do the racing?

Don Armstrong

Uh well, I'm not sure. Um, yeah, let's do the racing calendar because it's big. It's sponsored by Texas Muscle Car Club Challenge.

Jeff Dziekan

Thank you for that. Give me just a second here. We're we're uh running a little crazy. Well, I know. And um Oh, but in racing, we've got some good stuff. This week, to actually tomorrow. I'll I'll take one. Tomorrow is um for the IndyCar series, you got Streets of Arlington in Jerry's World. I watched a little bit of the practice and a little bit of the qualifying for the N the NXT series and the big boys.

Don Armstrong

Streets of Arlington.

Jeff Dziekan

Streets of Arlington, and it's going around the stadium, the baseball stadium, football stadium, and all that. They did here in Houston many years ago. They're doing that up there, and it's tomorrow uh up in Dallas. Formula One. They have issues. The new car that they're putting out for Formula One is. Nobody likes it. Nobody likes it. You've got to watch your battery level for charging, and it's it's go slow to go fast. They're putting it. Is it Formula E? Well, they're you know what? You bring that up because they're calling it an updated version of Formula E, and they're hating it. The cars are hard to drive. It's not Formula E. It's not, but they're calling it that. Because you have to do the you have to maintain the electricity. Because it's a hybrid. Yep. Yeah, yeah, yeah. If you can gas and electric. Yeah, and then you gotta pit on time and all this other good stuff. So but that's uh that's actually the 15th tomorrow. It's the Chinese Grand Prix going on there. Yeah, uh NHRA, they are off until the end of the month, the 20th and 21st. But there's gonna be in Arizona, and they got uh pretty good compliment of folks that are gonna be running.

Don Armstrong

That would be next weekend, wouldn't it?

Jeff Dziekan

Yep, that'll be next weekend. And I think I've got one here. My NASCAR boys, the uh trucks are off this weekend, but the uh uh Riley series in the big boys.

Don Armstrong

Yeah, I know I was almost saying they're because they're going broke, so they pulled out.

Jeff Dziekan

And they are in Vegas, so uh check that out as well. And of course, you got circle track guys, all you got your local tracks, all that good stuff. Go out and support them because that's where you get your new talent. And speaking of talent, I'm not talking about NASCAR, so okay. They've got their own issues. Yeah, they really do.

Don Armstrong

Mr. Mars, did you want to contribute to this?

Mike Marrs

Yeah, I did. I said they do, I agree.

Don Armstrong

Well, no, but wait for no, but I mean, do you uh uh feature of some sort? Do we have time?

Jeff Dziekan

No, we don't history?

Don Armstrong

Uh yeah, we do.

Jeff Dziekan

You want to participate, but we don't have time for auto history. Yeah, go ahead.

Don Armstrong

Go ahead, Mars. We'll make time for you.

Mike Marrs

All right, so you want me to run something here, buddy?

This Week In Auto History

Jeff Dziekan

I got it.

Mike Marrs

This week's auto history. So it's second week of March, lots of things going on in racing, milestones. Got a lot of people were born, but we don't do births so much. So we're gonna go straight to March 8, 1950. Now, this is when production begins for the Volkswagen Type 2. Originally slated as a type one, but this is called uh you called it a microbus, a minibus. Uh it came in several different variations. It came actually as a single cab truck, a double dual cab truck, uh camper, hippie bands, any way you want them. It had it in all kinds of different variations. Now, by the 1960s, it basically became a microbus. And uh I was really interested that they actually have a pickup flatbed that was involved in all this. So then uh moving straight on up to March 8, 1969, uh uh, Pontiac reveals the Trans Am. That's a pretty car. Now, this is the first year they brought it out. Of course, it's based on the Firebird package, uh, and it was designed to go and race with the SCCA Trans-American Championship Racing Series. And the first one, the 69, is on the left in this picture, the 73 is on the right, and that's the one that I really like. You might remember it from the movie Thunderbolt and Lightfoot. So then we're going on up to March 9. Now, this is the first Mustang that was produced. I know we talk about the Mustangs Lost a lot. People talk about the 1964 and a half, and blah, blah, blah, blah. Well, this was actually built in March, and it actually came out in April of 1964. They call it generally a 64 and a half, but the 64 was and a half was the first year the Mustang was made. This is that was where'd it go? This was, that was.

Jeff Dziekan

And then where'd it go?

Mike Marrs

I hit the button whenever I was pouncing around it. So that's actually it. That is the very first one that was made whenever the millionth Mustang came out. They traded it to the owner of the original one so they could get it back and put it in this museum. Oh, that's cool. March the 9th. Turn the page. March the 12th. Ferrari 125 IS is computed or is completed. Now, this is the first car that was built by founder Enzo Ferrari. It's powered by a compact V12 engine, and this is what began Ferrari as the manufacturing of his own vehicles. Up to that time, he had done uh farmed out some of that stuff. But this is where Ferrari got started. Then coming up in March the 13th, the Lub Bug came out as a Volkswagen bug. It came out in several different variations. Disney made a lot of money off of that.

Speaker 5

It would be Herbie. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Mike Marrs

And uh still people are meeting, they have Herbie meets, and people go and bring their Herbie cars. March the 14th, 1957, Fort Fairlane 500 Skyliner debuts. Now, this is the one where the roof actually retracts down into the trunk. It was really fascinating. I remember the first time I saw one of those up in Oklahoma when I was a kid. Could not believe it. It was very expensive to produce, but it demonstrated their engineering and the technology that they could do and kind of led them to other things that were more uh cost effective to produce. And that's what I'm going to say is this week in automotive history of a real quick look.

Don Armstrong

All right.

Jeff Dziekan

Well, it wasn't that quick. Oh, but we'll we'll go with that. And that the then wasn't there a bunch of solenoids on that roof to it was like 60 of them.

Mike Marrs

Yeah, that's the reason the technology was really cool, but it just was expensive to build, and then it was expensive to maintain. There's your car, Mars. That is yours. Come on. If I was gonna have one like that, that's what I'd have.

Don Armstrong

Yeah, yeah, exactly. It looks like it just came off of the dirt truck. Yeah, or it could just go on. Well, it could do that too. Seems like it came off a rollback. Hey, we'd love to hear from you. Shoot us an email. The address is info at inwheeltime.com. We are back after this quick break. Stay with us. The Easter Bunny's coming. To the tailpipes and tacos cruise in at the Loopy Tortilla Tex Max in Katy, April 4th, 8 to 11 a.m. And you're invited to. Bring the kids and grandkids. It's a cruise in like you've never attended before. With a donation to Shirley's Kids, you'll get a free Loopy Tortilla breakfast taco. There'll be coffee and adult beverages, plus chili pepper trophies for the best hotbod, best modern classic, and best classic. There's no entry fee and no registration. Just bring your ride and the kids. Bad bunnies aren't allowed, but the Easter bunny will be there, and he'll be full of joy to help make this tailpipes and tacos a very special one. Photo opportunities abound. The Unwell Time Car Talk Show will be streaming around the globe, and you can be selected to tell your car story to a global audience. It's the Tailpipes and Tacos Cruise in Easter edition, Saturday, April 4th, 8 to 11 a.m. at the Loopy Tortilla Tex Max in Katy, located on 99, the Grand Parkway, just south of I-10, the Katy Freeway, in Katy. Make plans now. Loopy Tortilla is pretty good.

Speaker 9

Houston, get ready! Team Gilman is hosting a mega car meet at the North Complex, Afro, Asta, Subaru. We're collaborating with the Car Meet Network, so you know it's gonna be crazy.

Speaker 8

And that's not all. We're gonna be wrestling up six cars to be sold at a thousand dollars each. See below for more details.

Speaker 7

You're not gonna want to miss this Houston March 14th. We can't wait to see you here.

Don Armstrong

That's it for this podcast episode of the In Wheel Time Car Show. I'm Don Armstrong, inviting you to join us for our live show every Saturday morning on Facebook, YouTube, Twitch, and our InWheeltime.com website. Podcasts are available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, iHeartPodcast, PodcastAddict, TuneIn, Pandora, and Amazon Music. Keep listening, and we'll see you soon.

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Don Armstrong

Host
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Jeff Dziekan

Co-host
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Michael Marrs

Co-host