Finishing up the first full year for the Full Caster Podcast - A Karting Conversation, is our third 'On Location' show; this one taped on March 15th at Adams Motorsports Park. As the location suggests, Episode 26 sees hosts Mike Smith and Derek Esquibel joined by the owner of Adams, long time karter and driver coach, Troy Adams. We chat a good amount about not only the origins of how Adams Kart Track came into being, but plenty about Troy's transition from growing up at the track and working as ...
Mar 30, 2021•1 hr 14 min•Season 2Ep. 26
Finishing up the first full year for the Full Caster Podcast - A Karting Conversation, is our third 'On Location' show; this one taped on March 15th at Adams Motorsports Park. As the location suggests, Episode 26 sees hosts Mike Smith and Derek Esquibel joined by the owner of Adams, long time karter and driver coach, Troy Adams. We chat a good amount about not only the origins of how Adams Kart Track came into being, but plenty about Troy's transition from growing up at the track and working as ...
Mar 30, 2021•1 hr 37 min•Season 2Ep. 26
Episode 25 of the Full Caster Podcast - A Karting Conversation brings on Race Liberante as a guest with hosts Mike Smith and Derek Esquibel. Race is perhaps best known now as the founder and developer of the Race Factory Chassis line, but he actually has over 20 years of experience in kart racing, winning championships in Cadets, Juniors, and even as recently as 2019 in Shifters. Beyond that, he has also spent extensive time in cars, and was even on the verge of running in the NASCAR top-tier tr...
Mar 16, 2021•1 hr 17 min•Season 2Ep. 25
Episode 25 of the Full Caster Podcast - A Karting Conversation brings on Race Liberante as a guest with hosts Mike Smith and Derek Esquibel. Race is perhaps best known now as the founder and developer of the Race Factory Chassis line, but he actually has over 20 years of experience in kart racing, winning championships in Cadets, Juniors, and even as recently as 2019 in Shifters. Beyond that, he has also spent extensive time in cars, and was even on the verge of running in the NASCAR top-tier tr...
Mar 16, 2021•1 hr 36 min•Season 2Ep. 25
In a special Full Caster Podcast, Mike and Derek sit live trackside on location at the Challenge Of The Americas winter series at CalSpeed Karting, for rounds 3 and 4 of the championship after Friday Official Practice. Join them as they chat with ekartingnews.com's David Cole, Challenge owner and promoter Andy Seeseman, as well as several other guests; including our first cadet and future kid kart drivers to be on the show. Fun was had by all in what was a special and absolute fun way to kick of...
Mar 02, 2021•1 hr 42 min
For episode 24 of The Full Caster Podcast: A Karting Conversation, Hosts Mike Smith and Derek Esquibel have their first sit down with a track owner, CalSpeed Kartings own, Rob Niles. Recorded on December 22nd 2020, this episode is a special one for the hosts, learning even more about their boss and co-worker for the last several years. Join them as they hear stories from the early days of Rob getting started actually racing a yard kart, his move to cars via Skip Barber in his late twenties, the ...
Feb 16, 2021•1 hr 31 min•Season 2Ep. 24
For episode 24 of The Full Caster Podcast: A Karting Conversation, Hosts Mike Smith and Derek Esquibel have their first sit down with a track owner, CalSpeed Kartings own, Rob Niles. Recorded on December 22nd 2020, this episode is a special one for the hosts, learning even more about their boss and co-worker for the last several years. Join them as they hear stories from the early days of Rob getting started actually racing a yard kart, his move to cars via Skip Barber in his late twenties, the ...
Feb 16, 2021•1 hr 10 min•Season 2Ep. 24
This installment of the Full Caster Podcast - A Karting Conversation, was recorded on November 16th 2020, with hosts Mike Smith and Derek Esquibel interviewing none other than the 'voice of karting', Rob Howden! For episode 23 of the FCP we chat with Rob about how he got into karting, and how that turned into not only his own magazine, but eventually running the 'Hub' of karting on the internet, ekartingnews.com. We also talk about some of his own time behind the wheel, his battles with friend a...
Feb 02, 2021•1 hr 52 min•Season 2Ep. 23
Recorded on November 30th 2020, the 23rd edition of the Full Caster Podcast - A Karting Conversation, sees hosts Mike Smith and Derek Esquibel interview Andy Seesemann 'on location' at his place of business, Full Throttle Karting in Orange, CA. Andy is probably best known as the owner and proprietor of FTK, but also as the promoter of the Challenge of the Americas Winter Series on the west coast. That said, he also has an extensive career behind the wheel, and he shares multiple laughs, stories ...
Jan 19, 2021•1 hr 11 min•Season 2Ep. 22
Recorded on November 30th 2020, the 23rd edition of the Full Caster Podcast - A Karting Conversation, sees hosts Mike Smith and Derek Esquibel interview Andy Seesemann 'on location' at his place of business, Full Throttle Karting in Orange, CA. Andy is probably best known as the owner and proprietor of FTK, but also as the promoter of the Challenge of the Americas winter series on the west coast. That said, he also has an extensive career behind the wheel, and he shares multiple laughs, stories ...
Jan 19, 2021•1 hr 29 min•Season 2Ep. 22
Episode 21 of The Full Caster Podcast: A Karting Conversation is the first episode for Season 2 of the FCP, as well as the first 'On Location' show, as it sees Hosts Mike Smith and Derek Esquibel head over to MDG Karting to sit down with owner Stu Hayner. Stu not only has been in karting for the past 40+ years, but also had a successful career in sports cars and endurance racing as well. He shares stories from his early days karting, how he got his big break in cars, and how it all came back ful...
Jan 05, 2021•1 hr 23 min•Season 2Ep. 21
Episode 21 of The Full Caster Podcast: A Karting Conversation is the first episode for Season 2 of the FCP, as well as the first 'On Location' show, as it sees Hosts Mike Smith and Derek Esquibel head over to MDG Karting to sit down with owner Stu Hayner. Stu not only has been in karting for the past 40+ years, but also had a successful career in sports cars and endurance racing as well. He shares stories from his early days karting, how he got his big break in cars, and how it all came back ful...
Jan 05, 2021•1 hr 16 min•Season 2Ep. 21
The 21st installment of the Full Caster Podcast - A Karting Conversation, this is actually the Season Finale for the first go round of the new karting endeavor, getting done on October 26th, 2020. Diego Morales joins hosts Mike Smith and Derek Esquibel for this episode, and they not only talk about the championship he just won in the CalSpeed Super Series, but roll back to the early days of a kid growing up in Brazil, and how go karting built a foundation in his life at an early age. Taking part...
Nov 03, 2020•1 hr 31 min•Season 1Ep. 20
The 21st installment of the Full Caster Podcast - A Karting Conversation, this is actually the Season Finale for the first go round of the new karting endeavor, getting done on October 26th, 2020. Diego Morales joins hosts Mike Smith and Derek Esquibel for this episode, and they not only talk about the championship he just won in the CalSpeed Super Series, but roll back to the early days of a kid growing up in Brazil, and how go karting built a foundation in his life at an early age. Taking part...
Nov 03, 2020•1 hr 15 min•Season 1Ep. 20
Hosts Mike Smith and Derek Esquibel sit down with with one of the most experienced and successful karters here in the States for Episode 19 of The Full Caster Podcast: A Karting Conversation, Billy Cleavelin. Billy's involvement in karting started back in the 70's as a kid turning wrenches, but ever since the 80's, he has been a force behind the wheel. Finding success through every step of the evolution in karting, Billy has seen it all, and damn near won everything there is to win as well. An I...
Oct 20, 2020•1 hr 10 min•Season 1Ep. 19
Hosts Mike Smith and Derek Esquibel sit down with with one of the most experienced and successful karters here in the States for Episode 19 of The Full Caster Podcast: A Karting Conversation, Billy Cleavelin. Billy's involvement in karting started back in the 70's as a kid turning wrenches, but ever since the 80's, he has been a force behind the wheel. Finding success through every step of the evolution in karting, Billy has seen it all, and damn near won everything there is to win as well. An I...
Oct 20, 2020•1 hr 4 min•Season 1Ep. 19
Episode 18 of the Full Caster Podcast - A Karting Conversation brings on Terry Nash as a guest with hosts Mike Smith and Derek Esquibel. Renowned in the 4-stroke karting world as a master engine builder, Terry talks about how he got into the engine building game, tells a few stories about a pair of his kart racing kids, and even shares a few specifics of just what has gone into his craft over the years. An accomplished driver in his own right, we get to hear a few cool memories of him behind the...
Oct 06, 2020•1 hr 44 min•Season 1Ep. 18
For episode 17 of The Full Caster Podcast: A Karting Conversation, Hosts Mike Smith and Derek Esquibel welcome their first engine builder to the show, with Jesus Vasquez of P1 Engines coming on board. Jesus shares his story of coming up from humble beginnings to become one of the best driving talents of the late 90's and eventually early 2000's as a driver coach and team manager, and how all of that worked into the start of one of the most popular engine brands in the sport. We even talk about h...
Sep 22, 2020•53 min•Season 1Ep. 17
For episode 17 of The Full Caster Podcast: A Karting Conversation, Hosts Mike Smith and Derek Esquibel welcome their first engine builder to the show, with Jesus Vasquez of P1 Engines coming on board. Jesus shares his story of coming up from humble beginnings to become one of the best driving talents of the late 90's and eventually early 2000's as a driver coach and team manager, and how all of that worked into the start of one of the most popular engine brands in the sport. We even talk about h...
Sep 22, 2020•1 hr 15 min•Season 1Ep. 17
Episode 16 of The Full Caster Podcast - A Karting Conversation has hosts Mike Smith and Derek Esquibel sit down with another of CalSpeed Karting's own, Sarah Bantay. Programs Manager at CalSpeed, Sarah not only is a instrumental part of the crew, but also has a big part of this podcast with her photoshop skills. In this episode, we talk to her about how she got into karting as a driver via K1 and Jim Hall, the transition to the CalSpeed Super Series, as well as her time in autocross, and how her...
Sep 08, 2020•1 hr 14 min•Season 1Ep. 16
Episode 15 of The Full Caster Podcast: A Karting Conversation sees Hosts Mike Smith and Derek Esquibel catch up with their buddy and longtime Sports Car racer, Craig Stanton. With years of experience under his belt in IMSA, off road, and even motorcycles, he has also been an avid karter in the arrive and drive genre as well. Craig shares several fun stories about how he got into car racing, his rise through the motorsports ranks, and even a deeper dive into his role as a pro driving coach, and t...
Aug 25, 2020•1 hr 15 min•Season 1Ep. 15
Episode 15 of The Full Caster Podcast: A Karting Conversation sees Hosts Mike Smith and Derek Esquibel catch up with their buddy and longtime Sports Car racer, Craig Stanton. With years of experience under his belt in IMSA, off road, and even motorcycles, he has also been an avid karter in the arrive and drive genre as well. Craig shares several fun stories about how he got into car racing, his rise through the motorsports ranks, and even a deeper dive into his role as a pro driving coach, and t...
Aug 25, 2020•1 hr 6 min•Season 1Ep. 15
For episode 14 of The Full Caster Podcast: A Karting Conversation, Hosts Mike Smith and Derek Esquibel have their first sit down with someone from the other side of the fence, Taylor Jocelyn. Taylor has over a decade of experience as a race official, but has also spent time as a club president, putting on street races, never mind he was also a driver in his own right in SCCA, motorcycles, and of course karts. We chat with him extensively about his time in officiating, racing formula fords and ot...
Aug 11, 2020•1 hr 8 min•Season 1Ep. 14
For episode 14 of The Full Caster Podcast: A Karting Conversation, Hosts Mike Smith and Derek Esquibel have their first sit down with someone from the other side of the fence, Taylor Jocelyn. Taylor has over a decade of experience as a Race official, but has also spent time as a club president, putting on street races, never mind he was also a driver in his own right in SCCA, motorcycles, and of course karts. We chat with him extensively about his time in officiating, racing formula fords and ot...
Aug 11, 2020•1 hr 1 min•Season 1Ep. 14
Hosts Mike Smith and Derek Esquibel sit down with one of the most successful shifter kart pilots in in North America for episode 13 of The Full Caster Podcast: A Karting Conversation, Billy Musgrave. A four time winner of the SKUSA SuperNationals, plus multiple local and regional karting championships, the lead driver for the Musgrave Racing Company (MRC) is hailed as one of the best in the business in the Pro Shifter category. In this episode, he not only talks about his karting career to date,...
Jul 28, 2020•1 hr 10 min•Season 1Ep. 13
Hosts Mike Smith and Derek Esquibel sit down with one of the most successful shifter kart pilots in in North America for episode 13 of The Full Caster Podcast: A Karting Conversation, Billy Musgrave. A four time winner of the SKUSA SuperNationals, plus multiple local and regional karting championships, the lead driver for the Musgrave Racing Company (MRC) is hailed as one of the best in the business in the Pro Shifter category. In this episode, he not only talks about his karting career to date,...
Jul 28, 2020•1 hr 24 min•Season 1Ep. 13
Episode 12 of The Full Caster Podcast - A Karting Conversation has hosts Mike Smith and Derek Esquibel sit down with CalSpeed Kartings own, Bob Niles. The current engine builder and "do'er of all things" at the Fontana, CA karting track, he has been working on engines since he was a teenager, never mind a long list of other skills he employs. With a slew of knowledge in karting as well as a few other surprising occupations, Mr. Niles' recollection of the early days of karting, growing up in the ...
Jul 14, 2020•1 hr 19 min•Season 1Ep. 12
The Full Caster Podcast: A Karting Conversation - Episode 11 has hosts Mike Smith and Derek Esquibel sit down with the Team Principal and founder of HRT Driver Development, Kyle Hayner. A fairly new team to the industry, the name however is not new; born into and brought up in the racing world, Kyle's experience dates back to when he was just a kid in cadet karts, carry on into cars doing precision driving and coaching, and now as one of the more popular karting organizations seen in Southern Ca...
Jun 30, 2020•1 hr 14 min•Season 1Ep. 11
The Full Caster Podcast: A Karting Conversation - Episode 11 has hosts Mike Smith and Derek Esquibel sit down with the Team Principal and founder of HRT Driver Development, Kyle Hayner. A fairly new team to the industry, the name however is not new; born into and brought up in the racing world, Kyle's experience dates back to when he was just a kid in cadet karts, carry on into cars doing precision driving and coaching, and now as one of the more popular karting organizations seen in Southern Ca...
Jun 30, 2020•1 hr 8 min•Season 1Ep. 11
Episode 10 of the Full Caster Podcast - A Karting Conversation brings on Ryon Beachner as a guest with hosts Mike Smith and Derek Esquibel. Ryon is known as the owner and manager of the 2Wild Karting team, with the team finding many successes over the years, and Ryon himself earning a name as quite the wheelman himself. Listen in as he takes our hosts through the trying early days for 2Wild, through his racing career, and on to the current state of affairs as the company grows to meet today's ne...
Jun 16, 2020•1 hr 23 min•Season 1Ep. 10
