Join hosts Mickey, Ben, Dave, and Tim as they chat with Autumn , Associate Curator at the Peterson Automotive Museum in Los Angeles . Discover what makes the Peterson one of the world’s most respected car museums, from its legendary lowrider exhibits to the hidden treasures in its vault. Autumn shares behind-the-scenes insights on how exhibits are chosen, the intersection of cars and culture, and why even non-car enthusiasts will find something to love. Plus, don’t miss the trivia showdown: Whic...
Jul 08, 2025•35 min
In this lively episode of The Thing About Cars , the gang reunites with Dawn, who unveils her brand-new 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe Calligraphy. She shares her excitement about its retro design, dual sunroofs, Bose speakers, UV phone sanitizer, and even a hidden compartment perfect for valuables (or a shotgun, as the crew jokes). The conversation takes a hilarious turn as they discuss the car’s powerful seat coolers, earning comparisons to Japanese toilets. Meanwhile, Mickey dodges questions about his...
Jul 01, 2025•44 min
In this deeply insightful and inspiring episode of The Thing About Cars , we welcome Dr. Bob McMahan, President of Kettering University—a revolutionary institution turning higher education on its head with a one-of-a-kind co-op model that combines rigorous academics with real-world engineering experience. Mickey, Misty, Ben, and Tim explore how Kettering’s approach creates professionals with not just degrees but patents, leadership roles, and two and a half years of experience before they even g...
Jun 24, 2025•50 min
In this hilariously sharp and candid episode of The Thing About Cars , Mickey and the gang unpack some seismic shifts in the world of Formula One. Is Lewis Hamilton really leaving Mercedes for Ferrari? Why did the FIA reject Andretti Global’s bid to become the 11th F1 team—and is there a whiff of politics and anti-American sentiment in the decision? We also check in on Phil the Ballard’s tumultuous love life, Misty rails against Ferrari’s questionable strategies (and perhaps their marinara-fuele...
Jun 17, 2025•34 min
**The TTAC Crew get to talk with Alison Hill, an SCCA participant and instructor, to discuss motorsports, racing, and SCCA events and culture. ** We welcome your support via Patreon and your questions and feedback via our website .
Jun 10, 2025•49 min
In this chaotic yet charming episode of The Thing About Cars , the gang checks in on everything from F1 drama to baked bean Furby rage. Mickey's trying to push out two episodes a week to catch up the podcast backlog (and avoid being haunted by guests), while Misty brings updates from the Dutch job market and the gridiron of Formula 1—complete with team infighting, rookie surprises, and scandalous rumors worthy of a soap opera. Meanwhile, Tim reports live from Road Atlanta during quiet hour “shus...
Jun 08, 2025•27 min
This episode of The Thing About Cars features Annie Koehler, affectionately known as the "Hot-Rod Granny Annie." Annie shares her incredible journey from owning nearly 100 cars to driving dump trucks professionally, and now competing—and winning—in burnout contests well into her 80s. She tells us about her beloved 1957 Cadillac Series 62 DeVille, now modified with a 540-hp big block engine, and her epic 4,200-mile road trip across the American West. Annie also reflects on how car culture has cha...
Apr 29, 2025•41 min
Hope has a 1958 Desoto Firesweep that she bought in 2009. We find out what are the joys and troubles of owning a car from a brand that has been defunct for many decades. Hope lets us know where you may have seen her car before, if some of the work that it requires, currently allows it to be driven by Fred Flintstone, and what she's done in its back seat. Ben joins the party a little late as he is suffering from motorcycle lag, but he is able to offer some encouragement and hope to Hope. Our triv...
Apr 08, 2025•42 min
We welcome David Kreidler, Senior Exhibits Curator for the Harley-Davidson Museum . Ben takes over for Tim with the trivia question, and our guest has his own trivia question too! We learn all about what goes into creating exhibits that reflect the history of Harley-Davidson and broader related topics as well. David has one of the best jobs around and clearly enjoys it. You'll definitely want to see the Harley-Davidson Museum after you hear this episode! We welcome your support via Patreon and y...
Apr 01, 2025•1 hr 3 min
We welcome Tom Glatch to the table to discuss his book about American Motors Corporation , better known as AMC. AMC only lasted 34 years but it's a fascinating story full of interesting engineering accomplishments and business decisions. Nashes and Ramblers and Gremlins, oh my! You'll see AMC in a whole new light. We welcome your support via Patreon and your questions and feedback via our website ....
Mar 25, 2025•27 min
We welcome writer/photographer Tom Glatch, author of Dodge & Plymouth Muscle Cars and Mopar fan since childhood. Mickey thinks his dream-car is in the book. Misty is mourning fallen bollards. Ben confesses driving 100 MPH in his dad's beat-up Plymouth but luckily the statute of limitations has run out, and we even give the K-Car a little love. And if you didn't think that Plymouth Dusters were fun, wait'll you hear what Tim has has for our trivia question! We welcome your support via Patreon...
Mar 18, 2025•35 min
Film-maker Indy Saini joins us to tell us all about her film Women In The Front Seat, which is about a diverse group of women motorcyclists. They're all different, their bikes are different, their styles of riding are different- but they share the common bond of going places on two wheels. More than just a series of profiles, the film explores deeper motives and reasons for women to ride. These riders have embraced the joy of riding and it enhances their lives in amazing ways. It's raining men i...
Mar 11, 2025•37 min
Our guest Brian Phillips and his uniquely named car tells us how he turned a traffic accident into getting a nicer car with an even more unique name via some friendly dealings with a pre-loved vehicle purveyor. We ponder the longevity of cars with cylinder deactivation. Misty and Tim talk about the peculiar events of the 2023 Las Vegas F1 race; regarding rules, flagging, staffing and scheduling. The gang discusses the city of Atlanta's Erica's law if it could lead to less automotive mayhem on th...
Mar 04, 2025•35 min
We're flying without a guest or a plan in this previously un-released vintage episode. Dave is befuddled, Misty is stabby, and Tim is racy! Ben had to miss this one and it's a damn shame because his father worked with the criminally insane and owned a pair of Alfa Romeos, both of which get mentioned in the trivia question. The shopping is fabulous in Tangent-Land! Why are we building more gas stations when EVs are on the rise? Mickey wants to see a doctor while charging an EV. We shame the Frenc...
Feb 25, 2025•33 min
We welcome Rebecca Vollman to the table to learn all about her adventures in engineering! It's a fascinating tale based on the idea that life's too short to drive a boring car and she shares a lot of wisdom learned from seeing the automotive industry from the inside. Tim dials 911 for the trivia question. We welcome your support via Patreon and your questions and feedback via our website ....
Feb 18, 2025•55 min
Mickey gets to visit a meeting of the Georgia Automotive Manufacturer's Association (GAMA) and do some live recording on site. It was a wonderful experience. Mickey interviews Gaby Pierre, Strategy Lead and Senior Fellow of GNEM (Georgia Network for Electric Mobility), a think-tank housed at the University of Georgia focused on electric mobility and transportation innovation, research, and economic development around the state and beyond. We welcome your support via Patreon and your questions an...
Feb 13, 2025•47 min
Dave is surprisingly mellow and Misty wonders why there are bells. Mickey has got a little list. Misty is steamed at Europe's left-lane bandits, and wonders if US drivers are driving plaid. Whose Schwartz is bigger? Dave's singing voice is unequaled! Ben is annoyed at the poor quality of US drivers, Dave clutches his pearls, and Mickey wonders why we need a check engine light and Dave says Mickey is the Susan Lucci of cars. Tim thinks we should all wear GoPros on our foreheads, oh my! Ben feels ...
Feb 11, 2025•50 min
We welcome motorsports goddess Dystany Spurlock to the table, one of the fastest women on two wheels! She does some cool things on four wheels too, and we really enjoyed the conversation- she's so much fun! Her enthusiasm for motorsports is wonderfully contagious, so tune-in and enjoy the ride! Misty isn't moist for once, and Westy fans can rejoice the glorious return to USA. We had lots of fun going around the track for this episode, and no bollards were harmed! We welcome your support via Patr...
Sep 16, 2024•36 min
We're all in good form as we welcome Paul D'Orleans to the table to discuss all the things that turn his crank. He's into cars and motorcycles but mostly motorcycles, and has become a top-notch impresario for curated content relating to motorcycle history and culture, as well as being a really fun guy to talk with. His love of the subject is undeniably strong and infectious and he'll make you want a vintage motorcycle. If you're looking for endless fascinating rabbit holes of moto-history to exp...
Sep 09, 2024•43 min
Misty is walking like an Egyptian away from Tim's Pharoah joke, and due to a guest who canceled we tackle other topics. We start out serious with the idea of putting anti-impaired driving interlocks in all cars but then we lighten it up with switching gears (not easy in Dawn's Mercedes, apparently), then shift into which country's cars are the most difficult to repair. Tim grew extra elbows to get to some spark plugs, while Ben contrasts the ease of working on different Lotuses. Misty relates it...
Sep 02, 2024•30 min
Do All Engineers Have Talking Frogs? The gang interviews Steven Tubbs from Kennesaw University's Formula SAE Team, a co-ed team of students who secure funding for, engineer, design, build, and race a small formula style car in intercollegiate competition. We find out what roles there are for team members getting degrees in engineering, whether is is mechanical, aerospace, electronic or materials, as well as those getting degrees in accounting, business, marketing and management. Graduates who pa...
Aug 26, 2024•35 min
F.I., F1, and tires, tyres, tires! In this episode, we find out why tires used to be white and why restaurants have Michelin stars. In other tire topics, Tim remembers the F1 tire wars of the early 2000's and how it led to the US Farce 1 GP of 2005. We contemplate the long lead times of getting repair parts for newer cars from a dealer. Ben, on the other hand, can get all of the parts for his 1972 Lotus in 3 days. Suzanne has issues with her Jeep's aftermarket fuel injection system. Suzanne is t...
Aug 19, 2024•37 min
Mickey cleans out his inbox of random topics that he's collected over the last couple of weeks. In this week's TTAC, Tim starts the show with an intriguing Italian trivia question. Ben digs into how car drivers are revving up inflation. Not enough men prioritize stimulating Dave, and "dicknugget" becomes a TTAC term of art. The team digs into the Consumer Reports annual Car Issue and their alleged "Top Brands." We hope everyone enjoyed British Car Day in Suwanee on May 19th. Misty has a fabulous...
Aug 12, 2024•33 min
There is no more Georgia story than "I went to buy a tractor, and brought home a car." After a strange discussion of supply deliveries to a brothel in Amsterdam, we welcome back our old friend Greg Hinze to discuss rehabilitating his MG Midget. We leverage Misty's knowledge of rehabilitating sewing machines and looms to rebuild a Midget! Ben has notes on using superglue, condoms and diaphragms to get the car running. Mickey tries desperately to keep us on topic, but all we could agree to is that...
Aug 05, 2024•36 min
Mickey confesses Ford-lust, but it wasn't enough to entice our guest to show up. Misty shifts wet noodles trying to haul a loom across The Netherlands and learns what we all knew already: she won't like any car as much as her MX-5. Cognitive issues going from one car to another has Ben using his wipers to signal turns, while Misty's car has lady-humps to guide the way. Tim has the rational and historical perspectives as always, and we learn about the automotive origins of QR codes. We welcome yo...
Jun 18, 2024•35 min
Tim tells us more than we need to know about brakes, and Dave reveals why Italian cars got him a restraining order. Mickey wants to impulse-buy a car, and Misty thinks he's over-thinking it. Should he buy an El Camino? We hope The Muppets don't sue us! We welcome your support via Patreon and your questions and feedback via our website . This podcast is powered by Pinecast ....
Apr 04, 2024•42 min
We get off to a depraved start with a quick discussion of non-automotive products from automotive companies, such as magic wands and earth-movers. We're also happy to announce that VW have brought back their currywurst! Mickey is planning to go car-shopping and the list of things to look at is getting crazy. Things devolve quickly as usual. We give Italian and French cars some love, despite (or because of?) French weirdness. Grand Trivia Auto keeps on truckin' and the stirrups are enormous!! We ...
Apr 02, 2024•39 min
We meet Susanne, who has recently competed in the 2023 Rallye Aïcha des Gazelles. This is an ISO 14001 certified rally raid in which all of the drivers and navigators are women. They compete to drive on or off-road to multiple way points each day in the shortest distance possible, without using GPS. We find out what vehicles are the most popular to use and where to find them, how to communicate where few people speak English, how to navigate without GPS, how much does this cost and how does one ...
Mar 28, 2024•33 min
Loxley Brown returns and almost makes Dave go straight! Some of the girls from Club Athena regales us with her experiences at Indy in the DHL-sponsored experience that Loxley announced a couple of episodes ago. Too many interesting moments to detail in a short description, so enjoy! We welcome your support via Patreon and your questions and feedback via our website . This podcast is powered by Pinecast ....
Mar 26, 2024•31 min
Mick Opalak tells us about his experiences driving in the 24 Hours of Lemons, which is probably the mostest funnest racing series EVER! Misty enjoys a sausage-fest and Dave calls Human Resources about it. Tall tales abound, as does the spirit of camaraderie! Wanna be a race driver but don't have any motorsports connections? This is the race for you! Waffles never tasted so fast! Can the TTAC crew be tech inspectors for this thing? We welcome your support via Patreon and your questions and feedba...
Mar 23, 2024•34 min
