Hooniverse

We have so much to talk about this week, so we wind up rambling way off topic on all of our topics. Blake Z. Rong can't join us on the podcast palace so instead we have producers Zack Klapman and Chris Hayes sitting down to chat all things automotive.Zack had to suffer with a Lamborghini Aventador Roadster this week, and Jeff is in the process of picking up a Lamborghini Gallardo Squadra Corsa as you listen to this. Clearly they are both very important people.Other topics include the new BMW M3/M4, the redesigned Mercedes-Benz C-Class, John Hennessey taking a C7 Corvette up to 200 miles per hour, and many other items.

Blake Zoidberg Rong kicks off Episode 39 and then they dive right into the launch of the 2015 Ford Mustang. From there the talk devolves into chatter about the Jeep Wrangler Unlimited DRAGON Edition. Additionally, Jeff Glucker talks about driving the Aston Martin V12 Vantage S on a track, and oddly loving the Chevrolet Impala with the 3.6-liter V6.Also, the crew has to talk about Paul Walker. Blake met him at Willow Springs and Glucker spent 40 minutes with him on top of Pikes Peak. The question is why everyone is so affected, and they try to find out why.

This week Jeff and Blake sit down with "Maximum" Bob Lutz former head of global product development at General Motors (among many other titles and accomplishments).  Inflation, sporting sedans, the VL Destino and BMWs current direction are all discussed however Bob's insight into the future of automotive and the nature of the modern enthusiast is particularly noteworthy.  All that and more on this episode of the Hooniverse podcast.

This week we bring you a special episode of the Hooniverse podcast live from the XBox One launch party in Hollywood with our guest Dan Greenawalt from Turn 10 Studios.  Dan is the creative director behind the Forza Motorsport series and talks to us about building the new game and what we can expect to see out of the new XBox One hardware.  

In another installment from SEMA we sit down with Cameron Evans VP/COO of Red Line Oil.  We of course cover all manner of automotive lubrication but also the madness that is SEMA and Cameron's racing experience.

This week Larry Kosilla über detailer and Managing Director of AMMO NYC  joins the newly reunited Hooniverse crew at SEMA 2013.  Given Larry's background we of course discuss detailing, how he got started and what it's like working on some of the world's most expensive and exotic vehicles. Additionally we touch on Larry's Porsche 911 project, Jeff updates us on "The Wombat" and Blake schleps a crazy cart to Vegas. 

We're live from the SEMA show floor with a legend in suspension design, John Hotchkis.

Operating on very little sleep this week I sit down with Blake and we discuss the new Mercedes C Class, we admonish BMW for diluting their brand and Blake talks about his time with Bob Lutz and the demise of Pontiac.  In addition I tested about a billion cars with the YouTube /Drive crew as summarised below.C7 Corvette911 Carrera SMercedes CLA 45 AMGFord Fiesta STAudi S7BMW M5Porsche CaymanBMW 320

On this episode of the Hooniverse podcast Blake and I discuss our time spent at the Lamborghini Super Trofeo event.  Blake made his way out to the Mercedes press day, where he had the opportunity to spend some quality time with the SLS AMG Black, E63 AMG, C63 AMG 507 and CLA45 AMG. We talk infotainment design and user interfaces. And to round things out we cover the upcoming hypercar wars pitting the McLaren P1, Porsche 918, La Ferrari and the Koenigsegg Agera R against one-another.

Once again Jeff is traveling so that leaves you with Mr. Blake Zapfino Rong and myself (Chris Hayes).  In this episode the tangent filled ramblings of The Smoking Tire Podcast take effect as Blake attempts to put me back on point.  We discuss the BMW 3 & 4 series, Cadillac ELR & CTS, Mercedes CLA, Mazda's new design language, the Alfa Romeo 4C and how the Mustang and Camaro match up in base form.  Additionally we tackle such hard hitting subjects as sex on a motorcycle, the new reality show Revved Up while I find plenty of time to share my disdain for Florida and Chrysler. So download, listen, laugh, cry and maybe shed a tear for episode 31 of the Hooniverse Podcast.

The Hooniverse Podcast just turned 30... that means we have to straighten up, fly right, and act our age.Jeff Glucker and Blake Z. Rong don't though. They're incapable of doing so, and this episode clearly demonstrates that. The duo are back together after way too much traveling. Blake was doing his famous automotive journalist thing while Jeff was off attempting to be a famous automotive journalist.Being pack at full strength in the podcast palace means the talk starts with beer, then on to new cars, before we delve into older machines. We talk about the Koenigsegg One:1, the Tesla Model S fire, driving a three-on-the-tree 1954 Ford Ranch Wagon, and how a Jaguar E-Type can change ones perspective on life.

Alex Kierstein (@HanSolex) of Road & Track joins Blake and myself (Chris) while Jeff galavants about the country filming classic cars.  Between the three of us the conversation becomes an esoteric assembly of automotive jargon accented by the occassional and often poorly constructed piece of base humor.  That aside, Alex and Blake both of whom work for major print publications have access to an obscene number of vehicles.  I have nothing funny to follow up with because frankly the list is rather impressive, here's are some of the vehicles we cover.Lamborghini AventadorFerrari F12The 2013 Porsche CaymanC7 CorvetteMcLaren 12c SypderJaguar F TypeLinconl MKZSLS Black

This week on Hooniverse, we replace Jeff Glucker with a man-boy who is living the dream: race car driver Kenton Koch. He's 19 year-old engineering student who's as tall as a control tower, but somehow fits into a Mazda Miata cup car, and wins. We talk with him about chasing championships, university Formula SAE programs, and how to go fast.Also, Blake talks if driving many Dodges, and Zack Klapman tells the tale of the Silver State Open Road Challenge and a JCW Mini Cooper.

Blake Z. Rong is absent this episode but have no fear because we've got a guest to take his place. Skip Essma from TRD joins us in the podcast palace. He's the Senior Vehicle Dynamics Engineer so he knows his chassis and suspension setups.We chat about some new car bits, including the recent news and vehicle reveals out of Frankfurt. Soon though we dive into exactly what Skip does, we talk racing, and we also talk sweet sweet beer.Podcast producer Chris Hayes also joins in on the fun with some great talking points.

Hosts Jeff Glucker and Blake Z. Rong join forces with guest The Smoking Tire's Matt Farah to bring about podcast pleasure. As usual, it's a discussion of all things automotive that usually delves into bits of random insanity.Matt points out that Jeff sounds like the guy from Noah's Arcade, and we run off the rails right from the outset. We also invite a new business called King Tire. If you steal it, we'll cut you.Blake brings good beer for a change, and we delve into new cars before getting to the good stuff like we always do.

We're back at full strength! Jeff Glucker and Blake Z. Rong are both together again after a rigorous month of traveling, staying in luxury hotels, and eating expensive food. Also, we drove some cars.Our guest is Ezekiel Wheeler, formerly of European Car and about to start a new life at Petrolicious. Wheeler needs to buy an old car now that he works for Petrolicious, and we help him decide. Also, we go into a discussion on design because that's what Ezekial is passionate about.Blake regales with his Seven and S7 roadtrip, while I discuss how awesome the Jaguar F-Type V8S actually is. On top of all of that, we've heard your compaints and comments about the audio issues and we've vowed to fix them. From now on, it's microphones from here on out so you get the best sound possible.

This "episode" is just relaying a quick message.  Jeff and Blake have both been on the road for the better part of a month and will be returning this week.  That means we'll be back to recording in the studio and the podcast will resume normal operations.  The next episode will be released on Wednesday September 4th.I'd also like to address the comments we've received regarding audio quality.  Given the afformentioned travel we've needed to record outside of our normal location and without our usual equipment.  This is changing immediately, we will avoid recording field pieces without our normal equipment and we definitely will not be doing another episode where one of our hosts is on Skype using hotel wifi.Thanks again for listening, we'll be back next week.-Chris 

Jeff and Blake have been traveling A LOT, as a matter of fact heir Glücker is still on the road.  This predicament necessitated bringing in outside talent (and I use that term loosely) Hooniverse producers Zack Klapman and Chris Hayes step in an attempt to fill the deafening void left in Jeff's absences and talk with everybody's favorite co-host Blake.  This week topics mostly revolve around Pebble Beach and the ensuing road trips. Blake and Zack both got some seat time in a brand new Jaguar F-Type, while the lucky bastard Zack got to spend some quality time with the C7 Corvette.  All that and more of the usual vaguely on-topic banter you've come to love.

Wheels make the world go round... or something like that. It makes sense then that we're excited to have Alan Peltier on the podcast. He's the president of HRE Wheels, which produce what many consider to best the best rollers on the planet. Those people who consider that are correct, by the way.Other topics include the Infiniti G37 sedan versus Q50 sales issue, why buying a new Ferrari doesn't mean you get a chance to buy the halo Ferrari, and a few other bits of new car news. From there we turn to Jeffs' seething jealous because Blake is off to Germany to drive a Porsche Panamera Turbo at the 'Ring.Since it IS the Hooniverse Podcast, we also talk about beer... and Alan brought some damn good stuff!

We've hit the big time folks... our guest today is Gale Banks, the man behind many a powerful engine. Gale joins Jeff Glucker and Blake Z Rong in the podcast palace to talk about some new car news, engines, Mike Ryan's FRIGHTLINER (trademark pending), and his awesome V8-inspired home that is being built.Listen in as Gale spills decades of insight, knowledge, and just plain wins over the heart of one Blake R. Rong.