Dinner with Racers

Joey Hand may well go down as one of the most legendary drivers in the modern era of sportscar racing. After success in junior categories, Joey went on to become a hugely successful factory drivers for BMW including winning the Rolex 24 overall, before recently moving to the highly successful Ford  GT program, where he conquered the 24 Hours of Le Mans in GTE-Pro. In this lunch we learn about getting hosed down while naked after a huge crash, and he learns a new word as well. Lunch was served at Plaza del Sole in Elk Grove, California, with the music of Son of James (available on Bandcamp) sending us out. Thanks to Continental Tire for all of their support, and Honda for providing a great car.

In our conversation we mention some of Joey’s less than stellar memories.

Joey Hand BMW M3 Spectacular Crash at Mid-Ohio 2006

Boris Said Slaps Joey Hand

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A true case of perseverance, Calvin Fish has done a remarkable job of surviving a motorsport career despite repeated setbacks, and thriving with a shear willingness to take on new opportunities as they come. Beginning a career in superkarts, Calvin first made his mark by racing in junior categories in the early 1980’s, beating such unknown drivers as Ayrton Senna and Martin Brundle. Heading stateside, he’d go on to win the Formula Atlantic championship and eventually become part of the famed Roush Mustang program. Calving his since turned that in to an amazing broadcast career that he has parlayed in to driver management as well.  Dinner was served at Crispina in Atlanta, Georgia with one of the greatest British pop songs of all time sending us out. Thanks to Continental Tire for all of their support, and Honda for providing a great car.

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Continuing our behind-the-scenes theme, John Eversley is a storied mechanic who has been in the business for nearly three decades. When it comes to the heyday of sportscars, John has seen it all, working alongside Niki Lauda on the famous BMW M1 Procar effort, and eventually working in the glory days of IMSA with such figures as John Paul, Sr. and Bob Akin. You wouldn’t know it though, because he’s not one to just volunteer his legendary tales, which is why his stories are so unique. He’s very different from his son, the co-host of some podcast, who can’t wait to speak his mind even if you didn’t ask. Excellent dinner courtesy of Ninja Sushi in Braselton, Georgia, with the music of Jarrod Gorbel sending us out. Thanks to Continental Tire for all of their support, and Honda for providing a great car.

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If you’re going to do a podcast about icons of motorsport, then Johnny O’Connell is a mandatory visit. As one of the most charismatic guys in modern sportscar, Johnny is wicked fast, you’ll know this because he’ll tell you…. having (according to him) been a second faster than every teammate he’s ever had. Beyond speed, however, Johnny brings results. As the winningest driver in GM history, Johnny took four consecutive World Challenge championships to go with his four class wins at Le Mans. One of the funniest and most likable guys in the paddock, we were happy to treat him to lunch at Moonie’s Texas Barbecue in Flowery Branch, Georgia, with the music of Wrecks playing us out. Thanks to Continental Tire for all of their support, and Honda for providing a great car.

In our conversation we mention on of Johnny’s biggest crashes, Watkins Glen in 1993

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SSgt Liam Dwyer served multiple tours in the U.S. Marine Corps, serving both in Iraq and then Afghanistan where an IED would cause significant injury to him, including the loss of his left leg. A true racer, Liam hasn’t let any of this slow him down and he’s still racing in the Continental Tire Sportscar Challenge, where he took an amazing series of victories in the 2015 season. Breakfast was courtesy of The Orange Tree in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. Thanks to Continental Tire for the continued support!

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Shea Adam is a star on the rise when it comes to motorsport broadcasters. An addition in recent years to the Radio LeMans pit reporting lineup, Shea explains her process and diligence, but with a great sense of humor about it. Topics include how she started, who has the best/worst game, and a few reference to Dominick Farnbacher’s hair. Dinner was courtesy of BurgerFi in Tampa, Florida. Thanks to Continental Tire for the continued support!

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Tommy Kendall is simply a legend, the second half.

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Tommy Kendall is simply a legend, the first half.

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Jordan and Ricky Taylor are two sportscar drivers unlike any other, not sure what else there is to say. The sons of driving legend and current team owner Wayne Taylor, both drivers have numerous prototype wins, including Jordan’s 2013 championship and 2015 LeMans 24 victory. Topics include countless pee and poo stories, who they’d punch in the face, and picking on their Dad. Dinner was courtesy of Jordan from his home in Apropka, Florida. Thanks to Continental Tire for the continued support!

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Bill Riley is an engineer, designer, and all-around awesome dude that, along with his father, spearheads Riley Technologies, the driving force behind many of the greatest sportscars in the last 30 years. You’d think for a guy with his success and reputation that he wouldn’t be as funny as he is, but he is thoroughly entertaining, including a number of stories that you have to hear to believe. Dinner was courtesy of Bill and his fiancée Mary from their home in Mooresville, North Carolina. Thanks to Continental Tire for the continued support!

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Simon Pagenaud is a driver who is proof that hard work can persevere. Having gone from closed programs to driving as a substitute to habitually showing up on track looking for a ride, he is now an IndyCar star and driving for the legendary Penske Racing. Despite this, he’s still pretty entertaining, full of impressions, and an expert on cheese… because he’s French. Lunch was courtesy of Port City Club in Huntersville, North Carolina. Thanks to Continental Tire for the continued support!

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Sarah Fisher is a driver-turned-team owner who has truly carved out her own niche in IndyCar. The first woman to score a podium in Indycar, first to score a pole, and now a co-owner of CFH Racing which is coming off a stellar 2015 season where they took two wins. We’d never met her before, and holy crap is she funny, with topics including most annoying children’s song, flipping sprint cars and test driving an F1 car. Lunch was courtesy of Tegry Sushi in Indianapolis, Indiana. Thanks to Continental Tire for the continued support!

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Bryan Clauson is a driver who is an oval legend, winning everything there is to win in USAC, before being signed at 16 to Chip Ganassi’s stock car team as a development driver and most recently racing the Indy 500. More importantly, his dog has more Twitter followers than most sportscar drivers, and he’s one of the most normal guys you could meet. Dinner was courtesy of Matt the Millers in Carmel, Indiana, with the music of Slightly Stoopid closing us out.Thanks to Continental Tire for the continued support!

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Derrick Walker is a true legend of the sport, first working in Formula One with Brabham and then on to IndyCars with Roger Penske, leading to owning his own race team and then becoming one of the main guys in charge at IndyCar. We have no idea why he took the time for us, and apparently neither did he, but regardless it was an excellent time hearing his stories. Lunch was brought to him courtesy of BBI deli in Indianapolis, he didn’t eat it.Thanks to Continental Tire for the continued support!

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Sean Johnson is a soccer goalie for the US Men’s National Team and Chicago Fire in MLS. So why is he on our podcast? Well this dude won Continental’s first season of “What’cha Got?,” a web competition series where MLS players raced each other to win a Lamborghini for a year. The dude has a major interest in racing, this is the episode for anyone looking to learn the fundamentals of racing. Lunch was served at Hub51 in Chicago, with the music of Elle Carpenter sending us out. Thanks to Continental Tire for the continued support.

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Gill Campbell has been the head woman in charge of Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca since 2002, and holy crap is she awesome. In our conversation she doesn’t dodge anything as she explains the challenges of a publicly owned track, which fans are the worst, and who she would get on her knees for. Lunch took place at Turn 12 in Monterey, California, with the music of Citizen Cope sending us out. Thanks to Continental Tire for the continued support.

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Memo Gidley is a driver who truly came from living on a boat in California, to driving in IndyCar just seven years later…. only to suffer a major accident in January, 2014, that that he’s still recovering from. Despite this, Jose Guillermo can tell some awesome stories, ranging from his recovery, to being smuggled in to the country, to growing up on a boat with guys named “Bugle Tom.” Dinner was delivered by Sol Food in Mill Valley, California, with the music of Slightly Stoopid sending us out. Thanks to Continental Tire for the continued support.

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Marshall Pruett is a journalist who didn’t start that way, and it shows because he has an understanding of the sport and technical aspects that make him one of the most respected reporters in the paddock. Starting as a shop grunt and eventually going to “the other side of pit wall,” we learn about jobs outside of racing, the WWE, 80’s rap and he even managed to sneak in a few quotes from Bill Burr. Lunch was served at The Smoking Pig in Fremont, California, with the music of I See Hawks in LA sending us out. Thanks to Continental Tire for the continued support.

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Paul Pfanner has uniquely succeeded in the business of motorsports, which makes us wonder why he took the time for us. Not only did the guy start Racer Magazine, but he runs a very successful marketing and consultancy business that has carved a rare niche for him as a Captain of the industry… but the dude still has a good sense of humor and you see why he’s so respected. Breakfast was served at The Citrus Cafe in Tustin, California, with the music of Stoney Spring sending us out. Thanks to Continental Tire for the continued support.

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Erik Valdez is a true working actor, having starred in television shows such as Graceland, a little show called General Hospital, and more. A true racer at the core, we cover everything from the parallels between both industries, calling him out on actor nonsense, and how Zach Morris once beat him on the track. Dinner was served at The Canoe House in South Pasadena, California, with the music of Elle Carpenter sending us out. Thanks to Continental Tire for the continued support.

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CJ Wilson is not only a bad-ass All-Star pitcher, but the Anaheim Angels star also owns a championship-winning race team, and the dude just loves cars. Random series of conversations include passenger-seat coaching, how baseball works, and an endless series of impressions. Lunch was served at Las Barcas in Huntington Beach, California, with the music of Stoney Spring sending us out. Thanks to Continental Tire for the continued support.

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Oriol Servia has been an IndyCar driver for over 15 years, proving that a random guy from Catalonia can make it if he’s actually a good person… which this guy is. Topics covered include the movie Navy Seals vs. Zombies, the movie Oldboy, and extensive further discussions of pissing in race seats. Dinner was courtesy of Tsukiji Sushi Sen in Santa Monica, with the music of Citizen Cope sending us out. Thanks to Continental Tire for the continued support.

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Patrick Long is the lone American Works driver for Porsche, which is too bad considering they’ll likely drop him after hearing this. Great conversation including doing stupid stuff when you’re young (or in your 30’s), life as a new Dad, and proof that he’s a master impressionist. Brunch was courtesy of Deus Ex Machina in Venice, California, with the music of The Grouch & Eligh sending us out. Thanks to Continental Tire for their continued support.

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The “SpeedFreaks” are used to being the ones running the interview, so we decided to put them on the other side of the microphone for a change. Having run various iterations of their motorsport talkshow for over a decade, we learn that the fights between Kenny Sargent and co-host/wife Crash Gladys are real, Kenny loves discussing scabs and urine, and we’d be subpoenaed if Ralf Schumacher ever disappeared. Lunch was courtesy of the Hillside Spot in Phoenix, Arizona, with the music of Slightly Stoopid sending us out. Thanks to Continental Tire for being supporters of both shows!

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Our first special edition! After Jeff Braun talked for nearly an hour on the various projects of Level 5 Motorsports, we decided this had to be a stand-alone piece. We won’t get in to the history of Level 5 here, but just imagine if you had a team owner who gave you a virtually unlimited budget to just go out and do things exactly as you’d always wanted to…. with music sending us out courtesy of The Aggrolites. Thanks to Continental Tire for making this all possible.

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Jeff Braun is one of the most experienced and respected engineers in all of motorsports, and now we know why. Not only does this guy have incredible stories, but the dude literally lives in his race shop in Ovalo, Texas (see: middle of nowhere). Dinner was served in his kitchen courtesy of Jeff and his wife, Diane, with the music of Double Naught Spycar playing us out. Thanks to Continental Tire for making this all possible.

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Beaux Barfield has been a Race Director for over a decade, and has managed to build a career and namesake despite holding racing’s least desirable job. Here his tales from IndyCar, sportscar, as well as learn about his car collection that he can’t get rid of. Dinner was served at Beaux’s Bar & Grill in Houston, with food delivered by Hungry’s. Thanks to Continental Tire for making this all possible.

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Driver Katherine Legge has a few glasses of wine, and the awesomeness ensues. A veteran of IndyCar and sportscar racing, the first woman to win in professional open-wheel racing in the U.S. covers topics including: her least favorite teammate, her favorite crashes, and going 240mph. Dinner was served at Zuma Sushi in Atlanta, with the music of Citizen Cope (available on iTunes) sending us out. Thanks to Continental Tire for making this all possible

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Driver Spencer Pumpelly and his father, Tom, a former driver himself, discuss vehicular manslaughter, flipping busses, being homeless, and the dynamic of a father and son in racing. While Tom was a star of IMSA racing in the ’80’s, the apple didn’t fall too far from the tree (on the track) with Spencer’s two wins at The Rolex 24 at Daytona. Lunch was served at Raging Burrit

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Top Gear USA hosts Rutledge Wood and Tanner Foust ramble on for two hours about everything from arriving hung over on set, to dance pants, to witnessing a rat run across the floor mid-conversation. Dinner (pizza) was served at an undisclosed hotel in northern Los Angeles county, with music from I See Hawks in LA (available on iTunes) closing us out. Thanks to Continental Tire for making this all possible.

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