In Wheel Time Podcast: Your Go-To Automotive Talk Show

A boom in a quiet hangar, a frantic call, and a beloved 1968 Dodge Coronet 440 suddenly fighting for its life—this one starts with a gut punch and turns into a blueprint for getting back up. We’re broadcasting from the Back to the Past Car Show in Spring Branch, surrounded by alumni, barbecue smoke, and a lineup that stretches from American muscle to a fresh JDM class. Adalia Graves, from the Spring Branch High School Foundation sh...

The headlines say EVs are the future. The fine print says “not so fast.” We dig into a turbulent moment for electric vehicles as incentives fade, demand cools, and automakers rework plans in ways that actually make sense for drivers. From Acura and Nissan pauses to Ram and Porsche pivots, we unpack why hybrids and range-extended powertrains are stepping into the spotlight and what that means for costs, performance, and everyday usa...

Engines, honor, and a Main Street that turns into a living museum—this is how a small Texas town makes car culture feel like a civic holiday. We sit down with the Bastrop Car Cruisers to map the two‑day plan: a laid‑back Friday cruise‑in and a sold‑out Saturday showcase capped at 400 cars. They walk us through the choreography you never see—numbered curbs, early‑morning parking crews, tight coordination with police and fire, and a ...

Want fall roads that aren’t just postcards but proper drives? We lay out a practical, enthusiast-friendly map of autumn routes that pair tight turns with big color: Blue Ridge Parkway’s banked curves and layered foliage, the Cherokee and Nantahala forests with their 900–5,000 ft rhythm, Talimena’s ridgetop vistas in the Ouachitas, and Arkansas’s double feature—Highway 23’s Pig Trail and the long, rolling canvas of Scenic Highway 7....

Shoppers are researching harder and buying faster, and the old guesswork about what to stock is getting expensive. We sit down with Shannon Pinto, VP of Statistical Surveys at Trader Interactive, to pull back the curtain on how real DMV registrations and real-time marketplace behavior from RV Trader, Cycle Trader, and Boatline turn into a clear picture of demand—down to the ZIP code, make, model, and even RV configurations like sli...

A sleeker Prius that’s actually fun, EV incentives vanishing, and a sports car that resets your grin—this one brings the big swings and the small joys. We kick off by tearing down the old hybrid myth and putting the latest Toyota Prius through a real-world lens: punchy off-the-line torque, thoughtful ergonomics, and the kind of efficiency that makes weekly gas stops feel optional. From there, we head straight into the question ever...

A bargain part that looks perfect, installs easily, and quietly destroys your engine months later—that’s the nightmare more drivers are waking up to. We dig into the growing wave of counterfeit auto parts sold online, from fake water pumps that toast head gaskets to sensors that never program and starters that die long before their time. As shop policies shift to protect both customers and reputations, we share how to source smarte...

A shuttered high school, a two-story library, and a parking lot full of chrome—this is how a community keeps its story alive. We welcome Spring Branch Senior High School Alumni Foundation president Frank Klam to share the unlikely journey from a closed campus in 1985 to a living museum that safeguards trophies, uniforms, and hard-won memories the district nearly hauled away. Then we shift gears into the “Back to the Past” car show,...

Fall energy meets turbo torque as we jump from steins to stopwatches, mapping the most spirited Oktoberfests in the U.S. before tearing into “muscle cars” that talked big and drove small—then we strap into the 2025 Hyundai Sonata N Line to see what real-world performance feels like today. We start with pure festival joy: Denver turns six downtown blocks into keg bowling, stein hoists, and polka beats; Fredericksburg, Texas doubles ...

A friendly grudge, a lit tree, and a time slip—few things capture real car culture like club-versus-club drag racing. We sit down to explore the Texas Muscle Car Club Challenge and how it turns raw horsepower into community, safety, and bragging rights across eighth-mile tracks statewide. Even when a guest’s signal fades, the story stays clear: organize the adrenaline, race where it’s safe, and bring home a slip that proves it.

Ever felt your stomach drop at the top of a blind hill? We handed the wheel to Olivia, a 21-year-old nursing student and brand-new Bronco owner, and watched a long day in the Texas Hill Country turn nerves into mastery. With guidance from veteran auto journalist Sue Mead, Olivia moves from classroom theory to real trail work—learning why GOAT Modes matter, how hill descent control actually feels, and where a forward-facing camera t...

Buckle up for a high-octane exploration of automotive industry trends and challenges that are reshaping the market landscape. We dive deep into the alarming rise of "credit bust out" scams targeting dealerships, where criminals orchestrate the purchase of multiple vehicles through falsified loan applications before credit reports can catch up. One brazen example involved financing six vehicles worth $385,000 through five ...

Navigating the murky waters of auto body repairs just got easier thanks to an innovative approach that puts transparency and consumer choice at the forefront. Ilan Mandil, founder of OttoFixIt, joins us to unveil how AI technology is revolutionizing the way drivers approach collision repair estimates. By simply snapping photos of vehicle damage, consumers can now receive preliminary cost projections before setting foot in a body sh...

Step right up to a fascinating exploration of the Texas State Fair's hidden gems! Beyond the legendary fried foods lies a world of unexpected attractions waiting to be discovered. Did you know you could view world-famous butter sculptures in the Creative Arts building? Or that a 212-foot Texas Fair Swell offers breathtaking panoramic views of Dallas and Fair Park from 44 illuminated gondolas?

We take you on a virtual ...

The century-long story of how we value cars has dramatically shifted from dog-eared pages to digital databases. Before the internet, car dealers, buyers, and even divorce courts relied on physical booklets like Kelly Blue Book and NADA guides to determine fair market prices. These guides weren't just reference materials—they were essential tools that brought transparency to a notoriously opaque market.

NADA began trac...

Randy Borchiding's colorful journey from model car enthusiast to custom paint specialist unfolds with charm and practical wisdom. What started with Testors spray cans and a childhood model contest victory evolved into a full-fledged career creating custom colors for show-stopping vehicles. 

Randy pulls back the curtain on his early days, revealing how he built his first professional paint booth using nothing more than...

Mercedes and Andy Lilienthal take us on an exhilarating journey through North America's longest road rally - the Alcan 5000. Covering a staggering 5,500 miles from Seattle to Alaska, this husband-wife team pushed their 2026 Honda Passport Trail Sport to its limits across punishing terrain and secured an impressive second-place overall finish.

The conversation reveals the fascinating format of this epic adventure: dail...

Buckle up for a deep dive into the automotive industry's latest battle with tariffs that could reshape how we buy and maintain our vehicles. Automakers and suppliers have formally urged the Trump administration to reconsider unpredictable tariff expansions, warning that these policies make investing in America increasingly difficult. The financial impact? A potential $4,600 price increase per vehicle within three years, accord...

Autumn reveals a side of Texas many travelers never experience. While summer heat dominates conversations about the Lone Star State, fall transforms Texas into a wonderland of outdoor adventures, cultural experiences, and natural beauty.

Our journey begins in East Texas, where maples explode with vibrant reds, oranges, and yellows that rival New England's famous foliage. The Sabine River region offers perfect fall tem...