Full Caster Podcast - A Karting Conversation

This installment of the Full Caster Podcast - A Karting Conversation, was recorded on September 9th, 2024, and is the final episode for Season 4. This Finale has hosts Mike Smith and Derek Esquibel interviewing long time So-Cal karter Scott Gordinier: from a driver in his younger years, to a formidable presence on the business side, Scott perhaps found the most success as a top-level tuner. Add to that his experience as a race offi...

Recorded on July 20th, episode 54 for the Full Caster Podcast - A Karting Conversation, sees hosts Mike Smith and Derek Esquibel interview Jonathon Sugianto. "Sugi's" story starts as a young kid introduced to racing by flipping through the channels, finding NASCAR, and what would become his favorite driver and hero, Jeff Gordon. But before finding success on track, he would first win his greatest battle... Cancer. Li...

Recorded on June 24th, the 53rd edition of the Full Caster Podcast - A Karting Conversation, sees hosts Mike Smith and Derek Esquibel interview Chris Giumarra. Chris has been in the sport of karting his entire life; from a "track kid" at their family owned track in Cuddebackville, New York, to a factory Trackmagic driver, to now a fitness and lifestyle coach for racing drivers, he's done it all. Listen in to over 30 ...

Recorded on June 24th, the 53rd edition of the Full Caster Podcast - A Karting Conversation, sees hosts Mike Smith and Derek Esquibel interview Chris Giumarra. Chris has been in the sport of karting his entire life; from a "track kid" at their family owned track in Cuddebackville, New York, to a factory Trackmagic driver, to now a fitness and lifestyle coach for racing drivers, he's done it all. Listen in to over 30 ...

Episode 52 of The Full Caster Podcast: A Karting Conversation sees Hosts Mike Smith and Derek Esquibel circle back with long-time friend KC Cook in their first ever 'REVISITED' show. KC's first time sitting down with the FCP was all the way back in March of 2020 for episode #1, and he's back to tell us what he's been up to since. But this is more than just catching up; They of course talk a lot about kartin...

Episode 52 of The Full Caster Podcast: A Karting Conversation sees Hosts Mike Smith and Derek Esquibel circle back with long-time friend KC Cook in their first ever 'REVISITED' show. KC's first time sitting down with the FCP was all the way back in March of 2020 for episode #1, and he's back to tell us what he's been up to since. But this is more than just catching up; They of course talk a lot about kartin...

The debut of Season 4 of the The Full Caster Podcast: A Karting Conversation sees Episode 51 get a late start, first being recorded in March of 2023, as hosts Derek Esquibel and Mike Smith have seen many changes in their personal lives - including a change in their recording location. Almost a throwback; this episode is "On Location" at the Challenge of the Americas in Phoenix, Arizona last year, where guest Chase Jones e...

The debut of Season 4 of the The Full Caster Podcast: A Karting Conversation sees Episode 51 get a late start, first being recorded in March of 2023, as hosts Derek Esquibel and Mike Smith have seen many changes in their personal lives - including a change in their recording location. Almost a throwback; this episode is "On Location" at the Challenge of the Americas in Phoenix, Arizona last year, where guest Chase Jones e...

The Full Caster Podcast Returns! Recorded on March 18th 2024, lots has changed for hosts Mike Smith and Derek Esquibel since the last time the FCP was live, with new homes and new jobs - and now a new  place to record! We are so excited for what is in store for Season 4 of the Full Caster Podcast - a Karting Conversation, and we can't wait to get things started!

Join us for a special "Intro Episode", and the...

Recorded on December 29th, 2022 as part of the "CalSpeed Last Laps" podcast, Mike Smith and Derek Esquibel sit down with CalSpeed Karting's founder Rob Niles to have a look back on near-20 years it has been in business. Beginning with its origins starting in 2003, and chronicling its rise to be the home of the largest arrive and drive program in the world, and the hub of competition karting in Southern California, th...

Recorded during CalSpeed's send-off event on December 18th, 2022; Mike Smith, Derek Esquibel and several guests share their stories about CalSpeed from the past near-20 years it has been in business...

Join us for Part 4 of the 'CalSpeed Last Laps' on the Full Caster Podcast!

00:00 - Intro
00:20 - Mike Smith & Joe Ponce
13:28 - Mike Smith & Dave Allen
26:11 - Mike Smith, Derek Es...

Recorded during CalSpeed's send-off event on December 18th, 2022; Mike Smith, Derek Esquibel and several guests share their stories about CalSpeed from the past near-20 years it has been in business...

Join us for Part 3 of the 'CalSpeed Last Laps' on the Full Caster Podcast!

00:00 - Intro
00:21 - Mike Smith & Sean Buur
11:02 - Mike Smith & Steve Donald
27:28 - Mike Smith, with S...

Recorded on December 29th, 2022 as part of the "CalSpeed Last Laps" podcast, Mike Smith and Derek Esquibel sit down with CalSpeed Karting's founder Rob Niles to have a look back on near-20 years it has been in business. Beginning with its origins starting in 2003, and chronicling its rise to be the home of the largest arrive and drive program in the world, and the hub of competition karting in Southern California, th...

The 50th installment of the Full Caster Podcast - A Karting Conversation, this is actually the Season Finale for Season 3 of the FCP, getting done on October 4th, 2022. Logan Calvin joins hosts Mike Smith and Derek Esquibel for this episode, and they not only talk about Logan's tenure as the dominant force in sport karting at CalSpeed, but also his rise from indoor karting and into competition  karting. Flat out the name that ...

The 50th installment of the Full Caster Podcast - A Karting Conversation, this is actually the Season Finale for Season 3 of the FCP, getting done on October 4th, 2022. Logan Calvin joins hosts Mike Smith and Derek Esquibel for this episode, and they not only talk about Logan's tenure as the dominant force in sport karting at CalSpeed, but also his rise from indoor karting and into competition  karting. Flat out the name that ...

This installment of the Full Caster Podcast - A Karting Conversation, was recorded on August 22nd 2022, with hosts Mike Smith and Derek Esquibel interviewing the owner and principal of Forward Direction Motorsports, Greg Welch! many these days know Greg from his FDM team and race shop based out of Colorado, but he has been a part of karting ever since he was a little kid. We chat about his driving career rising through the ranks of...

This installment of the Full Caster Podcast - A Karting Conversation, was recorded on August 22nd 2022, with hosts Mike Smith and Derek Esquibel interviewing the owner and principal of Forward Direction Motorsports, Greg Welch! many these days know Greg from his FDM team and race shop based out of Colorado, but he has been a part of karting ever since he was a little kid. We chat about his driving career rising through the ranks of...

Recorded on August 1st, episode 48 for the Full Caster Podcast - A Karting Conversation, sees hosts Mike Smith and Derek Esquibel interview long time sport karter, Sean Fite.  With roots in Sprint Cars watching his dad race as a kid in the late 80's to 90's, Sean actually didn't get his first chance behind a racing car until he did Sprint Car racing schools in his early 20's. Eventually finding indoor karting, a...

This installment of the Full Caster Podcast - A Karting Conversation, was recorded on July 16th 2022, with hosts Mike Smith and Derek Esquibel interviewing someone who is perhaps mostly seen these days behind a camera, Sean Buur.  For episode 47 of the FCP we chat with Sean not only about his current duties as photographer and media lead for the Challenge of the Americas and all the sport karting events at CalSpeed, but also his or...