BREAK/FIX the Motorsports & Vehicle Enthusiast Variety Show

In this episode of Formula Fanatics, a subseries of the Drive Thru News podcast, we get ever closer to the upcoming season and logistics for watching races, including F1 coverage moving to Apple TV. We discuss rumors that drivers dislike their new cars and that driving style is changing due to battery regeneration, coasting into corners, rough first-gear behavior, reduced fuel flow, and the removal of DRS, raising concerns about difficult passing and “parade lap” racing. Our hosts give mixed expectations for the season, speculate who might adapt best, predict the year may become dull after a few races, and discuss potential viewership impacts from the Apple TV move. 

===== (Oo---x---oO) =====

00:00 Race Week Prep: Apple TV, F1 App Access & Getting Subscribed
01:27 Never Miss a Session: Downloading the F1 Calendar + Time Zones
02:35 Max’s Endurance Racing Plans: Schedules Moving for ‘Franz Herman’
03:36 Preseason Testing Shock: Drivers Say the New Cars Feel Awful
04:42 New Era Racing: Battery Regen, No DRS & ‘Formula E on Steroids’
07:56 Can Anyone Pass? Slipstream, Dirty Air & Old-School Racecraft
09:49 Who Thrives Now? Best Drivers for Late-Braking, Real Overtakes
10:47 Testing Rumors & Team Noise: Red Bull, Mercedes Sandbagging, Audi Woes?
11:53 Driver Numbers Explained: #1 for Lando, Max’s Number Switch & Etiquette
12:56 Livery Talk: Audi & Cadillac + Williams Details
15:52 Grid Updates: Doohan Back as Haas Reserve
17:52 Quick Season Hype Check ... Will Fans Stick Around? Parade-Lap Fears, Rule Changes & Apple TV Impact
19:53 Predictions Time: Who Wins 2026 and Who Definitely Won’t
20:37 Fun Send-Off: The Safety Car That Was Too Fast (Super Formula Clip)
21:41 Wrap-Up & Sponsor Shoutouts

====================

Formula Fanatics, is the high-octane sub-series of Break/Fix Podcast’s Drive Thru Motorsports News! This is your pit stop for all things Formula 1 — from breaking headlines and race recaps to insider analysis and paddock buzz.

The Motoring Podcast Network : Years of racing, wrenching and Motorsports experience brings together a top notch collection of knowledge, stories and information. #everyonehasastory #gtmbreakfix - motoringpodcast.net

More Information: https://www.motoringpodcast.net/

Become a VIP at: https://www.patreon.com/gtmotorsports

Online Magazine: https://www.gtmotorsports.org/

This Drive Thru News episode tears through a disappointing slate of Super Bowl car commercials before shifting into a broader roundup of automotive chaos - from Stellantis’ $26B EV implosion and Tesla axing the Model S and X, to StopTech and Raybestos abruptly shutting down and Honda’s new Prelude landing with a thud. The hosts riff on design misfires, EV fatigue, and shifting EPA rules while weaving in motorsports talk, including the dull Rolex 24, Bathurst’s massive crash, and WRC scouting U.S. rally sites. They wrap with GTM project updates, track‑season safety reminders, and a grab‑bag of Florida‑man absurdity and parking‑lot disasters, all delivered with their usual humor and gearhead banter.

===== (Oo---x---oO) =====

00:00:00 Drive-Through News #65 Kickoff
00:01:27 Olympics Banter: Speed Skating, Biathlon & Curling Controversy
00:02:47 Super Bowl Ads: Were There Any Car Commercials?
00:11:57 Best Super Bowl Car Ads of the Last 20 Years (Top 5 Countdown)
00:14:36 Stellantis’ $26B EV Struggle: Charger EV, 4xe Hybrids & What Went Wrong
00:18:01 EPA Rule Swings: Stop-Start, Emissions, and the Return of Big Engines?
00:20:04 Aftermarket Shock: StopTech Stops Making Brakes (and what’s next)
00:22:35 Cars on the Chopping Block: Honda Prelude Hate & Tesla S/X Discontinued
00:24:50 The Grand Tour ‘Returns’: Throttle House Rumors & Why You Can’t Replace the Trio
00:30:19 Legends Lost: Ed Iskenderian Tribute & Robert Duvall Remembered
00:32:35 Porsche ‘Not Dead Yet’: EV Cayman/Boxster and the Toyota MR2 Clickbait
00:38:11 Thank God It’s Dead: Audi’s ‘Pickup Truck’ Concept
00:40:50 Audi’s ‘Concept C’ Design Language: The Ugly EV That Won’t Die
00:42:05 BMW’s Electric M3 Rumors + The Infamous ‘Special Screw’ Repair Nightmare
00:44:47 Season Wrap & Pop Culture Detour!
00:51:04 Ferrari’s First EV ‘Luce’: Toy-Like Interior, Not-Quite-Ferrari Looks
00:54:52 Are You Faster Than an Interceptor?
01:01:49 Behind the Pit Wall: IndyCar in DC, Daytona 500, and a Boring Rolex 24
01:05:54 Sim Racing Update (Assetto Corsa Evo 0.5)
01:12:00 Bathurst Crash, WRC America Rumors, and the GTM Trackside Lemons Project Update
01:14:52 Safety Gear PSA & Season Finale Thanks, Patreon, and Sponsor Shoutouts

====================

The Motoring Podcast Network : Years of racing, wrenching and Motorsports experience brings together a top notch collection of knowledge, stories and information. #everyonehasastory #gtmbreakfix - motoringpodcast.net

More Information: Visit Our Website

Become a VIP at: Patreon

Online Magazine: Gran Touring

Follow us on Social: Instagram

The Racers Roundtable, is a series sponsored by the Eastern Museum of Motor Racing - where history meets horsepower and legends live on! Each episode brings together voices from across the motorsports world, from grassroots heroes to seasoned veterans, as they share stories, insights, and behind-the-scenes tales that shaped their racing journeys. Whether you're a die-hard fan of dirt tracks, drag strips, or open-wheel icons, The Racers Roundtable is your seat at the table for candid conversations and timeless memories from those who lived it. Strap in tight, because it’s time to talk racing history, one lap at a time.

In this mini-sode, 96-year-old Billy Wentz Sr, recounts his extensive racing career, including memorable races and interactions with notable racers like Jimmy Maguire. Billy shares anecdotes from his early days in racing, constructing his first car, and the camaraderie and challenges faced in the sport. 

===== (Oo---x---oO) =====

00:00 Meet Billy: A Racing Legend - 96 years old!
01:46 Billy's Memorable Racing Stories
04:20 The Florida Trip That Never Happened
07:55 Building the First Race Car
12:59 Racing with SCAT Team
14:12 Reflections on Racing and Friendships
15:00 Q&A and Final Thoughts
====================
The Motoring Podcast Network : Years of racing, wrenching and Motorsports experience brings together a top notch collection of knowledge, stories and information. #everyonehasastory #gtmbreakfix - motoringpodcast.net

More Information: Visit Our Website

Become a VIP at: Patreon

Online Magazine: Gran Touring

Follow us on Social: Instagram

This episode was recorded in front of a live audience at the Eastern Museum of Motor Racing. The EMMR is a premiere destination for motor racing enthusiasts, showcasing a vast collection of historic racing cars, artifacts and memorabilia. To learn more about the EMMR, or to take part of the next in-person Racers Roundtable - you can plan your visit or support the museum’s mission to preserve and celebrate the legacy of racing by heading to www.EMMR.org. Follow them on social media for the latest news, upcoming events, and exclusive content.  This content in this episode has been remastered and published with the EMMRs consent.

Theme music "Country Rough" by Everet Almond.

The Racers Roundtable, is a series sponsored by the Eastern Museum of Motor Racing - where history meets horsepower and legends live on! Each episode brings together voices from across the motorsports world, from grassroots heroes to seasoned veterans, as they share stories, insights, and behind-the-scenes tales that shaped their racing journeys. Whether you're a die-hard fan of dirt tracks, drag strips, or open-wheel icons, The Racers Roundtable is your seat at the table for candid conversations and timeless memories from those who lived it. Strap in tight, because it’s time to talk racing history, one lap at a time.

This episode includes a lively discussion with racing legend: Jimmy Maguire, highlighting his racing journeys filled with challenges and triumphs. Jimmy best known for his ability to continue to win races despite losing an arm in an accident. He recounts humorous and dramatic tales from the racetrack, unique experiences including a film stunt, and a memorable trip to Australia. The discussion is filled with camaraderie, friendly banter, and personal anecdotes, illustrating the rich and vibrant history of motor racing.

===== (Oo---x---oO) =====

00:00:00 The Racers Roundtable: Jimmy Maguire
00:01:57 Racing with One Arm: Jimmy's Story
00:03:34 Rivalries and Championships
00:06:21 Crashes and Comebacks
00:17:13 The Legend of "Magoo"
00:22:35 Mario Andretti: Honoring a Racing Legend
00:35:44 Rehabilitation and Early Racing Days
00:35:52 Winning the Bobby Marsh Memorial Race
00:36:39 Midget Racing and Championships
00:39:54 Other Crashes and Injuries
00:42:19 Racing in Australia
00:47:45 The Queen is the Trophy?
01:02:27 Movie Stunts and Acting
01:06:46 Life After Racing
01:09:16 Conclusion and Final Thoughts
====================
The Motoring Podcast Network : Years of racing, wrenching and Motorsports experience brings together a top notch collection of knowledge, stories and information. #everyonehasastory #gtmbreakfix - motoringpodcast.net

More Information: Visit Our Website

Become a VIP at: Patreon

Online Magazine: Gran Touring

Follow us on Social: Instagram

This episode was recorded in front of a live audience at the Eastern Museum of Motor Racing. The EMMR is a premiere destination for motor racing enthusiasts, showcasing a vast collection of historic racing cars, artifacts and memorabilia. To learn more about the EMMR, or to take part of the next in-person Racers Roundtable - you can plan your visit or support the museum’s mission to preserve and celebrate the legacy of racing by heading to www.EMMR.org. Follow them on social media for the latest news, upcoming events, and exclusive content.  This content in this episode has been remastered and published with the EMMRs consent.

Theme music "Country Rough" by Everet Almond.

On this episode of The Motoring Historian, Jon Summers discusses the shift towards software-defined vehicles and the implications for the automotive industry. As cars become edge-of-cloud devices, their functionalities increasingly rely on cloud connectivity rather than on-board hardware. He critiques this shift, lamenting the loss of driving freedom and the rise of touchscreen interfaces. He also highlights the role of companies like Remotive Labs, which develop scalable digital twins for virtual component testing, allowing earlier and smoother integration in vehicle development. However, this transition brings challenges, especially in organizational change and collaboration between engineering silos. Jon uses historical and contemporary analogies to underscore how traditional car development and engineering practices are being revolutionized by software-centric approaches.

===== (Oo---x---oO) =====

00:00 The Evolution of Software-Defined Vehicles
02:47 The Impact of Over-the-Air Upgrades
06:25 The Shift from Traditional to Virtual Testing
19:30 Cultural Differences in Automotive Engineering
28:19 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

====================

The Motoring Podcast Network : Years of racing, wrenching and Motorsports experience brings together a top notch collection of knowledge, stories and information. #everyonehasastory #gtmbreakfix - motoringpodcast.net

More Information: Visit Our Website

Become a VIP at: Patreon

Online Magazine: Gran Touring

Follow us on Social: Instagram

Jon Summers is the Motoring Historian. He was a company car thrashing technology sales rep that turned into a fairly inept sports bike rider. On his show he gets together with various co-hosts to talk about new and old cars, driving, motorbikes, motor racing, motoring travel. Copyright Jon Summers, The Motoring Historian. This content is also available via jonsummers.net. This episode is part of the Motoring Podcast Network and has been republished with permission.