Very Vehicular

Joining us this week on Very Vehicular we have Stephan Papadakis! From his earliest beginnings in the SoCal RC hobby scene, to his record-shattering years as a legendary figure of the drag racing world, arriving on the mountain top as race team owner and all-around engineering wizard, we find out: is there anything Steph Papadakis can’t do? Scotto gets the deep backstory on the game-changing FWD drag cars that shattered records (first into the 9s!) and how those cars came to be. It’s a tale stranger than fiction! We find out all about Steph’s move into drifting - again, innovating, taking names and shaking things up. Of course, there’s always time left over to opine on the state of motorsports, youtube, takeovers, and what’s next for Stephan. Enjoy! 

@PapadakisRacing
@StephPapadakis
@BrianScotto 
@321ActionAction

Partners:
Vyper Industrial
FCP Euro
Heatwave Visual
Wera Tools
KW Suspension

Producer: Nick Rutter @nickrutterarts
Music: SlikSound 

Patreon: https://patreon.com/u37266647

https://bio.site/321actionaction
[email protected]

00:00 - Welcome & Introduction
00:34 - Sponsors: Heat Wave Visual & KW Suspensions
02:11 - RC Car Origins and the Racing Mindset
07:48 - From RC to Real Cars
14:46 - SoCal Street Racing Era
20:26 - Import Drag Racing Breakthrough
25:09 - First FWD Tube Chassis Civic
29:52 - Wheelie Bars Explained
35:40 - Tech Arms Race and Limits
38:25 - A Whole New Plan - Ready for SEMA?
39:14 - Fortin Brings the Drivetrain Magic
40:33 - Getting into the Low 8s
40:54 - Fast and Furious Boom
44:01 - Hey, Who Killed the Music? When the Scene Faded
47:45 - Sponsors: FCP Euro & Wera Tools
50:01 - Getting the Wandering Eye… for Drift
53:55 - Enter, Tanner Foust
58:46 - Scion TC Controversy & the Letter of the Rules
01:01:24 - A Toyota Racing Developed NASCAR Truck V8?
01:08:57 - Arms Race Team Era
01:16:22 - What Happens When Tech is Allowed to Judge?
01:19:03 - Motorsport - How to Save the Show
01:23:43 - A Plea for Diversity in Racing
01:27:11 - Snack Cart by Vyper Industrial
01:28:36 - Fixing the Drift Show
01:31:43 - Drift Masters vs FD
01:33:44 - Car Culture Health Check
01:35:59 - Tech Boom vs Regulations (and the EPA)
01:41:37 - Takeovers and Youth Scene
01:45:27 - YouTube Success Formula
01:50:43 - Escaping the Creator Treadmill
01:52:49 - What’s Next for Steph?

It’s time for a change up and after exploring several Top 5 lists, we thought it was high time to settle the WORST modding trends of the last decade. Who better to find the definitive ranking than Zack Klapman of The Smoking Tire and returning deviant and partner in mischief Mister Zachary (Zac Mertens). This episode may hold the record for the most censorship beeps ever featured on the show in its entire run to date (and yes.. Producer Nick did cry in legal many times) but to get the full skinny, go check out the Patreon - you never know what you’ll hear over there. For now, time to find out if you are one of the modding elite, or a common style criminal. Only Firing Order has the answers - enjoy!

Mentioned in this episode
Tesla Downgrading Brakes - The Brake Report 
The 950 HP Switzer E900 GTR - /TUNED
Zack’s Impressive Notes

@TheRealZackKlapman
@Mister_Zachary
@BrianScotto 
@321ActionAction

Partners:
Vyper Industrial
FCP Euro
Heatwave Visual
Wera Tools
KW Suspension

Producer: Nick Rutter @nickrutterarts
Music: SlikSound 

Patreon: https://patreon.com/u37266647

https://bio.site/321actionaction
[email protected]

00:00 - Welcome & Introduction
00:30 - Sponsors: Heat Wave Visual & KW Suspensions
02:08 - Meet the Zacs and the Rules
07:12 - Find the Pre-Show on Patreon
09:07 - Zack K’s List
27:47 - Zac M’s List
47:23 - Sponsors: FCP Euro & Wera Tools
49:47 - Scotto’s List
01:08:56 - Blindspots (from Patreon)
01:19:07 - Picking Final Five
01:27:42 - Snack Break by Vyper Industrial
01:29:31 - Ranking the Worst Mods
01:40:36 - The Worst Five!

This week we’ve got something a little different for you: Scotto is answering your questions! We’ve received so many good questions from all of you that we may have to do a second round at some point. Scotto gives some long-awaited updates on a few pressing issues – Cough his car collection cough! Meanwhile, if you’ve got any questions of your own, please post them in the comments and as ever, enjoy!

@BrianScotto 
@321ActionAction

Mentioned in this episode
Extra Focus: The Quick Start Guide to Adult ADHD - https://amzn.to/4cKngwo
Jon Chase Studios - Dstroyr - https://jonchasestudios.com/

Partners:
Vyper Industrial
FCP Euro
Heatwave Visual
Wera Tools
KW Suspension

Producer: Nick Rutter @nickrutterarts
Music: SlikSound 

Patreon: https://patreon.com/u37266647

https://bio.site/321actionaction
[email protected]

00:00 - Welcome to Scotto’s Q&A
01:22 - What Is Your One Car Solution?
07:48 - Future Popularity of Different Car Eras?
15:35 - If You Could Rebuild Your First Car, What Would You Do Differently?
19:18 - What Would You Do if You Were the Head of Audi Marketing?
26:34 - What Were Your Gymkhana Inspirations Outside of Automotive?
33:18 - In Hindsight, Would You Have Done Anything Differently in Your Career?
40:08 - How Did You Find Your Creative Voice and Keep it?
47:31 - Thinking of Starting a Brand - Does the Market Need it?
53:29 - How’s Farm Life?
59:11 - How Are You Processing Your ADHD?
01:12:05 - News on Upcoming Projects

Firing Order is BACK for its first outing in season 3 and this week we’ve got Chris Stewart, co-founder of GRIDLIFE and all-round track sensei RonCar, aka Ron Zaras, founder of AntiLag here to join Scotto in debating the Top Five Budget Track Day Cars! Don’t worry, as you’ve come to love and expect: there are tangents-a-plenty and while an objective ranking (clearly, not the work of “three idiots”) may eventually be reached, they take their sweet time battling it out on their way there. Meanwhile, Scotto… well, I think Scotto just wants to found a neo-vintage racing class? Grab your helmets and spare tires, we’re off to the track, baby! 

@RonCar
@AntiLag
@TheChrisStewart
@GridLifeOfficial
@BrianScotto 
@321ActionAction

Partners:
Vyper Industrial
FCP Euro
Heatwave Visual
Wera Tools
KW Suspension

Producer: Nick Rutter @nickrutterarts
Music: SlikSound 

Patreon: https://patreon.com/u37266647

https://bio.site/321actionaction
[email protected]

00:00 - Welcome & Introduction
00:26 - Sponsors: Heat Wave Visual & Wera Tools
02:30 - Meet Chris Stewart, co-founder of GridLife
11:12 - Rules and Ice Cream Test
16:55 - Chris’s List
33:55 - Ron’s List
45:32 - Two from Each List Advance
52:38 - Sponsor: FCP Euro
54:51 - Scotto’s List
01:16:10 - Blindspots (from Patreon)
01:33:41 - Final Six
01:34:17 - Sponsor: Vyper Industrial Snack Cart
01:35:53 - Number Six Gets Cut
01:49:51 - Ranking the Top Five
02:08:37 - Final Top Five List

Guess who’s in town for Formula Drift, rolling up in that distinctive orange Murciélago? Why it’s ADAM LZ of course! He found time after a busy media day to swing by the studio to chop it up with Scotto. Hear the story of how they actually first met, way back in the dawn of the first YouTube Era and find out everything Adam’s been up to since, and even what’s next. Could LZ really be looking to a life beyond YouTube? Sit back as we dive into his crazy schedule and impressive work ethic, there’s more than meets the eye with this YouTuber-Drifter-BMX-Guitar-Content polymath machine! Enjoy.

@AdamLZ
@BrianScotto 
@321ActionAction

Partners:
Vyper Industrial
FCP Euro
Heatwave Visual
Wera Tools
KW Suspension

Producer: Nick Rutter @nickrutterarts
Music: SlikSound 

Patreon: https://patreon.com/u37266647

https://bio.site/321actionaction
[email protected]

00:00 - Welcome & Introduction
00:52 - Sponsors: Heat Wave Visual, Wera Tools & KW Suspension
03:06 - Rolling Up in an Orange Muciélago
04:03 - When Scotto & Adam First Met - Early YouTube Days
12:54 - Drifting: From Just a Hobby to FD
17:07 - E36 That Was Never Meant to Be
20:27 - Grassroots vs Competition Mindset
24:48 - Favorite FD Events and LZ World Tour
29:39 - Drift Masters vs Formula Drift
34:37 - Making Content That Excites You
36:36 - BMX Origins
39:51 - Mental Focus Rituals
42:16 - Guitar in the Drift Trailer
53:35 - BMX To Drifting Pipeline
54:25 - Sponsor: FCP Euro
55:59 - First Drift Car Journey
59:53 - Grassroots Drift Culture
01:04:00 - Doing Rally Baja?
01:07:49 - Work Boundaries And Metrics
01:10:20 - Escaping the Daily Upload Grind
01:15:52 - How Many Cars Now?
01:16:37 - Forever Cars and Porsche Takes
01:20:28 - Supercars Through a Shitbox Lens
01:38:16 - Building a Shop and Leading Friends
01:42:23 - Hoonigan Scale and Burnout Lessons
01:49:37 - Engine Nerd Talk
01:54:46 - Sponsor: Vyper Industrial Snack Cart
01:56:31 - Drifter Movie - Behind the Scenes
02:02:05 - Separating Business And Talent
02:06:18 - Privacy Drama And Boundaries
02:11:13 - Viral Videos: What Would Get Your Neighbors Talking?
02:16:05 - Choosing Niche Over Mass Appeal
02:19:38 - What is Your North Star?
02:22:23 - Life After YouTube One Day
02:32:32 - Future Projects
02:35:30 - Creative Routines and Music Taste
02:40:33 - Car Audio Nostalgia