Cold Start

An abrupt dive into automotive culture. No need for intros, just straight to talking about cars, motorsports, and anything automotive.

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26 episodes
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Avg 54 min
English

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#83
Tuesday · 46 min
The Unfair Advantage, How Audi Dominated US Motorsport
What started as a public relations crisis turned into absolute dominance on track. Todd and Sylas cover the fascinating story behind Audi making their debut in American motorsports, and the performance that followed. The 1988 Trans-Am season was not only the first time that Audi raced in America, minus the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, but it was also the first time they went circuit racing. Audi has always been know in the motorsport history books for their success in rally, but not many know about their early days on pavement. Their all wheel drive Quattro system was so dominant in circuit racing that it was seen as an "unfair advantage", and actually led to AWD racecars being banned in several series. Cold Start Hint: A sedan turned racecar, with an odd number of cylinders. Answer to Episode 82 Cold Start: 1997 PC26 IndyCar with the Ilmor-built Mercedes turbo CART engine
#82
September 15 · 1 hr 21 min
Idling with Sport Economist, Professor Daniel Rascher
The guys sit down with Daniel Rascher, a sports economist and Professor at the University of San Francisco, and the President of the consulting firm, SportsEconomics. With decades of experience in the sports industry, he has worked with clients such as the NBA, NFL, MLB, NASCAR, Formula 1, IndyCar, ALMS, and many more. Professor Rascher gives his perspective on the economics of the motorsports industry at the moment, and shares his experience working on the major antitrust case between 23XI and NASCAR earlier in 2026. Get ready: we are going back to class, to learn about a side of motorsports that we don't typically think about! (Plus, Sylas learns that yards are used in football, not baseball. :-)) Cold Start Hint: It raced after the IndyCar split Answer to Episode 81 Cold Start: 1930's Austin 7
#81
September 8 · 52 min
Automotive Whys, Part 1 - Infrastructure
Answering the questions no one thinks to ask, Todd and Sylas dive into explaining the Whys of everyday automotive facts we take for granted. Focusing on infrastructure, the guys cover how we have developed the automotive landscape we all use today. From why stop signs are red, to where the left hand drive car came from, delve into the history of the things about cars that most of us don't think twice about. Cold Start Hint: One of the first to be like this! Answer to Episode 80 Cold Start: Ferrari Dodici Cilindri
#80
September 1 · 57 min
The Rise of the Digital Analog Hypercar
A new era is among us! It seems that in the upper end of the automotive industry, the next steps forward are actually going backward, and taking a look at what made cars so enjoyable to drive in past years. This phase of the digital analog car is here, and it means that the newest technologies in the automotive sector are now being used to make cars feel "old". Well, not old as in outdated, but old regarding the way they feel behind the wheel -- to try to bring more of that analog mechanical feeling that makes car enthusiasts fall in love. And not only are we seeing this in the high end supercar space, but also in a new age of enthusiast designed electric cars as well. Todd and Sylas cover all, along with their opinions. Cold Start Hint: Analog motor in a digital car. Answer to Episode 79 Cold Start: Mercedes SLR Sterling Moss.
#79
August 25 · 44 min
Deep Dive on Sterling Moss
A name that seems to pop up in many different racing stories and is undoubtably synonymous with motorsports, Sir Sterling Moss is a figure in racing who is worth knowing more about. For those unfamiliar with vintage racing, you may have heard "Sterling Moss" in reference to the Mercedes SLR Sterling Moss edition, a sleek windshieldless roadster hypercar. You would have to be someone quite special to have Mercedes name a car after you, so Todd and Sylas go back in history to learn more about this racing icon -- one of the most successful F1 drivers who never won a championship. Cold Start Hint: Can you tell it doesn't have a windshield? Answer to Episode 78 Cold Start: Bugatti Chiron Super Sport, obviously
#78
August 18 · 53 min
Monterey Car Week Mania
Monterey Car week is one of the largest gatherings of car enthusiasts in the country. The petrol passionate crowd swarms the usually quiet Monterey Bay Area in California to attend car shows, auctions, and exclusive events. The main appeal for many is the insane exotic sports cars that fill up the streets, and the exclusive access to high end auto manufacturers newest model unveilings. Unfortunately, the popularity of the event has grown over the last decade by a large margin, attracting a crowd seeking attention and recognition of others on the Internet rather than enjoying the community. Todd and Sylas reflect on some fond stories of their experiences at Monterey Car Week and discuss the shift that has been occurring and how it could end Car Week as we know it. Cold Start Hint: There was one at car week, obviously Answer to Episode 77 Cold Start: 1912 Indian Board Track Racer
#77
August 11 · 48 min
Board Track Racing is Insane
A work trip through the Central Valley of California led Sylas to visit a motorsports museum off the beaten path. He took a side quest into the Clovis Flat Track Museum to see what he could learn about the two wheeled motorsport realm. This museum might be the best kept secret in the greater Fresno area, packed with race bikes through the years -- even including a 1970s Pikes Peak motorcycle, all the way to a 1912 Indian board track racer. Sharing his story, Sylas leads Todd on another tangental rabbit-hole dive into the crazy world of Board Track racing, and how these wooden tracks came about in the early 1900s. Cold Start Hint: Might just be a weed whacker Answer to Episode 76 Cold Start: Mazda RX-7 (FC)
#76
August 4 · 49 min
Idling with Auto Mechanics Teacher, Mike Whitcraft
It may not be the more glamorous side of the automotive industry, but it is the most important in regards to keeping our prides and joys on the road. The guys sit down with a special guest to talk about being a mechanic, what it takes, how to get into the career, and what it looks like in the motorsports space. Joining the podcast in this episode is Mike Whitcraft, a teacher and program developer at a mechanics training institution called Ranken University based in St. Louis, Missouri. He has years of experience working with OEMs and is a car enthusiast through and through. Cold Start Hint: This one may need a little mechanical help (*they usually do*) Answer to Episode 75 Cold Start: V10 TDI VW Phaeton
#75
July 28 · 51 min
Down and Dirty with Diesel Power
For Americans, diesel powered vehicles usually only correlates to pickup trucks or heavy equipment. With curiosity about the "other" internal combustion powered vehicles, the guys dive deeper into the world of diesel powered cars, sharing their pros and cons, why they gained popularity in Europe, and even examples of their usage in motorsports. Take a listen and gain a new perspective on those vehicles that run off those green pumps at the fuel station. Cold Start Hint: Motorsport technology to haul the family Answer to Episode 74 Cold Start: 2025 Dodge Charger EV
#74
July 21 · 49 min
EV Doesn't Have to Stand for Every Vehicle
Another automotive enthusiast rant about how the electric vehicle is killing car culture as we know it. Well, maybe not exactly. Todd and Sylas dig into the interesting new automotive trend from manufacturers creating electric performance vehicles, a concept that seems to make no sense. They also make the shocking revelation that the introduction of EV's into the general market does not have to be at the detriment of the cars enthusiasts have grown to love and cherish. Using electric vehicles for general transportation may actually preserve the enthusiast internal combustions engine cars in the long run. EV may be a necessary evil to save gas for those true petrol heads. Cold Start Hint: It killed its v8 counterpart Answer to Episode 73 Cold Start: 1939 Lincoln Continental
#73
July 14 · 46 min
Obscure, Bizarre, and Esoteric Car Terms
Have you ever been curious about where some automotive terminology comes from or what that obscure term even means? Well, the guys dive into the stories behind some common car terms and even go deeper into some of the more obscure and the interesting origins of them. It may be surprising how many things in the automotive realm we take for granted and not think about why they are called that and if there is even a reason behind the name. Strap in for an educational one this week. Cold Start Hint: It has international styling but not an international sound Answer to Episode 72 Cold Start: Wacky Races theme song
#72
July 7 · 55 min
Wacky Races and One-Offs
In our Multiclass Racing discussion, we hinted that there are some wild and utterly wacky one-off or unique races around the world -- some of which are also multiclass! So now it's time to survey the landscape of odd, interesting, weird, and downright bizarre forms of road racing. Todd and Sylas share their favorite Wacky Races, learning from each other about this unusal corner of motorsports; and then, they speculate on what kind of one-off, specialty races they would like to see. How wacky can it get? Pretty wacky. Cold Start Hint: Featuring Professor Pat Pending and his Convert-a-Car Answer to Episode 71 Cold Start: Oreca 07 LMP2, Ligier JS P3 LMP3, Porsche 911 GT3R.
#71
June 30 · 56 min
Why Multiclass Racing is Sick!
What's better than one race happening on track? Well, two, or maybe three, or even four! This is the main appeal of Multiclass Racing, having multiple races happening simultaneously on track. This not only increases the entertainment level for the fans as they are able to watch more battles but it also increases the complexity for drivers as they need to manage their own race, while managing the out-of-class traffic around them. Todd and Sylas share some personal experiences of multiclass racing and why they enjoy the format so much. They also look at the world of motorsports and if other sanctioning bodies adopted multiclass racing. Cold Start Hint: Can you guess all three classes represented? Answer to Episode 70 Cold Start: BMW G80 M3
#70
June 23 · 54 min
The Internet Mystique of Tartufo Buckets
What started out as an internet meme quickly turned into a sought after, must-have option to be able to properly flex your new BMW M3 to all your haters. "Tartufo Buckets" may not mean anything to the average person but to the BMW fan boys, it's the holy grail interior spec that once was thought to be impossible. The guys dive into the story of Tartufo Buckets and how rare and sought after options for BMW M3s have changed through the years. It's pretty funny how certain options can drastically change the resale value of enthusiast cars! Listen to find out the Do's and Do Not Do's in spec-ing out an enthusiast collectible car. Cold Start Hint: Can you tell it as Tartufo Buckets? Answer to Episode 69 Cold Start: Dallara DW12 IndyCar
#69
June 16 · 48 min
Villains, Heroes, Love, and Hate
Who do you love? Who do you really despise? Who are our heroes and villains in motorsports -- and why? Is it completely irrational and arbitrary, or are these opinions rooted in something more substantial and fact-based? What happens when lots of fans start having similar opinions about a driver or team -- and then the prevailing sentiment becomes something else to root for, or against. Sylas and Todd talk about some of their favorite drivers, but mostly their least favorite and much disliked drivers from NASCAR and Indycar Formula Car racing, each explaining their well-reasoned rationale for why they feel the way they feel. And for some reason, Martinsville Speedway keeps coming up, across several unrelated stories. Yay, boo, or hiss, it's time to stand up for our opinions, and to argue why we think what we think! Cold Start Hint: Controversial hybrid system Answer to Episode 68 Cold Start: "This is Cold Start" in Mandarin (according to Google, anyway)
#68
June 9 · 58 min
Here Come the Chinese Hypercars
They're coming, there are more of them than you thought, and they might surprise you with what they can already do: Chinese cars. And they're not just EVs, despite what it seems on first impression. There are serious performance-oriented hypercars coming from China, breaking records at the Nurburgring -- perhaps even coming soon to a motorsports series near you. The rest of the world (outside the US) has been beginning to see the influx of Chinese-manufactured cars on their roads, in a big way; and we are way behind in learning about their presence and impact on the automotive market overall. Todd and Sylas survey the landscape and make their forecasts for how the future of Chinese cars in racing might unfold with companies named BYD, Exeed, Yangwang, GWM, NIO, and more. Cold Start Hint: It's a familiar phrase! Answer to Episode 66 Cold Start: Porsche 914
#67
June 2 · 51 min
Poorsche, Poor Porsche
With what seems like everyone having a new Porsche GT3RS at your local Cars & Coffee, and influencers over your Instagram feed, its hard to believe that Porsche as a company is in a terrible financial situation at the moment. The first sign was them cutting their motorsport program this season in WEC, the World Endurance Championship racing series -- and then, not participating at the GTP category level in the 2026 24 Hours of Le Mans. Further digging reveals that net profits were down over 90% from 2024 to 2025. Todd and Sylas dive into why Porsche finds themselves in this current situation, and look back through history to see if this isn't perhaps the first time Porsche has made some bad decisions. Cold Start Hint: Not Porsche's best work Answer to Episode 66 Cold Start: Nissan R34 GTR
#66
May 26 · 50 min
To Boost or Not to Boost: the Death of NA Engines
The age old question of whether the better enthusiast engine is boosted or naturally aspirated may be coming to an end, as the NA engine is being phased out of sports cars and normal commuters. In an age of advanced engine technologies and endless pursuit for fuel efficiency, it's easy to see why big naturally aspirated engines are no longer the choice of manufacturers in creating their new cars. Is this something we should be up in arms about, or is it another hopeless battle like trying to save the manuals? Todd and Sylas dive into this topic to understand why the shift is occurring, and if we should be concerned as enthusiasts. Cold Start Hint: Boost Loading... Answer to Episode 65 Cold Start: Corvette C8R GT3
#65
May 19 · 54 min
Getting BoP'd on the Head
For modern endurance race fans, Balance of Performance (BoP) is a common topic of discussion -- usually how it's annoying, and ruining motorsports. But what really is BoP? and can it actually be attributed to the growing success of current endurance racing? With growing field numbers and entertaining battles this season in IMSA and WEC, the guys talk about how BoP may be a necessary evil in modern motorsport. But they also can't help to get annoyed by the over politicized nature of the format. Learn more about what stricter rules does to a racing series, and how trying too hard to be perfectly fair can ruin an already pretty good thing. Cold Start Hint: It's a GT3 car Answer to Episode 64 Cold Start: Mercedes-Benz SLR 300
#64
May 12 · 1 hr 8 min
The Mercedes Curse
Mercedes-Benz is no stranger to motorsports with their renowned success in DTM and Formula 1, creating some of the most iconic and dominant race cars of the modern era. However, there is one form of motorsport that the manufacturer seems to be cursed at: endurance racing – specifically the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The largest endurance race in the world has proven to be a place that the Silver Arrows of Mercedes only bring chaos. In their third participation of the race at the Circuit de la Sarthe, in 1955, a tragedy occurred that was so horrific, a country outright banned motor racing, and Mercedes didn't come back to the biggest stage of racing for over four decades. It didn't go much better from there when they returned either. Come with us back in time, and learn more about the dark curse of Mercedes-Benz at Le Mans in today's episode. ☠️㉦☠️ Cold Start Hint: The 722 car in all its glory. Answer to Episode 63 Cold Start: McLaren M8F 8.4L V8 Can-Am

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