RodCAST Recap Episode #65 Super Muscle Care Showdown – The GT500

If you’ve been following Street Muscle Magazine’s social media, especially the Facebook page, you’ll be familiar with our recurring podcast, RodCAST Live. For the uninitiated, the show is an all-encompassing dive into the deep-end of automobilia.

The show’s host Vinny Costa, Editor of Power Automedia’s Street Muscle and Rod Authority magazines, and his co-host Greg Acosta, Editor of Engine Labs take viewers and listeners on a live virtual interview with their guests – playing game segments and generally just having a good time.

The show airs every Friday at Noon PST on the Street Muscle YouTube channel and Facebook page. Viewers can expect live interaction with guests and hosts alike – viewer participation is strongly encouraged.

The previous 65 episodes can still be seen on Street Muscle’s Facebook page. Links to each individual episode are listed below along with the guest’s name and a short summary/recap – just click on the episode you want to watch, and the link will take you there.

  • Episode #20 – Kyle Tucker/ Detroit Speed, Inc. 
    • Episode 20 goes behind the scenes with a man any self-respecting fan of pro-touring and modern hot rodding should know – Kyle Tucker of Detroit Speed, Inc. Kyle tells us about his early days on the farm and behind the wheel of a dirt track car at his local races, to working as an engineer for General Motors, and finally how he’s become a household name for auto enthusiasts as the owner of Detroit Speed, Inc. and builder of some prolific, award-winning cars like TUX, the famous 1969 Camaro.
  • Episode #21 – Scott Parker/ VP – Power Automedia/ Founder – Strictly Pro Touring
    • In episode 21, Vinny sits down and talks about all aspects of Pro Touring with Scott Parker. Parker recently kicked off a passion project of his own, Strictly Pro Touring, where he discusses Pro Touring as a whole, as well as his own Pro Touring project, a 1968 Pontiac GTO called “Payback.”
  • Episode #22 – Jeff Smith On Journalistic Integrity In The Modern Age
    • If you’re an automotive enthusiast, you’ve read something from Jeff Smith. His career spans more than 4 decades, and he’s widely respected by his peers, making him a prime candidate to weigh in on this important topic of journalistic ethics and integrity – as well as regale us with some awesome stories.
  • Episode #23 – Dave Kass / QA1 / goDRIVEit
    • This episode, Vinny talks to Dave Kass, Marketing Manager of QA1, and driving force (no pun intended) behind the #goDRIVEit movement. A true enthusiast, Kass was named as one of SEMA’s 35 under 35, and very much believes that muscle cars are meant to be driven and enjoyed.
  • Episode #24 – Cannonball Runs, Project Updates, and Mopar Road Trips…
    • In this episode, Vinny and Greg talk about some current events, including the cross-country time record being reset several times in the past six months, some project updates, And an upcoming press-car road trip.
  • Episode #25 – Steve Strope / Pure Vision Designs
    • On this special episode of the RodCAST, Vinny heads over to Pure Vision Design and talks cars, celebrity builds, business, and life with Steve Strope in the Pure Vision shop.
  • Episode #26 – Ed Justice Jr. 
    • Ed Justice, Jr. is a lifelong motorsports enthusiast, as well as an extremely accomplished photographer, radio host, and not to mention a very successful businessman, running Justice Brothers during the day.
  • Episode #27 – Rob Finkelman-Street Muscle Magazine Columnist
    • You might recognize Rob Finkelman’s name from his columns on Street Muscle, but Vinny dives into Rob’s background in film and automotive enthusiasm, and how he contributed to one of the most iconic TV cars of the ’90s.
  • Episode #28 – Sean Smith/ Sean Smith Designs
    • Vinny sits down with the designer of some of the most popular custom vehicles of the last decade. From Rockstar Video Games, to the Ring Brothers, Saleen, SpeedKore, and now his own design outfit, Sean Smith has and continues to create jaw-dropping automobiles.
  • Episode #29 – Mike Kessler/ Bondurant High-Performance Driving School
    • Vinny talks to Mike Kessler, Sales and Marketing Director of Bondurant High-Performance Driving School. Mike is a gearhead for anything on two wheels or four. They discuss Vinny’s time at the school, the curriculum, and some of the exciting things happening at Bondurant.
  • Episode #30 – Ivan Korda / Ford Muscle Magazine
    • Ivan Korda has some of the coolest project cars around the office. From a 1,000 rear-wheel horsepower 2015 Mustang to his latest project, a 1969 F100 Pro Touring pickup truck with a Gen-3 Coyote Aluminator engine in it, Ivan’s tastes are varied, to say the least.
  • Episode #31 – Live From Sonoma Raceway’s GT500 North American Track Tour
    • Vinny checks in with Greg minutes after completing Ford’s GT500 North America Track Tour at Sonoma Raceway. First impressions of a modern super muscle car, here!
  • Episode #32 – DiabloSport
    • Vinny and greg okay
  • Episode #33 – Jeff Smith & Billy Godbold Talk Camshaft Technology
    • Jeff Smith and COMP Cams’ Billy Godbold join Vinny and Greg to discuss a variety of technical subjects ranging from setting the record straight on connecting rod side clearances and piston-guided rods, to the new Low-Shock Technology which is setting the valvetrain world on fire, as well as tell some stories from “back in the day”.
  • Episode #34 – David Chick/ Off-Road Xtreme
    • On this episode, Vinny talks to David Chick, a connoisseur of all things off-road, about things ranging from video games to modern trucks and the engines which power them.
  • Episode #35 – Dave Stall/ KUSI News
    • Vinny talks to San Diego-area TV automotive reviewer and radio personality Dave Stall. Dave has reviewed vehicles ranging from a Kia to a McLaren, and everything in between.
  • Episode #36 – Lewis Black/ Almonty Industries
    • This guest is an unusual one for the RodCAST, in that he is the CEO of a Tungsten mining company. Lewis Black is heavily involved in the electric vehicle market, and as such, has some very interesting insights into some recently proposed legislation concerning the internal combustion engine. This episode is definitely worth a watch, regardless of your stance on EVs.
  • Episode #37 – Billy Godbold/ Comp Cams
    • Chances are you’ve heard the name Billy Godbold before. This week, rather than bombarding him with tech questions, Vinny dives into the interesting story of the man who switched from particle acceleration to valve acceleration.
  • Episode #38 – Al Satterwhite 
    • Al Satterwhite has had a long career in photojournalism, photographing some of the biggest names in pop culture history, including famous racers. Vinny talks to Al about his experiences behind the camera and what ultimately led him to publish his book “The Racers.”
  • Episode #39 – Dr. Jamie Meyer/ PRI
    • On this episode, Vinny talks to Dr. Jamie Myer, the President of PRI (Performance Racing Industry). They cover his background in the automotive industry, and the PRI Road Tour
  • Episode #40 – Rob Finkelman, Street Muscle Contributor
    • In his second appearance on the RodCAST, Rob talks to Vinny about the current state of automotive cinema, where it is (and should be) headed, and his recent new take on one of his most popular Street Muscle columns: Rob’s Movie Muscle.
  • Episode #41 – Dan Kahn, Founder of Kahn Media
    • This week Vinny and Greg speak with Dan Kahn, founder of Kahn Media. They discuss the challenges Dan faced starting the company during the economic downturn of the mid-’00s and how that perseverance led to continued success and Dan earning the title of SEMA’s Person Of The Year 2019. They also cover some of the work Dan and his team are doing to keep the Petersen Automotive Museum open during these trying times.
  • Episode #42 – Nic Ashby, Rockstar Performance Garage 
    • Rockstar Performance Garage teamed up with Rockstar energy drink to build a 1970 Mustang as a giveaway for the highly-anticipated video game Cyberpunk 2077. Vinny talks with Nic Ashby about his background, what it’s like building a video game car, building a car for a giveaway promotion, and muscle cars in general.
  • Episode #43 – Rick Love, Vintage Air
    • Rick Love is the Executive Vice President for Vintage Air. While his day job is developing air conditioning systems for all sorts of applications — both OEM and aftermarket — his passion is hot rods and muscle cars. He drives them like they were meant to be driven, with one of his hot rods, a ’39 Ford Coupe he’s had for 30-plus years, having over 180,000 miles on the odometer.
  • Episode #44 – Saying Goodbye To 2020
    • In the year-ending episode, Vinny and Greg look back on the last 43 episodes, discussing the awesome guests and reliving some of the memories of the very first year of the show. While no one will deny 2020 was a challenging year, it actually turned out to be a good one for the RodCAST.
  • Episode #45 – Top 5 Articles From 2020 And A New Project Car
    • In this episode, Vinny and Greg discuss the top five Street Muscle Magazine articles published in 2020, and look at things to come in 2021. Greg unveils an exciting new Engine Labs project he’s working on that will attempt to silence the Pony Wars haters.
  • Episode #46 – Preserving Automotive History with Exec. Director of the Petersen Automotive Museum
    • The Petersen Automotive Museum is the preeminent keeper of automotive history in the United States. Vinny and Terry Karges discuss things like Metallica frontman James Hetfield’s collection and the Petersen Museum’s coveted “Vault”, as well as the steps being taken to preserve history through the challenges of the pandemic.
  • Episode #47 – Jeff Smith Talks YouTube And Modern Media
    • Vinny and Greg sit down with Jeff Smith to discuss his new youtube channel “Jeff Smith’s Garage.” He explains how he came up with some of his favorite tech tips over the years, his favorite engine combinations, and what his future plans are for the channel.
  • Episode #48 – The Ring Brothers On What It Takes To Be Top Builders
    • In the latest episode of the RodCast, Vinny and Greg sit down with the Ring Brothers. As some of the most prolific hot rod builders in the game, Mike and Jim are the perfect guests. Coming off of a big win at SEMA with their last project, the 1969 Camaro nicknamed VALKYRJA, the brothers comment on their design process, setting trends, parts manufacturing, and describe some of the challenges they face while trying to make each build better than the last.
  • Episode #49 – Why The Big Push To Go All-Electric By 2035?
    • Vinny and Greg take a deep dive into the world of electric vehicles. They discuss the current pressure facing automakers to go all-electric by 2035 and what that means for auto enthusiasts everywhere. They take on topics like the history of the electric car, socioeconomic and political implications a move like this carries, the raw materials and infrastructure required to make it happen, the ethics behind it, current players and those new to the market, whatever happened to hybrids, performance comparisons, what’s going to happen to the aftermarket, can you mod them and how, and what is going to happen to our “classics?”
  • Episode #50 – Big Promises and Big Deceit in The Story of The Dale
    • Diving into the story currently making waves on HBO, Vinny talks to Tim Matthews, Curator of the Speedway Motors Museum of American Speed about the unbelievable real-life drama surrounding the space-age 3-wheeled automobile that was supposed to save the auto industry during the gas crisis of the ’70s.
  • Episode #51 – Big Boost and Big Horsepower with Erik Radzins of ProCharger
    • Erik Radzins is known across the land as a big-power kinda guy. As ProCharger’s Director of Communications and Calibrations, he’s deep inside the world of making huge power and shares his thoughts on everything from the advance of technology over the past two decades to his favorite cars and projects.
  • Episode #52 – Positive Vibes With Dustin Whipple
    • On this episode, Vinny and Greg sit down with Dustin Whipple, Vice President of Whipple Superchargers. Dustin breaks down Whipple Superchargers’ storied history, involvement in racing, and many of the innovations that were born from it. He also talks at length about manufacturing, design, and all the things that make Whipple unique. Greg asks some bonus tech questions!
  • Episode #53 – Why The 1969 Hurst Olds Convertible Is One Of The Rarest Muscle Cars
    • On this episode, Vinny and Greg sit down with Street Muscle Magazine Columnist, Rob Finkelman. They run through one of Street Muscle’s most popular segments – Rare Rides. This edition examines the 1969 Hurst Olds Convertible. From the design origins, performance improvements, and of course, the rarest version of all.
  • Episode #54 – Building Hollywood’s Automotive Icons With Brian Hatano
    • Brian Hatano has had a long career in both the building side and the editorial side. He’s worked on projects for Grease, Mork & Mindy, XXX, Cars, and more. As an editor, his resume spans Car Craft to Super Sportbike, with a variety in between, and now running Edelbrock’s Edleblog.
  • Episode #55 – How Bring-A-Trailer Went From Blog To Specialty Auction Site
    • This week, Vinny and Greg sit down with Randy Nonnenberg, the co-founder of Bring-A-Trailer. Bring-A-Trailer has seen an explosive amount of growth since its inception in 2007, and the transformation from casual auto-blog to full-blown specialty auction site is nothing short of impressive. Randy explains how all that happened.
  • Episode #56 – Rising From The Ashes: The Epic Story Of  The Pandra
    • Allyn Pierce is the owner of The_Pandra. His harrowing journey through one of California’s worst wildfires in recent memory, told from inside the cockpit of his Toyota Tundra, is an epic tale of heroism, duty, selflessness, and sacrifice. Ultimately, things worked out for Allyn and his family, and it makes for a heartwarming story. Find out how his trusty Toyota Tundra carried him and his coworkers to safety.
  • Episode #57 – Through A Valley Of Fire On The Road To LS Fest West
    • This week Vinny and Greg sit down with long-time friends, Blane Burnett from Holley and Brian Havins, Editor of LSX Magazine. They discuss plans for the Valley of Fire Cruise hosted by LSX Magazine. The cruise is a precursor to LS Fest West, the massive three-day gathering at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Blane breaks down what events will happen and what competitors can expect to take part in. Don’t wait, you can still sign up at http://www.lsfest.com/west/
  • Episode #58 – Is The New Mustang Mach 1 Just A Dressed Up Bullitt?
    • This week Vinny and Greg discuss the new Mustang Mach 1. Greg starts off by claiming the car is merely a dressed-up Buillitt. The two of them do a little digging on the Ford website to find out for themselves. Follow along and let us know what you think in the comment section.
  • Episode #59 – Performance Online Has Created A Rolling Car Show
    • This week Vinny and Greg sit down with Larry Ashley of Performance Online. They discuss the Circle City cruise, which has brought hundreds of car-loving cruisers together in California’s Inland Empire.
  • Episode #60 – Is the Challenger Scat Pack A Better Value Than A Mustang Mach 1?
    • This week, Vinny and Greg sit down with recurring guest and Street Muscle Magazine columnist, Rob Finkelman. They discuss Rob’s latest article, Rob’s Movie Muscle, in which, he does a deep dive into the story behind the Pontiac Firebirds featured on the hit ’70s television show, The Rockford Files. They also spend time “building” a Challenger Scat Pack Widebody on the Dodge website and compare its value against that of the previously reviewed Ford Mustang Mach 1.
  • Episode #61 – Dollars To Doughnuts, Is The Camaro SS 1LE The Best Value In Modern Muscle?
    • This episode caps off the three-part series where Vinny, Greg, and Rob Finkelman virtually build mid-tier muscle cars and compare the value they represent. So far, the Challenger and Camaro came in very close in price and value…So, where does the Mustang GT fit in?
  • Episode #62 – Where Does The Mustang GT Stack Up Against The Camaro SS & Challenger Scat Pack
    • This episode caps off the three-part series where Vinny, Greg, and Rob Finkelman virtually build mid-tier muscle cars and compare the value they represent. So far, the Challenger and Camaro came in very close in price and value…So, where does the Mustang GT fit in?
  • Episode #63 – Automotive Window Shopping With The Boys
    • On this episode of The Rodcast, the boys challenge themselves by playing a gameshow-style scavenger hunt for the best automotive deals the internet has to offer.
  • Episode #64 – Talking Clutches And Manuals With Centerforce’s Will Baty 
    • Vinny sits down with Will “Mr. Clutch” Baty and discusses the current science of clutches and where the manual transmission market is headed in today’s increasingly automatic marketplace.
  • Episode #65 – Super Muscle Car Showdown Series- The ZL1 
    • Vinny, Greg, and Rob configure and rate the first of the Super Muscle Cars from the big three, using their new point system. With seven scoring categories, this first contestant will set the bar for the rest. How does it stack up?
  • Episode #66 – Super Muscle Car Showdown Series – The GT500
    • Vinny, Greg, and Rob configure and rate the second of the Super Muscle Cars from the big three, using their new point system. With seven scoring categories and one contestant down, the bar has been set. How will the Ford’s GT500 stack up?

Tune in next Friday at 12pm PST to the Street Muscle YouTube Channel and Facebook page to catch all the latest action!

About the author

Vinny Costa

Fast cars, motorcycles, and loud music are what get Vinny’s blood pumping. Catch him behind the wheel of his ’68 Firebird. Chances are, Black Sabbath will be playing in the background.
Read My Articles

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