Very Vehicular

From RC Cars to Race Team Owner - Stephan Papadakis Reveals Everything

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 [https://www.youtube.com/@PapadakisRacing] @StephPapadakis [https://www.instagram.com/stephpapadakis/] @BrianScotto [https://www.instagram.com/brianscotto/]  @321ActionAction [https://www.instagram.com/321actionaction/] Partners: Vyper Industrial FCP Euro Heatwave Visual Wera Tools KW Suspension Producer: Nick Rutter @nickrutterarts [https://www.instagram.com/nickrutterarts/] Music: SlikSound [https://www.instagram.com/sliksound_schaine/]  Patreon: https://patreon.com/u37266647 [https://patreon.com/u37266647] https://bio.site/321actionaction [https://bio.site/321actionaction] podcasts@321actionaction.com [podcasts@321actionaction.com] 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?

What are the WORST Car Mod Trends? Scotto, Zack and Zac Debate!

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  [https://thebrakereport.com/tesla-reported-to-downgrade-performance-brakes/] The 950 HP Switzer E900 GTR - /TUNED [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s4e3GoxZYIY] Zack’s Impressive Notes [https://docs.google.com/document/d/1DppX5TGhBUvksVnEbcBT0vOqxyOmCwhMC4RBfNFBH94/edit?usp=sharing] @TheRealZackKlapman [https://www.instagram.com/therealzackklapman/] @Mister_Zachary [https://www.instagram.com/mister_zachary/] @BrianScotto [https://www.instagram.com/brianscotto/]  @321ActionAction [https://www.instagram.com/321actionaction/] Partners: Vyper Industrial FCP Euro Heatwave Visual Wera Tools KW Suspension Producer: Nick Rutter @nickrutterarts [https://www.instagram.com/nickrutterarts/] Music: SlikSound [https://www.instagram.com/sliksound_schaine/]  Patreon: https://patreon.com/u37266647 [https://patreon.com/u37266647] https://bio.site/321actionaction [https://bio.site/321actionaction] podcasts@321actionaction.com [podcasts@321actionaction.com] 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!

Scotto Answers Your Questions! Q&A Special

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 [https://www.instagram.com/brianscotto/]  @321ActionAction [https://www.instagram.com/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 [https://www.instagram.com/nickrutterarts/] Music: SlikSound [https://www.instagram.com/sliksound_schaine/]  Patreon: https://patreon.com/u37266647 [https://patreon.com/u37266647] https://bio.site/321actionaction [https://bio.site/321actionaction] podcasts@321actionaction.com [podcasts@321actionaction.com] 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

TOP FIVE Sub $15k Track Day Cars You Can Buy Right Now?

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 [https://www.instagram.com/roncar/] @AntiLag [https://antilag.co/] @TheChrisStewart [https://www.instagram.com/thechrisstewart/] @GridLifeOfficial [https://www.instagram.com/gridlifeofficial/] @BrianScotto [https://www.instagram.com/brianscotto/]  @321ActionAction [https://www.instagram.com/321actionaction/] Partners: Vyper Industrial FCP Euro Heatwave Visual Wera Tools KW Suspension Producer: Nick Rutter @nickrutterarts [https://www.instagram.com/nickrutterarts/] Music: SlikSound [https://www.instagram.com/sliksound_schaine/]  Patreon: https://patreon.com/u37266647 [https://patreon.com/u37266647] https://bio.site/321actionaction [https://bio.site/321actionaction] podcasts@321actionaction.com [podcasts@321actionaction.com] 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

What’s Next for Adam LZ? Scotto Finds Out!

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 [https://www.youtube.com/@AdamLZ] @BrianScotto [https://www.instagram.com/brianscotto/]  @321ActionAction [https://www.instagram.com/321actionaction/] Partners: Vyper Industrial FCP Euro Heatwave Visual Wera Tools KW Suspension Producer: Nick Rutter @nickrutterarts [https://www.instagram.com/nickrutterarts/] Music: SlikSound [https://www.instagram.com/sliksound_schaine/]  Patreon: https://patreon.com/u37266647 [https://patreon.com/u37266647] https://bio.site/321actionaction [https://bio.site/321actionaction] podcasts@321actionaction.com [podcasts@321actionaction.com] 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