"Let's Be RONest" with Ron Bergenholtz

Betting It All on Rotaries with Rob Dahm | Let’s Be RONest

Season 2 of Let’s Be RONest kicks off with Rob Dahm, the guy behind some of the wildest rotary builds out there. From being scared of loud engines as a kid to chasing world records and building a 1000+ horsepower RX-7, Rob breaks down how curiosity, not just passion, shaped everything he does. What started with computers and Guinness World Records turned into an obsession with speed, engineering, and pushing limits. Ron and Rob get into the early days, from starting an IT business just to afford a Lamborghini Diablo, to maxing out credit cards building cars, to jumping into YouTube before anyone really knew what it would become. They also dive into what it actually takes to build and drive a high-horsepower rotary, why data matters more than people think, and how Rob approaches problem-solving when things don’t go as planned. The conversation goes deep on Pikes Peak, from learning the course, to trusting the car, to pushing it right to the edge. They also talk about balancing building, driving, and content, and why sometimes the win isn’t a trophy, it’s just getting the chance to do it. This episode features Rob Dahm discussing rotary engines, RX-7 builds, Pikes Peak, data-driven tuning, YouTube, and betting on yourself. Brought to you by Nitto Tire | FUELED BY ENTHUSIASTS. Find the perfect tire match for your vehicle, explore full tire specs, and locate a dealer at: https://www.nittotire.com/ Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/c/DrivingLine?sub_confirmation=1 Follow Driving Line on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drivingline Follow Driving Line on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drivingline/ #TeamNitto #LetsBeRONest #RobDahm #RX7 #Rotary #PikesPeak #CarBuilds #Automotive

Building Speed and Betting It All with Cleetus McFarland | Let’s Be RONest

In Episode 7 of Let’s Be RONest, host Ron Bergenholtz sits down with drag racer, ARCA competitor, pilot, and Freedom Factory owner Cleetus McFarland for a wide open conversation inside McFarland Fab.                                                                                                                                                                                 Fresh off a 261 mph pass in his radial Camaro “Eagle,” Cleetus breaks down what it feels like to drive the fastest radial car in the world, what’s going through his mind past the eighth mile, and why holding it wide open at 200+ mph is a different kind of pressure. The conversation shifts into Cleetus’ transition into stock car racing, from ARCA competition to his long term goal of qualifying for the Daytona 500.       Ron and Cleetus also rewind to the early days, including the moment he went all in to purchase what would become the Freedom Factory. From nearly draining his bank account to navigating COVID shutdowns, Cleetus details the risks, sleepless nights, and belief it took to turn a rundown oval into one of grassroots racing’s most iconic venues.                                                                                                                                                      This episode features Cleetus McFarland discussing radial racing, ARCA competition, building the Freedom Factory, entrepreneurship, aviation, and chasing speed at the highest level. Brought to you by Nitto Tire | FUELED BY ENTHUSIASTS. Find the perfect tire match for your vehicle, explore full tire specs, and locate a dealer at: https://www.nittotire.com/ Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/c/DrivingLine?sub_confirmation=1 Follow Driving Line on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drivingline Follow Driving Line on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drivingline/

Wrangling Pythons and Living on the Edge with Python Cowboy | Let’s Be RONest #6

In Episode 6 of Let’s Be RONest, host Ron Bergenholtz sits down with Florida-based invasive-species hunter and outdoorsman Mike Kimmel, better known as Python Cowboy. From solo python hunts in the Everglades to close calls with massive Burmese pythons, Mike shares what it takes to remove some of the most dangerous invasive predators in North America. The conversation dives into how pythons behave, why reading body language matters, and the infamous encounter where a 17-foot snake bit him while hunting alone — and how staying calm kept him alive. Ron and Mike also explore the bigger picture behind invasive species removal, including how pythons, iguanas, feral hogs, and Nile monitors impact Florida’s ecosystem. Along the way, Mike discusses guided hunts, unusual field discoveries, managing alligators, and the role hunting dogs play in safely navigating some of the most unforgiving terrain in the country. This episode features Python Cowboy discussing python hunting, invasive species management, hunting dogs, and life deep in the Florida Everglades.                                                                                                                                                                            Brought to you by Nitto Tire | FUELED BY ENTHUSIASTS. Find the perfect tire match for your vehicle, explore full tire specs, and locate a dealer at: https://www.nittotire.com/ Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/c/DrivingLine?sub_confirmation=1 Follow Driving Line on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drivingline Follow Driving Line on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drivingline/ #TeamNitto #LetsBeRONest #PythonCowboy #Everglades #InvasiveSpecies #PythonHunting #FloridaWildlife

How Taylor Ray Builds, Drives, and Breaks the Rules | Let’s Be RONest Episode 5

In Episode 5 of Let’s Be RONest, host Ron Bergenholtz sits down with automotive creator, fabricator, and all-around motorsports mad scientist Taylor Ray. From drifting, clutch kickers, and mountain roads to jet boats ripping through Florida back rivers, Taylor’s obsession with building and driving anything with an engine runs deep. The conversation dives into why he insists on building his own cars, the mental and physical realities of competitive driving, and how understanding every bolt and wire changes the way you push limits. Ron and Taylor also get into the realities of Formula Drift — what it really takes to compete, why arrive-and-drive programs matter, and how drivers like James Deane and Adam LZ have reshaped the sport. Along the way, they talk fabrication, wiring nightmares, jet boat addiction, YouTube risks, and the moment Taylor bet everything on content creation as a full-time career. This episode features Taylor Ray discussing drifting, fabrication, jet boating, YouTube, and the realities of motorsports at every level. Brought to you by Nitto Tire | FUELED BY ENTHUSIASTS. Find the perfect tire match for your vehicle, explore full tire specs, and locate a dealer at: https://www.nittotire.com/ Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/c/DrivingLine?sub_confirmation=1 Follow Driving Line on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drivingline Follow Driving Line on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drivingline/ Follow Taylor Ray on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNqf6cy5TLNeBV5cF3yKY8A Follow Taylor Ray on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/taylordrifts/?hl=en

How Jacob Gettins Became the Voice of Drifting | Let’s Be RONest Episode 4

In Episode 4 of Let’s Be Ronest, host Ron Bergenholtz talks with Jacob Gettin — the newest voice of Formula Drift and Drift Masters. Jacob’s path is anything but typical: he went from aspiring architect to chef, spent years working in concrete, and somehow ended up announcing on some of drifting’s biggest stages. Ron and Jacob dig into how those pivots happened, what it’s like sharing the booth with Jared DeAnda, dealing with online critics, and how drifting culture differs between the U.S. and Europe. It’s a laid-back, honest look at how curiosity, timing, and persistence can take you places you never planned to go. Listen to Let’s Be RONest brought to you by Nitto streaming or subscribe to DrivingLine’s YouTube https://www.youtube.com/drivingline?sub_confirmation=1  Follow for the podcast and more at: Nitto Tire’s Instagram https://www.instagram.com/nittotire/ Nitto Tire’s Facebook https://www.facebook.com/NittoTire Nitto Tire’s TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@nittotireusa?lang=en Brought to you by Nitto Tire | FUELED BY ENTHUSIASTS. Find the perfect tire match for your vehicle, along with full tire specs and find a dealer, at nittotire.com. https://www.nittotire.com/