S4 E04: He Tunes 1970s Classic Cars With a Laptop (And They're Fast!)

S4 E04: He Tunes 1970s Classic Cars With a Laptop (And They're Fast!)

What started as a personal project to solve his own "car headaches" has grown into a specialized business that breathes new life into vintage Mercedes-Benz, Volvos, and even Alfa Romeos.In this episode of Gearhaus, Kalasinga and Vanilla go out to meet Peter Mbiria, the mastermind behind Voltarent ECU, who is revolutionizing how we maintain and performance-tune classic vehicles.Peter’s story is one of pure innovation. Born out of the frustration of dealing with unreliable mechanical fuel systems on his own 190E, he decided to build his own standalone ECU from scratch. Now, he narrates his technical journey of moving from basic 8-bit controllers to high-performance processors capable of managing everything from fuel delivery to complex ignition timing in real-time.Watch this episode and learn how:- Peter replaces the notoriously finicky Bosch K-Jetronic "spider" systems with modern, programmable EFI.- A look at Peter’s custom firmware that uses real-time mathematical formulas instead of traditional lookup tables.- A walk-through of a converted 450 SLC and the story of the 190E that outran the competition after its digital transformation.- Peter shows off his custom 3D-printed intake adapters and a sneak peek at his experimental air suspension research.Peter is truly an incredible talent in Kenya who proves that with enough R&D, you can make a 1970s classic as reliable and fast as a modern machine.Guest:Peter Mbiria: https://www.instagram.com/petermbiriaFollow Gearhaus on:TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@itsgearhausInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/itsgearhaus/Spotify: WhatsApp: https://www.whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vb7MoK22Jl8Epvkjrz2IGearhaus is a Palahala Media Group production.

S4 E03: Is This Kenya's Lewis Hamilton? - Amani Kinyua

What does it take for a young Kenyan to break into the world of professional motorsport?In this episode, Kalasinga and Vanilla host Amani Kinyua, one of Africa's most promising young karting talents, alongside his father, Justus Kinyua, to discuss the journey from watching Formula One on TV to competing and winning races across Africa and beyond.Amani shares how his passion for racing began, the challenges of pursuing motorsport in Kenya, and what it's like competing against some of the best young drivers on the continent. From his first experience behind the wheel to standing on podiums in South Africa and the UAE, this conversation offers a rare look into the dedication, sacrifices, and support system required to build a career in motorsport.With ambitions set on Formula One, the sky is the limit for Amani Kinyua.In this Episode:- How Amani discovered motorsport- Starting a racing career in Kenya- The role of family support in professional karting- Competing internationally in South Africa and the UAE- The challenges facing young African racing drivers- Winning races and building a reputation in motorsport- The dream of reaching Formula One- The future of motorsport in Kenya and AfricaGuest:Amani KinyuaFollow Gearhaus on:TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@itsgearhausInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/itsgearhaus/WhatsApp: https://www.whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vb7MoK22Jl8Epvkjrz2IGearhaus is a Palahala Media Group production.

S4 E02: Europe's Biggest Car Brands Are Getting It Wrong and China is Happy About It

Ferrari recently dropped their latest car, shocking the world, and not for the right reasons. What happens when legendary brands stop listening to enthusiasts? Why are Mercedes and Porsche facing growing criticism? And while Europe struggles to define the future of cars, are China and America quietly taking the lead? In this episode, Kalasinga and Vanilla are joined by Earl Karanja to discuss one of the biggest conversations currently taking place in the automotive world. We discuss Ferrari's controversial new EV, Mercedes' changing identity, Porsche's EV challenges, the rise of Chinese manufacturers, the return of American performance vehicles, and whether traditional car brands are losing touch with the people who made them successful in the first place. It is clear that the automotive industry is changing faster than ever, and equally obvious that not everyone is happy about it. Guest: Earl Karanja: https://www.instagram.com/earl.karanja/ Follow Gearhaus on: TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@itsgearhaus Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/itsgearhaus/ WhatsApp: https://www.whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vb7MoK22Jl8Epvkjrz2I Gearhaus is a Palahala Media Group production.

S4 E01: Has Mercedes Finally Lost The Plot?

We're back for another season, and we assure you, this one will be bigger than the last. To kick off the new season, we'll start right in the deep end of absolute chaos, with Kalasinga and Vanilla discussing major project car updates and also dishing some controversial modern car takes. After what feels like an eternity, Vanilla is finally giving us a detailed update on the Nissan Patrol M57 swap project, including: Importing custom drivetrain parts Suspension and cooling upgrades Why "plug-and-play" swaps are never actually plug-and-play Reliability vs. Power when building a serious off-road machine Turbo choices, transmission adapters, chassis bracing & more If you’ve ever wanted to understand what REALLY goes into building a proper project car, you'll want to listen to this. The hosts also get into: The Nürburgring front-wheel-drive record battle between the Civic Type R and VW Golf GTI Edition 50 Why Mercedes-AMG’s new electric direction has enthusiasts worried The golden era of Mercedes-Benz Modern car technology is becoming way too complicated Why Chinese EV manufacturers are dominating the electric car space The hidden frustrations of modern luxury cars But we saved the best part for last... the much-awaited Gearhaus Roadtrip III is officially happening this August! Welcome to Season 4! Follow Gearhaus on: TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@itsgearhaus Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/itsgearhaus/ WhatsApp: https://www.whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vb7MoK22Jl8Epvkjrz2I Gearhaus is a Palahala Media Group production.

Special Episode: Surviving Kenya’s New Fuel Pump Prices

Petrol is up by KES 28. Diesel by KES 40. At this point, owning a car in Kenya is no longer just about convenience. Now, you have to be strategic. In this special out-of-season episode, we get into the finer details of what these increases mean for everyday drivers and, more importantly, how you can adapt. From driving habits and maintenance to smarter trip planning, we go through practical ways to reduce your fuel spend without completely changing your lifestyle. We’re also joined by Linnet Kitonga from G-Rani, a carpooling platform built to help people share rides and split costs in a more structured and reliable way. With fuel prices where they are, solutions like these are slowly turning from optional to necessary. This is one of those moments where car ownership, transport, and even how we move around the city might have to change. Guest Linnet Kitonga - https://www.instagram.com/grani_ke?igsh=MTBvYzRtd2tpcTZybw== Follow Gearhaus on: TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@itsgearhaus Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/itsgearhaus/ WhatsApp: https://www.whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vb7MoK22Jl8Epvkjrz2I Gearhaus is a Palahala Media Group production.