Motor City UK | EP08 – MotoFest LIVE - The People Behind the Cars

Motor City UK | EP08 – MotoFest LIVE - The People Behind the Cars

MotoFest brings thousands of people into Coventry city centre each year, but beyond the cars themselves lies a much bigger story. In this special episode of Motor City UK, recorded on location throughout Coventry MotoFest 2026, we explore the people who keep the city's automotive culture alive today. From concours judges and classic car enthusiasts to grassroots motorsport organisers, educators, historians and civic leaders, we hear how Coventry's relationship with the motor car continues to evolve. Along the way we discover forgotten stories, celebrate iconic vehicles, explore the future of automotive skills, and ask what car culture means in a city that helped shape the industry for more than a century. Featuring: * Roger Bailey, Lord Mayor of Coventry * James Noble, Festival Director, MotoFest * Mike Riley, Riley Cars Archive Heritage Trust * Organisers of the XJ40@40 celebration * Coventry College * Loughborough Car Club * Concours judges Iain Tyrrell, Marc Allum and Dominic Taylor-Lane Motor City UK explores the people, places and technologies shaping Britain's original Motor City. Find Motor City UK on Instagram @MotorCityPod [https://www.instagram.com/motorcitypod] --------------------------------------- Coventry MotoFest [https://www.coventrymotofest.com/] Loughborough Car Club [https://www.loughboroughcarclub.co.uk/] XJ40 Register [https://xj40register.com/] Welcome to the Riley Cars Archive Heritage Trust [https://rileycarsarchive.org/] Coventry College [https://www.coventrycollege.ac.uk/] Iain Tyrrell [https://www.instagram.com/iain_tyrrell/#] Marc Allum [https://www.instagram.com/marcjallum/] Dominic Taylor-Lane [https://www.instagram.com/aohe_domtaylorlane/] --------------------------------------- Motor City UK is created, produced and hosted by Rob Capaldi, Get in touch with Rob in one of the following ways: Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/robcapaldi1] LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/rob-capaldi/]

Motor City UK | EP07 – How Forza Horizon Is Creating the Next Generation of Car Enthusiasts

Can a video game inspire a lifelong passion for cars? In this episode of Motor City UK, we explore how Forza Horizon, the British Motor Museum and the wider West Midlands automotive ecosystem are helping shape the next generation of enthusiasts. Recorded at the British Motor Museum's Forza Horizon: The Experience launch event, this episode examines the growing overlap between gaming, engineering, automotive heritage and modern car culture. From developers and museum leaders to drifters, journalists and vehicle builders, we explore how digital and physical automotive worlds increasingly connect. * Forza Horizon and Playground Games * British Motor Museum * Coventry and West Midlands automotive heritage * Automotive engineering careers * Drift culture and motorsport * Arctic Trucks and enthusiast communities Motor City UK explores the people, places and technologies shaping Britain's original Motor City. Find Motor City UK on Instagram @MotorCityPod [https://www.instagram.com/motorcitypod] --------------------------------------- British Motor Museum [https://www.britishmotormuseum.co.uk/] Forza Horizon 6 [https://forza.net/forzahorizon6] Playground Games [https://playground-games.com/] RDX Drift Academy [https://www.rdxacademy.co.uk/] Arctic Trucks [https://arctictrucks.com/] --------------------------------------- Motor City UK is created, produced and hosted by Rob Capaldi, Get in touch with Rob in one of the following ways: Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/robcapaldi1] LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/rob-capaldi/]

Motor City UK | EP06 – Coventry in the 20th Century: Reconstruction and the Car Industry

Coventry’s post-war reconstruction reshaped not only the city itself, but the wider British motor industry. In this episode of Motor City UK, we explore how wartime shadow factories, industrial expansion and large-scale manufacturing transformed Coventry into one of the defining automotive centres of post-war Britain. Joined by historian Damian Kimberley at Coventry Transport Museum, the episode traces the growth of Jaguar, Rootes, Standard Triumph and more in Coventry, alongside the gradual shift from industrial confidence towards consolidation, labour disputes and the end of mass car production in the city. * Coventry Blitz and post-war reconstruction * Shadow factories and wartime production * Jaguar at Browns Lane * Rootes Group * British Leyland, Chrysler and Peugeot * LEVC and the future of Coventry manufacturing Motor City UK explores the relationship between transport, industry and identity in Britain’s original motor city. Find Motor City UK on Instagram @MotorCityPod [https://www.instagram.com/motorcitypod] --------------------------------------- Damien Kimberley's books on Coventry's transport heritage: Coventry's Motorcar Heritage https://amzn.to/4cdovpm [https://amzn.to/4cdovpm] Coventry's Bicycle Heritage https://amzn.to/4qSLpWq [https://amzn.to/4qSLpWq] Coventry's Motorcycle Heritage https://amzn.to/4s6lcEX [https://amzn.to/4s6lcEX] --------------------------------------- Motor City UK is created, produced and hosted by Rob Capaldi, Get in touch with Rob in one of the following ways: Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/robcapaldi1] LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/rob-capaldi/]

Motor City UK | EP05 – The Untold Role of Women in Jaguar’s Rise

Jaguar’s history is often told through its cars — but the people behind the brand reveal a very different story. From early employees in Coventry to global figures shaping international markets, women played a critical role in Jaguar’s rise. In this episode, Motor City UK explores the untold contributions of women in Jaguar’s early years, from sales leadership and business development to motorsport success and global expansion. * Jaguar history and origins in Coventry * Women in the automotive industry (1930s–1950s) * XK120 and post-war export strategy * Motorsport heritage and Alpine Rally success * Global expansion and European distribution * Cultural shifts in the UK automotive sector A deeper look at the people who shaped one of Britain’s most iconic automotive brands. Find Motor City UK on Instagram @MotorCityPod [https://www.instagram.com/motorcitypod] The Women who made their Marque’ can be found online HERE [https://www.jaguarheritage.com/the-women-who-made-their-marque-exhibition/] --------------------------------------- You can find the Jaguar Daimler Heritage Trust online at the following locations: Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/jaguardaimlerheritage.trust/] Website [https://www.jaguarheritage.com/] --------------------------------------- Motor City UK is created, produced and hosted by Rob Capaldi, Get in touch with Rob in one of the following ways: Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/robcapaldi1] LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/rob-capaldi/]

Motor City UK | EP04 – The Future of Mobility in the UK

A Clean Transport Revolution with NatWest and Warwick Manufacturing Group Episode four of the Motor City UK podcast takes us to the Junction Building at Warwick University - home to the NatWest Clean Transport Accelerator. In an informative panel discussion we explore Coventry and the West Midland’s contribution to the development of new transportation technology, through the lens of the NatWest Clean Transport Accelerator. The episode features insights from experts at the University of Warwick and NatWest, with discussion focused on challenges like regulation, infrastructure, and public perception in the transition towards innovative transport solutions. The discussion highlights the importance of supporting early-stage businesses and the potential of connected, autonomous, and electric vehicles in shaping a sustainable transportation ecosystem. Find Motor City UK on Instagram @MotorCityPod [https://www.instagram.com/motorcitypod] --------------------------------------- You can find our guests from this episode below: Adam Walters [https://www.linkedin.com/in/adam-walters-2ab0ba133/] - NatWest Accelerator Community Manager Federico Melotti [https://www.linkedin.com/in/federico-melotti/] - WMG Principal engineer David Milton [https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-milton-uk/] - WMG Entrepreneur in Residence --------------------------------------- If you are interesting in registering for the NatWest Clean Transport Accelerator, be sure to download the NatWest Accelerator App:: NatWest CTA [https://www.natwest.com/business/business-services/entrepreneur-accelerator.html] --------------------------------------- Motor City UK is created, produced and hosted by Rob Capaldi, Get in touch with Rob in one of the following ways: Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/robcapaldi1] LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/rob-capaldi/]