Podcast 109 - The fastest you've ever reversed
Added 2022-05-22 17:01:01 +0000 UTCJonny once went backwards up a runway and Richard has been haranguing a member of Blur.
Also in this episode, meeting Steve Backshall behind a sofa, refusing to use 5th gear, never checking your oil, over-checking your oil, getting haunted by a ticking 911, a picture of the most Bristol thing ever, feeding a pet bird of prey, wondering what snake owners drive, and Jonny's views on air-con warrant a trip to controversy corner.
Plus, very thick waistcoats, Taylor Swift doing an autotest, facts about forklift tyres, dimly remembered information about The Chemical Brothers, and a short notice Kia Pride purchase.
Comments
Was Richard hanging out with Alex James at the same place/event where Clarkson was watching Man City with Alex James (per Twitter)? Would've been just this past weekend on Sunday, so perhaps not. Alex James seems like he'd be fun to party with. And hey, can we get some discussion next week re: Bill Storey's "Fizzy Piss Emporium"? Y'all know what I'm talking about!
Ben Lucareli
2022-05-24 18:47:46 +0000 UTCThe world driving-in-reverse record was held out here for a while by an ex-CanAm racer who did over 104mph on a runway in a Hayabusa-powered custom Caterham in the early 2000s. The current record is now an electric RS3, but I can't imagine how sketchy a Cat would be at above 100mph going backwards.
Brendan McAleer
2022-05-24 17:41:22 +0000 UTCI'd like to join in on the Jonny AC on/no AC windows down debate with some facts because this may be the most outdated, idiotic balloon knotted, bell ended thought process I've ever heard. Some simple facts: "Does Your Car’s AC Use Gas? In short, yes, but not really enough to matter, according David Bennett, manager of repair systems for the American Automobile Association (AAA). “The AC system, when operating, does add a slight load to the engine, which could slightly increase gas usage,” he says. “This usage would not be recognized by most consumers.” Can You Save Gas By Driving Without AC? As much as we’d like to deliver a definite “yes!” or even a “no!” to this question, it’s more complicated than that. That’s because you need to consider your vehicle’s specific configuration and the type of AC compressor it uses. “At a very high level, there may be a slight gas savings with the AC off and windows up,” Bennett says. “However, the savings would be minor and not realized by most consumers.” What About Just Opening the Windows? Turning your car into a sauna is never a smart idea. A miserable driver is a distracted, unsafe driver. But rolling down the windows and driving with them open reduces fuel efficiency even more than blasting the AC. “Running the air conditioner when driving is actually more efficient and saves gas as compared to driving with the windows down,” Bennett says. “When the windows are up, the vehicle is more aerodynamic. When the windows are down, this creates excess drag on the vehicle, which increases resistance.”" Also, if you'd bothered to read any modern day car manuals like the absolute car bores we know you are you'd have noticed that almost every modern car has an AC compressor disconnect function when under WOT in order to not suck power when full power is needed. So I grant that on an older car in the right weather conditions it may be logical to not use the AC IF you keep the windows up if you care about efficiency. But you'd have to be an absolute maniac to not use the modern efficient AC in any post 2010 vehicle whilst living in any remotely warm climate. Needless to say I'm team Richard here: set your climate control to auto and never touch it again. Perfect interior climate at all times, no fan speed knob fuckery needed. For Jonny - link to source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Olvpk5BXWCI
Alexander Honing
2022-05-24 17:09:28 +0000 UTCTeam Jonny on AC especially since having a PHEV, anyone comes in my car, TOUGH i want range not cool
Dean Knight
2022-05-24 14:28:27 +0000 UTCATB was really André Tanneberger and 9pm til I come was definitely the soundtrack to Ford Fair '99 at Cornbury Park, playing from the boot of every Rattlesnake kitted Escort RS Turbo to be found.
John Hammond
2022-05-23 22:47:26 +0000 UTCAC is nice when you're waiting in full driver suit for a session in 110°f California heat
david marden
2022-05-23 15:27:15 +0000 UTCThe forklift truck chat brought to mind my visits the train factory in Derby where vast bits of train bodies can be found shuttling around the site on forklifts. Combine airless tyres, no suspension and enormous slices of train with a patchwork-quilt surface of rail lines, concrete and a century of patch-repairs and the noise is unbearable! Sets my mechanical sympathy senses on edge.
Andy Sykes
2022-05-23 15:04:16 +0000 UTCIdea for a round of the 6/7th August pub quizzes - match the rock stars to their cars.
Peter Heamon
2022-05-23 14:36:27 +0000 UTCRegarding how many left, in Finland you have a website where you can look up the amount of people with a certain name or surname. Plenty of Smith’s around here! https://verkkopalvelu.vrk.fi/nimipalvelu/default.asp?L=3
Micke J
2022-05-23 12:29:24 +0000 UTCContinuing the AC feud, I’m very much on team Richard for this one. My family is Maltese. When we were young children, we used to spend every summer going around the island in my grandfather’s early 80s Peugeot 305, which had blue vinyl seats. These, in 35’C heat, were unbearable. When rental cars with AC became available around the mid-90s, they were a godsend. However, the only model on most rental fleets with AC was a Kia Avella. It was never sold in Western Europe, mostly because it was deeply uncomfortable and an utter pig to drive.
Ed Storer
2022-05-23 12:28:37 +0000 UTCI'd speculate he has a Volvo 940 estate. and a Citroen H Van converted into a camper.
Dark Newt
2022-05-23 11:19:20 +0000 UTCVanilla Smith & Sniff = no kestrel talk, Smith & Sniff After Dark = kestrel talk... I feel like there's an 'all kestrel manoeuvres in the dark' contrivance here somewhere...
Spartacus Mills
2022-05-23 11:09:47 +0000 UTCDammit, I never asked. I know he used to have a knackered Clio which he drove everywhere flat out. Richard
Smith and Sniff
2022-05-23 09:58:47 +0000 UTCChemical Brothers are playing a gig at Castle Howard next month.
John P
2022-05-22 23:22:34 +0000 UTCRed wine chaser! My kind of event - even if it's all a blur. What Car(?) does Alex James drive?
Peter Heamon
2022-05-22 20:13:48 +0000 UTCfrom what i can see the bird must sit on the blue foam on the cross bar and there seems to be a plastic shield to protect it as he rides, only in bristol lol
Peter Bland
2022-05-22 19:47:50 +0000 UTCExcellent show chaps, haven't got anything humorous to add, keep it up.
Graham Dallas
2022-05-22 19:31:11 +0000 UTCSo much talk about Bristol, now I really want to go there for a short holiday!
Alejo Rossia
2022-05-22 19:04:04 +0000 UTCOh no, don’t! I’m with you as well!! Though I won’t share this with the owner, let’s keep it our little secret, just you, me and the thousands and thousands of podcast listeners!
Andrew D Robinson
2022-05-22 18:48:40 +0000 UTCI feel a pang of guilt now, but it's really not to my taste, nor Jonny's (as you can tell). Richard
Smith and Sniff
2022-05-22 18:46:13 +0000 UTCAnother vote for Chad…. The chap who created the UK Doon beach buggy. 👍🏻
Andrew D Robinson
2022-05-22 18:44:57 +0000 UTCThat said…. It’s certainly not my thing at all either!
Andrew D Robinson
2022-05-22 18:00:59 +0000 UTCWell this could be interesting…. Seen the photos for the podcast before I listen to it, and it features the rat T4 of the chap that helped rebuilding my beach buggy…. This could be awkward! 🤣🤣🤣
Andrew D Robinson
2022-05-22 17:59:40 +0000 UTCWent to school with a guy called Chad...
Bruce Driffill
2022-05-22 17:37:17 +0000 UTC
