Garage Heroes (In Training)

Learning as we go. Come along with us and Enjoy the Ride!

Everyday Driver

EveryDay Driver Hosts Todd Deeken and Paul Schmucker

Everyday Driver

GHIT 0242:  EveryDay Driver’s Todd Deeken and Paul Schmucker

Everyday Driver started as one of the early YouTube channels in 2007. They then started an early podcast in 2014 that Bill first discovered in late August.  The fundamental premise for Everyday Driver is that ours cars can and should be fun. Paul and Todd work tirelessly to help by testing virtually all types of new cars and many used cars.  In addition, most podcast segments are aimed at helping their listeners find the car that matches their needs. And that also maximizes the fun of driving everyday.

Paul and Todd were eventually able to grow this into a full time business. Now each of them and have a television show that is on its 9th season on the Motor Trend channel. they have also produced several of the finest automotive feature films, including the history of the 911, each of the BMW 3 series M cars, and every generation of the Corvette among others.  At one point, we were even going to race Road Atlanta with Todd, Paul, and Chance. Unfortunately, things fell through due to scheduling issues. We do have a rain check issued and we hope to cash it in post Covid.  Paul and Todd are usually asking the questions or answering car related questions, so we tried to learn a bit more about them and their background during this episode.

Everyday Driver provided the final push to our team starting racing.  So you can blame then in part for our podcast, lol.  

If you would like to help our podcast,

You can subscribe to our podcast on the podcast provider of your choice. This includes the Apple podcast app, Google music, Amazon, and YouTube etc. Also, if you could give our podcast a (5-star?) rating, that would be great. Even better would be a podcast review. We would greatly appreciate it and it would help us to grow the passion and sport of high performance driving.

For instance, leaving an Apple Podcast rating is very easy.  If you go to your podcast library, look under under shows. Then click on the podcast you can leave a (5?) star rating and enter your review. 

We hope you enjoy this episode!

PS  Please don’t forget that if you are looking to add an Apex Pro to your driving telemetry system, don’t forget to use our discount code for all Apex Pro systems you will receive a free Windshield Suction Cup Mount for the system, a savings of $40.  Just enter the code “ghitlikesapex!” when you order.  They are a great system and truly invaluable in safely increasing your speed on track and/or autocross etc.  The recently released second generation systems and app increases the capability of the system greatly.

Best regards,

Vicki, Jennifer, Alan, and Bill

Hosts of the Garage Heroes In Training Podcast and Garage Heroes In Training racing team drivers

Highlights from this Everyday Driver episode include:

1)  We start of talking about our postponed endurance race and the potential for Todd and Paul to join us in a coming endurance race.

2)  Paul and Todd were kind enough to go into their respective pasts and go through their individual processes that has allowed them to transfer from a part time YouTube channel to a full time operation that has a show on Motor Trend, several feature films, two YouTube channels, and a twice weekly podcast that is closing in on 650 episodes with well over 1,000 hours of the podcast content.  And in their spare time, lol.

3)  If you have ever wanted to drive the Nurburgring and/or Spa, Paul and Todd also run an annual tour of both that allows you to arrive and drive both tracks as well as the transit between.

4)  Paul and Todd share the passion for cars and driving, but each are different in their preferences and driving style to compliment each other.  They often end up discussing the different cars and end with different preferences.  It is close to watching a version of the “Siskel and Ebert” show that is aimed at cars and driving. (with a bit less disagreement lol)  Bill seems to usually be a “Todd” and Vicki seems to usually fall into the camp of “Paul”.

5)  We also go into how they transitioned from a part time, side operation to the more than full time operation that they now have.  The highs and lows, as well as what was a bit harder than they expected.

6)  Bill takes the opportunity to ask his Ladder question to Todd and Paul.  It is roughly stated as what is the lowest price car available to you that you want to own. And then moving up the ladder. What car would be the next rung up the ladder. A rung car is defined as one that you like that is better “to you” than everything else that is less expensive.  Repeat until we get to cars in excess of $100,000 or so.

7)  We inadvertently almost broke news on this podcast of a future series that they have yet to announce.  Tune in to the Everyday Driver YouTube channel in the next few weeks for the reveal.

You can follow Paul and Todd at:

Website:  https://www.everydaydriver.com/  

YouTube Site:  https://www.youtube.com/c/EverydayDriver 

GHIT 0242:  EveryDay Driver’s Todd Deeken and Paul Schmucker

GHIT 0151: Chance Hales on Car Photography & Videography

  • Chance Hales Porsche 911
  • Chance Hales Formula Ford
  • Chance Hales BMW GT3
  • Chance Hales Ferrari 458

You may know Chance Hales from his work with the Everyday Driver TV Show, Podcast, and YouTube channel, or from his excellent Instagram follow @phattyhales for a ton of great photos of spectacular cars in amazing locales.  With out team finally starting to get things together, we wanted to improve our non-driving related knowledge and skills as well and realized that as much as we like taking pictures and videos at the track and on the road, we have not kept up with recent advances that may improve our images.  It is also an excellent gift idea for those who may want to improve their equipment with a seasonal gift (or three) and is an excellent way to get a non-driving CFO to enjoy the track a bit more and feel included in your driving passion. 

I think we broke Ben on this Dominating with Dawson episode where we cover the concept of “two feet in” and make sure everyone is clear with what it means and how this technique can dramatically minimize the deleterious impact of an error that may momentarily exceed your current skill level on track. 

  • Chance Hales Day or Night

We hope you enjoy this episode!

Best regards,

Vicki, Jennifer, Alan, and Bill

Hosts of the Garage Heroes In Training Podcast and Garage Heroes In Training racing team drivers

Highlights from this episode include:

1)  We start of with a quick introduction including an overview of Chance’s 1967 Mustang resto-mod and 2000 Porsche 911, his recent promotion to NASA HPDE 4, and how he grew into his current photography and videography profession, as well as Everyday Driver.

2)  Bill mentions the story of how we first met each other online and how many of you can blame the Everyday Driver team for us starting racing and this podcast.  They do apologize profusely.

3)  Vicki learns what a “cars and coffee” is for the first time.  Bill, I thought you raised her better than that.

4)  Chance and Vicki go into what camera and accessories are needed as an upgrade to using your phone or a point and shoot type camera.

5)  Chance also goes into the different types of cameras and some of the extensive jargon in a way that even Bill understood.

6)  We also go into what are some of the options and features associated with a next level but still non-professional camera set up.

7)  We go into the lenses most likely needed for shooting at a track, as well as some lenses that are awesome but cost more that most of our cars. 

8)  Chance is also an excellent videographer for both the Everyday Driver TV show on the Velocity channel, their feature length movies/DVDs, as well as their YouTube channel and goes into the various choices and alternatives, including GoPro’s and several options that provide even higher quality.

9)  We did go into the details of shutter speeds and aperture settings, but in a way that most non-photographers will finally be able to understand.  The good news is that most of the cameras have an automatic setting or a simple semi-automatic setting that will work for most shots of interest at a track.

10)  Chance also gives a few resources to find the both equipment and several that have a resource that can advise you for the best options to fit what you are trying to capture.

11)  Key settings and what their approximate ranges should be include aperture, exposure, and the number of frames per second.

13)  Vicki and Chance also had several cheap and simple tips, tricks, settings, and add-ons to help protect your equipment and simplify the process by narrowing the need for manual settings and adjustments.

14)  Our first Space Balls reference ever was made by Chance and it was long overdue.

15)  Chance also helps us with several great resources for editing photos and videos.

16)  Vicki misunderstands Chance saying “raw” and thinks it’s a type of graphic file.  Bill makes a bad He Man joke.

17)  Bill has a bad flashback to when everyone used something known as “film”.  Things ae so much easier now.

18)  Chance even offers a set of standard “shots” that you should pursue at each event.  We also go into the best way to compose a shot to at least appear to be a better photographer than you really may be. 

19)  Tips and tricks to shooting in the weather to protect yourself, the camera equipment, as well as some tips to getting better shots that take advantage of the conditions.

20)  Bill asks about a Leica camera, but meant to say Lytro.  Worth a look?  TBD.  We will have to ask Chance next time.

21)  Depending on your goals and budget, we are sure to have given you a few options that will improve your team’s photos.

22)  Bill and Chance also discuss their annual “Pilgrimage Trip” to Spa and the Nürburgring.  Vicki wants a camera so Bill thought, just in case…..

You can view Chance Hale’s portfolio work at:  https://www.chancehalesphotography.com/

The Everyday Driver home page is at:  https://www.everydaydriver.com/

Bob Chapman’s work can be found at:  http://www.autosportimage.com/

GHIT 0151: Chance Hales on Racing and Car Photography and Videography

Chance Hales from Laguna Seca