Zack Klapman, co-host of The Smoking Tire and host of the RACER Creator Awards, joins The Creative Drive podcast to talk all things cars, moving to LA from Colorado to be on TV and the evolution of automotive content.

In this episode, Zack shares:

How his writing and podcasting career prepared him to host shows and tackle press cars How Tom Segura helped triple their revenue Interviewing Steve Dinan, Gale Banks and Jerry Seinfeld Wild experiences with Hagerty Rated, riding shotgun with FD champion Dai Yoshihara The hardest cars to review (fast wagons, M5 Touring, GT3 RS) and dream cars that would “bankrupt you emotionally” King of the Hammers behind-the-scenes: rock crawling, RV towns, nighttime madness, and total chaos Matt and Zack are going racing with Cleetus McFarland in the Freedom 500 Insights into LA car culture, creator & brand trends, and the cars that are “boostin’ it” right now

From laughs to lessons, Zack dives deep into creative drive, car culture, and extreme motorsports — giving you a candid look at what fuels him as a creator in the automotive world.

https://offers.racer.com/subscribe for RACER+ and magazine offer! Follow https://www.instagram.com/directorlukeh/ Follow RACER on YT: https://www.youtube.com/@Racer.HQ Follow RACER.Podcasts on IG: https://www.instagram.com/racer.podcasts Follow RACER.HQ on IG: https://www.instagram.com/racer.hq/ Follow RACER Network on IG: https://www.instagram.com/ racer_network Follow host Taro Koki on IG:https://www.instagram.com/tarokoki99/ 👉 Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share this episode with your fellow car enthusiasts.

#RACERCreatorAwards #RACER #CreativeDrivePodcast #CarCulture

Director Luke Huxham joins Creative Drive for a wide-ranging conversation shaped by nearly two decades living and working in Japan. From street drifting and underground scenes to large-scale cultural events, Luke shares an insider’s view of how Japanese car culture has evolved—and why it’s far from fading.

The episode digs into Luke’s path through automotive filmmaking, documenting builders and drivers, and eventually creating his own events that spotlight culture as much as cars. He talks candidly about the realities of organizing Japan Car Week, collaborating with long-standing community figures, and building spaces that give both creators and car owners something new to experience.

Luke also opens up about the mindset required to pursue bigger creative swings, including feature films, in an industry where there’s rarely room for permission. If you don’t believe you can do it, he says, step aside—someone else is ready to try.

This episode is about conviction, community, and why car culture continues to thrive when people are willing to put in the work.

https://offers.racer.com/subscribe for RACER+ and magazine offer! Follow https://www.instagram.com/directorlukeh/ Follow RACER on YT: https://www.youtube.com/@Racer.HQ Follow RACER.Podcasts on IG: https://www.instagram.com/racer.podcasts Follow RACER.HQ on IG: https://www.instagram.com/racer.hq/ Follow RACER Network on IG: https://www.instagram.com/ racer_network Follow host Taro Koki on IG:https://www.instagram.com/tarokoki99/ 👉 Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share this episode with your fellow car enthusiasts.

#RACERCreatorAwards #RACER #CreativeDrivePodcast #CarCulture

Fresh off her monumental win of the 2025 Women in Motorsports MX-5 Cup Scholarship, 19-year-old Charlotte Traynor joins The Creative Drive podcast from the PRI Show!

Charlotte opens up about her unconventional journey into racing—from a family of pilots to a competitive gymnast—and the moment she knew a race car was her calling. She details how a chance encounter led her to the Mazda MX-5 Cup, a highly competitive and strategic series under the IMSA banner.

This episode dives into: - What the $100,000 scholarship means for her 2026 season in the Mazda MX-5 Cup.

- Dealing with the pressure of racing, battling imposter syndrome, and finding resilience after hearing from trailblazers like Lynn St. James.

- Her dedication to intense physical training in the Arizona heat and professional sim racing to achieve her ultimate goal of racing a prototype car in the WeatherTech Championship.

- Why she is committed to sharing her real, unvarnished story with fans to break the "robot" race car driver mold and inspire the next generation.

- Her drive to become the first female driver to win a Mazda MX-5 Cup race.

Follow Charlotte Traynor's journey: - Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/charlottetraynor_ - TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@charlottetraynor37 - YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@charlottetraynor_

To learn more about Mazda: https://bit.ly/4ax7TrK

#racer #podcast #creativedrive #mazda #mx5cup #motorsport #autoracing #charlottetraynor #tarokoki