Everyone Racers

Welcome to Everyone Racers episode 424, because grassroots racing is built on bad ideas, education about cheap tools, and learning the hard way. Endurance racing at the highest level is all carbon fiber, hybrid powertrains, and factory budgets…
…and then there’s the rest of us.
In this Alpine 424 episode, the crew kicks things off breaking down the new Alpine A424 hypercar—a purpose-built Le Mans prototype with cutting-edge aero, hybrid power, and real factory support—before immediately spiraling into what that means for the rest of us racing on duct tape budgets and questionable decisions.
This episode dives into the gap between pro-level endurance racing and grassroots reality, and what amateur racers can actually learn (and what we absolutely cannot afford to copy). From paddock problem-solving and race prep decisions, to the stuff that breaks, the stuff that shouldn’t break but does anyway, and the stuff we absolutely should not have attempted ourselves… it’s all here.
Kangaroos might be worse than Deer at the Track
What amateur racers can actually learn from pro teams
Why grassroots racers constantly try to “engineer their way out of problems”
Race weekend prep, last-minute fixes, and paddock chaos
Honest conversations about reliability, budgets, and the real cost of “doing it right”
Or you could skip the hassle and buy a sweet C3 vintage Race Corvette from Racing Junk! Link below!
The usual Everyone Racers mix of bench racing, bad ideas, and comedy
If you’re an amateur racer, Lemons or ChampCar driver, HPDE addict, track day junkie, mechanic, or garage builder, this episode will feel painfully familiar.
We release new episodes every week covering grassroots racing, garage-built cars, and the mistakes that somehow make the best stories.
👉 Subscribe if you want real racing talk — not influencer builds. 👉 Comment your worst race weekend failure (we’ve probably done worse).
Have you joined our F1 Fantasy League yet? Why not? It’s free! 2026 Season kicks off March 6
fantasygp.com - build your team, then join a league. 
Ours is League Code: 74259541
Christopher Mies "I can tell you The Inside of a Kangaroo Doesn’t Smell Very Nice." after hitting a Kangaroo at 250 kph (Victoria Beaver @ Road & Track) 
https://www.roadandtrack.com/news/a70360389/fords-mustang-gt3-bathurst-12-hour-debut-cut-short-following-collision-kangaroo/
CHECK THIS LIST IF YOU TOW WITH A JEEP, DODGE OR RAM (Caleb Jacobs @ The Drive) https://www.thedrive.com/news/more-than-450000-rams-and-jeeps-recalled-because-their-trailer-brakes-might-not-work
Alpine is out of LeMans After 2026 (Fred Smith @ Road & Track) https://www.roadandtrack.com/news/a70330334/alpine-ending-le-mans-program-after-2026/
Swayze Be Praised! A C3 Corvette Vintage Racer With Trailer & Spares on Racing Junk for only $15K - cue bald eagle screech - Hell yeah!
https://www.racingjunk.com/vintage/184752368/c3-race-car-and-trailer.html?category_id=4&aces_make_id=&mileage_min=&mileage_max=&photos=1&video=&location_distance=&location_zip=&year_min=&year_max=&price_min=1500&price_max=25000&seller_type=0&condition=&search=&keyword=&state=&country=&province=&date=&order=time-new-old&np_offset=11#1
3 Pedal Mafia Lemons World - https://youtu.be/wGfAxGX3vHk?si=YInVSrCTFgkXdCVF
Get in touch with John Pagel - Tech Boss here:
[email protected]
Or even here:
https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1D9iex667J/
TOW STRAP LINKS
Crash bar wrap around 5500lb https://www.enjukuracing.com/products/bridgemoto-crash-bar-wrap-around-tow-strap.html
Sparco 6600 lb Tow Strap https://www.sparcousa.com/towing
Those cool light number panels from Amazon
https://a.co/d/9wDuvek
2026 Lemons Rally Schedule
https://24hoursoflemons.com/lemons-rally/ 
Weaber Valley Speedway on Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/Weabersvalleyspeedway2 
Free Bingo Card Generator
https://myfreebingocards.com/bingo-card-generator 
Play Cardle!
Playcardle.com 
⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPrTs8wdzydOqbpWZ_y-xEA ⁠  - Our YouTube

Weldcome (see what we did there?) to Everyone Racers episode 423, hot like welding!  
Tim is planning to burn himself 
Chris prefers a tight puddle, Sloppy puddles need not apply. 
Chrissy yells at a cat, again. Same cat. The cat doesn’t care, because…well, it’s a cat.  
Amateur racing isn’t glamorous — and that’s exactly why this episode hits so hard.
In this Everyone Racers Moskvich-423 Episode, the gang spirals from “should we buy a cheap welder?” into a brutally honest conversation about learning fabrication the hard way, blowing budgets in the garage, and why grassroots racers keep doing things the most difficult (and funniest) way possible.
This episode covers what it’s really like to be an amateur racer trying to level up your skills without lighting your project — or your wallet — on fire. From debating entry-level vs. “probably good enough” welders, to the realities of teaching yourself fabrication in a cramped garage, to why racing forums both save and destroy projects, this one is painfully relatable if you’ve ever said “I can probably do that myself.”
You’ll hear:
The real cost of getting into welding and fabrication for racing
Why cheap tools sometimes work… until they absolutely don’t
The difference between good enough for the track and dangerous optimism
Lessons learned from broken parts, bad advice, and late-night garage decisions
Not t mention our racing news tangents, questionable logic, and the kind of bench-racing comedy that only happens when friends have known each other too long
If you’re an amateur race car driver, weekend track rat, mechanic, Lemons/ChampCar/HPDE addict, or automotive enthusiast who laughs at mistakes because you’ve made the same ones — this episode is for you.
New episodes every week.
Subscribe if you like real racing talk, real failures, and real laughs — not influencer fantasy builds.
👇 Drop a comment with your worst garage mistake. We promise we’ve done something dumber.
Porsche Carrera World Cup Cancelled Due to “economic and geopolitical challenges” (John Dagys @ Sports Car 365) https://sportscar365.com/imsa/porsche-carrera-cup-na/porsche-carrera-world-cup-canceled/
Scout EV’s Extended Range Uses a Gas Generator (ia Good Way) (Tim Levin @ insideevs.com) https://insideevs.com/news/785904/scout-erev-harvester-reservations-ceo-expectations/
Mice Resistant Car Covers!. (Andrew Collins @ The Drive)  
https://www.thedrive.com/guides-and-gear/this-extra-heavy-car-cover-has-a-secret-weapon-against-mice 
$4k Mazda Protege Race Car on Racing Junk!
https://www.racingjunk.com/24-hours-of-lemons-cars-and-equipment-for-sale/184767950/mazda-protege-race-car.html?category_id=4520&np_offset=1#2
3 Pedal Mafia Lemons World - https://youtu.be/wGfAxGX3vHk?si=YInVSrCTFgkXdCVF
Get in touch with John Pagel - Tech Boss here:
[email protected]
Or even here:
https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1D9iex667J/
Those cool light number panels from Amazon
https://a.co/d/9wDuvek
2026 Lemons Rally Schedule
https://24hoursoflemons.com/lemons-rally/ 
Free Bingo Card Generator
https://myfreebingocards.com/bingo-card-generator 
Play Cardle!
Playcardle.com 
Chris Blizzard Lighting Guide
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1W0Wk6fGSO2G7y3fDUMeBcsJ58XCZF6w0E77wXuqNrV8/mobilebasic?fbclid=IwY2xjawKaAtVleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFjTmRidmN2bWFreVpWTVJMAR4qfvXupatPN52a6j2I2NhnvvfyNGFdmVcIZs37A3fWaYkKm-is8vJxOedoWw_aem_U2NDwxufdWEd0Pn-9DU3Hw
Mental’s Porsche 912 - https://youtu.be/_AEg7U4mWgI?feature=shared  
Download or stream here -⁠ https://open.spotify.com/show/5NsFZDTcaFlu4IhjbG6fV9   
⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPrTs8wdzydOqbpWZ_y-xEA ⁠  - Our YouTube 
amateur racing, race car podcast, automotive podcast, grassroots racing, welding for racing, car guys podcast
learning to weld for race cars, amateur racing mistakes, budget welding for car builds, grassroots motorsports podcast, garage fabrication tips, beginner welder for automotive projects, race car reliability mistakes, comedy automotive podcast

Daytona!
Welcome to Everyone Racers 422 still sucks!  
Tim is back!! And he’s fully decked out in all the right PPE courtesy of Erica the Welder. 
Chris actually did car work and falls down  
Chrissy lays on top of a pile of brush
Mental isn’t working on cars, which is probably for the best, but he did get a haircut, which is probably for the best. 
 
Really, Timmy regals us with tales from the Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona where he was this past week.
422 Sucks on Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/groups/3203240153313414/
422 Sucks on Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/422sucks/?hl=en 
3 Pedal Mafia Lemons World - https://youtu.be/wGfAxGX3vHk?si=YInVSrCTFgkXdCVF
Seriously, some jag-ff tried AI photos on Bring A Trailer, and fooled no one….except the editors at Bring a Trailer. (Justin Hughs @ Jalopnik)
https://www.jalopnik.com/2080577/bring-a-trailer-lists-ai-altered-cadillac-for-sale/
 
Hungover Driving is Also Drunk(ish) driving (Max Taylor @ Autoblog) Also, there’s a thing called a hangover suit?!?
https://www.autoblog.com/news/is-it-safe-to-drive-when-hungover-what-most-drivers-get-wrong
 
Sweet Honda Lego Sets! (Ronan Glon @ Hagerty) 
https://www.hagerty.com/media/news/mattel-brick-shop-honda-ef-civic-s2000-kits/
Real Time Racing’s Acura NSX on Racing Junk!
https://www.racingjunk.com/gt3/184503210/acura-nsx-gt3evo22.html?category_id=4&aces_make_id=&mileage_min=&mileage_max=&photos=1&video=&location_distance=&location_zip=&year_min=&year_max=&price_min=&price_max=&seller_type=0&condition=&search=&keyword=imsa&state=&country=&province=&date=&order=score&np_offset=11#2
Get in touch with John Pagel - Tech Boss here:
[email protected]
Or even here:
https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1D9iex667J/
TOW STRAP LINKS
Crash bar wrap around 5500lb https://www.enjukuracing.com/products/bridgemoto-crash-bar-wrap-around-tow-strap.html
Sparco 6600 lb Tow Strap https://www.sparcousa.com/towing
Those cool light number panels from Amazon
https://a.co/d/9wDuvek

2026 Lemons Rally Schedule
https://24hoursoflemons.com/lemons-rally/ 
Weaber Valley Speedway on Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/Weabersvalleyspeedway2 
 
Free Bingo Card Generator
https://myfreebingocards.com/bingo-card-generator 
Play Cardle!
Playcardle.com 
Chris Blizzard Lighting Guide
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1W0Wk6fGSO2G7y3fDUMeBcsJ58XCZF6w0E77wXuqNrV8/mobilebasic?fbclid=IwY2xjawKaAtVleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFjTmRidmN2bWFreVpWTVJMAR4qfvXupatPN52a6j2I2NhnvvfyNGFdmVcIZs37A3fWaYkKm-is8vJxOedoWw_aem_U2NDwxufdWEd0Pn-9DU3Hw
Mental’s Porsche 912 - https://youtu.be/_AEg7U4mWgI?feature=shared  
Download or stream here -⁠ https://open.spotify.com/show/5NsFZDTcaFlu4IhjbG6fV9   
⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPrTs8wdzydOqbpWZ_y-xEA ⁠  - Our YouTube

Stop Guessing: Tom Webb has Real Solutions for the New Rules
Welcome to Everyone Racers #421! In this Poncho Super Duty Episode. Tim is travelling, so he’s not here. Chris gets a speeding ticket, Chrissy pays to share a natural tepid water tub with strangers, Mental whines about rental truck not being comfy enough, & Tom Webb only has one h &  & he still did more this month than you. 
Really, it’s a full tech breakdown of the latest rule changes & real, practical solutions for what matters: lighting, visibility, tow straps, number illumination, reflectors. Not a summary of the rules, a working session on how to implement them & why common “solutions” are now failing or creating dangerous situations on track. All from a person who knows - Tom Webb. 
The difference between focused vs. unfocused LEDs, why unfocused LED bars are not acceptable,  why taping, dimming, or aiming unfocused LEDs will not solve the problem
How excessive or poorly aimed lighting reduces reaction time  & blinds other drivers

How to correctly test headlight cutoff at home using the 25-foot / 40-inch method

Why DOT-approved driving lights behave differently than fog or work lights

Practical advice on color temperature, beam shape, & placement for night racing

Number visibility solutions
Why self-illuminated, battery-powered, or externally aimed number lights are now illegal

Multiple legal ways to illuminate numbers, including:

LED strip lighting

Backlit panels

Diffused light panels

Interior-mounted solutions that protect numbers from contact

Pros  & cons of each method; cost, durability, visibility & ease of installation. Why some solutions look bright in the paddock but disappear on track
Tow straps  & recovery
Why tow straps replaced tow hooks

How they should be mounted to avoid loading bolts in tension

Why they are safer 

Common mounting mistakes that still fail tech

Reflectors  & passive visibility
DOT reflective tape requirements

Where reflectors must be placed  & why corner visibility matters

How it improves safety when cars lose power or lighting

What not to do
Why battery-powered lights, magnetic work lights & taped-over LEDs fail

Why “cheap” doesn’t mean unsafe, but incorrect does

Real examples of dangerous situations due to poor lighting choices

A discussion grounded in real tech inspections, real night-race incidents & feedback from race officials & corner workers. Not aesthetics or overbuilding, but being seen, passing tech & keeping everyone safe.  
Amish Communities embracing E-Bikers (Justin Hughes @ Jalopnik) https://www.jalopnik.com/2077068/amish-communities-are-embracing-e-bikes/
Airbag Theft on the Rise (Motorweek) https://motorweek.org/this-just-in/airbag-thefts-are-still-a-thing-and-hondas-remain-a-popular-target/
Tupac’s Restored murder BMW for sale…again… (Simran Rastogi @ Autoblog) https://www.autoblog.com/news/why-tupacs-bmw-is-still-for-sale-and-no-one-will-buy-it
Platinum Wedding Ring for only $1,600 on Racing Junk
https://www.racingjunk.com/jewelry/184765876/gentleman-s-platinum-wedding-band.html
Get in touch with John Pagel - Tech Boss here:
[email protected]
Or even here:
https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1D9iex667J/
TOW STRAP LINKS
Crash bar wrap around 5500lb https://www.enjukuracing.com/products/bridgemoto-crash-bar-wrap-around-tow-strap.html
Sparco 6600 lb Tow Strap https://www.sparcousa.com/towing
Those cool light number panels from Amazon
https://a.co/d/9wDuvek
How to Make yours cheap
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=migIrDTJ6II
Chris Blizzard Lighting Guide
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1W0Wk6fGSO2G7y3fDUMeBcsJ58XCZF6w0E77wXuqNrV8/mobilebasic?fbclid=IwY2xjawKaAtVleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFjTmRidmN2bWFreVpWTVJMAR4qfvXupatPN52a6j2I2NhnvvfyNGFdmVcIZs37A3fWaYkKm-is8vJxOedoWw_aem_U2NDwxufdWEd0Pn-9DU3Hw
⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPrTs8wdzydOqbpWZ_y-xEA ⁠  - Our YouTube

Want to be ready for the green flag in 2026? 🏎️✨
Welcome to Everyone Racers #420! In this luxurious peak-Mercedes episode, 
Tim questions John’s penetration talk,
Chris sits next to the sun,
Chrissy mimes yelling at her cat,
Mental wants you to take pictures of the coolest, dumbest, weirdest thing you have seen at the junkyard,
And John Pagel tries out his brand new teeth!
Really, we sit down with the legendary "Tech Boss" John Pagel to break down the latest 24 Hours of Lemons rule changes for 2026. He is here to illuminate (see what we did there?) some of the new rules changes for 2026 regarding tow hooks, lighting and even some of the most common tech failures that can keep you off the track. 
Also, he agrees that you need to go check your race car’s fluids and bolt torques right now…
With a series record of 30 million miles of racing without a serious injury, John’s mission is simple: keep you safe so you can stay on the track as long as possible.
What you’ll learn in this 2026 Safety Deep-Dive:
The New Backlit Number Rule: Learn how to satisfy the new lighting requirements for under $100 using USB-powered sketching pads—a simple, brilliant hack to make your car visible and professional.
Soft Tow Straps are Mandatory: Discover why moving away from hard metal hooks protects both you and your fellow racers from "can opener" incidents on the track.
Winning at the Tech Shed: John shares the most common mistakes that keep teams in the paddock, from poorly positioned seats to uncompleted welds, and how you can avoid them.
The "30 Million Mile" Standard: A look behind the curtain at how the series maintains its incredible safety record through consistent, thoughtful engineering standards.
Expert Tech Consultation: Why communicating early and often with John Pagel is the secret weapon for any team building a new car.
Whether you're a veteran racer or building your first "crapcan" masterpiece, this guide is essential viewing to ensure your car passes tech with flying colors.
Subscribe to join our community of 10,000 racers as we keep the shiny side up! 🏁
Get in touch with John Pagel - Tech Boss here:
[email protected]
Or even here:
https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1D9iex667J/
The NSX is back! Kinda… (Andrew Collins @ the Drive) 
https://www.thedrive.com/news/the-acura-nsx-is-back-from-the-dead-with-an-official-ultra-limited-redesign

Godspeed Hans Herrman. Porsche Legend passes at 97 (Victoria Beaver @ Car&Driver) 
https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a69977938/hans-herrmann-porsche-first-le-mans-winner-has-died-97/

Luftgekühlt Headed to Tokyo (Jeff Glucker @ Motor 1)
https://www.motor1.com/news/783973/luft-tokyo-porsche-show/
TOW STRAP LINKS
Crash bar wrap around 5500lb https://www.enjukuracing.com/products/bridgemoto-crash-bar-wrap-around-tow-strap.html
Sparco 6600 lb Tow Strap https://www.sparcousa.com/towing
Those cool light number panels from Amazon
https://a.co/d/9wDuvek

2026 Lemons Rally Schedule
https://24hoursoflemons.com/lemons-rally/ 
Weaber Valley Speedway on Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/Weabersvalleyspeedway2 
 
Free Bingo Card Generator
https://myfreebingocards.com/bingo-card-generator 
Play Cardle!
Playcardle.com 
Chris Blizzard Lighting Guide
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1W0Wk6fGSO2G7y3fDUMeBcsJ58XCZF6w0E77wXuqNrV8/mobilebasic?fbclid=IwY2xjawKaAtVleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFjTmRidmN2bWFreVpWTVJMAR4qfvXupatPN52a6j2I2NhnvvfyNGFdmVcIZs37A3fWaYkKm-is8vJxOedoWw_aem_U2NDwxufdWEd0Pn-9DU3Hw
Mental’s Porsche 912 - https://youtu.be/_AEg7U4mWgI?feature=shared  
Download or stream here -⁠ https://open.spotify.com/show/5NsFZDTcaFlu4IhjbG6fV9   
⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPrTs8wdzydOqbpWZ_y-xEA ⁠  - Our YouTube