Dinner with Racers

Ep.71 – Parker Kligerman

Parker Kligerman is a perfect example of resilience ahead of career challenges, and it’s because of that he should have a long career ahead of him. Beginning as a road racer, Parker saw the writing on the wall and went stock car racing, then had a Penske development contract at 18, only to see it all end when things didn’t work out. Recognizing opportunity when he saw it, Parker has since moved on to a broadcasting career with NBC Sports Network, and sure enough that has re-introduced him to driving opportunities, funny how that works!  Lunch was courtesy of Bartaco in Stamford, CT, with the music of Tigerdog taking us out. Thanks to Continental Tire for all of their support, and Acura for providing a great MDX.

Ep.69 – Mario Andretti, Pt. 1

Do we really need to explain who Mario Andretti is? It’s Mario Andretti. IT’S MARIO ANDRETTI. He gave us so much time that we had to split the episode in two…BECAUSE YOU DON’T EDIT MARIO ANDRETTI.  Dinner was served at the Blue Grill House, located in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. Music was provided by The Soul Jacket. Thanks to Continental Tire for all of their support, and Acura for providing a great MDX.

Ep.70 – Mario Andretti, Pt. 2

Do we really need to explain who Mario Andretti is? It’s Mario Andretti. IT’S MARIO ANDRETTI. He gave us so much time that we had to split the episode in two…BECAUSE YOU DON’T EDIT MARIO ANDRETTI. PART TWO  Dinner was served at the Blue Grill House, located in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. Music was provided by Tigerdog. Thanks to Continental Tire for all of their support, and Acura for providing a great MDX.

Ep.67 – Craig Hampson: The Young Engineer’s Special

A special edition for Dinner with Racers, we decided to cut Craig Hampson’s recording in to two parts. While his main episode focused largely on his stories and bigger picture examination, we wanted to focus exclusively on how he cut his teeth as a young engineer, specifically for our large audience of aspiring engineers who are curious about a career in motorsports. If you’re curious about what it takes, involved in Formula SAE, or just want to hear tales of young Craig Hampson, this is the episode for you.  Lunch was served at The Haymarket Pub and Brewery, located in Chicago, Illinois. Music was provided by Tiger Dog. Thanks to Continental Tire for all of their support, and Acura for providing a great MDX.

Ep.68 – Brian Till

Brian Till is a classic racing tale of a guy who has never stopped working, and in such has carved out his own place in sport. A champion of various junior level categories, Brian enjoyed a brief stint in IndyCar and Trans-Am racing before finding an eventual home as a television broadcaster, and during the entirety of his career has always been a racing instructor at a variety of locations. His ability to relate, tell stories, and be a genuinely likable guy- combined with his work ethic- is what’s kept him around and you can really hear it in this episode.  Dinner was served at Cantina Laredo in Columbus, Ohio. Music was provided by Ruto. Thanks to Continental Tire for all of their support, and Acura for providing a great MDX.

Ep.64 – Dorsey Schroeder

For fans of historic sportscar racing, Dorsey Schroeder is a true living legend. What makes him amazing is that he’s a legend for his off-track exploits as much as on. Making his biggest name in the golden era of Trans-Am, Dorsey was the key figure in the era of the Roush Mustang, before moving to NASCAR and eventually broadcasting, where he has amazing stories across the board. This episode features no shortage of drunk tales, stories about Dale Earnhardt, and living by a lake.  Dinner was courtesy of Kilroy’s in Indianapolis, IN, with the music of Jungle of Cities taking us out. Thanks to Continental Tire for all of their support, and Acura for providing a great MDX.

Ep.65 – Ryan Lewis

What makes Ryan Lewis such an interesting guest is what his role isn’t in the sport. In a season of holy sh**, Ryan’s career has maybe not gone according to plan, despite being very talented and very articulate, which is why we thought we should sit with him. With a keen mind for evaluation and self diagnosis, we walk through Ryan’s career to look at the good, the bad, and the future. He also didn’t know what he was walking in to, and got drunk as f***.  Lunch(?) was courtesy of The Alley Cat Lounge in Indianapolis, IN, with the music of Jungle of Cities taking us out. Thanks to Continental Tire for all of their support, and Acura for providing a great MDX.

Ep.66 – Craig Hampson

Craig Hampson is one of the most respected engineers in all of IndyCar racing, and when you hear him talk you can instantly understand why. Extremely articulate and with an amazing attention to detail, Craig has worked with Mario Andretti, Sebastien Bourdais, and a host of others, including being the man behind all of Sebastien Bourdais’ championships. A father of two girls who wanted to stay with his family more often in Chicago, he’s now with the lone Chicago-based team, Dale Coyne Racing.  Lunch was served at The Haymarket Pub and Brewery, located in Chicago, Illinois. Music was provided by Lionkness. Thanks to Continental Tire for all of their support, and Acura for providing a great MDX.

Ep.63 – Robin Miller

Love him or hate him, Robin Miller is one of the most entertaining people you could ever meet in the IndyCar scene. A career journalist with multiple accounts of failing at driving or anything mechanical, Robin Miller’s enthusiasm for all things open wheel and IndyCar racing is unparalleled, and it’s because of that passion that he’s endured a five decade career in the sport as a journalist and broadcast for a variety of mediums. We weren’t sure what to expect, but walked away loving the guy… his enthusiasm is real, he’s freakin’ hilarious, and he pulls no punches.  Lunch was served at the 1911 Grill, owned by Dinner with Racers alum Sarah Fisher, with the music of The Deadlies taking us out. Thanks to Continental Tire for all of their support, and Acura for providing a great MDX.

Ep.61 – Scott Dixon

The “Iceman” has long been known as someone who keeps his personality hidden from the public. Not only is Scott Dixon a three-time IndyCar Series champion, Indy 500 winner, and the winningest active driver out there, but the dude is hilarious and absolutely awesome to have lunch with. We were blown away by how funny he was, and how willing he was to share, including his account of getting robbed at Taco Bell, just how many sheep live in New Zealand, driving with a pillow strapped to yourself, and more.  Lunch was served at Tegry Bistro in Indianapolis, IN. Music was provided by Novacaine (available on Spotify). Thanks to Continental Tire for all of their support, and Acura for providing a great MDX.