Dinner with Racers

Ep.263 - Mike Rockenfeller, Pt.2

Mike Rockenfeller has quietly risen to become one of the most celebrated racers in all of sportscar. Growing up in rural Germany with limited means, Mike was the quintessential successful junior racer with limited means, eventually finding his way onto the Porsche factory driver roster, then Audi, and now Ford. Mike has literally won everything there is to win in sportscar, from LeMans, to Daytona, to even a DTM championship. Dinner was served at Dahlia Mexican in Daytona Beach, Florida, with the song “Crash and Burn” by Kissing Candice taking us out. Thanks again to Continental Tire for making it all happen.

Ep.262 - Mike Rockenfeller, Pt.1

Mike Rockenfeller has quietly risen to become one of the most celebrated racers in all of sportscar. Growing up in rural Germany with limited means, Mike was the quintessential successful junior racer with limited means, eventually finding his way onto the Porsche factory driver roster, then Audi, and now Ford. Mike has literally won everything there is to win in sportscar, from LeMans, to Daytona, to even a DTM championship. Dinner was served at Dahlia Mexican in Daytona Beach, Florida, with the song “Honest Man” by Moon taking us out. Thanks again to Continental Tire for making it all happen.

Ep.261 - Max Angelelli

Max Angelelli is IMSA’s favorite lunatic. Seriously, he’s insane. That’s all you need to know. Growing up in Italy and coming up through European junior racing, Max found success in America throughout the 1990’s and 2000’s in American sportscar racing, capitalizing on his opportunities to become a multi-time winner at Daytona as well as IMSA/Grand-Am champion. Outside of the car, he was also a core element to the growth of Wayne Taylor Racing, notably acting as a mentor to Ricky and Jordan Taylor. Lunch was served at Osaka Sushi in New Smyrna, Florida, with the song “Bonkerz” by Where’s Lulu taking us out. Thanks again to Continental Tire for making it all happen.

Ep.260 - Juan Fangio II

A staple of 1980s and 1990s sportscar racing, Juan Fangio II is one of the greats of IMSA GTP racing. The nephew of Juan Manuel Fangio, one of Formula One’s greatest, Fangio II embarked on a career unique to himself, and carving a path that you’d never expect given his namesake. One of the greats from Argentina, Juan is a true gentleman and has the stories to back it up. Dinner was served at El Casco de Fangio, the Private Estate of the Fangio family, with the song “Summetime Boss’s” by Wessley Thomas taking us out. Thanks again to Continental Tire for making it all happen.

Ep.259 - Tony Kanaan, Pt.2

Tony Kanaan is a modern legend of IndyCar racing. Enjoying a career that spanned across four decades, the 2004 IndyCar champion became synonymous with hard luck at the Indianapolis 500 before finally taking the checkered flag after years of trying. A longtime fan favorite, Tony’s real story begins off the track with his father, making a promise unlike any other. Also available to watch on MotorTrend, this dinner was served at Fernando’s Brazilian and Mexican Cuisine in Broad Ripple, Indiana, with the song “Extrano” by Tania Matus taking us out. Thanks again to Continental Tire for making it all happen.

Ep.258 - Tony Kanaan, Pt.1

Tony Kanaan is a modern legend of IndyCar racing. Enjoying a career that spanned across four decades, the 2004 IndyCar champion became synonymous with hard luck at the Indianapolis 500 before finally taking the checkered flag after years of trying. A longtime fan favorite, Tony’s real story begins off the track with his father, making a promise unlike any other. Also available to watch on MotorTrend, this dinner was served at Fernando’s Brazilian and Mexican Cuisine in Broad Ripple, Indiana, with the song “Mau Mau” by La Nata taking us out. Thanks again to Continental Tire for making it all happen.

Ep.257 - Kidnapping Fangio: More Kidnapping (Juan Fangio II, Lupe Fuentes)

As part of our video documentary series, “Kidnapping Fangio,” available on MotorTrend’s YouTube channel, we are proud to present a series of extended interviews through our podcast. In this final installment, we present two different interviews. The first is with Juan Fangio II, who is not only the nephew of Juan Fangio but a champion driver in his own right, having won multiple IMSA GTP Championships. Growing up in the family, Juan II was raised with the stories from the era, shedding light on the personal side of the incident. Lupe Fuentes is Cuba’s leading expert on the incident, representing Proyecto Cultural Amigos de Fangio, an organization committed to preserving the memory of the incident in Cuba. Lupe was also joined by our dedicated Cuban liaison, Robert Ordaz, who plays the role of interpreter. Dinner with Juan II was served at El Casco de Fangio, Fangio’s private estate, in Balcarce, Argentina. Dinner with Lupe was at Fangio Havana in Cuba’s Claxon Hotel. The song “Juan” is courtesy of Tarante Groove Machine. Thanks again to Continental Tire for making it all happen.

Ep.256 - Kidnapping Fangio: The Kidnapping (Fernando Barragan)

As part of our video documentary series, “Kidnapping Fangio,” available on MotorTrend’s YouTube channel, we are proud to present a series of extended interviews through our podcast. In this third installment, we meet with one of the foremost experts on Fangio History, Fernando Barragan. As the head of the Fundacion Fangio, an Argentina-based organization committed to preserving the heritage of Juan Manuel Fangio, Fernando greeted us with open arms in Argentina, including driving and guiding us through Balcarce, Argentina, the home of Fangio. Dinner was served at El Casco de Fangio, Fangio’s private estate, in Balcarce. The song “Kidnap Juan Fangio” is courtesy of Sean Heckman, written for and featured in the Kidnapping Fangio series. Thanks again to Continental Tire for making it all happen.

Ep.255 - Kidnapping Fangio: More History (Lillian Guerra, PhD)

As part of our video documentary series, “Kidnapping Fangio,” available on MotorTrend’s YouTube channel, we are proud to present a series of extended interviews through our podcast. In this second installment, we take a departure from racing to learn even more about the history of Cuba. A Professor in Cuban and Caribbean History at the University of Florida, Lillian Guerra is one of the foremost experts on the topic, which can be even further explored in her book “Heroes, Martyrs, and Political Messiahs in Revolutionary Cuba, 1946-1958.” Dinner was served courtesy of Hotel Eleo, located inside the University of Mom. The song “Veinti-Seis de Julio” is courtesy of Myles Nye and Sean Heckman, written for and featured in the Kidnapping Fangio series. Thanks again to Continental Tire for making it all happen.

Ep.254 - Kidnapping Fangio: A History (Michael Bustamante, PhD)

As part of our video documentary series, “Kidnapping Fangio,” available on MotorTrend’s YouTube channel, we are proud to present a series of extended interviews through our podcast. In this first installment, we take a departure from racing to learn about the history of Cuba, a critical ingredient in leading to the famed 1958 kidnapping of the Formula One legend. An Associate Professor at the University of Miami, Michael Bustamante is well acquainted with 500-year long story that led to the 1958 Cuban uprising, told from someone who is not only an educator in the field, but also a descendant of a family who left shortly after. Dinner was served courtesy of Toro Toro, located inside Miami’s Intercontinental Hotel. The song “Saquen Los” is courtesy of Myles Nye and Sean Heckman, written for and featured in the Kidnapping Fangio series. Thanks again to Continental Tire for making it all happen.