Cold Start

BMW celebrated 50 years of art cars in 2025, so Todd and Sylas decided to reflect on the 20 official cars that make up that collection and talk about their significance in the automotive community. What started in 1975, turned into an iconic blend of art and motorsports throughout the decades but some were more iconic than others. The guys talk about their favorites and even touch on some of the a...

We have all played the game "Would You Rather?", so the guys decided to play the automotive equivalent: pitting automotive icons against one another to see which would reign supreme in their dream garages. See what cars they can agree upon -- easy choices -- and where some more questionable choices have to be justified.  Cold Start Hint: It has a V8 with an accent   Answer to Episode 45 Cold Start...

You took a perfectly good car and did what to it?!? Modifying your car is almost a must as a car enthusiast but there is most certainly the right way and the wrong way in changing things on your car. Todd and Sylas go through a list of the automotive "no no's" when it comes to modifying your car. If Dante Alighieri was a car enthusiast, he would categorize levels of hell based on these horrid modi...

The new age of technology is upon us, and you might be scared to find out how much your car knows about you. Privacy and cyber security are not the first things you think about when you think about cars, but it may be time to start paying more attention to those Terms & Conditions agreements when setting up your new car's infotainment system. Now that modern cars are connected to the internet,...

Todd and Sylas get into a heated debate on whether downforce makes for better or worse racing. There has been a long pursuit of making racecars more efficient through the air and utilizing more downforce to making them faster around a track – but does that make for better racing? There are two forms of philosophy when it comes to what makes racing exciting: the first is that the technology and eng...

A lifelong motorsports fan, Sylas finally made a personal breakthrough in 2025 and became a dedicated Formula 1 racing fan. His connection to F1 started back at the US Grand Prix at COTA in Austin, and his passion for the sport has only increased ever since. Todd couldn't be happier about influencing Sylas into becoming passionate about the premiere league of formula car racing. During this recap...

Have you ever wondered what type of car enthusiast puts their fun car online for strangers to borrow? Todd and Sylas look to answer that question as they explore the online world of Turo rentals. What they found was way more than they bargained for, as the descriptions for fun enthusiast cars all seemed to be weirdly grandiose and heavy-handed. Come along for the journey as we survey the odd lands...

"Track Days Are the Best Days"® is the official trademark and slogan of Flying Husky Racing , a group we assembled for the first time back in 2020, when going to drive at the racetrack was one of only the activities we were able to do under the heavy restrictions imposed by COVID. This group of track drivers and car nerds evolved into a club of automotive enthusiasts, bringing together elements fr...

There are two different kinds of "first cars" for the car enthusiast: there is the car that was legitimately the first one you had when you freshly turned 16, and then there's the first car that shapes your journey in the automotive community. Todd and Sylas tell the stories of their first cars, and relive what it was like being young car enthusiasts -- and how their early choices may have shaped...

With the growing popularity of cars in pop culture, is the car community going too mainstream? Are cars and motorsports becoming over-popularized? If you ask us, it is quite apparent that car culture and interest in all things automotive has changed dramatically over the last 5-10 years -- and many people are just connecting with that culture as part of the latest fashion trends. However, just lik...

Some may think that going on a drive is a fairly simple task that we do every day to get from point A to point B – but there is a fine art to a successful spirited drive, especially when it includes a handful of your buddies. The guys cover some of the basics of how to put on a successful group drive, and what details are often overlooked. With just a little extra attention to detail, you can turn...

Todd and Sylas finally attend their first Formula 1 race, making the trip out to Austin, Texas, to experience the 2025 United States Grand Prix. Hear what it's like to actually see F1 in person, and whether it's really as breathtaking and life changing as people say. How does the F1 experience compare to seeing a NASCAR or IndyCar race? Have we finally made an F1 fan out of Sylas? Cold Start Hint:...

What is the ultimate GT car? The Porsche 991-era GT2RS makes a compelling argument as one of the all time great Grand Touring street cars, not to mention being a more-than-capable track day machine. And it's not all about the fastest 0-60 times (though it'll compete quite admirably in that arena, as the fastest and most powerful road-going Porsche 911). Join Sylas and Todd on a drive to explore th...

If you have ever wondered what it takes to drive like James Bond and escape the bad guys, the harsh reality of what it actually means to drive like private security may surprise you. Even though the job of a private security guard may seem like an action packed job, the truth of what it means to be a good driver is a lot more about proper technique and consistency. Sylas shares his insight of work...

What may be the last true form of motorsports in America, Sprint Car racing is overlooked by so many motorsport fans. Todd watched his first Sprint Car race as they returned to Calistoga Speedway in Napa County, California. Blown away by the spectacle, Todd and Sylas dive deeper into the history of Sprint Cars and how they became such a popular way to get into racing. Keeping its raw grassroots st...

Who would pass on the opportunity to street drive the world's great analog supercar? The guys take the Porsche Carrera GT out for a nice drive in Wine Country and talk about all the things that make it the pinnacle of the analog car experience -- as well as touching on the things that make it scary and intimidating to drive on public roads. The road noise is a little louder in this episode, but wh...

On today's episode, Todd and Sylas talk about a Seattle Car Show that potentially outclasses The Quail. The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering, is an annual car show during Monterey Car Week, known for its unbelievable car lineups, beautiful backdrop, and high class amenities -- but what if we told you that a show just popped up in the Pacific Northwest that may rival its exclusivity and aura? Chapter...

Tim Barber, an infamous name within the NorCal racing scene, joins the show on today's episode to share his stories of racing up the ranks with sights set on IndyCar and what it took to make it full time in Sprint Car Racing. He also gives his blunt insights on working within the motorsport industry and getting into motorsports as a whole. The hard truth is difficult for a lot of us to hear but Ti...

The guys hit the road once again, bringing the newly acquired BMW E39 M5 on a short drive around Sonoma County. Listen as Todd and Sylas give their opinions on the driving experience as well as talking about the charm of early 2000's BMWs -- and how the brand has deviated since. Is the E39 M5 the pinnacle of M5's? How does the M5 really fit into the BMW M lineup? Find out the answers to these ques...

After their weekend in Monterey for the historics races at Laguna Seca, the Cold Start team goes on the road once again, visiting the Pacific Northwest to attend the Northwest Exotics car show -- and they bring the Toro Rosso F1 car with them! On this episode, Todd and Sylas bring Cold Start live to the event, where they walk around giving their thoughts of the show and sharing what cars caught th...

After their trip to the 2025 Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion at Laguna Seca, Todd and Sylas give you their impressions of the sights and sounds of what is quite possibly one of the best vintage racing events in the world. From seeing all seven generations of IROC racing on the track at the same time to Zak Brown almost writing off an invaluable piece of motorsport history, Car Week in Monterey...

This episode tells the incredible story of how a 2019 Formula 1 car found itself in private hands, and not just any F1, but the Toro Rosso STR14 that got Pierre Gasly his first podium at the Brazilian GP. The car was also driven by Alex Albon in the first half of the 2019 season, including to a 6th place finish at the German Grand Prix, before he was promoted to team Red Bull and Gasly demoted. On...

"Up to Temp" is our newest segment on Cold Start, where we take you along on a drive in cars that are worthy of deeper exploration. In our premiere "Up to Temp" episode, Todd and Sylas get out on the road, offering their insight into the behind-the-wheel experience and road-going qualities of the 2019 Ferrari 488 Pista. The Pista is Ferrari's "track-oriented" version of the 488 platform, built to...

After a long search, Todd achieves off a longstanding dream acquisition: a 2003 BMW E39 M5 (as featured in our Todd's 2015 Dream Garage episode). Sylas, our resident BMW expert and enthusiast, couldn't be more pleased! This was a team effort -- a rollercoaster story of ups and downs and false starts, finally realized thanks to everyone's most talked about auction platform: Bring a Trailer. But did...

Wouldn't you want to know who would be the best driver in the world out of all disciplines: F1, IndyCar, NASCAR, IMSA, WEC, etc? Well there used to be a series to find out just that. IROC, the International Race Of Champions, was a 4 race shoot out that would put the best of the best from all forms of motorsport against one another on equal footing, to determine who was the best driver in the worl...