Full Caster Podcast - A Karting Conversation

This installment of the Full Caster Podcast - A Karting Conversation, was recorded on May 24th 2021, with hosts Mike Smith and Derek Esquibel interviewing the President of the Auto Club Speedway, Dave Allen! For episode 32 of the FCP we chat with Dave about how he got started working in the racing industry, working up from a paid internship at Laguna Seca right out of college, to eventually the to...

The 11th edition of the Full Caster Podcast - A Karting Conversation  for season 2 was recorded on May 3rd, 2021, as hosts Mike Smith and Derek Esquibel sit down with another long time karter, Howie Idelson. Howie is known in the karting ranks as a standout out talent in his own right, but these days, perhaps the name Idelson is better known from his kid Dane, who is carving his own reputation in...

Episode 30 of the Full Caster Podcast - A Karting Conversation; this is actually the halfway point for Season 2 of the FCP, getting done on May 10th, 2021. Miles Calvin joins hosts Mike Smith and Derek Esquibel for this installment, chatting first about his origins on two wheels with BMX and then Speedway motorcycles, before moving on to his days indoor karting at Dromo 1, and then finally outdoor...

Episode 30 of the Full Caster Podcast - A Karting Conversation; this is actually the halfway point for Season 2 of the FCP, getting done on May 10th, 2021. Miles Calvin joins hosts Mike Smith and Derek Esquibel for this installment, chatting first about his origins on two wheels with BMX and then Speedway motorcycles, before moving on to his days indoor karting at Dromo 1, and then finally outdoor...

Recorded on April 29th, the 30th edition of the Full Caster Podcast - A Karting Conversation, sees hosts Mike Smith and Derek Esquibel interview Derek Zimmermann. Derek is a staple in the paddock and the sport of karting, lending his extensive knowledge as a driver and a tuner to multiple drivers, but typically founder under the Nash Motorsportz tent. In this episode we take a look back at his car...

Recorded on April 29th, the 30th edition of the Full Caster Podcast - A Karting Conversation, sees hosts Mike Smith and Derek Esquibel interview Derek Zimmermann. Derek is a staple in the paddock and the sport of karting, lending his extensive knowledge as a driver and a tuner to multiple drivers, but typically founder under the Nash Motorsportz tent. In this episode we take a look back at his car...

Episode 28 of the Full Caster Podcast - A Karting Conversation brings on Dante Yu as a guest with hosts Mike Smith and Derek Esquibel. Dante is known as one of the top talents currently in the Senior category of North American Karting, formally a SKUSA California ProKart champion in the junior ranks, and now a regular front runner in the top flight senior categories nationally.  Follow along throu...

Episode 28 of the Full Caster Podcast - A Karting Conversation brings on Dante Yu as a guest with hosts Mike Smith and Derek Esquibel. Dante is known as one of the top talents currently in the Senior category of North American Karting, formally a SKUSA California ProKart champion in the junior ranks, and now a regular front runner in the top flight senior categories nationally.  Follow along throu...

Recorded on March 21st, episode 27 for the Full Caster Podcast - A Karting Conversation, sees hosts Mike Smith and Derek Esquibel interview their good buddy Mark Connell.  Mark actually didn't get started on anything with a motor until he was an adult, but has fond memories of growing up doing BMX, and becoming a super fan of NASCAR and the Long Beach Grand Prix. After 20 or so years of racin...

Recorded on March 21st, episode 27 for the Full Caster Podcast - A Karting Conversation, sees hosts Mike Smith and Derek Esquibel interview their good buddy Mark Connell.  Mark actually didn't get started on anything with a motor until he was an adult, but has fond memories of growing up doing BMX, and becoming a super fan of NASCAR and the Long Beach Grand Prix. After 20 or so years of racin...

Finishing up the first full year for the Full Caster Podcast - A Karting Conversation, is our third 'On Location' show; this one taped on March 15th at Adams Motorsports Park. As the location suggests, Episode 26 sees hosts Mike Smith and Derek Esquibel joined by the owner of Adams, long time karter and driver coach, Troy Adams. We chat a good amount about not only the origins of how Ada...

Finishing up the first full year for the Full Caster Podcast - A Karting Conversation, is our third 'On Location' show; this one taped on March 15th at Adams Motorsports Park. As the location suggests, Episode 26 sees hosts Mike Smith and Derek Esquibel joined by the owner of Adams, long time karter and driver coach, Troy Adams. We chat a good amount about not only the origins of how Ada...

Episode 25 of the Full Caster Podcast - A Karting Conversation brings on Race Liberante as a guest with hosts Mike Smith and Derek Esquibel. Race is perhaps best known now as the founder and developer of the Race Factory Chassis line, but he actually has over 20 years of experience in kart racing, winning championships in Cadets, Juniors, and even as recently as 2019 in Shifters. Beyond that, he h...

Episode 25 of the Full Caster Podcast - A Karting Conversation brings on Race Liberante as a guest with hosts Mike Smith and Derek Esquibel. Race is perhaps best known now as the founder and developer of the Race Factory Chassis line, but he actually has over 20 years of experience in kart racing, winning championships in Cadets, Juniors, and even as recently as 2019 in Shifters. Beyond that, he h...

In a special Full Caster Podcast, Mike and Derek sit live trackside on location at the Challenge Of The Americas winter series at CalSpeed Karting, for rounds 3 and 4 of the championship after Friday Official Practice. Join them as they chat with ekartingnews.com's David Cole, Challenge owner and promoter Andy Seeseman, as well as several other guests; including our first cadet and future kid...

For episode 24 of The Full Caster Podcast: A Karting Conversation, Hosts Mike Smith and Derek Esquibel have their first sit down with a track owner, CalSpeed Kartings own, Rob Niles. Recorded on December 22nd 2020, this episode is a special one for the hosts, learning even more about their boss and co-worker for the last several years. Join them as they hear stories from the early days of Rob gett...

For episode 24 of The Full Caster Podcast: A Karting Conversation, Hosts Mike Smith and Derek Esquibel have their first sit down with a track owner, CalSpeed Kartings own, Rob Niles. Recorded on December 22nd 2020, this episode is a special one for the hosts, learning even more about their boss and co-worker for the last several years. Join them as they hear stories from the early days of Rob gett...

This installment of the Full Caster Podcast - A Karting Conversation, was recorded on November 16th 2020, with hosts Mike Smith and Derek Esquibel interviewing none other than the 'voice of karting', Rob Howden! For episode 23 of the FCP we chat with Rob about how he got into karting, and how that turned into not only his own magazine, but eventually running the 'Hub' of kartin...

Recorded on November 30th 2020, the 23rd edition of the Full Caster Podcast - A Karting Conversation, sees hosts Mike Smith and Derek Esquibel interview Andy Seesemann 'on location' at his place of business, Full Throttle Karting in Orange, CA. Andy is probably best known as the owner and proprietor of FTK, but also as the promoter of the Challenge of the Americas winter series on the we...

Recorded on November 30th 2020, the 23rd edition of the Full Caster Podcast - A Karting Conversation, sees hosts Mike Smith and Derek Esquibel interview Andy Seesemann 'on location' at his place of business, Full Throttle Karting in Orange, CA. Andy is probably best known as the owner and proprietor of FTK, but also as the promoter of the Challenge of the Americas Winter Series on the we...

Episode 21 of The Full Caster Podcast: A Karting Conversation is the first episode for Season 2 of the FCP, as well as the first 'On Location' show, as it sees Hosts Mike Smith and Derek Esquibel head over to MDG Karting to sit down with owner Stu Hayner. Stu not only has been in karting for the past 40+ years, but also had a successful career in sports  cars and endurance racing as well...

Episode 21 of The Full Caster Podcast: A Karting Conversation is the first episode for Season 2 of the FCP, as well as the first 'On Location' show, as it sees Hosts Mike Smith and Derek Esquibel head over to MDG Karting to sit down with owner Stu Hayner. Stu not only has been in karting for the past 40+ years, but also had a successful career in sports cars and endurance racing as well....

The 21st installment of the Full Caster Podcast - A Karting Conversation, this is actually the Season Finale for the first go round of the new karting endeavor, getting done on October 26th, 2020. Diego Morales joins hosts Mike Smith and Derek Esquibel for this episode, and they not only talk about the championship he just won in the CalSpeed Super Series, but roll back to the early days of a kid...

The 21st installment of the Full Caster Podcast - A Karting Conversation, this is actually the Season Finale for the first go round of the new karting endeavor, getting done on October 26th, 2020. Diego Morales joins hosts Mike Smith and Derek Esquibel for this episode, and they not only talk about the championship he just won in the CalSpeed Super Series, but roll back to the early days of a kid...

Hosts Mike Smith and Derek Esquibel sit down with with one of the most experienced and successful karters here in the States for Episode 19 of The Full Caster Podcast: A Karting Conversation, Billy Cleavelin. Billy's involvement in karting started back in the 70's as a kid turning wrenches, but ever since the 80's, he has been a force behind the wheel. Finding success through every...