The John Clay Wolfe Show – Episode #523 – 09.27.25

Overview

This episode of The John Clay Wolfe Show broadcasts live from the Good Guys Rod and Custom Car Show at Texas Motor Speedway, blending the team’s trademark banter on cars, sports, music, offbeat news, and cultural oddities. With a call-in format, live reporting from the car show, and participation from listeners across the country, the show jumps nimbly between auto talk, irreverent comedy, cultural hot takes, and genuine moments of connection.

Main Discussion Points & Highlights

1. Live from Good Guys Car Show at Texas Motor Speedway

• Atmosphere & Culture:
  The show’s on-location at the enormous Good Guys Rod and Custom Car Show, described as packed even at dawn, with thousands of cars, swap meets, and a “junkyard swap meet” energy.

  • “People have been there since five. Really lined up.” (Field Reporter, 02:45)
  • “There’s a section that is…a junkyard swap meet. It’s interesting.” (Host, 04:38)

• Swap Meet Negotiating:
  John discusses the high asking prices, the art of haggling, and the typical inflated expectations of sellers.

  • “Everybody puts, like, really high prices on things. Will you offer? Will you offer? ‘Hey, you want—Make an offer?’” (Host, 05:42)
  • “I saw about six cars that just needed to go straight to Copart. Junk sale.” (Host, 05:38)

• Car Show Guests:
  Listeners and participants share details about their cars and restoration stories, e.g., Kenny from DeSoto describes his ’70 Mach 1 Cobra Jet, emphasizing the satisfaction of personal restoration.

  • “I did all the paint in my garage. I have a three car garage…and I had a good time doing it.” (Kenny, 93:26)

2. Listener Calls & Car Bids

• Nationwide Callers:
  Callers from Pittsburgh, Arizona, Florida, Ohio, and beyond pitch their vehicles—everything from classic T-Buckets, Nomads, and Corvettes to modern Porsches—for live evaluation and banter. Some calls veer into “rust is cancer” territory and the unpredictability of buying sight unseen.

  • “Rust is like cancer. It spreads, right?” (Host, 09:13)
  • “Sometimes, I have phone calls like this, like, ‘We just need a little paint and body’… and, I mean, it’s just falling apart.” (Host, 09:01)

• Notable Interactions:

  • A self-described “longtime fan” from Pittsburgh tunes in from Lake Havasu, Arizona, revealing the show’s wide digital reach.
  • Tony in Florida’s Porsche Turbo bid humorously exposes an age-gap marriage:
    “How old are you?... 66. How old is she? 38.” (Host/Tony, 52:15-52:21)
  • Host’s advice: Market realities often disappoint, but patience (and realism) wins out:
    • “You just have to give them the number and wait 90 days and let them get through it…then, like, okay, you’re right.” (Host, 128:04)

3. Irreverent News, Comedy, and Social Commentary

• Florida & National Oddities:

  • Unusual news stories, e.g., a homeless male model “fondling himself at Starbucks,” and a guy arrested for shining lasers at planes.
  • “There’s always going to be a history class where they’re teaching kids about the lost city of Miami... what were people doing as their city slipped into the sea? Cocaine and rollerblading.” (Host, 18:36-18:43)

• Listener Segments with Characters:

  • Speech Impediment Terrence rambles through topics with endearing confusion.
  • “They doubled my dose of Seroquel. That’s why I’m up late.” (Terrence, 32:33)
  • Blind Dorian shares his life and love for strip clubs ("They're all moms.” 12:46).

• Appalachian Trail Updates:

  • Regular caller details his hike (“JCW hikes the AT”), work-for-stay hostels, and the “trail angels” tradition.

• Cousin Marriage Calls:

  • Prompted by Connecticut’s law change, listeners from the South chime in with jaw-dropping real-life tales:
    • “My nephew met this girl at grandma’s house...they’re living together, banging it out and everything else.” (Caller, 56:54)
    • “When they got married down here in the South, we didn’t know what side of the hall to sit on, because it’s all relatives.” (Cleave, 58:45)

4. Sports – College Football Picks & Locker Room Stories

• College Football Betting:
  Regular segment with John and JD picking NCAA games, lines, and underdog wagers, peppered with jokes about their own losses.

  • “I bet on cars, I make odds predictions…I’m right 82% of the time.” (Host, 122:03)

• Stories from the Sidelines:

  • Outrageous pilot story about a pill-addled co-pilot, forgotten landing gear, and aftermath.
  • “The pill head’s in the back seat, sleeping. And they bellied it into Redbird Airport.” (Host, 25:51)
  • Locker room–style riffs extend to discussions of male cheerleaders, old high school scandals, and who “took one for the team.”

5. Pop Culture & Music

• Jimmy Kimmel and Conspiracies:
  The show riffs on Kimmel’s recent (fictionalized) cancelation, viral comeback, and emotional apology:

  • “It’s the oldest radio bit in the world. Pull him off for ratings, bring him back, triple the numbers.” (Field Reporter, 138:28)

• Music Parodies and Features:

  • Pre K debuts a tongue-in-cheek country/rap song (“Drop that Cadillac, giddy up and go now”), satirizing the new country-rap trend—a highlight of the episode.
  • “After all this, Pre K ends up being a country artist!” (JD Ryan, 105:44)
  • Supergroup teases and aging rockers discussion—comparing Sammy Hagar’s longevity to the current state of David Lee Roth and Vince Neil.

• Backtracks Music Challenge:
  Listeners call in to identify Meatloaf tracks played in reverse for swag prizes, with the winner calling from Denver and plugging the Rocky Horror 50th Anniversary.

6. Mail From Jail Segment

• Prison Correspondence:
  Johnny Cash (an impression) reads a letter from an incarcerated listener (“Irish”) describing the brutal and absurd realities of West Virginia prison.
  • “If someone goes to solitary and there’s no room in there, well, the entire cell block stays down until room becomes available... WTF?” (Mail from Jail, 63:49)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On car show pricing:
  “Everybody puts really high prices on things—‘Make an offer?’ It’s like, you want $9,800 for a roller ’69 Camaro... I ain’t offering nothing.” (Host, 05:42)

• On family ties in the South:
  “When they got married down here in the South, we didn’t know what side of the hall to sit on, because it’s all relatives.” (Caller, 58:45)

• On airplane drama:
  “The pill head’s in the back seat, sleeping. And they bellied it into Redbird Airport…” (Host, 25:51)

• Listener lamenting family customs:
  “Disability…Next on the main stage, your favorite dancer.” (Host, 48:13)

• On social change, tongue in cheek:
  “I did not know you guys were so sensitive up there. Why are you so sensitive?” (Host to Pittsburgh caller, 13:32)

• On parenting:
  Jenna (Caller): “What would you do if your son was having an affair with a teacher? … Narc him out, 100 percent!” (148:51)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 02:11–07:00: Good Guys Car Show atmosphere, swap meet, cars and crowd banter.
• 09:01–10:50: Evaluating cars/rust as “cancer,” buying discussion with call-ins.
• 13:24–14:40: Pittsburgh callers, listener party talk.
• 21:35–24:10: Florida News: Starbucks indecency, laser at aircraft.
• 25:00–27:00: Outrageous airplane/pilot story.
• 29:21–31:57: College football (“male cheerleader” tangent), high school stories.
• 31:57–35:16: Speech Impediment Terrence segment.
• 35:28–37:53: Appalachian Trail updates, “JCW hikes the AT.”
• 39:50–41:15: Listener takes on show accessibility, news banter.
• 42:11–43:48: Connecticut cousin-marriage law, Wolf of Wall Street, con-men riff.
• 47:32–48:53: Listener cousin-marrying stories.
• 50:22–54:03: Lightning round: Bidding on modern and classic cars, Porsche caller.
• 55:07–56:12: Social commentary: “We used to have greeters in the store…”
• 65:01–69:08: White, Black, Latino, or Other: Shooting at a guinea pig funeral.
• 76:29–78:45: Joe Exotic/Tiger King update call.
• 109:05–110:21: Superband tease: Hagar, Nickelback, Motley Crue.
• 114:08–117:55: College/NFL football picks & bets.
• 120:27–123:25: Texas Tech football, host reminisces about school coaching scandals.
• 130:23–133:48: Interview with Scott, VP of Good Guys, car show structure.
• 135:00–136:10: Backtracks contest: Meatloaf music challenge.

Tone

• Irreverent, freewheeling, and quick-witted, mixed with genuine affection for cars, regional quirks, and music.
• A blend of hard-hitting honesty, locker-room humor, and Southern storytelling.
• Listener-driven and interactive—embracing offbeat tales, real community stories, and a bit of social anarchy.

For New Listeners

If you’re tuning in for the first time, expect wild swings from classic car talk to sports bets, to jaw-dropping “Did I just hear that?” family stories, and enough live banter to feel like you’re eavesdropping on a rowdy friend's gathering.
It’s good company, good radio, and not for the terminally uptight.