The John Clay Wolfe Show – Episode #528 Summary

Date: November 2, 2025
Location: Live at the Mecham Auto Auction, Dickies Arena, Fort Worth, Texas
Host: John Clay Wolfe
Notable Crew/Guests: Baba, Turley, Dave Major, JD, Trev Moravec (Guest Auctioneer), CEO of Mecham Auctions

Main Theme & Purpose

Episode #528 finds the John Clay Wolfe Show live and on-site at the Mecham Auto Auction at the Dickies Arena, Fort Worth, capturing the pulse of the collector car world and auction culture. The show blends live car deals, auction strategy, car culture and lifestyle chat, sports talk, listener calls (including live car appraisals), and a hearty dose of unscripted, sometimes irreverent banter. The crew grapples with technology, shares auction war stories, discusses recent news, and interacts with callers on everything from Halloween shenanigans to memorable life moments involving cars.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Broadcast Logistics & Live from Mecham (00:35–07:07)

• Crew discusses the chaos and tech hurdles of broadcasting live from the auction floor.
• Concerns over audio with auctioneers in background; backup board operator plans.
• Excitement about energy and setup of Dickies Arena and the Mecham experience.
• Notable quote:
  • “We are on the ground floor deck right there. You can see where we are on the YouTube stream, JCWShow, come by and say hi.” – John Clay Wolfe (06:49)

2. Stories & Listener Calls: Monkeys, Sponges, Guns, and Goats (02:17–12:38)

• Wild story: Pet monkey loose in a Texas Halloween store, eventually baited with a cookie.
• Jokes about monkeys on drugs escalate to a comedic "Ferdinand," a talking lab monkey persona.
• Major news story about lab monkeys set loose after a truck crash, potential health risks, and police pursuit.
• Listener call: Woman pulls a gun during a goat milk-infused sponge transaction; John and crew riff on how callers can punch up their stories.
• Notable quote:
  • “Just go straight to the lady pulling the gun!” – John Clay Wolfe (11:55)

3. On the Floor at Mecham Auction: Auctioneer Banter and Car Buying Strategy (13:09–23:47, 27:18–28:49, and throughout)

• John explains the process and psychology behind auctions: setting reserves, fees, buyer's remorse, importance of volume for professionals, and “auction fever.”
• Discussion with auctioneer Trev Moravec on the rhythm and filler words used by auctioneers (89:37–91:32).
• Key insight: Professionals have about 75% win rate; newbs lose more than they win.
• Notable quote:
  • “If you bring 10 cars, you’re changing your odds dramatically. So you’re gonna walk out on the up nine times out of ten if you’re a pro.” – John Clay Wolfe (71:01)

4. Listener Car Bids & Lightning Rounds (12:05, 44:31–47:11, 85:49–88:17)

• Multiple live listener car appraisals – Volvo, Camaro, Hummer H1, Challenger, Honda Civic, etc.
• John gives off-the-cuff wholesale offers; explains method behind the numbers.
• Lightning Round segments encourage rapid-fire listener submissions.
• Example:
  • “Year, make, model, miles, average, rough or clean. I’ve got a Volvo sitting here…” – John Clay Wolfe (12:05)

5. Car & Auction Market Trends + Dealer Questions (39:31–40:44)

• State of the used car/auction markets: stabilization after October’s “decompression”—now is the best time of year to buy.
• Complexity of flipping: transport fees, check-in, hotel, risk vs. reward at live auctions.

6. Sports & Picks, Auction Style (18:16–58:09, 48:13–56:31)

• Weekly football picks—John and Turley “auction” the point spread, raising the line in real time.
• Recaps of World Series games and live MLB action.
• Light trash talk about John’s past and present sports betting record; discussions of NCAA lines, NFL games, and their auction-style betting process.
• Memorable quote:
  • “Why kiss your sister when you can have multiple wives and your sister could be one?” – John Clay Wolfe (55:38)

7. Radio Industry Real Talk: Show Staff & The Gigi Situation (20:02–24:09, 29:31–29:59)

• Reflection on co-host Gigi's absence due to health issues; the challenges and etiquette of discussing personnel changes on air.
• General radio industry stories about station loyalty, maneuvering, and secrecy.

8. Florida & Odd News (62:02–66:44)

• “Sunshine State News” segment: funny Florida crime stories, including “the cocaine blew into my purse” excuse and creative Halloween skeleton displays; crew riffs on the old wild days vs. today’s “cloud” dopamine.
• AI and digital culture: How technology has changed youth sexuality, risk, and socializing.

9. Car Culture, Road Art, and Rattle & Roll Rally (79:06–80:51, 128:02–136:10)

• Promos for upcoming events: the “Rattle and Roll” car show, Adam Carolla appearances, Walnut Springs Rally.
• Graham Elliot’s involvement, and more on the collector car hobby scene.

10. Mecham CEO Interview: Inside the Auction Business (128:02–136:10)

• CEO Dave Major of Mecham Auctions joins John for an in-depth on logistics, travel, costs (300 staff, 30 semis per show), the entertainment aspect, and risk/reward in the business.
• Discussion of highest-earning cars, logistics, TV coverage, and "the thrill of the unknown" at auction.
• Notable insight:
  • “We’re here to put on a show and entertain people. More than half of the people…just bought a ticket to watch.” – CEO of Mecham Auctions (136:12)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments (with Timestamps)

• Live Auction Antics

  • “When you said coke, I thought it was a stripper on coke from the rafters.” – John Clay Wolfe (02:39)

• The Monkey Interview

  • “I am a lab test monkey. I’ve had so much LSD in the last two years…I can actually see the face of God.” – Ferdinand the ‘lab monkey’ (Dave Major), (04:22)

• On Auction Buying Strategy:

  • "Everybody that handles it has to get paid. Does that make sense?" – John Clay Wolfe (15:21)

• Buyer Remorse

  • “That’s some quick buyer remorse right there.” – Turley, after caller regrets buying a tricked-out Corvette (46:56)

• On Life’s Broke Moments

  • “What's the lowest you’ve ever been—like, it’s broke? Doing something like that.” - John (59:26)
  • “I slept in my car in college for a week.” – Baba (61:06)

• Digital vs. Physical Youth Culture

  • “2000s through the 20s: digital outlet, clout, aesthetics, online persona is the new currency. Isn't that just the damn truth?” – John Clay Wolfe (66:19)

• AI Gone Wild

  • “Why did you ask me to send you a nude?” / “Because I’m literally dying of horniness.” - Grok AI, as read on air (68:24)

• Car Auction Explainer

  • “25% of the time. But let me tell you the answer: Professionals probably 25% lose money; non-professionals, 80% lose.” – John Clay Wolfe (71:01)

• Auction Sound

  • “Can you give us an example? Just roll a lot of words together to sound pretty.” – Trev Moravec, auctioneer (90:13)

Important Segments & Timestamps

• [00:00–07:07] – Tech issues and the thrill of live broadcasting from the auction floor.
• [02:17–04:51] – Monkey stories and comic bits ensue.
• [09:54–12:38] – Listener gun story and call screening advice.
• [12:51–16:10] – Car evaluations, live bids, and sports call-ins commence.
• [39:31–40:44] – Live market analysis for used cars and auctions.
• [44:31–47:11] – The Lightning Round car-selling segment.
• [62:02–66:44] – Odd news: drugs, Halloween, and generational change.
• [89:37–91:32] – Auctioneer Trev Moravec demonstrates the auction cry.
• [128:02–136:10] – Mecham CEO interview: behind-the-scenes at the world’s biggest collector car auctions.

Overall Tone & Language

True to form, the show mixes sharp wit with candid, blue-collar language and plenty of Texas-sized charisma. The hosts and callers are blunt, friendly, occasionally rowdy, and forever off-the-cuff. The focus is always on making the most of live radio, whether reliving wild news, negotiating cars or riffing on the madness of public auctions.

For Listeners Who Missed It

This episode delivers the gritty, unpredictable world of live car auctions with John and crew as your guides—complete with real-time comedy, sales, market tips, radio industry war stories, and sports gab, all against the backdrop of classic American muscle and collector cars. Whether you’re a car nut, auction geek, or just in it for the wild tales and laughs, this show gives you a ringside seat.