The Smoking Tire Podcast – Episode Summary

Episode: Countach Update; Leno’s Law RETURNS; M3 Adjustment
Date: March 6, 2026
Hosts: Matt Farah, Zack Klapman

Episode Overview

In this packed episode, Matt Farah and Zack Klapman catch up after recent travels and deep-dive into a range of automotive topics. They discuss early impressions of the Aston Martin Valhalla, Matt’s progress and shock bill on his Lamborghini Countach project, a hands-on vignette about watch design, the return of California’s “Leno’s Law,” and various listener questions spanning buying advice, collector car policies, and DIY modifications. The banter is heavy, the car talk refreshingly deep, and the episode is peppered with signature humor and spontaneity.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Travel Tales & Modern Movie Pacing

• Old Hip-Hop and Punk: Quick riffs about generational music taste and how what’s “iconic” can feel slow or irrelevant depending on when you grew up.
  • “Fuck, I hate 80s couplet hip hop.” – Matt (01:48)
• Pacing of Old Movies: Both hosts agree that older films are paced differently ("long shots of seagulls") and struggle to hold their attention now.
• Recent Travel: Matt’s ultra-long journey home from Spain:
  • “It was 21 hours to get home from Spain, which is a fucking long time.” – Matt (03:58)
  • Breaks down agony of European regional flights with small Embraers.

2. Aston Martin Valhalla Press Drive (Impressions & Embargoed Details)

• Exterior Styling & Engineering:
  • Immediate take: “It's a very pretty car. In person is a very pretty car.” – Matt (08:24)
  • 1064 hp hybrid supercar, mid-engined, carbon construction, “slots” between a Ferrari Testarossa and a Koenigsegg or Pagani in price.
  • “The chief design engineer of this car did 720s, which makes a lot of sense.” – Matt (07:39)
  • Shares color options seen on press cars, and oddities of press event logistics (green and white press cars, press events divided between ‘track time’ and ‘food time’).
• Trickle-down Tech: Matt opines the Valhalla’s advanced carbon tub manufacturing could filter to more attainable Astons for improved consistency.
• Seat Time:
  • “Heavy seat time. I drove the car for, like, seven hours.” – Matt (12:05)
  • Embargoes limit driving impressions to aesthetics for now.
• Wine & Roads in Rioja: Spain’s famous wines and architecture praised as a destination (“you could have a fucking grand old time in that area.” – Matt, 19:12).

3. Aston Martin’s Business Struggles & Team Dynamics

• Notes layoffs, F1 team vibration issues, and general hope that new supercars boost Aston’s bottom line (“No one’s like, so how’s business?” – Matt, 23:19).
• “Their Honda engine mounts are causing so much vibration in the race car that it’s unsafe to drive beyond 20 laps.” – Zack (23:37)

4. Watch Design – Notice Canyon “Frozen Berry”

• Prototype Reveal: Matt unboxes and describes the limited “Frozen Berry” Canyon Watch, inspired by his Porsche’s color:
  • “If we weren’t going to do it, if it wasn’t like exact … the key to it being exact is to go from a very muted mauve color in dim light to a very smoothie like color in bright sun. Just like the car.” – Matt (24:13)
• Redline Detail: Watches ‘redline’ at 3k RPM, which is “a little low for Porsche. It’s a diesel.” – Zack (26:00)
• Audience Note: They consider whether to move the redline mark for realism; watch enthusiasts and those wanting a “girl’s size” variant are called out.

5. Countach Reassembly Update & The Cost of Expertise

• Big Bill: Matt discusses receiving his first bill for the Lamborghini Countach’s reassembly.
  • “It’s expensive. And it doesn’t seem on the bill like it’s that much progress for that much money.” – Matt (32:53)
• Breakdown of Work:
  • “Organize and inventory parts…clean and rebuild wheel hub…organize and pack shocks.” (33:18)
• Insights on Restoration:
  • Value lies in expertise: “You’re paying for brain power, not hours.” – Matt (33:49)
  • Shop only has four work bays, which keeps projects moving. “If your car’s inside, it’s getting attention.”
• Missing Parts & Progress Anxiety: Discussion on the “percentage done” at this stage and whether they’re on schedule or in trouble:
  • “If that’s 5%, I’m 20. I’m so fucked.” – Matt (36:26)

6. Suspension Revelations

• Zack’s M3 gets a “life-changing” damper adjustment with the help of a friend, after months of ignoring advice:
  • “You don’t have to live like this.” – Thaddeus, as quoted by Zack (39:55)
• Thad sends rally spec calculators; Zack rediscovers the importance and ease of suspension tuning.

7. Towing Trailers (US vs UK Differences)

• Differences in trailer requirements between the UK and US:
  • “In England we tow those with a Golf estate … I can’t believe anyone thinks you need a super duty for one.” – Jethro, as recounted by Matt (41:09)

8. Leno’s Law Returns (California Exemption For Collector Cars)

• Law Refresh: California’s “Leno’s Law” makes it easier to register classic/collector vehicles as exempt from smog regulations.
  • “The new one deletes the term ‘by a collector’, removing the need for the owner of an older car to prove that they were a collector.” – Matt (44:28)
  • “This seems really good, a rare bit of common sense.” – Zack (44:52)
• Discussion of alternatives (mileage requirements vs blanket exemptions), practical application, and impacts for enthusiast daily drivers.

Memorable Quotes & Fun Moments

• “You’re the kind of guy who can rock a pink item with confidence, you’re going to be all over this. … This is great.” – Matt, on the new watch (26:25)
• “Expertise costs money. … This is the guy who turns the screw half a fucking turn and charges five grand.” – Matt, on Countach bill (35:25)
• “If that was $27,000, we’d be … past panic. I’d have an actual problem.” – Matt, joking about the restoration bill (37:31)
• “You don’t have to live like this.” – Thad, about suspension settings (39:55)
• “I’m tired of hearing about it. I don’t care.” – Matt, on trailer/towing debates (41:51)
• “This seems really good, a rare bit of common sense.” – Zack, on Leno’s Law update (44:52)

Listener Q&A & Community Engagement

Timestamps Referenced per Topic (approximate):

• Spain travel + Valhalla: [04:00–14:00]
• Watch talk: [24:03–27:33]
• Countach bill: [31:35–36:41]
• Leno’s Law: [41:59–47:40]
• Restomod advice, tire aging, shipping cars: [70:31–77:00]
• Quickfire car buying advice: [64:12–66:49]

Highlighted Q&A:

• Alps by Train or Car? – Discussion of scenic value vs enjoyment of Alpine driving. “Do both.” – Matt (50:05)
• Stereo Wattage: Car audio suffers from the equipment “arms race” (“There’s no money in less is better…” – Zack, 51:38).
• Urban Gentrifier Cars: Diesel Mercedez/El Camino/Minivans as the “PBR of cars.”
• Restomodding DIY: Focus first on returning a car to factory-perfect before modifications.
• Transport Advice: “If you shop by price, you are getting what you’re getting.” – Matt (76:27)

Closing Notes & Episode Tone

• Throughout, the hosts bounce between deep automotive dives and lighthearted, witty side-conversations—matching a blend of gearhead expertise and approachable banter.
• Closing teases the next episode with Magnus Walker coming to chat about selling off his Porsche collection.
• Matt hints at an impending release date for the Frozen Berry Notice Canyon watch, and underscores how Patreon supporters get the first shot at limited drops.

For Listeners:
Whether you’re into restoration pitfalls, eager about new supercar tech, want to nerd out about California collector laws, or just enjoy the authentic camaraderie of two car guys talking shop, this episode is a blend of education, comedy, and inside scoops from the upper echelon of automotive enthusiasm.