The Smoking Tire Podcast — "Ferdi Porsche Wants Everyone to Go Racing"

Date: October 14, 2025
Hosts: Matt Farah & Zack Klapman
Guest: Ferdy Porsche (Founder, FAT International; Great-grandson of Ferdinand Porsche)

Episode Overview

This episode features an in-studio conversation with Ferdy Porsche, great-grandson of Ferdinand Porsche and founder of FAT International. The discussion centers on making motorsports more accessible through the FAT Karting League, bringing the legendary Ice Race event to Montana, and Ferdy's background in architecture and automotive culture. The hosts also delve into Porsche brand heritage, the democratization of racing, and the vibrant crossover between automotive history, design, and modern enthusiasm.

Main Topics & Key Segments

1. Background: Ferdy Porsche, Family, and Architecture

• [02:04] Ferdy discusses his upbringing in Munich with a mother in film and a father connected to Stuttgart and Salzburg. He shares his decision to study architecture in Vienna to, as he puts it, “have my own thing… If you come from my family, it’s kind of easy to be caught in a sense.” (08:19 – Ferdy)
• Work spans car-related projects (garages, cafes atop Austrian mountains, redesigning Italy’s famous Autogrill). Architecture is a means to blend hard skills and optimism with automotive passion.

2. FAT International: Concept, Brand, and Activities

• [12:21] Matt probes what FAT International actually does, beyond the eye-catching merchandise and cars.
• [12:49] Ice racing was the founding project—revived as a modern festival in Austria, aiming for fun over speed and drawing younger, more diverse audiences.
• [30:42] FAT’s branding pays homage to the historic Le Mans “FAT International” Porsche team, reusing the defunct shipping company’s name for its layers of history, underdog roots, and street style:

  “It stands for Fashion-Transport... I figured maybe I could find something with heritage that doesn’t exist anymore that you could kind of bring back and revive.” —Ferdy Porsche [32:13]

3. Ice Racing: Culture, Expansion, and Montana Event

• [13:20] The allure of ice racing: beautiful photography, silly fun (towing skiers behind Porsches), and attracting non-car folks.
• [21:01] Ferdy shares news: FAT International is bringing their famous ice race to Montana, USA, next year, introducing American audiences to this unique motorsport.
• [34:31] Public can buy tickets or apply to enter (“We haven’t decided yet who the 50 or 60 lucky people are that are driving.”) [34:31]
• Mix of party/heritage/innovation; plans to feature wild cars ("last time we had a GT1 on the ice" – [68:33]), and encourage participation from both enthusiasts and spectators.

4. Porsche Heritage, Family Life, and Community

• [36:15] Discussion of family expectations and perks:

  “It’s getting more awesome the older you become… When you’re 16, you just want to fit in… but the upside is you can drive really cool cars.” —Ferdy Porsche [36:15]

• Strong sense of pride in maintaining family connection to the brand, though there is less “factory privilege” than in the past ("I once didn’t get in [the factory]." [42:15])
• Porsche’s inclusive, open culture, and the way the brand supports its history and community (“Porsche is one of the few luxurious brands that is at the same time very accessible.” —Ferdy [38:30])

5. FAT Karting League: Merit Over Money

• [45:16 onward] Central segment: New initiative to level the playing field for aspiring young racers with affordable, spec electric karts, racing at multiple hubs.
• [46:48] “How much do you think the average F1 driver spent from the age of 5 to getting into F1?” – Over $5 million, average $33 million.
• The traditional path to professional motorsport is expensive and closed off; in contrast, FAT Karting League:
  • Cuts season costs by up to 96% vs. traditional karting [48:20]
  • Electric spec karts, “arrive & drive” (no need to own/maintain)
  • Data-driven, merit-based: “We try to open up the spectator side of motorsport and make it more fun and inclusive and younger and wilder.” —Ferdy [47:01]
  • Winners receive funded seats in Formula 4 (“You will win a seat… and that seat is fully funded.” —Ferdy [49:29])
  • Open to ages 5–17; pilot hubs in the UK and USA (Southern California & Indianapolis/Chicago regions)
• Test Drive Reaction: Matt drove the kart, praising power, brakes, handling, and the realistic feel:

  “The cart was fabulous… really nice car to drive, a lot of fun… the power was great, the brakes were very predictable.” —Matt [51:12]

6. Listener Q&A: Porsche Culture, Driving, and Color

• [54:55 – 66:29] Extensive Patron question segment:
  • How to get kids into loose-surface racing (dirt tracks, ice karting, cross karts)
  • Defining what makes a Porsche feel like a Porsche (“Steering is good. Steering and braking.” —Ferdy [56:13])
  • Electric Porsche boats and environmental laws in Austria [56:34]
  • Dream Porsche experiences; most coveted family cars; favorite colors and rare PTS (Paint to Sample) choices [58:35, 64:03]
  • Best one-day car to win over a non-believer (Modern GT3, 356/964 for vintage)

7. Upcoming Events and How to Get Involved

• [34:31 | 66:39 | 68:20] Fat Ice Race: public tickets/entries, February, Big Sky, Montana
• [67:22] FAT Karting League: Season pass, tryouts, regional and world finals (Dec 14th, Willow Springs, CA)
• [66:51] “You can go to tryouts, see if your kid likes it. If he or she likes it… buy a season pass… to compete in the world final.”

Notable Quotes & Moments

• Heritage meets Modern:

  “I always thought, it’s actually kind of weird that not everybody loves cars. You should change that.” —Ferdy [14:10]

• On Racing Meritocracy:

  “Pretty sure that the fastest driver hasn't raced yet... someone in Sub-Saharan Africa can beat Max [Verstappen] if given the chance”—Matt, regarding the need for broad access [50:32]

• Why "FAT"?

  “It stands for Fashion-Transport... the trucker is kind of the underdog story. It had this streetstyle name, encapsulated everything Ice Race laid out.” —Ferdy [32:13]

• Ice Racing Vibes:

  “The whole idea was basically to do an event that was fun over speed.” —Ferdy [21:50]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 01:36–10:35: Getting to know Ferdy, family & architectural background
• 12:21–20:58: FAT International—brand, mountain cafes, and revival of ice racing
• 21:50–34:13: Ice racing culture, expansion to Montana, and what makes it special
• 36:15–44:48: Family perks, heritage, Porsche memories and museum oddities
• 45:16–54:04: FAT Karting League—origin, structure, and Matt’s impressions from behind the wheel
• 54:55–66:29: Listener Q&A: driving skills, Porsche quirks, dream experiences, and best colors
• 66:39–70:41: How to participate in upcoming FAT Karting and Ice Race events
• 70:41–72:08: Final notes, merch, and playful banter on California car culture

Episode Tone & Style

• Conversational and friendly, with playful jabs, candid reflections, and a shared sense of admiration for automotive history and innovation.
• Ferdy’s openness (including architecture, family dynamics, “not everyone loves cars—yet”) blends authentically with the hosts’ deep industry and enthusiast knowledge.
• Ample humor and real talk about the challenges and joys of car culture (“I would definitely not wear anything that said fat on it. But now I think I can.” —Matt [69:46])

How to Get Involved

• FAT Ice Race: fat-international.com — Tickets/entry for Montana event in February
• FAT Karting League: Tryouts and season passes for kids 5–17 in Southern California & Midwest; spots still available, world finals at Willow Springs (Dec 14th)
• Follow FAT International on Instagram/website for events, merch, and updates

In Summary

This episode spotlights Ferdy Porsche’s mission to open the closed and costly world of motorsport to the next generation of talent—by making karting accessible, preserving history, and injecting fun into everything FAT International does. Whether you’re a Porsche die-hard, a racing dreamer, or an architecture buff, there’s plenty here for every kind of enthusiast.

Best Quotes:

• “Fun over speed—that’s the motto.” —Ferdy Porsche [21:50]
• “Steering and braking: that’s what makes a Porsche.” —Ferdy [56:13]
• “When you’re 16, you just want to fit in… but the upside is you can drive really cool cars.” —Ferdy [36:15]

Key Segment for Karting Details: [45:16–54:04]

How to Join the Montana Ice Race: [34:31, 68:20]

For more reviews, events, and car shenanigans, check out The Smoking Tire’s YouTube Channel and social media.