The Smoking Tire Podcast Summary

Episode Title: F/M/K; Arizona Speed Law; RUFing Miami
Air Date: January 13, 2026
Hosts: Matt Farah & Zack Klapman

Overview

The first episode of 2026 reunites Matt and Zack after a brief holiday hiatus. The show features Matt’s tales from Miami—including driving the legendary RUF Yellowbird, vintage racing, and reflections on the exclusive Concourse Club—plus Arizona’s proposed unlimited speed law, affordability, automotive shrinkflation, fun listener questions (including an “F/M/K” segment on modern Toyotas), and updates from the canyons and winter car culture in LA. The tone is warm, irreverent, and loaded with detailed car talk, personal anecdotes, and reflections on car culture's intersection with economics and daily life.

Highlights & Discussion Points

1. Return From Holiday (00:50–04:50)

• Show opens recounting missed episode (“we just did,” Matt jokes about not announcing it).
• Matt spent holidays at the shop and then hunting with his dad—trying out a 28-gauge for quail (“It did not seem to negatively impact my ability to kill birds. We killed just as many birds with the smaller gun.” – Matt, 04:15).
• Conversation about hunting dogs, notably cocker spaniels and pointers, and adopting retired hunting dogs.

2. Miami – The Concourse Club and RUF Yellowbird (06:54–21:03)

• Matt describes the Concourse Club in Miami as “private, but with extraordinary attention to detail. The staff are aces.”
• Attended "Flat 6 Fest" – large Porsche gathering, “never seen more RUFs in one place… probably like 30 RUFs.” (07:44)
• Discusses RUF Yellowbird variants—original narrow body vs. wide body, arguments over authenticity (“If you want to talk shit… own a narrow fendered Yellowbird… almost nobody else is allowed to talk shit.” – Matt, 08:09)
• Drove a '91 widebody Yellowbird with a sunroof; softer setup than earlier cars, less dogleg-quirky gearbox (“To drive one on track, like quickly, having weird gear patterns is… less optimal than regular ones.” — Matt, 11:00)
• Notable: The car’s first owner (from Japan) “was ripping grits” (smoking) in it—Matt romanticizes night drives, cigarettes, and the car’s lived-in vibe (20:15).
• Drove a vintage Cayman race car at the track, came P3 after battling more powerful cars—“I was so much sweatier and more tired after 30 minutes [in Miami] than after 2h40min at COTA in Texas. The climate was brutal.” (23:42)

3. Miami as a Car Town & Club Culture (32:25–36:11)

• Matt praises Miami’s social and driving culture, but laments the utter lack of corners/roads outside the pricey club scene. “Outside the club, there ain’t a fucking set of corners for 600 miles. How do you love cars and live in that town if you can’t afford a membership to this place?” (33:10)
• Brief discussion about exclusive club racing in Miami, F1 track access, and economic barriers for enthusiasts.
• Digression on South Florida architecture—"here it's a little douchey to be too flash; there is no such thing down there."

4. Automotive Shrinkflation & Economic Divide (36:16–39:47)

• Matt describes “shrinkflation” – his company checks arrived thinner and more expensive than ever.
• On economic stratification: “Now there’s the haves, the have-nots, and the have-lots—a new class outside government or the rule of law… you stop buying things and purchase access and power.” (39:01–39:47)

5. Affordable Classics & Auctions (40:00–42:50)

• Showcases an Alfa Romeo Spider for sale (“low five figures, mint, super well-loved...Cheap Italian sports cars.”), reflections on unique shifters and quirks in old Alfas.
• Segment underscores the value and character of smaller, older, accessible enthusiast cars.

6. LA Car Culture & Canyon Wrap-up (43:21–49:29)

• Zack recaps a frigid Good Vibes canyon gathering with legendary engineer David Twohig and rare cars, discusses icy roads and automotive mishaps (including an old BMW sliding on ice, 45:53).
• Noted wild builds: a “Miata Safari” lifted off-roader and a turbo K24 Lotus Exige (“looked like a DIY Hennessey Venom”).
• Reflection on the variety, ingenuity, and risk-tolerance seen in local car meets, even in winter.

7. Project Updates & Car Setup (49:34–50:54)

• Zack hasn’t yet changed his car’s track settings; Matt plans to drive his 911 Spider after a month’s hiatus.
• Popular mod in their circle: short-gearing conversions for more lively canyon performance.

8. Patreon Shout-outs & Miami Watch Spottings (51:05–52:30)

• Gratitude for Patreon support, mention of exclusive content and access.
• Watch spotting: “Miami is wild for watches…saw lots of Richard Mille, Pateks, gold APs.”

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On RUF Yellowbird Authenticity:
  “If you want to talk shit… own a narrow-fendered Yellowbird… almost nobody else is allowed to talk shit.” – Matt, 08:09

• On Night Runs:
  “Imagine…night runs in Japan, ripping grits in a fucking Yellowbird. That’s what cars are about, dude.” – Matt, 21:03

• On Miami’s Car Culture Limits:
  “Outside the club, there ain’t a fucking set of corners for 600 miles… if this was all I had, I’d be tired of the same racetrack. I couldn’t live in Miami.” – Matt, 33:10

• On Modern Economic Strata:
  “Now there’s the haves, the have-nots, and the have-lots. There is this new class…beyond the rule of law…You purchase systems.” – Matt, 39:01

• On Vintage Car Use:
  “If you just start using [1980s Ferraris] as a car they work really good actually…but a Testarossa cannot be a regular car.” – Matt, 101:15 (1:41:15)

Timestamps of Important Segments

| Segment/Topic | Timestamp | |---------------------------------|------------| | Opening & Holiday Recap | 00:50–04:50| | Miami/Concourse Club Recap | 06:54–21:03| | Miami Car Scene Reflection | 32:25–36:11| | Economic Injustice & Shrinkflation | 36:16–39:47| | Alfa Romeo Spider Sale | 40:00–42:50| | Good Vibes LA, Winter Culture | 43:21–49:29| | Patreon, Watch Spotting | 51:05–52:30|

Listener Q&A & Lightning Round (52:30 onwards)

• F/M/K—Toyota Gazoo Racing:

  • GR86, Corolla, Supra (“Marry the Corolla, fuck the 86, kill the Supra.” – Matt, 53:11)

• Mechanical Watch Habits:

  • Advice for manual winding practices, power reserve accuracy (55:41).

• Car Advice:

  • Commiseration on the reliability of brand reputations, reflections on car buying, NSX market value, driving skills vs. career breaks.

• Arizona’s Unrestricted Speed Zone Proposal:

  • In-depth discussion of proposed law for certain Arizona highways:
    “If you’re going to get rid of speed limits… make it illegal to camp in the left lane…” – Matt, 77:58
  • Analysis of feasibility, need for driver education, US vs. European lane discipline.

• Old Car vs. New Exotic (Testarossa vs. R8 V10):

  • A thorough comparison of the two vastly different sports cars’ experiences and practicality (98:58 onwards).

Overall Tone & Style

• Candid, conversational, occasionally profane—never far from a car nerd digression or a social/economic tangent.
• Deep expertise and enthusiasm balanced with real-world, ownership-focused advice.
• Engaged directly and knowledgeably with audience questions, with honest asides about industry practices and personal foibles.

For More

Check out The Smoking Tire on YouTube for car reviews and bonus content.
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