The Smoking Tire Podcast — “Vaughn Gittin Jr - Full of Surprises”

Date: April 14, 2026
Hosts: Matt Farah, Zack Klapman
Guest: Vaughn Gittin Jr.

Episode Overview

In this lively, detail-rich episode, Matt and Zack welcome legendary drifter, builder, and entrepreneur Vaughn Gittin Jr. Fresh off a flight and straight into the studio, Vaughn discusses everything from the evolving world of high-performance Mustangs, his wide-ranging projects with Ford and his RTR brand, the challenges of scaling up a car-building business, the magic behind 1500-hp drift machines, the nuanced truth about horsepower and car balance, and the deep roots of his car passion—all sprinkled with stories, surprises, and candid advice for enthusiasts.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. The Allure of Weird and Unique Cars

[03:18 – 07:24]

• Matt and Vaughn start off by discussing the appeal of odd, standout vehicles like the Myers Manx and Vaughn’s rare ‘80 McLaren Mustang.
• Matt describes his Manx:

  “It’s like driving a fishing lure down the road. It’s nuts. Got a 12-layer gel coat, deep like a bass boat.” (05:02)

• Vaughn and Matt riff on wild paint colors and show-stopping builds—celebrating the fun in car individuality.

2. The Evolution & Philosophy of RTR Vehicles

[07:24 – 14:25]

• Vaughn explains the growth of his RTR brand: building Spec 3 and Spec 5 Mustangs, and heavily modified RTR Broncos.
• The Spec 5 is discussed as a road-usable, manual-equipped, “batshit crazy” widebody Mustang with 860 hp—priced far below the $400k GTD while offering accessible performance and retention of street usability.
• Vaughn on building at scale:

  “If I could find partners... I don’t need all the money. Like, I’m not here to put hundreds of millions in my bank account. I’m here to just do cool shit.” (14:59)

3. Collaborating with Ford: Factory-Sold RTRs

[24:34 – 29:22]

• Vaughn breaks down the distinction between “spec” RTRs (in-house) and the new collaboration (factory-built) ones.
• Factory-built turbocharged Mustang RTR and a forthcoming Bronco are now live on Ford’s website.

  “It’s a dream—second person ever to do it with Ford, and probably first with Bronco.” (29:09)

• These cars allow for enthusiast-accessible performance:

  “$40,000. Under $500 a month. You can leave with this car! …It’s awesome.” (25:54)

4. Technical Tricks: Anti-Lag, Drift Brakes, and the Electric Era

[26:30 – 44:15]

• Vaughn details adding anti-lag to the factory turbo Mustang for instant throttle response, especially useful when drifting—enabled and supported by Ford’s passionate engineers.
• He shares development insights on programmable electric handbrakes, making them progressive and adaptable to surface grip (41:34).
• The potential and missed opportunities for fun, affordable EVs like the Mach-E Rally are discussed, with arguments about EV culture, modding, and the importance of EVs being fun before being forced (36:35–44:15).

5. In the Drift Trenches: Horsepower, Chassis, and Tire Truths

[47:32 – 53:44]

• Vaughn talks about the current mustang FD car (1500hp, 200-treadwear tires, factory unibody), why coyote V8s are unbeatable for demos but too heavy for peak competition, and the wicked rate of development in drift cars.
• On power vs. tire grip:

  “If you were to show up…same car, one at 900hp, one at 1400, but limited to a 255 tire—is all that extra horsepower completely useless?”
  Vaughn: “Yes. Absolutely.” (55:08)

6. Car Balancing, Instrument Testing, and Real-World Fun

[55:54 – 59:20]

• Vaughn and Matt reflect on magazine tests that focus on numbers vs. tuning for confidence, balance, and how most enthusiasts live under “90%” of a car’s true limit.
• Vaughn:

  “We don’t build our cars for instrument testing. We build our cars for enthusiasts.” (56:01)

• The bread-and-butter of a great car is not peak figures but how it makes a driver—the average driver—feel daily.

7. Fan Questions & Candid Life Lessons

[60:24 – 105:51]

- Irreplaceable Charm of Drift Cars

• Drift cars must remain relatable, not pure tube-chassis monsters. “It still looks like a Mustang...and the aftermarket’s massive.” (61:48)

- Motorsport Mental Game

• Vaughn reveals hiring Ross Bentley to coach him on mindset, not just skills:

  “The number one overlooked thing in any sport is the mental.” (70:45)

- Favorite Machines

• Vaughn’s dream non-Ford is a Countach, but he actually owns a Pantera project (72:02).

- Early Inspiration

• His car roots came from his father, a hot rodder/used car dealer, and his first car: a ‘64 Cutlass on hydraulics and Daytons. “My dad is who inspired me…forced me to work on my first car.” (75:59)
• Tales of lowrider mishaps, high school street cred, and lessons learned the hard (and flammable) way.

- Building for Passion, Not Convention

• Vaughn dropped out of college, pursued what excited him, and stresses:

  “Passion is the most powerful attractant, in my opinion.” (102:15)

Notable Drift and Motorsport Insights

• On high-level drifting: Increasing power and tire grip is fun for engineers and fans, but “it’s just how fast everything’s happening now. We dialed them back a bit, but they’re locked down.” (49:20)
• On cross-sport athletes:

  “When you get in a car [after motocross/skating] and have a cage…you’re Superman. So you push even harder.” (92:29)

Memorable Quotes

• On business and building cool cars:

  “I don’t need all the money. I’m here to just do cool shit.”
  — Vaughn Gittin Jr. (14:59)

• Perspective on spec vs. factory collaboration models:

  “We’re the second person ever on the planet to do it with Ford, with Mustang, and maybe even first with Bronco.”
  — Vaughn (29:09)

• About horsepower obsession:

  “More horsepower equals more speed? In certain scenarios, yes. Not everywhere.”
  — Matt (59:13)

• Early car roots:

  “I probably had [a Hot Wheel] in my pocket, too. They had to pry it out of my hand so I could take the rings down the aisle at my mom’s wedding.”
  — Vaughn (75:59)

• On developing an electric drift brake:

  “The first time I yanked that…felt like the rear of the car was just locked up. We had to make it progressive. It works so good.”
  — Vaughn (41:32)

Notable Timestamps by Segment

• [03:18] – Myers Manx & weirder, unique cars: Discussing sparkly paint and offbeat fun
• [07:24] – RTR Spec 3 vs. Spec 5: Widebody Mustangs, ride, pricing, and usability
• [14:28] – Choosing to scale via partnership, not self-built factory
• [24:51] – Explaining spec vs. Ford-collaborative factory builds
• [25:54] – Turbocharged Mustang RTR: $40k, real enthusiast value
• [26:52] – Tuning anti-lag for the turbo Mustang drift car
• [36:35] – Mach-E Rally/EV fun; cultural barriers for EV acceptance
• [41:32] – Programming a progressive electric drift handbrake
• [49:20] – “Entering the Group B era” of drifting: on scary-powerful cars
• [55:08] – Horsepower vs. traction; how much HP actually matters
• [56:58] – Philosophy on car setup: Balance for real driving, not numbers
• [70:45] – Sports psychology, overcoming the mental game
• [75:59] – Vaughn’s origin story, first car, car culture roots
• [102:15] – The power of passion, following “nontraditional” paths
• [104:45] – Announcing Vaughn’s new book, Ready to Rock

Final Takeaways

• RTR isn’t just about big power; they focus on usable, enjoyable performance and an emotional connection—whether you’re buying a $40k Mustang or a top-drawer Spec 5.
• Vaughn Gittin Jr. blends deep technical chops with business smarts, and is candid about the struggles, lessons learned, and how passion drives every new project.
• Electric cars can—and should—be fun and customizable; the next big wave for the tuning community may still be on the horizon.
• Truly mastering motorsports is as much mental as mechanical: Consistency, mindset, and adaptability beat raw speed alone.
• The episode is packed with actionable wisdom for enthusiasts, racers, and aspiring builders alike.

For more:

• RTRVehicles.com for book preorders and car info
• Tune in to future episodes for more on the Cletus Crown Vic Race and Road America adventures.

Summary compiled in the spirit and tone of The Smoking Tire: candid, fun, knowledgeable, and above all, driven by passion for all things automotive.