Pontiac Podcast

A GTO Bought New… and Still Owned 58 Years Later! | Pontiac Podcast LIVE at GTOAA 2026What happens when you buy your dream Pontiac brand new in 1968—and nearly six decades later, you still have it?At the 2026 GTOAA Convention, the Pontiac Podcast had the pleasure of sitting down LIVE with Marsha and Tom Rano, the original owners of a beautiful 1968 Pontiac GTO they purchased new.This isn’t just the story of a GTO. It’s the story of a couple, a new car, and a lifetime of memories made behind the wheel.Marsha and Tom take us back to 1968 and share how they came to purchase their GTO, what it was like owning one when it was brand new, and the many adventures and memories that followed. They share some of their favorite stories from the years they’ve spent behind the wheel and what it means to still have the same Pontiac they bought new all those years ago.Stories like this are what make the Pontiac hobby so special. These cars aren’t just about horsepower, options and numbers—they’re about the people, families and memories that become part of their history.Recorded LIVE at the 2026 GTOAA ConventionIf you enjoy Pontiacs, GTOs, original-owner stories, and the people behind the cars, you’re going to love this episode!PROUDLY PRESENTED BY AMES PERFORMANCEThe Pontiac Podcast is proud to be sponsored by Ames Performance — Fueling the Passion for Pontiac!Whether you’re restoring a GTO, LeMans, Firebird or another Pontiac, Ames Performance has been helping Pontiac enthusiasts keep their cars on the road for decades.Check them out at Ames PerformanceWANT TO WIN A GTO?Don’t forget to check out the GTO Dream Car Giveaway!Enter for your chance to win an incredible Pontiac GTO while supporting a great cause.Enter the GTO Dream Car GiveawayUse promo code GTOPOD when entering!Pontiac Podcast with Curt & EricGTOs • Pontiacs • Racing • Restoration • Pontiac HistoryIf you enjoy the show, LIKE, SUBSCRIBE and SHARE to help us keep telling the stories of the people and cars that make the Pontiac hobby special.#PontiacPodcast #PontiacGTO #GTO #1968GTO #GTOAA #Pontiac #ClassicCars #OriginalOwner #PontiacHistory #AmesPerformance

Tiger’s Revenge — A Life Story | John Petze | Pontiac PodcastWhat if the car you bought as a 17-year-old kid eventually became the connection between you and a family searching for a piece of their past?This week on the Pontiac Podcast, Curt and Eric sit down with John Petze, longtime owner of Tiger’s Revenge, a 1967 Pontiac GTO with an incredible racing history and an even better story.John bought Tiger’s Revenge in 1974, during the gasoline crisis, from a young family who had raced the GTO under the Tiger’s Revenge name. He had no idea that nearly 50 years later, the car would help reconnect him with the family who originally owned and raced it.After decades of ownership, an internet post asking, “Does anyone know what happened to Tiger’s Revenge?” eventually led to an incredible reunion with Mick McKinnon, whose family had raced the car when he was a kid.From the original racing days at New England Dragway, to John’s decades of ownership, the search for the car, the restoration, and a very special ride for Mick’s mother Lois, this is much more than a story about a GTO. It’s a story about cars, family, memories, and the people who keep Pontiac history alive.And of course, we’ll get into the Pontiac stuff too — including the car’s 400-based 461 stroker engine, producing approximately 430 horsepower and 510 lb-ft of torque.Tiger’s Revenge is back. And John Petze is here to tell us the whole story.In This Episode:The origins of Tiger’s RevengeBuying a 1967 GTO at just 17 years oldThe car’s racing historyNearly 50 years of ownershipThe internet search that changed everythingReconnecting Tiger’s Revenge with its original familyMick McKinnon and the McKinnon family storyBringing the GTO back to lifeThe emotional connection to Lois McKinnonThe current 461 Pontiac V8And plenty of Pontiac bench racing!Pontiac Podcast with Curt & EricPontiacs. Stories. People. History. And a whole lot of bench racing.LIKE the videoCOMMENT with your thoughts on Tiger’s RevengeSUBSCRIBE and turn on notifications for upcoming episodesFollow the Pontiac Podcast on social mediaPresented by Ames Performance — Fueling the Passion for Pontiac#PontiacPodcast #Pontiac #GTO #1967GTO #TigersRevenge #PontiacGTO #MuscleCars #DragRacing #PontiacMuscle #ClassicCars #CarStories #JohnPetze

Pontiac Podcast — Jim Zeek | YouTube DescriptionThis week on the Pontiac Podcast, Curt and Eric sit down with Jim Zeek, the first generation of a racing family that has now spanned three generations.After hearing Jaimie Zeek’s story last week, we go back to where the Zeek racing legacy began. Jim shares stories from his early days of drag racing, the cars that fueled his passion, and what it was like watching that passion eventually pass down through his family.And then there’s the Pontiac connection — Jim is the original owner of a 1969 Pontiac GTO, a car he purchased new and has kept as an important part of his automotive story.We talk about: Jim’s early days of drag racing How the Zeek family racing tradition began His original-owner 1969 GTO Racing and modifying Pontiacs back in the day Three generations of the Zeek racing family Passing the passion for racing down to Jaimie And, of course, a trip to the Judges Chamber!This is a great story about Pontiacs, drag racing, family, and a ’69 GTO that has been there through it all.Watch the Pontiac Podcast on YouTube or listen on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.Sponsors & LinksAmes Performance — Fueling the Passion for PontiacAmes Performance⁠ www.amesperf.comGTO Dream Car GiveawayEnter for your chance to win and use promo code GTOPOD:Dream Giveaway⁠- dreamgiveaway.com#PontiacPodcast #PontiacGTO #1969GTO #GTO #Pontiac #DragRacing #MuscleCars #ClassicCars #JimZeek #ZeekRacing #GTOAA #PontiacMuscle #AmesPerformance

Pontiac Podcast — The ’65 GTO That Broke Facebook!This week on the Pontiac Podcast, we’re joined by Al and Noah Ryder, the father-and-son team behind one of the most talked-about 1965 GTOs we saw at the GTOAA Nationals in Loveland, Colorado.Curt and Eric spotted this incredible GTO at the show and filmed a quick video of it. What happened next? Facebook went crazy!The reason? This ’65 GTO wears an incredible all-original patina finish, and Pontiac fans immediately found themselves divided:Should they preserve it exactly as it is? Should they restore it and give it a fresh paint job? Or is the best thing they can do simply drive it?We sit down with Al and Noah to hear the story behind the car, how they became the caretakers of this special GTO, and what it means to share a Pontiac with your family.And of course, we’re putting the biggest question before the JUDGES CHAMBER!PATINA OR PAINT?You’re going to want to hear where Al and Noah stand — and then let us know what YOU would do with this GTO!Like the video Tell us in the comments: PATINA or PAINT? Subscribe to the Pontiac Podcast for more Pontiac stories, cars, and enthusiasts.Listen on Spotify & Apple Podcasts or watch us here on YouTube!Sponsored by Ames Performance — Fueling the Passion for Pontiac.Ames Performance⁠GTO Dream Car GiveawayUse promo code GTOPOD when entering:GTO Dream Car Giveaway⁠#PontiacPodcast #Pontiac #GTO #1965GTO #PontiacGTO #GTOAA #Patina #MuscleCars #ClassicCars #FatherAndSon #JudgesChamber #AmesPerformance

What makes a GTO better—a perfect restoration, or a car that still shows the scars of the life it’s lived?On this episode of the Pontiac Podcast, Curt and Eric sit down with the man behind Ratty Goat Garage, a Pontiac enthusiast whose YouTube and social media following has grown around one simple idea: sometimes a GTO is better when you leave a little bit of the “ratty” in it.We talk about his love for GTOs, how Ratty Goat Garage got started, the philosophy behind his builds, patina vs. restoration, mechanical upgrades, social media, and what it’s like building a following around cars that don’t necessarily fit the traditional definition of a show car.We also get into the big question: Is preserving the imperfections of an old Pontiac actually preserving its history?And of course, Curt and Eric take things into the Judges Chamber, where we put Ratty Goat Garage on the hot seat with some tough Pontiac questions and a few that might get him in trouble at the next car show!If you love GTOs, Pontiacs, patina, horsepower, and cars that have a story to tell, you won’t want to miss this one.LIKE the video Leave a comment and tell us: Would you restore a ratty GTO or leave the patina alone? SUBSCRIBE to the Pontiac Podcast and follow along for more Pontiac stories, builds, history and car culture.PONTIAC PODCAST SPONSORSAmes Performance EngineeringThe Pontiac parts source for GTO, LeMans, Tempest, Firebird, Trans Am and more. Check them out at amesperf.comGTO Dream GiveawayCheck out the current GTO Dream Giveaway and get your chance at a legendary Pontiac while supporting charitable causes. DreamGiveaway.comFOLLOW RATTTY GOAT GARAGEYouTube: Ratty Goat GarageFOLLOW THE PONTIAC PODCASTWatch us on YouTube and listen wherever you get your podcasts, including Spotify and Apple Podcasts.Pontiac Podcast with Curt & EricWhere the passion for Pontiac never ends.#PontiacPodcast #RattyGoatGarage #PontiacGTO #GTO #Pontiac #ClassicCars #MuscleCars #Patina #AmesPerformance #DreamGiveaway #JudgesChamber