The Avants Podcast

Our friends Todd, Clarke, and Evan join us to recap their rally down to Monterey and all the fun stuff that comes with planning and running a rally. Rock chips, check engine lights, and unexpected cattle grates abound, but the adventure and comradery make it all worth it.  The Avants Podcast is brought to you by our friends at STEK USA and Carter Seattle! Not an Avants member? https://www.avants.com/member-plans Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts!  Leave us a voicemail! 425-298-7873 We're doing give aways! Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts and we'll pick a random name every 25th review!

This week we welcome the 3rd member of the ProFormance ownership family, Donna Porada-Kitch! Donna PK was into cars long before her first track days and we get all the fun, and very sweet, stories of her life with Don and Siena. She tells us the story of how the school started, how her and Don met, and the future of ProFormance and WIMNA. Stories and episodes like Donna are why we started this podcast and we hope you enjoy it every bit as much as we enjoyed the interview. The Avants Podcast is brought to you by our friends at STEK USA and Carter Seattle! Not an Avants member? https://www.avants.com/member-plans Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts!  Leave us a voicemail! 425-298-7873 We're doing give aways! Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts and we'll pick a random name every 25th review!

Someone decided to take a Cybertruck on the Rubicon and it went as it expected. After multiple steering equipment failures the Cybertruck was recovered after 7 days on the trail, but should they have been there in the first place? Rivian has done it a few times now, but some vehicles just shouldn't be in certain places, like the Rubicon. Ford and Jeep are making some big moves, but not just in recalls this time. And in big news, DEF might finally be dead!  The Avants Podcast is brought to you by our friends at STEK USA and Carter Seattle! Not an Avants member? https://www.avants.com/member-plans Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts!  Leave us a voicemail! 425-298-7873 We're doing give aways! Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts and we'll pick a random name every 25th review!

Scott Barron joins the podcast this week to discuss his show stopping Outlaw Ferrari 308 build. Scott's the kind of car person most of us aspire to be; the kind that does what he wants with his builds because he wants to do it. After seeing his 308 build at Exotics we knew we had to have him on the show.  The Avants Podcast is brought to you by our friends at STEK USA and Carter Seattle! Not an Avants member? https://www.avants.com/member-plans Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts!  Leave us a voicemail! 425-298-7873 We're doing give aways! Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts and we'll pick a random name every 25th review!

In very good news, KTM has been saved! Indian powerhouse Bajaj has stepped up to save the company, but what does the future hold under their new ownership? Should they cut Husqvarna and Gas Gas? The X-Bow is unfortunately almost certainly dead, but we'll take some KTM over no KTM and that new 390 Adventure sure seems like a step in the right direction. The Avants Podcast is brought to you by our friends at STEK USA and Carter Seattle! Not an Avants member? https://www.avants.com/member-plans Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts!  Leave us a voicemail! 425-298-7873 We're doing give aways! Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts and we'll pick a random name every 25th review!

Dan drove 1,800 miles in just over 2 days and Nick is thankful he wasn't stuck in the car with him this time. We talk about the most recent road trip, overpriced Bugattis we can't afford, the sexy LC500, and Nick finally admits he doesn't like roundabouts.  The Avants Podcast is brought to you by our friends at STEK USA and Carter Seattle! Not an Avants member? https://www.avants.com/member-plans Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts!  Leave us a voicemail! 425-298-7873 We're doing give aways! Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts and we'll pick a random name every 25th review!

This week we welcome Brian Dallas back to the show to talk all about Spot GPS, overlanding, off-road shows, Tackform mounts, and us dragging him through Hell's Revenge. Brian has moved on from our friend at Dirt Fish and is working for Spot Satellite tracking and communication systems, working the show circuit, and living the overlanding dream. There's something for everyone in this fun episode.  The Avants Podcast is brought to you by our friends at STEK USA and Carter Seattle! Not an Avants member? https://www.avants.com/member-plans Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts!  Leave us a voicemail! 425-298-7873 We're doing give aways! Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts and we'll pick a random name every 25th review!

Dan and Nick talk about the many adventures of driving our favorite roads and why we often don't publish the routes. Dan still has Dan's Drives up and running for some of the more popular routes, but both he and Nick have dozens of routes they're afraid to share for multiple reasons. What do you think? Should we throw caution to the wind let Darwinism rule? Should people protect their favorite roads from the unhinged masses?  The Avants Podcast is brought to you by our friends at STEK USA and Carter Seattle! Not an Avants member? https://www.avants.com/member-plans Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts!  Leave us a voicemail! 425-298-7873 We're doing give aways! Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts and we'll pick a random name every 25th review! It’ll be worth it!

Things are heating up in Scottsdale, so we need some new roads to drive! The dilemma? Dan is pretty sure he's driven every fun road in Arizona, Utah, Nevada, and Colorado! Speaking of things getting hot in Scottsdale, welcome NiCole Wilson to Avants as the new Director of Scottsdale! We have known NiCole for a long time and she's another great, overqualified hire who is sure to bring the best of all things Avants to Scottsdale.  The Avants Podcast is brought to you by our friends at STEK USA and Carter Seattle! Not an Avants member? https://www.avants.com/member-plans Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts!  Leave us a voicemail! 425-298-7873 We're doing give aways! Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts and we'll pick a random name every 25th review! It’ll be worth it!

Today we talk all about power! Nick wires up, and then rewires, his Starlink Mini, Ram steps it way up with a warranty that's hard to beat, and what is going on with all that public land in the big bill? It's never as simple as that Instagram Reel telling you how to think.  The Avants Podcast is brought to you by our friends at STEK USA and Carter Seattle! Not an Avants member? https://www.avants.com/member-plans Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts!  Leave us a voicemail! 425-298-7873 We're doing give aways! Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts and we'll pick a random name every 25th review! It’ll be worth it!    

As much as we want to hate the Chicken Tax for blocking us from getting all those cool trucks we really want, we can't deny it brought out some of the best creativity from manufacturers. We dive into how the Chicken Tax started and the waves of creativity it forced upon the auto industry as a whole. It also helps explain the heat behind the current tariffs and why they might not be so terrible for us in the end. Also, if your car did not come with Lambo style doors, do not put Lambo doors on it. Period.  The Avants Podcast is brought to you by our friends at STEK USA and Carter Seattle! Not an Avants member? https://www.avants.com/member-plans Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts!  Leave us a voicemail! 425-298-7873 We're doing give aways! Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts and we'll pick a random name every 25th review! It’ll be worth it!  

GM decides CarPlay isn't necessary anymore, making their already terrible infotainment even worse. Just in case anyone at GM reads this, stop being stupid. On the smarter side of the industry, RAM finally admits mistakes were made and brings back the Hemi with a great comeback commercial.  Check out the awesome new RAM commercial here: https://youtu.be/TseTzC3bQAk?si=9FWLPbSWPEfu19aZ  The Avants Podcast is brought to you by our friends at STEK USA and Carter Seattle! Not an Avants member? https://www.avants.com/member-plans Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts!  Leave us a voicemail! 425-298-7873 We're doing give aways! Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts and we'll pick a random name every 25th review! It’ll be worth it!

While we often discuss the Countach as being the ultimate "don't meet your heroes" car, we have never driven any other car that got more attention than the mighty Countach. We talk about the news and a few other topics in this episode, but we got a laugh of out how the iconic Countach brings more attention from other guys than anything else by a huge margin. What car still grabs your attention when you see it?  The Avants Podcast is brought to you by our friends at STEK USA and Carter Seattle! Not an Avants member? https://www.avants.com/member-plans Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts!  Leave us a voicemail! 425-298-7873 We're doing give aways! Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts and we'll pick a random name every 25th review! It’ll be worth it!

While we could be more tactful about this, we won't be, because everyone who has ever driven a car knows the Charger EV was dead before it launched. Not only did no one really want one, but the reviews on them were terrible from the start with subpar range, awkward ergonomics, and the continued questionable build quality Stellantis is getting known for across their automotive range. While other Charger EV models are still out there, the Daytona trim lasted less than a year, and continues to signal the slow, extremely predictable demise of the Stellantis brand. On the bright side, someone over at the Ram brand decided that maybe discontinuing the TRX, the only real competition for the Raptor, was a bad idea and is slated to come back for 2026.  The Avants Podcast is brought to you by our friends at STEK USA and Carter Seattle! Not an Avants member? https://www.avants.com/member-plans Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts!  Leave us a voicemail! 425-298-7873 We're doing give aways! Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts and we'll pick a random name every 25th review! It’ll be worth it!

We conclude the Moab conversation with Megan, Michael, and Brian, and talk about all the things we learned, where we're going next, and how much of a beating Moab gave us all. Thanks to Michael Smith however, we feel more prepared than ever for out next adventures in the wild.  The Avants Podcast is brought to you by our friends at STEK USA and Carter Seattle! Not an Avants member? https://www.avants.com/member-plans Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts!  Leave us a voicemail! 425-298-7873 We're doing give aways! Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts and we'll pick a random name every 25th review! It’ll be worth it!

Megan, Michael, and Brian join us in the studio to discuss misadventures in Moab and Megan's impression of the drummer from Def Leppard. The guys talk about almost rolling on Hell's Gate and what they should have done different. Live and learn!  The Avants Podcast is brought to you by our friends at STEK USA and Carter Seattle! Not an Avants member? https://www.avants.com/member-plans Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts!  Leave us a voicemail! 425-298-7873 We're doing give aways! Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts and we'll pick a random name every 25th review! It’ll be worth it!

We're back from Moab and mostly unscathed! Mostly. Some of our bodies took a beating, but our hitch sliders put in the real work. We definitely learned the real value of geometry and physics, but most importantly the value of a group member with experience.   The Avants Podcast is brought to you by our friends at STEK USA and Carter Seattle! Not an Avants member? https://www.avants.com/member-plans Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts!  Leave us a voicemail! 425-298-7873 We're doing give aways! Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts and we'll pick a random name every 25th review! It’ll be worth it!

On this week's episode we have the pleasure of having Dai Yoshihara in the studio! Dai talks with us about growing up and street racing in Japan, moving to the US, and becoming a champion of Formula D, Time Attack, and Pikes Peak!  The Avants Podcast is brought to you by our friends at STEK USA and Carter Seattle! Not an Avants member? https://www.avants.com/member-plans Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts!  Leave us a voicemail! 425-298-7873 We're doing give aways! Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts and we'll pick a random name every 25th review! It’ll be worth it!

This week we we’re calling out you gatekeepers! No, not the good kind like the Sean at Exotics, but those people who say you can’t do something without a specific type of mod. Did you really need those Baja Designs lights? Is that Warn Platinum 12k winch necessary? How about the $2,500 roof top tent you use once a year? Yes, there is a difference in all that gear, but eventually you have to admit you don’t need the laser lighting as much as you want it to go down that well groomed gravel road. On top of that, chances are, you probably made your vehicle worse and don't want to admit it. We know, we've done it, and we are going to talk about it! Don’t let the car gatekeepers get you down! The Avants Podcast is brought to you by our friends at STEK USA and Carter Seattle!  Not an Avants member? https://www.avants.com/member-plans Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts!  Leave us a voicemail! 425-298-7873 We're doing give aways! Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts and we'll pick a random name every 25th review! It’ll be worth it!

Dan surprises Nick with a pop quiz of automotive knowledge! Can you beat Nick? Did we get a few wrong? Join us this week and have another good reason to yell at your radio besides listening to the news.  The Avants Podcast is brought to you by our friends at STEK USA and Carter Seattle!  Not an Avants member? https://www.avants.com/member-plans Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts!  Leave us a voicemail! 425-298-7873 We're doing give aways! Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts and we'll pick a random name every 25th review! It’ll be worth it!