Hello, Kansas City! Welcome back to the Kansas City Car Detailing Podcast, known as the Bespoke Automotive Refinement Podcast. We’re so glad that you’ve joined us on this wonderful fall afternoon. Who all is getting ready for a pumpkin patch? Probably in a really cool car. I think the Jeep man with the doors off or the top off in this warm weather, going to a pumpkin patch, would be really fun.
Thomas, are you excited about this weather that we’ve been teased with? I’m out here right now, I’m wearing a flannel, I got my joggers on, we’re sitting next to a fire. Oh, it’s the best. Our son’s having an autism attack—I think he has some Tylenol. I think so. My son, it’s a little puppy dog, he’s running around acting little. We’re having fun—this is fun. We’re out here by the fire; I’m actually about to put a log on it right now. I mean, it’s just the vibe. The vibe, yeah.
Our topic for tonight is “The Thrill of Speed and Why We Chase It.” Are you ready? Yeah, I’m ready. When was the first time you felt true speed behind a wheel? Okay, well, I got two answers to that question. Was it one of those little pike cars when you were little? You know, like the Flintstones—you’re running your feet around trying to go fast? I want to go fast, I want to go fast! I was in second grade, and my father bought me a dirt bike. I was racing motocross when I was a kid, and my dad had built me this track on a piece of property we owned. It was right next to a dead-end street, kind of like this one. To get from where we stored the motorcycles to the track, I had to run it down the street—and I just got on it, on this paved road, and I topped the bike out. I got it as fast as it would go. That was the first time I ever felt true speed.
The second time was when my next-door neighbor growing up bought, in 2005, a Ford GT40, which was a tribute to the car that Ken Miles beat Ferrari with in the 24 Hours of Le Mans. He took me for a ride in that car—actually took me down the drag strip when I was a kid. That was the first time I experienced an actual supercar. So those are probably the first two times I ever actually experienced speed—one behind the wheel, the second as a passenger. Those are moments I’ll never forget.
What’s the fastest you’ve ever gone, and would you do it again? I would. 203 was the fastest I’ve ever taken a car—that’s actually the fastest I’ve ever been. That’s fast. Yep, it was 203. A good friend of mine had a Lamborghini Huracán built by Underground Racing—it was their UGR, a UR3, which was their stage 3 package. 1,500 horsepower car. We were down in Houston for TX2K and went to Galveston. A bunch of the UGR guys went to dinner there, and I was driving this car back. I was going over the Galveston Bay Bridge, and at the bottom of the bridge I hit it—I did a rolling anti-lag hit starting at about 80 mph, and by the time I hit the top of the bridge, I looked down and was doing 203. Oh wow. Yeah, it was a cool moment. It got there really fast. That was cool.
Is speed about adrenaline, control, or freedom for you? All of the above. You definitely get an adrenaline dump from speed. I’ve talked to people—former street racers and military guys—who say going 150–180 mph gives them the same feeling as being in a gunfight. If you’re an adrenaline junkie, you’re always chasing that. There’s also a feeling of control. I’d say it’s really about balance—feeling a car that’s perfectly balanced. You know that feeling you talked about in South Dakota, when everything just aligns? Imagine seeing something that’s perfectly aligned—that’s what a perfectly balanced car feels like for a car guy.
And then there’s the freedom. There’s 100% a freedom aspect. Like, if you pass a cop going 180 mph, they’re not going to catch you—you just keep going. And knowing that if you hit a pothole, you’re dead—there’s something freeing about that too. Knowing your life is literally in your hands in that moment gives you a strange sense of control. Yeah, it’s pretty awesome.
Have you ever been scared while going fast? Yes, I have felt that. I was in my C6 Z06 when I lived in Wichita. I was between Wichita and a town called Kiowa, on K42, middle of the night. I was racing a motorcycle—we were going about 160 mph, right next to each other, like this close. I hit a curb—or maybe a pothole—and it knocked the car off balance. The car shifted like this, and he was right next to me. Oh my gosh. I thought I was going to hit him. What’s crazy is, when we talked after the race, I thought, by the grace of God, he must’ve known to turn at that exact moment. But he didn’t even know what happened! I literally hit a bump, the car shifted, and somehow it straightened out. I should’ve hit a ditch and died—and taken him with me. But the car corrected immediately. I don’t know if it was stability control or what, but that was the most scared I’ve ever been.
What’s one car that surprised you with how quick it felt? Because I’m sure there are cars you point out to me all the time—like, “That car is really fast,” and I’m like, “That one? Are you sure?” There are definitely some that surprise me. I’d actually say a Subaru WRX. I didn’t know what they were at first. A guy who owned the gym I worked out at when I was a kid had one. He took me for a ride in it, and before that, I was like, “It’s a Subaru, man—it’s an economy car.” But the WRX is Subaru’s shot at a sports car, and they’re actually pretty quick. Wow. Yeah—Subaru WRX is what shocked me the most.
So, if somebody’s wanting to get ahold of you to work on a Kansas City car detailing service or package, how would they go about doing so? The best way to get ahold of me for a Kansas City car detailing package or service is to call 620-282-0402. You can also go online to bespokerefinement.com—there, you can check out all the detailing packages and services we have to offer the Kansas City area.