Michael’s Motor Alley
Planes, trains and automobiles? Well, maybe not the first two, all the time. Join award-winning, nationally-recognized automobile and motor oil expert, Michael Thomas, to discuss and learn a variety of topics in the automotive and motor oil industries. Awarded ‘Best Podcast’ in 2022 by the Houston Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America, Michael’s Motor Alley features special guests talking anything from social media auto Influencers to the science behind motor oil, and everything in between. By a passionate car enthusiast, for passionate car enthusiasts.
Episodes
Ken Avann, President of the Canadian Snowcross Racing Association (CSRA), invites Michael on an exciting journey through the evolution of snowcross racing. From his early introduction to motorsports at 16 to steering the CSRA through three+ decades of growth, Avann unveils the sport's remarkable achievements including its new partnership with Pennzoil as the official oil of the 2024 CSRA Canadian Snowcross Racing Championships.
James Deane, Formula Drift legend from Team RTR, charts his 17-year journey in drift car racing with Michael today. From taking the wheel at 14, clinching victories in European circuits, to dominating in the 2023 Formula Drift season, James reveals all. Ready to hear Team RTR's vision for FD 2024? Hit play now.
We’re kicking it into high gear today with Rhys Millen - drift, rally, and stunt driving legend. Rhys takes us on a ride through his extraordinary career including his passion-fueled family legacy and becoming one of the most sought-after performance stunt drivers. Buckle up – you won’t want to miss this!
Jonny Grunwald, auto enthusiast icon, returns to Michael’s Motor Alley for round three! Dive deep into the massive projects from this year, including his experience from Pikes Peak alongside Rhys Millen, and his secret rotary-powered RX7 build for the 2023 SEMA Show. Plus, they unravel the myths surrounding rotary engines, explain the transformative power of Pennzoil synthetics, and the beauty of the unique Pennzoil family. Fasten ...
Dive into the world of performance modification with Ashleigh, a member of the Shell Lubricants marketing team whose passion from a young age drove her to the auto industry. Discover how her learning journey—from high school lift-kit projects to intricate camshaft installations—informs her customer-centric marketing strategy.
On today’s episode, Michael sits down with Justin Doerris, an educational manager at Universal Technical Institute, and his former student, David Choe of @choe_fdm. Together, they discuss the automotive programs at UTI, the transition from being a student to becoming an influencer, and more. Plus, learn about how Pennzoil products power the next mile at UTI in and out of the classroom. Tune in today!
On today’s episode, Michael sits down with NASCAR driver Ryan Blaney to talk about all the parts of racing you don’t see on screen. Learn more about the extreme temperatures that Ryan’s No. 12 car experiences, his pre-race diet, and his favorite types of tracks. Plus, hear details about how to save on your next Pennzoil Ultra Platinum purchase, newly available on shelf at Advance Auto Parts, and find a store near you at Pennzoil.co...
Get ready to kick your racing skills into high gear! On today’s episode, Radford Racing School’s expert instructor, Dominic Starkweather, brings Michael behind the scenes of the world-class racing school. Tune in for a deep dive into the benefits of attending a professional racing school, his journey as a professional racer, and how his passion for racing motivated him to teach others. Brace yourself for a high-octane episode that ...
Today’s guest, Nikki Moorehead, is an experienced Jeep off-roader with a passion for adventure. She sits down with Michael to dive into how her off-roading hobby led her to be featured in the Long May We Drive commercial. You won’t want to miss conversations about diversity and relationships in the off-roading community, and Nikki’s modifications and maintenance for her Jeep Wrangler.
Today’s guest is Torsten Gross, one of the stars of Pennzoil’s new campaign, Long May We Drive. After getting his first taste of track driving in 2021 with hand-controls, he quickly developed a need for speed! As a C6 quadriplegic, he has made it his mission to get more people who need hand-controls behind wheel of performance vehicles. In 2022, he founded the Just Hands Foundation to do just that. Listen to his interview to hear m...
Michael sits down with Aamir Dassat, an automotive content creator, who’s passionate about educating and entertaining his audience of over one million social media followers. In this episode, Aamir discusses how he combines his background in mechanical engineering with his passion for pursuing automotive content creation. You won’t want to miss hearing Aamir’s take on trends in the industry, how he first became interested in cars, ...
Alex Taylor has many titles; co-host of Hot Rod Garage on MotorTrend TV, top drag racer, YouTube influencer, and latest guest on Michael’s Motor Alley! She joins Michael once again from Pennzoil’s “Dare to Perform” booth at the SEMA Show to talk about her start with Hot Rod Garage and how she balances her busy schedule. Plus, you won’t want to miss the story behind one crazy build for Roadkill Nights. Listen today!
Are you a busy parent looking to take better care of your vehicle? You won’t want to miss this conversation! Michael answers questions from Tyra, a busy Texas mom, about motor oil change intervals, reading a dipstick, and other important vehicle maintenance topics!
Thinking about overriding your OEM motor oil recommendations? Think again! Michael sits down with Jeff Harmening at the American Petroleum Institute (API) to discuss the latest on motor oil specifications. They cover everything from the difference between API and ILSAC specifications, to what happens when an engine is filled with the wrong viscosity, and more!
Michael is joined by Adam Koester of the legendary Koester family for a fun conversation where the two discuss classic cars, Adam’s first car, his family’s tractor pulling legacy and much more!
Flip the top down, put on your shades, and hold on to your hats! You’re joining Michael as he breaks down the top convertibles on the market, and how to enjoy them in upcoming cooler weather.
From playing with Hot Wheels as a kid to having 3.5 million YouTube followers, Adam LZ has always lived and breathed cars. Today, Michael sits down with the formula drifter to discuss their first cars, the Formula Drift season, and the drivers that inspired him to get into the sport.
On today’s episode, Michael heads up North to talk all things Canada with automotive journalist, Peter Bulmer! As a resident of and industry expert in Canada, Peter Bulmer gives his input on the country’s transition to EVs, the truck driver shortage, and adoption of synthetic motor oils.
Today, Michael talks to his colleague from Marketing, Andrea, who’s an Italy native and auto enthusiast. They get into Andrea’s background growing up in the Italian automotive scene, his racing passion and more!
The heat is ON in today’s episode, as Michael gives his quick advice on taking care of your vehicle during the toasty days of the summer, including some tips, tricks and what to stay away from.
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