BONUS: Inside Automotive Journalism with Bob Sorokanich
Added 2023-06-20 10:01:59 +0000 UTCHello, Patrons of The War on Cars!
Have you ever wondered what the reporters who cover the auto industry think about oversized SUVs and pickups and whether the fever for these gas-guzzling, space-hogging, planet-heating and people-killing monstrosities will ever break? Bob Sorokanich has some opinions.
Bob Sorokanich was the Editor-In-Chief of Jalopnik, the news site about cars, the auto industry and transportation in general. He was also the longstanding Deputy Editor of Road & Track, one of the most historic and important auto magazines in the U.S., if not the world.
Having recently left his post at Jalopnik, Bob reached out and asked if he could join us at our Brooklyn HQ to talk. How could we say no? In this expansive conversation, Bob talks about the changing face of automotive journalism and what it's like being a city resident, cyclist and public transit rider who also loves cars. We learned about what he drives, his thoughts on what it will take to win the war on cars, and why most people — even the most died-in-the-wool car enthusiasts — hate the kind of driving they typically experience today.
We won't say much more, but we think you'll enjoy this exclusive bonus episode.
Thanks as always for your support! We mean it when we say we couldn't do it without you.
All the best,
Aaron, Sarah and Doug
LINKS:
According to Bob: Public Transit Is a Car Enthusiast's Best Friend
Doug's piece for Jalopnik: What I Mean When I Say 'Ban Cars'
Patreon supporters who want to listen to this exclusive bonus episode on Apple Podcasts or another podcast app should check out these instructions on how to find and use your private RSS audio link from Patreon. You can also use the Patreon app or listen in your browser.
Comments
I did enjoy manual transmissions and the electric motors aren’t the same. My big challenge with bikes is that I enjoy being able to maintain my bike. Internal hubs, electronic shifting and antilock brakes, suspension systems, and electric motors - while fun - lose something when the bike is in the shop for 10 days.
Roy Gothie
2023-06-25 11:26:58 +0000 UTCP.s. missed opportunity to compare the glorious mechanical shifting of a bicycle to a manual transmission car. When I drive, it's either my all manual Miata which I love (though hardly drive, eventually to be replaced with a kei van like the hip millennial I am ;) or our soulless Tesla a-to-b tool that has a great cruise control. There's great reason to lament the death of the manual transmission and it will absolutely change car culture dramatically - arguably as it's started to already with the rise in modded and lifted huge trucks.
Chris D'Antonio
2023-06-23 23:50:42 +0000 UTCThis was maybe your best episode to share with car enthusiasts and it's behind Patreon!! (Sorry not sorry I had to share the episode because I want them to hear it.) I grew up a huge car guy - though ironically my niche was tiny sports cars :P - and while I'm more resentful than not for the reason I grew up a car guy (because it was literally all I could know), I genuinely respect car guys like Bob and would absolutely have the same mentality if I didn't become so jaded about cars.
Chris D'Antonio
2023-06-23 23:43:25 +0000 UTC
