Welcome to “The Drive” with Alan Taylor, featuring John Buck, owner of the Grand National Roadster Show, celebrating its 75th anniversary. Taylor reminisced about his introduction to the show over 30 years ago through automotive icon Barry McGuire, who continues to support the event. This year’s show, from January 31st to February 2nd, will feature over 50 past winners and a special room dedicated to George Barris, showcasing 13 of his iconic vehicles, including the Batmobile. Participants like Billy Gibbons and James Hetfield will showcase their cars, and there will be 11 contenders for the title of America’s Most Beautiful Roadster, with a cash prize of $12,500 from ARP Fasteners. The event will also include the “Slaughter War” competition with classic and custom vehicles and will support local disaster relief and the Gavin Foundation for visually impaired children. Attendees can look forward to over 1,000 cars on display, live music from bands like The Answer, fair food, pinstripers, and pin-up girl contests, creating a vibrant atmosphere. Tickets are available online and at local O’Reilly Auto Parts stores for three days, from the 31st to the 2nd, from 10 AM to 6 PM. The speaker also humorously suggests extending the hours for a ‘cars and coffee’ segment. Additionally, talented builders like Bill from South City Rod and Customs will showcase impressive vehicles, enhancing the event’s reputation as a premier celebration of automotive culture in Southern California. Overall, it promises a celebration of cars, community, and charity.



Up next is contributor Karl Brauer, Automotive Industry Analyst, Forbes Autos Contributor, North American Car and Truck of the Year juror, and board member and Executive Analyst for ISeeCars.com. he shares a study on the best-selling used cars of 2024 available at iseecars.com. The research focused on vehicles one to five years old, revealing that while new car sales range from 15 to 17 million annually, used car transactions are much higher, reaching 40 to 50 million. This emphasizes the importance of used cars in the market, as dealerships depend on them for profitability. The top used cars for 2024 included the Chevrolet Silverado 1500, Ram 1500, and Chevrolet Equinox. Other popular models were the Toyota Camry, Tacoma, Nissan Rogue, Ford Explorer, Toyota RAV4, and Honda Civic, highlighting a strong mix of trucks and sedans. Alan and Karl discuss the challenges facing electric vehicle (EV) demand and their declining values. While Tesla remains among the top 30 best-selling cars, consumer hesitance toward EVs is significant. One owner shared a positive experience with a leased Fiat 500 E at $49 per month in 2017, but many EV owners also rely on internal combustion engine vehicles for longer trips due to charging infrastructure limitations. Currently, the EV market holds only a small share of new car sales, with minimal growth from 7.4% to 7.8% in 2024. This slow growth raises concerns about the ambitious goal of reaching 30% market share by 2030 and 65% by 2035, suggesting that these targets may be increasingly difficult to achieve.



Next up is BJ Killeen, an automotive journalist and voice of reason. BJ addressed key issues related to electric vehicles (EVs), focusing on fire safety and toxic debris. She noted that California has the highest EV ownership in the U.S. but faces challenges with spontaneous combustion and the lingering hazards of EV batteries even after fires. Killeen stressed the importance of cooperation between the U.S. Fire Administration and EV manufacturers to improve firefighting methods. She advised homeowners to consult fire authorities before dealing with EV-related debris due to potential risks. Killeen also highlighted the need for better consumer education on these hazards, criticizing the promotion of EVs without adequately addressing safety concerns. The U.S.