Hank Watson's Garage Hour Podcast

You can't spell politics without... a "p"... and the Garage Hour can't get this close to the mid-term elections without having some hopeful congressional candidates in the studio.  What can we say?  Gearheads like to vote.  Besides, we all want some more change. This episode featured Dr. Fred Simon, candidate for San Diego's 52nd Congressional District, and before you get bent out of shape that we were talking politics again, don't you want to hear his thoughts on things that matter, like Ford VS Chevy, protections for off-road access, and whether Fred plans to run guns for Islamic terrorists in the Philippines with a Chinese mobster named Shrimp Boy (which we advised him against)? There's also some actual serious questions, such as the good doc's positions on the Second Amendment, getting things done instead of talking about getting things done, equal opportunity VS equal outcomes, and who his favorite Supreme Court justice is.  He had very good answers for everything but his preference for Chevys. Grab the

Well, some episodes don't stay gearhead for long, and this one went decidedly cartoon in about five minutes.  Join us for an hour (one of the last hour-only Garage Hours) of unrelenting comic book action, with none other than SuperMeg (before the nickname), Jesse Caverly, author and zombie expert, and .45 Phil, a walking, talking comic book hero in his own right. It's not like we didn't try - there were gun stores, shooting events, big Buicks, an attack on hipsters (because they're there) and an attack on mayors (because Failner), but we kept winding up talking ComicCon, Batman, Superman, bad guys, Aquaman, Han Solo, Brock Sampson (just because), geek VS nerd and the Venn diagram necessary so it all makes sense. There will be cars and trucks and beers and guns in the next episode.  Promise. jf

How about something completely different? The Garage Hour goons (and the vice mayor of La Mesa) had a really involved conversation about the environment, with none other than a real environmentalist!  Apparently, nature tastes like steak. Sure, cohosts .45 Phil and Crag Maxwell happily joined Justin Fort to chat off-roading and shotguns (sounds like we're ready for a Sasquatch Run!), but they were also educated by an environmentally aware friend of the show, Leslie Rapp, on the topics of dolphins, Blackfish, free-range whales (did we say that right?), and we were escorted through the serious California politics behind the attacks on Seaworld by Kristine Alessio, vice Mayor of La Mesa.  We also figured out that it's the silly names people give killer whales that make them... kill people...  What the Hell kind of name is Tillikum?  Call the poor things Tyrone or Pete or Emily and they'll be so much happier.  There's also a fun bit of shrapnel for the nutjob envirowhackos who are giving granola a bad name.  Chil

We dish out some real respect on this Memorial Day, with extensive chatter about Americans who've given the ultimate measure in the name of God and country. Like the icing on this Cake of Respect, the Garage Hour goons also discuss San Diego's Freedom Station, American POWs from all conflicts, and a serious heap of war movies. In this episode, former factory test-driver, road racer and all-around professional Justin Fort also renews his long-standing argument with cohost Dirty Dave regarding the historical relativity of Abraham Lincoln's unfondness of vampires.  They also get up to monster trucks, tracks from Metallica, ZZ Top, Led Zeppelin, Soundgarden, Nick Cave, and live shows with Buddy Guy, plus the movie Bullitt (happy birthday, Steve), the Mumford Lane, and pizzas from superfan Tristain. Don't let the hybridiots get you. jf

When one of these unscripted episodes turns out right, it's such a great feeling. Hostus Maximus Justin Fort coupled SuperMeg and the return of Chef Jeff from Eastbound Bar & Grill to do two hours of everything that's wrong with traffic (because we can all relate). You can't go wrong with an endless list of the things that incompetence, ignorance, insomnia and insolence do to the already insufferable dense driving in southern California, and we charged full-steam into all the causes of and answers to.  If there's anything you can get on board with, it's SoCal traffic being off its rocker. Just like the Garage Hour, however, we dive deep into a host of other awesomeness (because gearhead!), including the Silver State Challenge (260mph, anyone?), tactical shotguns, how hipsters are uncool by nature, and more Dude Food. Grab this one before it's gone (though it won't be - hurry because we care). jf

Intriguing or offensive, but never boring: it's your kind of doom on the hoof, and now for two hours!  Join us for some adventures in beer (Night Fighter), off-roading, railguns, Beer-Con, and the introduction of the Garage Hour's PSA (unphone, dammit!). And as was born Night Fighter English Ale, we were joined by Manzanita Brewing so we could get down to naming their newest beer, an English-style brown ale with hints of coffee and stone fruit. We go through the whole list of beer names, including crowd pleasers like Improper Copper Ale, Bob's Your Uncle, Cajon Oval Brown, Bulldog Brown, Monkey Wrench, Cuyamaca Mud and, God help us, Jerry Brown Ale and the totally unnecessary Filner Pilsner. We also chase Calguns' next Meet & Greet, a little bit about off-road maintenance and good summer trails in San Diego, what was up at that day's Beer-Con, the geek wonderment that are railguns (yay!), a few items from "The Reasons Tony's Pissed" List, courtesy of Tony's Lube & Tune, and a full studio with .45 Phil

The gearhead mavens from the Garage Hour served up everything from nifty new firearms to dusty old war stuff in this show, as well as dabbling in the unfolding Flight 370 mystery (how couldn't we?), and taking a run at the pending recall-liability disaster facing General Motors and its bailout masters in the UAW and big government. Cohosts suiting up to work on this episode with host Jusin Fort were none other than Duncan Lancaster, lead singer of Skynyrd-tribute band Skynyrd's Innyrds, and long lost adventure junkie, Black Ryan. Joining Hank Watson's Garage Hour's usual suspects in the studio was special guest Randy Linkmeyer of Springfield Armory (as well as Crimson Trace, TruGlo Sights and Aguila Ammo), who was ready and willing to chat about all things firearms and gun ownership in the state of California and beyond. jf

Yummiest episode ever. We focused on our appetitie for Dude Food this show, talking cooking, eating, beer with food, smoking and barbecuing meats of every stripe.  Grow your own hot peppers? We discuss how.  Want to make killer slaw?  We have the ingredients. Enjoy eating more than cooking? Tell your friends to grab the podcast so they'll make it all for you. Hostus Maximus Justin Fort is joined in the studio by Chefus Maximus Jeff Hall (of Eastbound Bar & Grill, and upcoming "The Hills" in La Mesa), plus radio cohost stalwart .45 Phil (That Which Goes Bump in the Night) and up-and-comer SuperMeg (though her sidekick Husband Guy couldn't make it this time). Also on-tap for this episode of the best gearhead radio on the AM dial is a studio visit by the Power Team and the Strength Team ministries, who were appearing at Foothills Christian Church the next day, as well as our usual caravan of killer talk topics, including .45 Phil's Tank of the Week, the national tragedy that is Daylight Savings Time, and Sup

Proving that gearhead talk radio can mantain its balance when talking about politics, the Garage Hour combined both in this fine Made In the USA episode (now, with the latest technology!).  From trucks, Porsche, VW corporate and hybrids to term limits, fighter plane pilots and religious hot dogs, this is a fun episode - you won't need your seat. Additional chatalogical content includes the Duck Dynasty dustup, the upcoming Superstition off-road Run, conservatives VS centrists VS progressives, the Blues Brothers, eating enough roughage, the Mayor of Furniture, Justin Fort's theory on revenge of the losers (anti-mongers), the Supreme Court, gift buying for the holidays and 2013's holiday trend of ReChristmasification. Hostus Maximus Justin Fort is joined in-studio by his crack team of political commentators, anchored by La Mesa Vice Mayor Kristene Alessio, .45 Phil (Special Assistant to the Vice Mayor) and Crag Maxwell, general antagonist of all things political. jf

With killer Silver State flyby sounds (ever wonder what a big-block sounds like at 217?), this reloaded Garage Hour brings together two of our old-school cohosts, DoubleMint Cameron (now knows as the Scarecrow) and Skynyrd's Inyrds' lead Duncan Lancaster for an hour of serious gearhead talk. Also included is an great chat with Gina from the Coronado Classics, because race car. This episode has it all - Camaros, Bilsteins, hiking in Iran (or How To Know You're a Grade-A Moron), road racing, computer viruses, glow-in-the-dark cats and, of course, beer.  There's also tales of Mexican prison, San Diego ubergearhead J. Bittle, El Sasquatcho, the Bears, Amelia Earhart, and a call in from the Lord of North County (Mr. Dustin, Top Earner). jf

From the Ghostbusters to the apocalypse, this is a Halloween Garage Hour that drives every stake home.  Admit it, you can hear the Ghostbusters' siren in your head right now...  In a rare case of good planning, we even nab calls from Nacho in Wisco and Jaime in Ramona, so our interstate cabal of gearheads and beerheads and cheeseheads and cartoon villians is complete. On-air with Hostus Maximus Justin Fort is none other than Poison Ivy (and her alter-ego, Tess), The Most Interesting Man in the World, Grizzly Chris and Dirty Dave.  They cover the gamut of essential talk-show topics, like sharks eating people, Animal House (Eat Me!), the Blues Brothers, M'night Shlamalamlam's movies about trees and owls, Critical Mass and why it might be insane, Stephen King's natural state of paranoia, and the lunacy that was the Pickle Administration's Cash for Clunkers program. Podcast up and try this one on.  It's a classic. jf

Host Justin Fort brought King of Hammers competitors Shane Henry and Mark Underwood to the studio to chat about this year's KOH race, plus KOH history and all of the growth that series like KOH are experiencing. These guys started in their garages just like everyone else, folks, so be impressed by the rigs their work has wrought. In true Garage Hour fashion, we get into the details, doing a breakdown of Mark's recipie for a portal IFS.  In the process, we catch some sporty threats chucked our way by epic builder Scottie at Addicted Off-Road, and from the 13th Ring of Hell, otherwise known as Yuma.  There's also Bronco fail-extasy, TDS analysis, and a review of Deadbolt, KYUSS, Earthlings? and Led Zeppelin. More fun on the Garage Hour includes a .45 Phil-powered rant about the Pickle Administration's lack of game, which has been brilliantly exposed by Vlad Putin's scarily effective Soviet-style game, and a little more about the three stooges (Obama, Kerry and Hagel) who can't even pretend to have a clue about

Sometimes the Garage Hour is a real gem (and sometimes it's something else...). This episode is one of those gemlike objects.  .45 Phil and Mike the Mic join host Justin Fort to work over the 2014 San Diego Auto Show, and on the way they have a very sincere conversation about the resurgent troubles facing the residents of Iraq, as related by a 27-year Marine who spent half a year in Fallujah (our very own .45 Phil). On the way, we'll dabble in the usual Garage Hour deliciousness, including a tirade about Christmas decorations, plus auto-workers' unions, junkyards, shotgun VS M4, Israel, tanks, and as promised, lots about the new cars and trucks hitting the US market in 2014, including big trucks (Dodge VS Toyota), small cars (the Focus ST) and why Hyundai and Kia are killing it. jf

Ready for a 100%-random Garage Hour? This one's got it all - Buck Rogers, bullets, Beetlejuice, plus Texans declaring war (again?), the famous armored vacuum discussion, a how-to on heckling at movies (Step 1: bring Creature), ecoterrorists, plus antigravity, antimatter, and probably Auntie Entity for all we know. The show must go on, even when the host doesn't have a voice. This is a fun one - you can hear Hostus Croakthemost Justin Fort try to push through a blown set of pipes while the cohosts just make it worse...  Special thanks to Grizzly Chris, Black Ryan and Mr. Dustin, Top Earner for revelling in Justin's suffering. jf

Ahhhh, the Garage Hour.  We bring intriguing and offensive to a whole new level without upsetting the FCC.  Much.  On this epsiode, we chat up Jeff Trevaskis, head of Manzanita Brewing, about their new distillery.  We also discuss what it takes to be a small brewer (and a small company) in San Diego's blue-collar nexus, East County (Santee, to be exact), and in California. Following the formalities, however, the conversation will wander.  You insist.  We hit off-roading, big trucks, tire care and how Southern Californians screw themselves again and again in crappy weather, preparedness, rock and/or roll, as well as plans for a visit to the range, local beers, the cost of a good still (which has a whole lot of zeros), and more reasons to unphone yourself. Justin Fort - former factory test-driver, off-roader, shooter, eater, and Hostus Maximus - is joined in the studio to chat up Trevaskis by none other than .45 Phil, 27-year Marine and That Which Goes Bump In The Night. Grab the podcast immediately, or we'll t

Vintage Garage Hour right here - it's "When Animals Attack the Garage Hour".  If you hear about bears eating nature fans, bulls goring bullfight fans, sharks attacking boats, and you ask why they didn't shoot it with a bazooka, well, you're going to love this hour of killer gearhead talk. We dip into San Diego's pig problem (not enough bears) and seal problem (not enough sharks), mooses, as well as San Diego's sasquatch, Bubba the Bear from Tahoe, and why Darwin is on their side.  We also visit with the scoupe origin story, Zach Wilde, Clutch, Ballers with Dollars, the hot and the short in Montreal, Megaman and Jeeps in Holy Jim Canyon. On-air with Hostus Maximus Justin Fort is cohosting cornerstone Dirty Dave, with a rare appearance by Charlie, Justin's Other Brain, and a call-in from DSM Dustin. Podcast it now, before the pigs get us. jf

We get politics, politicians and political BS out of our systems on this episode of Hank Watson's Garage Hour, and yes, you want to listen. We hit all of the big targets: the weaponization of Obama's White House (scary), Hillary in 2016 (less likely than you think), and we connect it with local issues like San Diego's new mayor (Faulconer - is half-good enough?), term limits (purging ossified career politicians in small towns like La Mesa, CA), and the definition of ossified, La Mesa's 30-year mayor, Art Madrid (more likely to have a drink). It's not all political, though - this is the Garage Hour.  We dabble in auto manufacturing (UAW and VW vs. Americans), Dude Food (Mexican dining options in San Diego), the shooting sports (including the CalGuns San Diego's carbine educational event at Matt Klier's Active Shooter Defense School), the invasion of the solar panels in San Diego's rural communities, and the suggestion that you avoid shooting windmills unless they shoot at you first. In studio? Awesomeness: Kri

The Garage Hour goons get a Coronado Classics/Speed Fest primer from Jeff Gerken of BMW of El Cajon in this episode of the best gearhead talk show since Top Gear full of beer, but that's only the tip of the iceberg. This is one of those little-bit-of-everything episodes you've come to demand from Hank Watson's Garage Hour. On top of Jeff Gerken, we stacked everything from Thunderboats, Sasquatch and the Bilstein Boys, Jean Claude Van Damn He Just Got His Ass Kicked By A Hell's Angel (that's his full legal name), Colorado's political regurgitation of bad laws, California's black economy, how Debbie Wassername Schultz might be the love-child of Barney Fife and Chelsea Clinton, millions of bikers riding in protest through Washington D.C., and a reminder to unphone, just a little. In studio? Justin Fort, professional gearhead, test driver and all around wheel to be reckoned with, and '45 Phil, 27-year Marine, Master Guns, and That Which Goes Bump in the Night. Join us for an hour, won't you, and grab the podcast.

Do you have questions about passing smog?  Curious about how to make your hot rod/ricer/sled/trail rig/show car/commuter slug survive two more years in California's growing emisions police state?  Want to know about all the new "regulations" CA has passed to make your car's life harder?  Hank Rotten's Garage Hour's Smog Guy episode peels back a few layers on what to do to pass the test, why old Volvos never fail smog and how the state is going to screw you, tuners, reprogrammers, the smog guy - Hell, even the hybrids are going to get screwed. Mike the Smog Guy also reveals a whole bunch of smog-testing secrets that CA's state of desperation probably wishes it could keep secret. Don't worry - we won't let you down.  When the Garage Hour's Hostus Maximus Justin Fort and Mike Petscheck, of Smog Only/STAR-Certified Smog in El Cajon finally digress from the smog thing, they'll hit on why they always get beaten by old Marines at tactical shotgun competitions and how a fainting hostage chicken sure looks like a dead

Fastest Garage Hour podcast ever! We hit all the buttons on this mammoth show, with WRX and STi versus Evolution, all the fun stuff at this year's SHOT Show, all the things that are wrong with "stanced" cars, all kinds of sauce, East County chin armor, the new mullet (the fauxhawk), Max Mosley's Nazi hooker orgy, military branch back-slapping, skeet shooting with prizes (otherwise known as Amazon drones), and why the most important rule when shooting anything is to make sure you look cool. In studio with Hostus Maximus Justin Fort is a frightening array of cohosting awesomesauce: Dirty Dave, who escaped from Yuma; Hoosier Eric, who escaped from Indiana; Eryk from CalGuns.net, who'd like to escape from California; Charles from Wilde Built Tactical, who will probably help everyone escape; and Silent CJ (otherwise known as Godzilla), whose Evo is probably fast enough to escape Earth's gravity. jf