This week on Shifted Opinions, we sit down with designer, Radwood co-founder, and Driving While Awesome host Lane Skelton for a raw, unfiltered conversation on car culture—past, present, and where it’s actually going.

We break down the real story behind Air|Water—from underwhelming show layouts to why it might be better understood as a trade show for Porsche enthusiasts. Plus, what most people completely missed.

Then we go deep into:

• The origin story of Radwood (and how it accidentally became a global brand)
• What it actually takes to turn passion into a business
• The behind-the-scenes reality of selling to Hagerty
• Why most car events fail creatively

And finally—Lane takes us inside one of the most insane automotive experiences on the planet: 👉 A $1 billion private racetrack in Japan that feels like Jurassic Park

This is part car talk, part industry reality check—and all operator-level perspective.

📍 In this episode:

• Air|Water vs Luftgekühlt — what’s missing
• Why car shows are really about people (not cars)
• The truth about automotive “taste vs money”
• Japan’s craziest track: Magarigawa Circuit
• Radwood’s accidental rise to success
• How Driving While Awesome stayed passion-first

🎙️ About Shifted Opinions: “We’re not sure, but cars are involved.” Hosted by Paul Kramer (AutoKennel), Dave Van Epps (Sonderwerks), and Casey Parkin (Group C Curation).

📩 Stay Connected: 👉 https://shiftedopinions.com

Dave Van Epps is days away from putting his brand-new 1,200-mile 2025 GT3RS on track at VIR for GT Smokies — and the nerves are real. Paul Kramer talks him off the ledge with hard-earned track wisdom, while Casey Parkin quietly reveals he's managing 14 auction cars, including a landmark 8-car RS collection drop on Bring a Trailer featuring multiple 991 RSes, a Ford GT Heritage Edition, a Ferrari Pista, and a Ferrari Speciale.

Also in this episode: the Malibu GT3RS rental that rolled down a cliff (and why traction control on modern Porsches is not optional), the hidden danger of full-leather dashes on Macans and 997s, Paul's long-running saga to rehab a 1971 911T Targa "El Fuego," the G50 vs. 915 transmission debate, whether mid-year 911s have already had their moment, and the best way to upgrade a Luxor beige interior without touching eBay.

Topics covered:

• GT Smokies rally — VIR track day, Asheville, charity fundraising
• Rented GT3RS rolls off Mulholland — what went wrong
• Casey's 8-car BaT RS collection listing (991.1, 991.2, 992 RS variants + exotics)
• Paul makes an offer on a 2024 Macan S
• Full leather dash peeling: causes, costs & prevention
• 71 911T Targa rehab budget breakdown
• G50 vs. 915: is the price premium worth it?
• Mid-year 911 market outlook (74–75 Carreras)
• Luxor beige interior upgrade guide
• Ideal Porsche owner traits & vintage car patience
• How to track maintenance on a multi-car fleet

🎽 SUPPORT A GREAT CAUSE: Casey and the GCC crew have a charity shirt benefiting Pets With Disabilities — 100% of profits go directly to the rescue. Shipping included in the lower 48. Order in batches, be patient, and donate more by ordering more. 👉 https://www.groupccuration.com/charityshirt Questions? Email casey@groupccuration.com

Connect with the hosts: 📧 paul@autokennel.com | dave@sonderwerks.com | casey@groupccuration.com 📸 Instagram: @autokennel | @sonderwerks | @groupccuration

Are we overvaluing “perfect” cars?

In this episode, we break down the growing obsession with condition, Carfax reports, and collector mentality—and why it might be taking away from what makes car ownership special.

From GT4 ownership stories to real rally experiences, this conversation gets honest about:

• Why imperfections shouldn’t scare you
• The truth behind Carfax “damage”
• What real enthusiasts actually value
• And why driving always beats preserving

Plus, we highlight a cause worth supporting: 👉 https://www.groupccuration.com/charityshirt

All profits support Pets With Disabilities.

Casey: https://www.groupccuration.com Paul: https://www.autokennel.com Dave: https://www.sonderwerks.com