How We Really Keep it Running

<p>This week, Alex and Tyler are joined for the first time by Emily, BaT&#39;s treasured and stalwart Operations Manager, to talk about what it&#39;s like to be on the fringes of car enthusiasm while working with a staff full of blustery, car-obsessed nerds. They talk about being the bridge between a major corporation and the rogues gallery that is BaT HQ in San Francisco; her first memorable event experiences in Monterey, and more recent ones; Alex&#39;s 308 GTB vs Randy&#39;s Turbo 2; a great new merch idea (and a call for suggestions); office therapy; Spotted Cow and fried cheese curds; the prospects of driving a Cord and a Willys coupe to Flagstaff; and Retromobile vs the World Cup.</p><p>Also covered: going to a bar and screaming, the world-healing power of ranch dressing, the team&#39;s recent watchlist favorites, uncertainty about a self-propelled house, an unavoidable Elan/Elite deep dive, Tyler&#39;s unpopular automotive opinions, Em&#39;s quintessential &#39;90s VW first-car experience, various permutations of the New Beetle, and the cars that first spoke to us in media or sense memory.</p><p><strong>Follow along! Links for the listings discussed in this episode:</strong></p><p>11:11  <a href="https://bringatrailer.com/2026/06/11/172-rob-fisher-of-the-hillsborough-concours-delegance/">Rob Fisher of the Hillsborough Concours d’Elegance</a></p><p>12:06  <a href="https://bringatrailer.com/event/bat-gathering-with-local-partner-911r-july-11-at-the-rose-cup-races-in-portland-oregon/">BaT Gathering with Local Partner 911r, July 11 at the Rose Cup Races in Portland, Oregon</a></p><p>12:23  <a href="https://bringatrailer.com/2026/07/16/bat-at-the-weathertech-vintage-weekend-in-downtown-elkhart-lake-and-road-america-july-17-18/">BaT at the WeatherTech Vintage Weekend in Downtown Elkhart Lake and Road America, July 17-18</a></p><p>16:04 <a href="https://bicestermotion.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Bicester Motion</a></p><p>17:57  <a href="https://www.retromobile.us/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Rétromobile New York</a></p><p>23:21  <a href="https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1954-redman-new-moon-travel-trailer-2/">1954 Redman New Moon 36′ Park Trailer</a></p><p>23:33  <a href="https://bringatrailer.com/volkswagen/new-beetle-1998-2010/">Volkswagen New Beetle</a> model page</p><p>27:04  <a href="https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1966-lotus-elan-s2-12-2/">1966 Lotus Elan S2</a></p><p>30:50  <a href="https://bringatrailer.com/lotus/elan-1962-1975/?search=%2B2">Lotus Elan +2</a> Auction Results on BaT</p><p>31:23  <a href="https://bringatrailer.com/nissan/z32-300zx/?search=2%2B2">Nissan Z32 300ZX 2+2</a> Auction Results on BaT</p><p>31:37  <a href="https://bringatrailer.com/mitsubishi/3000gt/?search=spyder">Mitsubishi 3000GT Spyder</a> Auction Results on BaT</p><p>31:43 <a href="https://bringatrailer.com/search/?s=skyliner">Ford Skyliner</a> listings on BaT</p><p>39:37  <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-BNMvBnm14o&t=1s" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Volkswagen Beetle Gooseneck Camper</a></p><p>40:17  <a href="https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1968-volkswagen-beetle-super-bugger/">1968 Volkswagen Beetle Super Bugger Camper</a></p><p>40:36  <a href="https://bringatrailer.com/listing/2006-volkswagen-new-beetle-5/">2006 Volkswagen New Beetle TDI 5-Speed Ute Conversion &amp; Travel Trailer</a></p><p>41:28  <a href="https://bringatrailer.com/listing/2002-volkswagen-new-beetle-11/">RUF-Style 2002 Volkswagen New Beetle Turbo S 1.8T 6-Speed</a></p><p><strong>Got suggestions for our next guest from the BaT community or an idea for our next game episode? Let us know at podcast@bringatrailer.com!</strong></p>