CarSmarts Radio, the region’s only automotive radio program, celebrates one year on the air this month. The program originates from 610 ESPN in Philadelphia and is also heard on WOND NewsTalk 1400 in Atlantic City.
More than 40 guests from every aspect of the car world have appeared on the interview program, which is hosted by Steve Saffier. Many of those guests have been women, a fact that might have been unexpected by the predominantly male audience.
“One of my early guests was a female student from the Automotive Technical Center who also ran a repair shop by day and attended classes by night,” Saffier said. “She was not deterred in any way from following her dream of working in the automotive industry.”
The show soon welcomed author Jennifer Lane, whose novel Of Metal and Earth, is centered around a Jeep CJ-5. In March, Heather Siessel, the president of the Philly Mini (Cooper) Club, was joined by Michele Holwood, who at the time was a service adviser at the Mini Main Line dealership. Later in the year, Autumn Shaner, co-curator at the Boyertown Museum of Historic Automobiles, joined the show for a conversation.
“Rachel Leach from the Philadelphia Region Sports Car Club of America was in studio to talk about their program, Driving Forward Together, which empowers women racers. Recently, we welcomed Michaela Brass, known in the region as ‘Miss Mopar.’ She not only restores cars, but works at a dealership. In October, we interviewed professional NASCAR driver Natalie Decker,” Saffier said.
“I’m proud not only of the diversity of topics on the show, but also the number of women who are involved in cars and motorsports who have been my guest. The stories of what brought them to cars are varied but equally fascinating, and there are many more to be told. We owe it to our growing audience to tell those stories.”
CarSmarts Radio can be heard on 610 ESPN AM radio every Saturday from 11 a.m. to noon and on WOND NewTalk 1400 Atlantic City on Sundays from 10 to 11 a.m. All past shows can be heard via podcasts on 610ESPN.com. More information can be found at www.carsmartsradio.com. ••
