What happens when you buy your dream Pontiac brand new in 1968—and nearly six decades later, you still have it?

At the 2026 GTOAA Convention, the Pontiac Podcast had the pleasure of sitting down LIVE with Marsha and Tom Rano, the original owners of a beautiful 1968 Pontiac GTO they purchased new.

This isn’t just the story of a GTO. It’s the story of a couple, a new car, and a lifetime of memories made behind the wheel.

Marsha and Tom take us back to 1968 and share how they came to purchase their GTO, what it was like owning one when it was brand new, and the many adventures and memories that followed. They share some of their favorite stories from the years they’ve spent behind the wheel and what it means to still have the same Pontiac they bought new all those years ago.

Stories like this are what make the Pontiac hobby so special. These cars aren’t just about horsepower, options and numbers—they’re about the people, families and memories that become part of their history.

Recorded LIVE at the 2026 GTOAA Convention

If you enjoy Pontiacs, GTOs, original-owner stories, and the people behind the cars, you’re going to love this episode!

PROUDLY PRESENTED BY AMES PERFORMANCE

The Pontiac Podcast is proud to be sponsored by Ames Performance — Fueling the Passion for Pontiac!

Whether you’re restoring a GTO, LeMans, Firebird or another Pontiac, Ames Performance has been helping Pontiac enthusiasts keep their cars on the road for decades.

Check them out at Ames Performance

WANT TO WIN A GTO?

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Pontiac Podcast with Curt & Eric

GTOs • Pontiacs • Racing • Restoration • Pontiac History

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What if the car you bought as a 17-year-old kid eventually became the connection between you and a family searching for a piece of their past?

This week on the Pontiac Podcast, Curt and Eric sit down with John Petze, longtime owner of Tiger’s Revenge, a 1967 Pontiac GTO with an incredible racing history and an even better story.

John bought Tiger’s Revenge in 1974, during the gasoline crisis, from a young family who had raced the GTO under the Tiger’s Revenge name. He had no idea that nearly 50 years later, the car would help reconnect him with the family who originally owned and raced it.

After decades of ownership, an internet post asking, “Does anyone know what happened to Tiger’s Revenge?” eventually led to an incredible reunion with Mick McKinnon, whose family had raced the car when he was a kid.

From the original racing days at New England Dragway, to John’s decades of ownership, the search for the car, the restoration, and a very special ride for Mick’s mother Lois, this is much more than a story about a GTO. It’s a story about cars, family, memories, and the people who keep Pontiac history alive.

And of course, we’ll get into the Pontiac stuff too — including the car’s 400-based 461 stroker engine, producing approximately 430 horsepower and 510 lb-ft of torque.

Tiger’s Revenge is back. And John Petze is here to tell us the whole story.

• The origins of Tiger’s Revenge
• Buying a 1967 GTO at just 17 years old
• The car’s racing history
• Nearly 50 years of ownership
• The internet search that changed everything
• Reconnecting Tiger’s Revenge with its original family
• Mick McKinnon and the McKinnon family story
• Bringing the GTO back to life
• The emotional connection to Lois McKinnon
• The current 461 Pontiac V8
• And plenty of Pontiac bench racing!

Pontiac Podcast with Curt & Eric
Pontiacs. Stories. People. History. And a whole lot of bench racing.

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This week on the Pontiac Podcast, Curt and Eric sit down with Jim Zeek, the first generation of a racing family that has now spanned three generations.

After hearing Jaimie Zeek’s story last week, we go back to where the Zeek racing legacy began. Jim shares stories from his early days of drag racing, the cars that fueled his passion, and what it was like watching that passion eventually pass down through his family.

And then there’s the Pontiac connection — Jim is the original owner of a 1969 Pontiac GTO, a car he purchased new and has kept as an important part of his automotive story.

We talk about:
Jim’s early days of drag racing
How the Zeek family racing tradition began
His original-owner 1969 GTO
Racing and modifying Pontiacs back in the day
Three generations of the Zeek racing family
Passing the passion for racing down to Jaimie
And, of course, a trip to the Judges Chamber!

This is a great story about Pontiacs, drag racing, family, and a ’69 GTO that has been there through it all.

Watch the Pontiac Podcast on YouTube or listen on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

Sponsors & Links

Ames Performance — Fueling the Passion for Pontiac
Ames Performance⁠ www.amesperf.com

GTO Dream Car Giveaway
Enter for your chance to win and use promo code GTOPOD:
Dream Giveaway⁠- dreamgiveaway.com

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This week on the Pontiac Podcast, we’re joined by Al and Noah Ryder, the father-and-son team behind one of the most talked-about 1965 GTOs we saw at the GTOAA Nationals in Loveland, Colorado.

Curt and Eric spotted this incredible GTO at the show and filmed a quick video of it. What happened next? Facebook went crazy!

The reason? This ’65 GTO wears an incredible all-original patina finish, and Pontiac fans immediately found themselves divided:

Should they preserve it exactly as it is?
Should they restore it and give it a fresh paint job?
Or is the best thing they can do simply drive it?

We sit down with Al and Noah to hear the story behind the car, how they became the caretakers of this special GTO, and what it means to share a Pontiac with your family.

And of course, we’re putting the biggest question before the JUDGES CHAMBER!

PATINA OR PAINT?

You’re going to want to hear where Al and Noah stand — and then let us know what YOU would do with this GTO!

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Tell us in the comments: PATINA or PAINT?
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Listen on Spotify & Apple Podcasts or watch us here on YouTube!

Sponsored by Ames Performance — Fueling the Passion for Pontiac.
Ames Performance⁠

GTO Dream Car Giveaway
Use promo code GTOPOD when entering:
GTO Dream Car Giveaway⁠

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On this episode of the Pontiac Podcast, Curt and Eric sit down with the man behind Ratty Goat Garage, a Pontiac enthusiast whose YouTube and social media following has grown around one simple idea: sometimes a GTO is better when you leave a little bit of the “ratty” in it.

We talk about his love for GTOs, how Ratty Goat Garage got started, the philosophy behind his builds, patina vs. restoration, mechanical upgrades, social media, and what it’s like building a following around cars that don’t necessarily fit the traditional definition of a show car.

We also get into the big question: Is preserving the imperfections of an old Pontiac actually preserving its history?

And of course, Curt and Eric take things into the Judges Chamber, where we put Ratty Goat Garage on the hot seat with some tough Pontiac questions and a few that might get him in trouble at the next car show!

If you love GTOs, Pontiacs, patina, horsepower, and cars that have a story to tell, you won’t want to miss this one.

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Leave a comment and tell us: Would you restore a ratty GTO or leave the patina alone?
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PONTIAC PODCAST SPONSORS

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GTO Dream Giveaway
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Where the passion for Pontiac never ends.

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This week on the Pontiac Podcast, Curt and Eric sit down with Jaimie Zeek — a third-generation drag racer carrying on a family racing legacy while making history of her own.

Racing isn’t just a hobby for Jaimie. It’s in her blood.

With deep Pontiac roots and generations of drag racing behind her, Jaimie gives us an inside look at growing up around the sport, learning from her family, getting behind the wheel herself, and what it’s like to compete as a woman in a sport where the starting line doesn’t care who you are — only what you can do.

We talk family, Pontiac power, drag racing, the pressure of carrying on a family name, and what it means to forge your own identity behind the wheel.

And of course, we take Jaimie into THE JUDGES CHAMBER for some Pontiac and racing rapid-fire questions!

If you love Pontiac muscle, drag racing, family racing stories and the people keeping the Pontiac spirit alive, you’re not going to want to miss this one.

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Tell us what you think in the comments
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SHARE this episode with a fellow Pontiac fanatic!

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PRESENTED BY AMES PERFORMANCE

The Pontiac Podcast is proud to be presented by Ames Performance Engineering — your source for quality Pontiac restoration and performance parts.

Check them out at:
amesperf.com

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DREAM GIVEAWAY

Want a chance to own a legendary Pontiac?

The current GTO Dream Giveaway features a beautifully restored 1965 Pontiac GTO Convertible with a Tri-Power 389 and 4-speed manual transmission. The giveaway also supports veterans’ and children’s charities.

Check it out and get all the details at:
dreamgiveaway.com

NO PURCHASE, CONTRIBUTION, DONATION OR PAYMENT IS NECESSARY. See the official rules and free entry method at DreamGiveaway.com.

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In our first episode, we introduce ourselves and share why we decided to start Pontiac Podcast. Pontiac may no longer be producing new vehicles, but the excitement surrounding the brand is as strong as ever. From local cruise nights and car shows to drag strips, restoration shops, garages, and online communities, Pontiac enthusiasts continue to preserve the history and spirit of the marque. We created this show to give those enthusiasts a place to connect, share stories, learn from one another, and celebrate everything that made Pontiac different.

We also give listeners a quick look at our own Pontiac backgrounds. We discuss how we became interested in the brand, the cars and experiences that shaped our enthusiasm, and why Pontiac has remained such an important part of our lives. Like many enthusiasts, our connection goes beyond horsepower numbers or collector values. It is tied to memories, family, friendships, road trips, late nights in the garage, and the unmistakable feeling of seeing or hearing a Pontiac come to life.

This pilot episode also introduces The Judge's Chamber, a recurring segment where we will examine Pontiac-related topics, opinions, debates, and decisions. Nothing is off the table. We may judge modifications, compare models, discuss restoration choices, settle long-running arguments, or put popular Pontiac opinions on trial. Expect honest conversation, friendly disagreement, plenty of laughs, and verdicts that may not always be unanimous. Every Pontiac fan has strong opinions, and The Judge's Chamber is where those opinions get their day in court.

Throughout future episodes, Pontiac Podcast will feature conversations with the people who keep the brand alive. We will talk with collectors, racers, builders, restorers, historians, parts specialists, event organizers, club members, content creators, and everyday owners with extraordinary stories. Our goal is to cover the entire Pontiac world, from early models and classic muscle cars to Firebirds, Trans Ams, GTOs, Grand Prixs, Bonnevilles, Catalinas, Fieros, modern performance models, and everything in between.

Before wrapping up the pilot, we preview the guests lined up for next week's episode and share a taste of the stories, expertise, and Pontiac knowledge they will bring to the show. It is just the beginning of an exciting guest lineup, with future episodes designed to entertain longtime enthusiasts while welcoming people who are new to the Pontiac community.

Pontiac Podcast is more than a show about cars. It is about the people, history, ingenuity, competition, and shared passion behind them. Subscribe or follow the podcast on your preferred platform so you do not miss next week's guests, future installments of The Judge's Chamber, and the conversations ahead.

Start your engines, take your seat, and join us for the beginning of Pontiac Podcast - where Pontiac passion lives on.

Special Thanks to Ames Performance Engineering www.amesperf.com