In this episode of The Creative Drive, we’re joined by Ryan Millen — off road racer and member of one of America and New Zealand's most iconic racing families. Son of Rod Millen and brother to Rhys Millen, Ryan has forged his own path from formula cars to rally stages, winning in the American Rally Association, working with brands like Toyota along the way and now desert racing in trophy trucks.

We get into Ryan’s unique journey, the pressures and perks of a legendary last name, and how he blends performance with personality in the age of motorsports storytelling. From his take on off-road racing to content strategy for modern drivers, this conversation is packed with insight, humor, and a look into what keeps Ryan creatively driven.

Watch or listen now. 0:00 Cold opening 1:00 Host Taro Koki Introduces Ryan Millen 01:45 What the last name Millen means 03:33 Sponsor message 04:27 How Ryan Millen started rally racing 08:00 What's so difficult about desert racing? 12:00 Growing up on Pikes Peak 14:30 Toyota rally sponsorship and Two Roads to Baja 17:10 Racing Porsches in Siberia 18:15 Rally racing Toyota RAV4 25:00 What it was like having a girlfriend as a co-driver 28:33 Creating content and being a racecar driver 30:15 Father Rod Millen lived in the golden era of rally 31:45 Racing with Terrible Herbst spec trophy trucks 37:30 Almost getting run over at Baja 500 39:45 Innovation in desert racing actve dampers and 4 wheel drive 44:40 Difference between Dakar and Baja racing 47:40 Off road racing promotion landscape 52:45 Rapid Fire with Ryan Millen 57:10 Ryan Millen thinks Who's Boost'n It 01:01:20 Ryan Millen's Creative Drive

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#TheCreativeDrive #ryanmillen #rally #CarCulture #desertracing #baja1000 #rodmillen #ContentCreators #Motorsports #toyota #RACERPodcast #trophytrucks #offroadracing #CarBuilders

In this episode of The Creative Drive, host Taro Koki sits down with the one and only Larry Chen. Larry is one of the most iconic and influential automotive photographers and content creators in the world today. Known for his unmistakable style, relentless work ethic, and deep love for car culture, Larry has become the go-to visual storyteller for some of the biggest names in motorsports and the aftermarket world.

Starting from humble beginnings shooting cars on the streets of Los Angeles, Larry turned his passion into a career by mastering the craft of automotive photography — capturing not just cars, but the spirit behind them. His work spans every corner of the car world: from grassroots drift events to the global stage of Formula Drift, from SEMA builds to Pikes Peak, from classic JDM icons to electric hypercars.

He is the official photographer for Formula Drift, a Canon Explorer of Light (one of the most prestigious honors in the photography world), and a creative force behind brands and countless OEM and aftermarket brands.

If you’ve seen a jaw-dropping rolling shot, an epic drift angle frozen in time, or a SEMA build immortalized before it hit the floor — chances are, Larry Chen was behind the lens.

0:00 Cold Open 01:12 Taro Koki intro to Larry Chen on the Creative Drive 02:15 Larry Chen on Air Water Luftgekuhlt and Jeff Zwart 05:05 Nordvpn.com/racer ad Use coupon code:RACER 06:45 Larry Chen on how to shoot Air Water Luftgekuhlt 08:11 Larry Chen on being inducted to the Formula Drift Hall of Fame 14:45 Larry Chen wishes Jeff Zwart was his dad 16:35 Larry Chen on his new book Life At Shutter Speed by Carrara Media carrarabooks.com 22:35 Larry Chen on being in front of the camera and 1M followers on Instagram 25:30 Larry Chen on Asian representation 30:00 BMW E3 M3 7 Eleven race car 31:15 Larry Chen on Pikes Peak International Hill Climb 28:10 Larry Chen on Ken Block 42:30 Getting stopped by cops during a shoot 48:50 Larry Chen on video projects like Hagerty's 51:10 Larry Chen on legacy automotive media and 54:59 Formula 1 Drive to Survive spawning racecar drivers and car enthusiasts 58:00 Driving at Ebisu Circuit Spring Matsuri 01:00:00 Larry Chen on running a media business 01:01:45 Larry Chen on working with brands 01:06:00 Creative Drive Rapid Fire with Larry Chen 01:11:17 Who's Boosting It? with Larry Chen 01:15:00 Larry Chen's Creative Drive is Life Fulfillment

Follow RACER on YT: https://www.youtube.com/@Racer.HQ Follow RACER.Podcasts on IG: https://www.instagram.com/racer.podcasts Follow RACER.HQ on IG: https://www.instagram.com/racer.hq/ Follow RACER Network on IG: https://www.instagram.com/ racer_network Follow host Taro Koki on IG:https://www.instagram.com/tarokoki99/ 🎧 Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and everywhere you listen.

In this episode of Creative Drive, we sit down with Kenji Sumino from GReddy Performance Inc., the U.S. division of Japan's Trust Company Ltd., based in Irvine, California. Under his leadership, GReddy has become a prominent name in the automotive aftermarket industry, specializing in performance parts for Japanese vehicles, including turbochargers, exhaust systems, and electronics.

Sumino has played a pivotal role in adapting GReddy's offerings to the U.S. market, focusing on developing products tailored for left-hand-drive vehicles and popular American models. His efforts have helped GReddy navigate challenges such as the 2008 financial crisis and evolving emissions regulations, ensuring the company's resilience and continued relevance in the tuning community.

Sumino is deeply involved in car culture. He has collaborated with notable figures like Fast & Furious Tokyo Drift actor, Sung Kang on his famous Fugu Z(Nissan 240Z), Dai Yoshihara on projects such as an 800-horsepower R33 Nissan Skyline GT-R. Additionally, his meticulously built 1990 Honda Civic hatchback, known for its attention to detail and performance, was even immortalized as a Hot Wheels collectible.

Sumino's commitment to the automotive world extends to preserving and promoting tuner culture, ensuring that the passion for performance and customization continues to thrive in the modern era.

FFollow RACER on YT: https://www.youtube.com/@Racer.HQ Follow RACER.Podcasts on IG: https://www.instagram.com/racer.podcasts Follow RACER.HQ on IG: https://www.instagram.com/racer.hq/ Follow RACER Network on IG: https://www.instagram.com/ racer_network Follow host Taro Koki on IG:https://www.instagram.com/tarokoki99/ 🎧 Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and everywhere you listen.

#GReddy #CreativeDrive #CarCulture #RACER #JDM #tuning #fuguz