In this episode, The Creative Drive dives into the world of Christopher Bowes, the visionary behind Subaru's Launch Control, the long lasting YouTube series that reshaped how fans experience factory-backed motorsports. From his early inspiration to founding Bowes Media Inc., Chris shares how he blends storytelling craft with emotional authenticity — creating work that goes beyond cars and competition.

We explore the evolution of Launch Control, from its original pitch to its current home on the RACER Network, and how Chris navigates the high-stakes balance between access, vulnerability, and compelling narrative. He opens up about the creative battles he’s fought, the pressures of working under tight deadlines, and the moments that nearly broke him — but made the story worth telling.

This is an episode about vision, integrity, and building legacy through motorsports storytelling. 0:00 Cold Opening to Chris Bowes Launch Control Producer Interview on The Creative Drive 01:52 Christopher Bowes from Bowes Media on The Creative Drive Podcast 06:14 RACER Network Promo Clip Visit RACER.com to subscribe 07:13 How Launch Control with Subaru started 13:00 Drive to Survive is successful because the non-motorsport fan can get behind the show 14:00 Rally is the hardest motorsports to film and produce 22:25 Subaru gives Chris absolute creative freedom to produce Launch Control 26:50 Biggest challenge of continuing a show for more than a decade 31:30 Launch Control on RACER Network and the impact of the internet 34:35 Bowes Media has expanded as a business working for brands like Red Bull 37:25 Brands and qualitative storytelling 39:00 Subaru and their brand heritage 45:30 Launch Control is created by a small and nimble team 48:00 How to start out as a creative on a rally documentary team 50:50 Subaru's racing cultural project coming up in the future 54:00 Rapid Fire with Chris Bowes 01:00:00 Who's Boost'n it with Chris Bowes 01:06:07 What's Chris Bowes' creative drive?

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#TheCreativeDrive #bowesmedia #rally #CarCulture #launchcontrol #subaru #subarurally #ContentCreators #Motorsports #RACERPodcast #rallycars #rallyracing

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

Follow Ryan Millen Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ryan_millen_

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🎧 Listen to the full episode on Spotify, Apple, or wherever you get your podcasts.

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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

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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.

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

In this episode of Creative Drive, we sit down with award-winning motorsport photographer Jamey Price to explore what it takes to freeze speed, emotion, and intensity in a single frame. From F1 paddocks to IMSA and WEC endurance races around the world, Jamey shares his journey into motorsports photography, his creative process under pressure, and what it's like living life behind the lens on the global racing circuit.

📸 Topics we cover: How Jamey got his start in racing photography

Techniques for shooting motion, emotion, and pure chaos

Life on the road, favorite tracks, and staying creatively sharp

How social media and the creator economy are changing photography

What it’s really like shooting inside Formula 1

Advice for aspiring motorsport creatives If you love racing, storytelling, or photography—this one’s for you.

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#JameyPrice #CreativeDrive #MotorsportPhotography #F1 #EnduranceRacing #CarCulture #RACER #DriveToSurvive

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Robert Wickens’ return to racing was nothing short of incredible—and behind it was a groundbreaking piece of tech built by Bosch.

In this episode of Creative Drive, we sit down with Brooke Bond, Operations & Marketing Lead at Bosch Motorsport North America, to talk about how their team developed tech that helped Wickens get back on track after his life-changing accident at the 2018 Pocono 500.

The engineering challenges behind the project Bosch's role in performance and enthusiast car culture How Bosch is connects with the future generation.

This is a powerful conversation about innovation, inclusion, and the soul of motorsport—you won’t want to miss it.

The Creative Drive is a podcast hosted by RACER's Creator Network President Taro Koki, dedicated to exploring the world of creativity within the automotive industry. Each episode features conversations with a diverse range of creatives, including YouTubers, directors, authors, designers, builders, and photographers, as well as industry journalists and creator economy experts. Together, we delve into what drives these creators, how they got started, their creative process, their inspirations, and their insights on building an audience in today’s digital landscape. From stories of success to overcoming setbacks, The Creative Drive offers listeners a candid look into the minds of automotive creators and their journeys.

👉 Subscribe for more conversations with the people shaping the future of car culture.

#RobertWickens #BoschMotorsport #CreativeDrive #MotorsportInnovation #AccessibilityInRacing #CarCulture #RACERpodcast #IMSA

In this episode of The Creative Drive, we sit down with Doug O’Donnell, IMSA Brand & Marketing Communications at IMSA and former marketing leader at the San Antonio Spurs, to talk about what it takes to grow and modernize motorsports for a new generation of fans.

Doug shares insights from his NBA days, lessons in brand storytelling, and how IMSA is building emotional connections with fans, manufacturers, and partners.

How IMSA is marketing differently from traditional sports The role of creators and digital content in motorsports Brand partnerships and storytelling across racing ecosystems What the NBA taught him about audience engagement Why the future of motorsport is more interactive, inclusive, and digital

The Creative Drive is a podcast hosted by RACER's Creator Network President Taro Koki, dedicated to exploring the world of creativity within the automotive industry. Each episode features conversations with a diverse range of creatives, including YouTubers, directors, authors, designers, builders, and photographers, as well as industry journalists and creator economy experts. Together, we delve into what drives these creators, how they got started, their creative process, their inspirations, and their insights on building an audience in today’s digital landscape. From stories of success to overcoming setbacks, The Creative Drive offers listeners a candid look into the minds of automotive creators and their journeys.

#CreativeDrive #IMSA #DougODonnell #MotorsportMarketing #NBAtoIMSA #CarCulture #RacingIndustry #SpursMarketing

Shelby Hall is an off-road racer, automotive enthusiast, and content creator, best known for her achievements in off-road endurance racing and her role as an ambassador for Ford Performance. She is the granddaughter of legendary off-road racer Rod Hall, a Hall of Fame inductee known for his dominance in events like the Baja 1000.

Carrying on her family’s racing legacy, Shelby has competed in events such as the Rebelle Rally, a grueling all-women’s navigation challenge, and has worked with brands like Ford to promote vehicles like the Bronco. Beyond racing, she shares her experiences as a creator, blending storytelling with a passion for adventure and automotive culture.

The Creative Drive is a podcast hosted by RACER's Creator Network President Taro Koki, dedicated to exploring the world of creativity within the automotive industry. Each episode features conversations with a diverse range of creatives, including YouTubers, directors, authors, designers, builders, and photographers, as well as industry journalists and creator economy experts. Together, we delve into what drives these creators, how they got started, their creative process, their inspirations, and their insights on building an audience in today’s digital landscape. From stories of success to overcoming setbacks, The Creative Drive offers listeners a candid look into the minds of automotive creators and their journeys.

Make sure you subscribe and like this video and follow us on Instagram @Racermag too! Leave your comments or feel free to email us at podcasts@racer.com.

#CreativeDrive #podcast #shelbyhalloffroad #shelbyhall #rodhall #rally #offroad