Maurice Merrick from the “Horsepower Heritage” Podcast on “Only The Strong Survive”
Maurice Merrick has turned his passion for all things automotive into the popular “Horsepower Heritage” podcast. Many automotive podcasts focus on car reviews or the latest unveils. However, Maurice takes a different approach, diving into the people and stories behind the machines. The result is a fascinating and in-depth look at modern car culture, its history and the many people behind it.
Maurice is the perfect guest for this special episode of the “Only The Strong Survive” podcast made during Monterey Car Week. The week-long celebration of everything automotive has become one of the most prestigious automotive events worldwide, regularly drawing over 100,000 attendees to the beautiful Northern California peninsula. Maurice shares with host Dan Kahn his thoughts about Monterey Car Week, the current state of car culture in the U.S. and what it takes to be a successful podcaster.
Click on the icon above to watch the entire episode, and here are our top five takeaways:
Monterey Car Week will continue to be popular.
The notion that young people aren’t into cars is false.
Automotive media and content are rapidly changing.
Podcasters should focus on their passions and quality.
The only way forward is through.
Why Is Monterey Car Week so Popular?
Monterey Car Week has become the premier destination for any automotive enthusiast. What once started as a one-day side show to the defunct Pebble Beach Road Races has now become multiple keystone events spread over a week that appeal to a broad audience. So why do people come from all over the world to attend Car Week? For Maurice, the answer is an easy one.
“It might as well be a Beanie Babies convention because people love what they love. They congregate and they want to talk to others and compare notes and learn more about whatever their special interest is,” says Maurice. “I think most people come to Car Week because this is the highest concentration of amazing cars in the world at one time.”
The Kids Are All Right
Much has been made about young people not being into cars. Supposedly, they would rather be browsing social media, hanging out with friends or online. Walk around anywhere during Monterey Car Week, and it is easy to see that notion isn’t true. Throngs of teenagers excitedly gather around exotics and hypercars to get a closer look at them. It is something that Maurice readily noticed and says bodes well for the future of car culture.
“We hear a lot about young people not being interested in cars, and I don’t think it is true,” said Maurice. “I think the car hobby is alive and well with young people. They don’t necessarily go to Pebble Beach or The Quail. These are expensive events, but they are all having their own little gatherings all over the peninsula.”
Automotive Media Has Completely Changed
Fabled magazines like Road & Track and Car and Driver used to be the mainstays for automotive information. Then the internet happened, and everyone shifted to being online. Now, the websites that once usurped those magazines as the primary sources of automotive information have become “legacy media.” So, where do people go now for content? Maurice explains the shift in automotive media.
“I think YouTube is now the place where people watch the most automotive content because it can be long form,” said Maurice. “Instagram also has a very healthy car culture tributary or galaxy in the universe of Instagram. So, I think those are the two main places people go to consume car content. In terms of podcasts, there are now so many car podcasts.”
What Aspiring Podcasters Need to Know
Approximately 90% of podcasters never make it past their third episode. Of those that do, another 90% don’t survive past their 20th episode. Maurice has now made over 170 episodes of the “Horsepower Heritage” podcast, which is in its fifth year. What is his best advice for people who want to become podcasters? He has some essential tips.
“I would say focus on quality and don’t try to chase a trend. If you are truly interested in a subject, make sure that passion is conveyed. It is infectious, and it will find an audience because, undoubtedly, there are others just like you who feel that same way about that subject,” said Maurice. “Invest in good equipment and invest in good audio quality. I hear so many podcasts where the audio quality just isn’t there. Most listeners will tune out in the first 30 seconds if the audio quality isn’t there.”
Keep Pushing Forward
With so many episodes under his belt, Maurice has been podcasting for a long time. That length of consistently turning out episode after episode could lead to burnout for anyone. However, for Maurice, the answer and the key to his success and longevity has always been to keep pushing forward.
“You just have to sustain, you just have to keep pushing forward,” said Maurice. “Whenever I hit an obstacle or I feel like things aren’t going like they should, because for some reason there should be this expectation that the universe brings things to me, whenever I start feeling sorry for myself in a way, I say that the answer is always to work harder. It always seems to be the answer, and things work out.”
