NEWS

DRIVE MORE | An Automotive Film

In DRIVE MORE, three friends with a shared love for vintage European sports cars set out on a journey far beyond the open road. With the iconic Round Headlamp Rally 1000—a 1,000-mile, two-day rally across Michigan—on the horizon, each friend has a personal goal for this year’s adventure. But as they prepare their quirky, character-filled classics for the challenge, they discover that the road ahead is about more than just miles.

From late nights in the garage and last-minute fixes to the roar of engines and the beauty of Michigan’s backroads, DRIVE MORE captures the raw passion, dedication, and camaraderie that define the vintage car community. It’s a story of friendship, perseverance, and the joy of the drive.

Join them for a journey where the cars are more than machines, and the miles are more than just numbers. Watch DRIVE MORE now and experience the thrill of the open road, the struggle of preparation, and the unbreakable bond forged by a shared passion.

YouTube Link: DRIVE MORE | Short Film

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This film has been a long-overdue project for me and the people in the film. We started filming over 3 years ago! Finished filming almost a year and a half ago. This film started as another one of Jon's "Hey Matt, we're gonna swap someone's motor in my garage. Bring your camera and film it" Scenarios. I'd almost go to say that filming this project has been a key factor in the creation of the MARS Channel. The concept and design of the channel and series like Spanners all come from the process of making DRIVE MORE.

I'd love to go more in-depth on my thoughts and the smaller adventures/hurddles we had when making this film, but I feel that may be more appropriate in an ARCHIVE episode in the future. 

Here are some BTS Photos from filming at the Gilmore for one of our main scenes.

Written by: Matthew Thompson

Photos: Jon Zomer & Cassidy Taylor

Michigan's Tercel King

If you’ve ever found yourself deep in an internet rabbit hole about off-road Toyota Tercels, chances are you’ve stumbled across Luke. Luke has become the go-to guy for all things Tercel in Michigan—known for his garage full of 80s wagons, impossibly rare parts, and an impressively niche YouTube channel with over 3,000 subscribers.

Luke's been part of the MARS community for a few years now, but being more into the 80s Japanese side of things, he doesn’t always cross paths with the rest of the crew. So when we found ourselves brainstorming content ideas in the middle of a brutal Michigan winter, he was one of the first people who came to mind. He’s one of the few crazy enough to daily drive his quirky, vintage off-roaders through snow, slush, and salt—and take them off-road while he’s at it.

We reached out, pitched the idea, and before we knew it, we were hauling gear upstate to shoot what we thought would be a straightforward garage tour and trail drive.

It wasn’t.

A Tercel Wonderland

Luke’s place is everything you’d want it to be if you’re into weird, wonderful cars. The garage was packed—tight enough that moving around required a bit of choreography. A wood-burning stove roared in the corner, cranking out heat as the temperature outside dropped into the teens. Various builds sat in different phases of life: some just starting, others nearly trail-ready. Domestic Tercels shared space with JDM-imported siblings, while even more cars waited out back. Parts were everywhere—on shelves, stacked in corners, and even overflowing into the basement. It was overwhelming in the best way.

You instantly know and feel that this is Luke’s passion. His collection isn’t just functional—it’s personal. Every wagon, every gasket, every tool has a story. It’s not just a workspace—a museum, a time capsule, and a playground all rolled into one.

After a garage tour, Luke introduced us to his favorite: Thunderbucket. A lifted Tercel wagon with battle scars, trail badges, and just enough rust to prove it’s been used properly.

That’s when the plan fell apart—in the best way.

Five People, One Tercel, and a Lot of Ice

Our goal was simple: follow Luke out on a local trail and grab some B-roll of Thunderbucket doing what it does best. Instead, five of us crammed into the lifted wagon, armed with camera gear, questionable traction, and a growing sense of “this might be a terrible idea.”

Michigan had iced over the night before. The trails were slick, visibility was low, and the Tercel was doing its best to stay pointed in the right direction. Within minutes, it was clear: we weren’t filming a feature anymore—we were living one.

There were near-misses (including a moment that sent Jon diving for the door), plenty of “uh-oh” laughs, and then… an actual accident. Thunderbucket went down. Not in flames, thankfully, but stuck badly. What followed was a multi-hour recovery mission that tested everything from towing straps to team morale. We stopped filming halfway through and just focused on getting everyone out safely.

Spoiler: Thunderbucket Didn’t Make It Home

We won’t spoil the whole story—check out the episode if you want to see how it all plays out—but let’s just say Thunderbucket earned its name that day. The damage was real. The vibes? Somehow still immaculate.

Luke took it all in stride, cracking jokes and shifting into recovery mode like it was just another Tuesday. That resilience—and the way he’s built a community around these scrappy little wagons—is exactly why we wanted to tell his story in the first place.

Why We Love Making These

Not every shoot goes to plan. Some days, you get clean interviews, a beautiful b-roll, and everything wraps before sunset. Other days, you’re half-frozen, knee-deep in mud, wondering if the Tercel will start again.

This one was the latter, and we wouldn’t trade it for anything.

Here are some behind the scenes photos from the adventure.

📸 Photos: Jon Zomer

Spanners 105 Finale: Matt Kwiek - 1971 Alfa Romeo Berlina

Escaping the Cold

Michigan has been frozen over for the past two months. All the fun cars are tucked away, hiding from the massive amounts of salt dumped on local roads. But MARS is more than just Michigan—we have members spread all over, most of whom originally hail from the Great Lakes region. To escape the cold, we took a weekend trip to a slightly warmer Nashville, TN, to visit our friend responsible for the group's name.

Matt Kwiek and Kwiek Classics

Matt Kwiek has made a name for himself in the Mercedes community. His resto-mod shop, Kwiek Classics, has been growing exponentially, specializing in swapping modern Mercedes drivetrains and more into ‘60s-era Mercedes cars. Out of the eight lifts in his shop, nearly all were occupied by customer cars in various stages of completion. Matt has perfected this swap to a near science—he could probably do it with his eyes closed.

What makes his story even more impressive is that most of his knowledge is self-taught, born out of necessity:
"I bought an old Mercedes as my first car, it broke down almost immediately, and I had to learn to fix it because I couldn’t afford to pay someone."

The Oddball in the Garage

Matt has a unique collection of classic Mercedes, but one oddball in his garage demands attention—his 1971 Alfa Romeo Berlina 1750. This car is absolutely coated in character, with a patina-rich exterior that only time can create. It’s rough around the edges but mechanically sound. Among a sea of Mercedes, the Berlina stands out.

Matt acquired the Alfa in 2021 and revived it after years in storage. It became roadworthy just in time for the September 2021 Round Headlamp Rally, so naturally, it had to be the car of choice. Two days, 1,000 miles—the Berlina made it through 90% of the rally before the tie rods gave out, making steering dangerously unpredictable. Since then, it’s undergone numerous upgrades and maintenance, becoming a well-loved and frequently driven classic.

And honestly? It’s impressive. Trying to keep up with Matt in Nashville traffic—while we were in a Toyota Tundra—was no easy task. The Berlina is healthy, and it perfectly complements Matt’s spirited driving style.

The Search for the Dream Car

Sometimes, while chasing your dream car, you find something close enough and settle until the right one comes along. Matt always wanted an Alfa Romeo GTV—the sportier, two-door sibling of the Berlina. In 2023, that dream became a reality when he found a 1975 GTV and brought it back to life.

But after driving both, he realized he actually preferred the Berlina. It was more practical and handled better, thanks to its longer wheelbase, and ultimately, the GTV just didn’t capture him the same way. So, he sold the GTV and kept the Berlina.

A Keeper Amongst the Mercedes

Among the shiny V8-powered Mercedes that fill his shop, the Berlina stands out as a bundle of character and a true driver’s car. It’s earned a permanent spot on Matt’s very short list of cars he swears he’ll never sell.

📸: Jon Zomer

Watch the Spanners Season One Finale