Pass Time – Season 8

What is Pass Time?

For car enthusiasts and adrenaline junkies alike, the Speed Channel’s “Pass Time” was a beloved television show that captivated audiences with its high-octane drag racing action and the charismatic hosting skills of Brett Wagner. “Pass Time” revved up viewers’ engines, offering an adrenaline-pumping experience that combined the thrill of drag racing with the fun of a game show! 

The Concept:

“Pass Time” was an innovative show that blended the worlds of drag racing and game shows. Contestants had the chance to predict the elapsed time of a quarter-mile drag race before it took place, testing their automotive knowledge and instincts. The show brought everyday car enthusiasts into the spotlight, giving them the opportunity to showcase their expertise while immersing viewers in the world of fast cars and intense competition.

Host:

At the heart of “Pass Time” was the charismatic host, Brett Wagner. With his energetic personality and deep passion for cars, Brett brought an infectious enthusiasm to the show. His knowledge, wit, and ability to engage with contestants and viewers made him a fan favorite. Brett’s genuine love for the automotive world and his ability to connect with participants made each episode a thrilling experience for both the contestants and the audience.

Show expert:

Ken Herring acted as the show’s resident expert. Ken’s job was to defend the house and its prize money. With years of knowledge from the racing world and his company Texas Chassis Works, Ken was the perfect man for the job. Beating Ken on the show was an award all in itself! 

Car Wrangler:

Paige was known as the show’s car wrangler. Paige was known as the Vanna White of Pass Time. Paige’s job was to bring the cars and drivers up to the stage and keep the show moving. She didn’t have many lines on the show, but she was a big part of its success! 

 

The Show’s Format:

Each episode of “Pass Time” followed a dynamic format. Contestants, who were often avid car enthusiasts, would make predictions about the quarter-mile time of the drag race. Their predictions were based on various factors, such as the vehicle’s make, model, modifications, and the skill of the driver. The show added an element of suspense and excitement as contestants eagerly awaited the race results to see if their predictions were accurate.

“Pass Time” also offered viewers a chance to see a diverse range of vehicles in action. From classic muscle cars to modern sports cars and everything in between, the show showcased the incredible horsepower, speed, and performance of these vehicles. This visual spectacle, combined with the intense anticipation of the race results, made for compelling television.

The Legacy:

“Pass Time” resonated with car enthusiasts around the world. It offered a unique blend of drag racing, automotive knowledge, and interactive competition that appealed to a wide audience. The show’s success can be attributed to its ability to tap into the passion and excitement that car enthusiasts have for their vehicles.

Beyond the drag races, “Pass Time” provided an entertaining and educational platform for viewers to learn about different car models, modifications, and the intricacies of drag racing. The show also fostered a sense of community, with car enthusiasts coming together to share their love for speed, power, and automotive culture.

Conclusion:

“Pass Time” with Brett Wagner, Ken Herring, and Paige ignited a spark in the hearts of car enthusiasts worldwide. Through its unique format, engaging personalities, and captivating drag racing action, the show left an indelible mark on the automotive entertainment landscape. “Pass Time” celebrated the love affair between individuals and their cars, allowing everyday enthusiasts to shine while immersing viewers in the excitement of high-speed gameshow competition. Although the show may have concluded on Speed, the legacy will live on with the help of POWERtube TV. Plans for a return are already in the works! 

Pass Time History from EP Ray Iddings

“Name the Time. Win the Cash. It’s that Easy” and it certainly is/was. I was a fledgling Producer at High Five Entertainment. I live in Indianapolis and would make the four-and-a-half-hour drive down to Nashville on Sunday nights and drive back to Indy on Friday to see my family. When I was in Nashville I would stay in a condo they had rented me across the street from our secure building.

I was home in Indy and washing dishes one day when Rich Christensen called me with his all too familiar, “Hey I got an idea, let me bounce it off ya.” With my hands deep in dishwater and my neck precariously holding the phone to my ear I listened to a pitch for a show Rich called “TAG”. It sounded fun but it didn’t sound HUGE and at that time networks were swinging for the fences.

The conversation turned to “Guessing the times of cars running down the drag strip.” In a lot of ways what any fan of drag racing did with their buddies.

“Hey I bet that blown Vega will do 10:15’s”

“No way’, the other guy would say,”Not even if it was pulled behind a jet!”

Then the expert who predicted the time would say, “bet ya 20 bucks! Deal?”

“Deal”

No matter how many times that bet happened over the weekend, win or lose, you felt smart and like an expert. Now to jump back a little in this story, PINKS, Lose the Race Lose your Ride, had become wildly popular on SPEED. What people forget is at that time SPEED only showed race event coverage and commentary on race events. It was a formula that had served them ok until then but in 2006-2007 everyone wanted in on “Reality TV”. Why? Because it was cheap to make and audiences seemed to not get enough of it, so SPEED took a chance on Rich’s idea to “Race for titles” and now Rich was itching to show SPEED he wasn’t a one-trick pony. Now back to those dishes and my conversation with Rich.

In our chat we quickly honed in on, its a stage, its 2 contestants playing against the house and it needs a host, not just any host, but one who would make the entire experience about the contestants and the racers. In quick order, we were chatting with SPEED about a show Rich wanted to call, “NAME THAT TEST & TUNE” and it would be part of a bigger show called “Launch Hour”. Launch hour was a 1-hour show that had 2 new half an hour shows. Each weekly show would have 5 episodes. The audience would get to vote on which new series they liked at the end and that show would become a regular series. The first 4 series would be “Name that Test and Tune”, “Drag Race High”, “Blow it UP” and “SPEED Records”. I along with the brilliant Martin Fischer was to produce all 20 episodes, roughly 10 hours of tv in quick order.

People asked why call it “Name that test and tune”? Rich loved the way it sounded, a play on the popular game show, “Name That Tune”, it was fun and playful. Ken Herring, the owner of Texas Chassisworks would be “The House” and Brett “The Big Schwag” Wagner would be the host, Brett was the unmistakable voice of Discoveries hit, Monster Garage at that time. Now we had all the pieces: we had a host, we had the house and now we need a venue, contestants, and racers.

The Future of Pass Time

Boss One Media’s creation of the POWERtube TV streaming network was built for shows like this. For years we’ve received an outpouring of feedback from national and international fans asking for more shows and events. The POWERtube TV network will now act as a re-launch pad for future shows and live events. With support from viewers and marketing partners, revivals of hit shows like this will return and be cast onto multiple viewing platforms for the world to see one more time. But this can only happen with your help. Spread the word and let the world know these shows are on POWERtube TV. With everyone’s help through their social platforms and word of mouth, we can build a network “Community” together and bring these shows back. Our goal is simple, highlight the fans and racers that supported these shows in the past and bring them back to the elevated stage they deserve! Click the “Join the Community Button” and stay informed!