Motion Pictures HD Theater's "AMERICAN ICON - the Hot Rod" TV series

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"TV Show" threads (like this one) typically don't last too long before getting CLOSED for being O/T ... but IMHO, watching HD Theater's AMERICAN ICON - the Hot Rod program is very much like reading a "History" thread on the H.A.M.B.!

Last night, I DVR'd the first two half-hour episodes (entitled "In the Beginning Pt 1" and "In the Beginning Pt 2") ... and have watched them 3 times already!

The show is presented in somewhat of a documentary format ... I thought it was very well done ... there's tons of great vintage photographs and movie footage ... plus wonderful interviews with some of the legends of Hot Rodding and commentary from Hot Rod historians & builders:

(in order of appearance)
* Chip Foose
* Ken Gross (@Chopperken)
* Bruce Meyer (@Deuce Bruce)
* Tony Thacker
* Troy Ladd (@hhrTroy)
* Pete Chapouris
* Greg Sharp
* Leslie Kendall
* Alex Xydias
* Tommy Sparks
* Phil Remington
* Vic Edelbrock Jr.
* Steven Young
* Tommy Ivo
* Dick Messer
* Art Chrisman
* Blackie Gejeian
* Stu Hilborn

I'm already looking forward to next week's episode (#3) entitled "The Appleseeds"!
NOTE: The AMERICAN ICON - the Hot Rod TV series airs exclusively on the Discovery network's HD THEATER High Definition channel ... available via most Digital TV service providers (e.g., DISH, DirectTV, Cox, Comcast/Xfinity, AT&T U-Verse, etc.) ... consult your on-screen program guide for episode air times.

 

A good "hot rod" TV show for once

 

Thanks for the info.

 

High tech stuff is cool!! I just read this post and was able to program my DVR from my iPhone. Wow I am such a geek

 

I havent looked yet but are DVD's of it available at the Discovery site anyone know??

 

D'oh! ... I should have done a search!

My apologies to @8-Track and @Bad Bob who both started similar threads yesterday (see American Icon: The Hot Rod "New Show" & "Hot Rods" Show on HD TV! respectively).

 

Episode #3 (entitled "Appleseeds") aired tonight.

Tonight's program focused on the "Johnny Appleseeds" of Hot Rodding (Bob "Pete" Petersen, Wally Parks, & Ak Miller) ... who (with the help of many others) promoted Hot Rodding and spread organized Drag Racing across the nation in the early '50s:

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It also included a short segment about Ak Miller's (HRM sponsored) participation in Mexico's Carrera Panamericana races of the early '50s:

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IMHO, another well done episode ... more great vintage photographs and movie footage ... plus interviews and commentary from these folks:

(in order of appearance)
* Chip Foose
* Greg Sharp
* Dick Messer
* Alex Xydias
* Steven Young
* Ken Gross (@Chopperken)
* Tommy Ivo
* Art Chrisman
* Tony Thacker
* Gigi Carleton
* Bruce Meyer (@Deuce Bruce)
* Pete Chapouris
* Phil Remington
* Leslie Kendall

NOTE: Next week's episode (#4) is entitled "Quarter Mile to Glory"

 

Episode #4 (entitled "Quarter Mile to Glory") aired tonight.

Tonight's program obviously focused on the early days of drag racing ... with segments on Art Chrisman, Tommy Ivo, the 1955 Nats (Great Bend, Kansas), the 1959 Smokers March Meet (Bakersfield), and several other drag racers (Mickey Thompson, Don Garlits, etc.) and tracks (Lions, Pomona, etc.):

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I really enjoyed this one ... cool vintage photographs / movie footage ... plus interviews and commentary from these guys:

(in order of appearance)
* Chip Foose
* Tommy Sparks
* Alex Xydias
* Art Chrisman
* Pete Chapouris
* Bruce Meyer (@Deuce Bruce)
* Steven Young
* Tommy Ivo
* Tony Thacker
* Greg Sharp

NOTE: Next week's episode (#5) is entitled "To 400 MPH and Beyond " and will focus on racing @ Bonneville

 

episode #4 was killer. I have tivo'd all 4 and have watched them several times. It is a great program.

 

ya we need more shows like this!!!!!

 

That was a good show but I think it is a rerun from years back.Tom (Tired Old Man)

 

It's a pretty good show but Chip needs to stop reading off the teleprompter! But it is a good show.

 

Nope ... not a re-run ... it's a new show ... produced in 2010 ...

In episode #1 there's some footage shot at the 2010 LA Roadster Show (held Father's Day weekend) ... including a close-up of the 1932 Oregon license plate on the back of @Deuce Daddy Don's roadster:

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Also in episode #1 is some video of the beautifully re-created Phil Remington Modified as displayed @ the NHRA Museum:

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NOTE: Dan Webb finished this car in May/June 2010 ... and it became part of the museum exhibit in July of 2010.

 

Episode #5 (entitled "To 400 MPH and Beyond ") aired tonight.

This episode was all about Bonneville and included lots of vintage movie footage shot at the salt flats ... and cool photographs:

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... plus commentary from the following:

(in order of appearance)
* Chip Foose
* Steven Young
* Alex Xydias
* Tony Thacker
* Vic Edelbrock Jr.
* Ken Gross (@Chopperken)
* Bruce Meyer (@Deuce Bruce)
* Art Chrisman
* Ed Iskenderian
* Greg Sharp

NOTE: Next week's episode (#6) is entitled "Arsenal of Speed" ... and I believe it will focus on Speed Equipment.

 

This latest episode was great. Saw a lot of footage I had never seen before. I hope they put this out on DVD.........I'll buy it

 

This deries is definitely a must see for any gear head. The historic film is just spectacular as are the interviews with the main players from "back in the day."
Put it on your list of programs to record.

 

After last nights show, we can now make the announcement that Dan Webb of Webb Automotive Art in Burton, MI with Alex Xydias blessing will be re-creceating the SO-Cal Streamliner. The car is currently under construction and will debut next year. You can follow the build on our website or Facebook page:
http://webbautomotiveart.com/
http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Webb-Automotive-Art/101606936572142

In 1946 on the day of his discharge from the Air Army Corps as a B-17 engineer, Alex Xydias, using his demob money and $100 borrowed from his mother opened the first So-Cal Speed Shop in Burbank, California.
"I really struggled to keep it going," says Alex, "but the hard work paid off and the hot rods that bore the So-Cal logo ran pretty fast. My V8-60 belly tank lakester clocked 136 mph in 1948. This early success was ratified when I teamed up with the late Dean Batchelor to develop a purpose- built streamliner based on the tank's Model-T Ford chassis. Powered by a Bobby Meeks built, Edelbrock-equippeed Merc' V8 the liner ran a best of 193.54 at the first ever Bonneville Nationals in 1949.
"The following year we returned ti Bonneville and went a staggering 210.92 mph-the fastest hot rod of it's day. Unfortunately, in February 1951, the stremliner was destroyed in an accident while attempting to set a record at Daytona Beach. We returned to lakes racing with a new belly tank-the idea of a stramliner forgotten for the time being. However, the car is being recreated by craftsman Dan Webb in honor of the streamliner's 60th anniversary.

 

any word on a dvd of the series?
I live in Canada and its gonna snow any day now

 

Caught the first episode last night and really enjoyed it. Good history lesson for us young guys.

 

Outstanding series...haven't missed a one

 

Ashley (@ash) -

This is great news! ... thanks for announcing it here on the HAMB.

I assume your father is re-creating the white #5 version of the So-Cal Speed Shop Spl.?

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... vice the primered #2 version?

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... or will it be painted like the version that crashed @ Daytona Beach in 1951?

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Whoa WHoa Whoa!!! I'll be where ever it's at!!! Dan Webb is rad!

 

Ash - what fantastic news! Your dad is such a superb craftsman and his respect for the early pioneers of our "hobby" clearly shows in all his projects. Can't wait...

 

Alex said #5 was his favorite, so #5 it will be =)

 

Episode #6 (entitled "Arsenal of Speed") aired tonight.

This episode chronicled the early history of Speed Equipment ... including names like Edelbrock, Navarro, Evans, Meyer, Iskenderian, & Hilborn.

Lots of vintage catalogs and cool photographs:

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... plus commentary from the following:

(in order of appearance)
* Chip Foose
* Leslie Kendall
* Bruce Meyer (@Deuce Bruce)
* Steven Young
* Pete Chapouris
* Greg Sharp
* Alex Xydias
* Ken Gross
* Vic Edelbrock Jr.
* Stuart Hilborn
* Phil Remington
* Art Chrisman
* Ed Iskenderian

NOTE: Next week's episode (#7) is entitled "Making the Scene".

 

Very cool, thanks for the heads up. My DVR found most of the episodes...

 

Damn.........I totally missed this one. I watch very little TV so this one slipped by. Is it only available on Discovery HD?

 

Yup. Although I'd bet you'll be able to buy it on DVD from Discovery's website in the near future, if not already.

 

Well that sucks. No fair to us guys on the "trailing edge" of technology!!

 

Episode 7 Tonight!!!!!! 9pm Nov 30