I know they do... A friend of mine brought an exchange student from Denmark by my house last night... She had told the 16 year old boy that they were "going to look at some old cars"... and he didn't really want to go. It's not that he didn't like hot rods... or old cars for that matter... it's just that he had never SEEN a car that was 75 years old. It would be like telling an American kid "we're going to go check out a 5 year old mini van"... But when he walked into my garage... his eyes got real big and he just began to soak it all in. The pictures, the parts... The Roach Rod was in there and when he looked at it it was if he was looking at an alien space craft. We then went around to the side yard garage and let him sit in the BFD. I explained to him that it accelerates from a dead stop to 200 kph in just .4 of a kilometer (estimated)... he was taken back by it... and then when I fired it up with him sitting in it, he just got this big grin on his face that was there for the rest of the night! After that, I took him for a ride in the Roach Rod... he liked that a lot! Anyway, the point of this post is, I told this kid that there were guys like me in Denmark, Sweden and Holland... and that I'd try to get some names and numbers (e-mail addresses, web-sites) and maybe some dates and places of some car shows over there. He was definately hooked, and would be more than jazzed if he could see some hot rods in his own country. So if you know of anything, let me know so I can relay the info to him. He had told me where in Denmark he was from... but I didn't write it down. My freind said she'd get his e-mail address for me, so I can forward any info to him once I get it. Keep rodding worldwide! Sam.
Very cool Sam. Denmark and Finland are two countries that it is almost impossible to drive a hot rod in. This is due to safety equipment laws and laws against any kind of modification to a car. It's deferent in Sweden; they have a rich tradition of American iron and hot rodding much like here in the states. Sweden in the country that most closely resembled the US that I've ever been to. Big wide roads, red barns, a feeling of freedom while driving. There are some really nice rods and customs there too. I'm sure one of the Swedes on the board could fill ya in on the great shows there like the Power meet.
Keep this up top for a while guys. Every kid deserves the chance to get bit by the hot rod bug. My only regret is that I didn't get bit 'til I was 32. It's been a great 3 years since, and I only wish I had been involved in this stuff my whole life. I mean, what could be better to dream about at night than your next project, or that hot rod goose chase you're going on with dad in the morning?
Sure! Holland, Sweden... Denmark... I think he'd definately be willing to drive to an event. I also never knew that about those countries, Krap'. The kid did tell me that they junk their cars once they rust out... that would be counter-productive to rodding in general... and would eliminate RAT RODDING in the USA if we had laws like that! I showed him a pic of the rusty body we started with on both the Roach Rod and the BFD and he was blown away. Anway, help from our Swedish brothers on the HAMB would be greatly appreciated. Sam.
Sam My wife is Danish, (there's nothing like a danish for breakfast, but I digress) I know a few Danish rodders, and it also seems to me that one or two dropped in on the HAMB a while back. I was in Denmark in 2001 and visited a Danish national meet pictures at http://www.fsra.org/dsra/dsra.html There's not much in the way of "traditional" stuff there, due to government regulations most biulds are forced to go the "high end" route. In that corner of the world Sweden is the place for the more traditional build. I'll collect the adddresses I have together and send 'em your way. mike
Here is the link to the Danish Street Rod Association: DSRA For more European clubs, visit ESRA: ESRA
This is from another board: Hello everybody. I'm Morten from Denmark. One of the organizer of the Bedrock Weekend. knights@post.cybercity.dk This year we have 4 bands. Johnny Bach & his Moonshine Boozers,uk Darrel Higham & the Enforcers,uk Nosey Joe & the Poolkings,s Cyclones,s Wild Wax Combo,dk To see some pictures : http://photo.starblvd.net/47Cadillac Hope to see you all there !!!!!
Kartsa, I've seen both Johnny Bach (also with The Rimshots) and Darrel Higham. If you haven't seen 'em get ready, 'cause they both kick ass!! Sounds like a great show!
what??? something is really rotten in denmark...i couldn't resist... anywho,,,,, i think if he goes back and LOOKS for the hot rods he'll find 'em... it's that whole does god exist? thing. make your god a hot rod and everywhere you look you'll see Him. nic p.s. no, i'm not born again...
Unless you are in to US cars or hot rods, most kids from Scandinavia are like most kids in the US: In to computer games, cell phones texting and MTV life style. Somebody said it right, Sweden is the most liberal country when it comes to building hot rods. The Danish authorities are pretty tough, but the Danes are big in to 50's and 60's iron. To generalize: If you are from that part of the world, and interested in US cars, you are likely to dig ALL kind of US cars. From trad hot rods, to 50's and 60's cars to NASCAR ! I can say that, since I am from Sweden. I am sure your Danish student can find numerous events in Sweden in the summer, some US car meet draws over 10,000 cars ! I can PM you e-mails of some of my Danish buddies if you like.
Did i read DJSMOKINBONE? on that poster? Very cool read Sam. BTW, I ran across a Rodders Digest Letter you wrote back when you were building the A.
Hey!!! Sure we have hotrods in Denmark, not that many, but we have some!! And some cool ones also!!! Here´s a few:
cool story, reminds me of when i first got hooked. when i was twelve and my dad just finished his small block in his 62 fleetside cheby and was doing burnouts in third gear in the driveway... the pissed off reaction my mom gave was more then enough to get me started, along with the sound/smell of buring rubber and a small block running at six grand
With all respect you shouldn't spread wrong information on the board. Here's the most recent hotrod event in Finland on public road. And if you look carefully, you can see licence plates in almost every car... http://s56.photobucket.com/albums/g168/lake_ender/
The best show in Denmark is this weekend... Directions from Copenhagen: Follow E20 towards Odense, continiue till you find exit 55 and then follow the signs. A-bombers old style weekend first weekend in August in Uddevalla Sweden www.a-bombers.com Hope i'll see you there
Hiya Sam, wasn't online much lately, therefor I only heard about your question today.... Sure, there are hotrodders in Denmark, guess your friends' exchange student isn't much in contact with this scene???? A meeting I can recommend is the Bedrock one in Denmark. As I have seen you've already received an reply from the organizers (by the way great bands you've booked!!!!!). Sweden has a big hotrod scene and there are some mad people over in Finland. Jack Baymoore is not only a musician but a hotrodder, too. Only can speak for Germany: there are certain regulations in traffic and cars here which have to be obeyed when driving a hotrod on public streets (no open motor block for example). Britain has good scene, too, e.g. the Hotrod Hayride is going to take place in August. Don't get fooled by the young exchange student, Europe hotrodder scene is still alived.
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