Technical David Freiburger is building a hot rod

I don't mind DF he's a car guy and I'm a car guy and he gives kudos to people that do work for him. Taking credit for someone else's work is not in his vocabulary, I think this model A will turn out pretty good.

 

Duh…. I think this is his first one. yuk, yuk, yuk…Dave has done a lot for the car fraternity; he can also wear a 200 mph club red hat. He’s been an editor of Hot Rod Mag. Plus in the January issue of 2008 “The Power of Bonneville” he included a full page photo he took of our roadster in impounds at 6:00am warming up during the 2007 Speedweek. I personally liked all the dyno shows the best.

 

How ironic Steve,
I bought our '46 Tudor from an old guy in Hemet CA and the wiper spindle holes had been filled with a Bondo and steel wool brew when it had its Mexican paint job done earlier.
Luckily they did it that way because wipers are mandatory in Australia and they were easily removed.

 

His videos typically come out on Thursday afternoons.

 

agree that should take what you may from video. he does not claim to be the best welder etc.,. I see plenty of other builders taking full advantage of having connections to get help from those that have great skills to get things done. don't know DF but, he has done a ton more than the average guy will ever do. he was at Petersen Publications when there was a ton of talent that he learned from. One was Ol' Dad "Gray" Baskerville, who was well known for his talent and wearing flip flops and shorts most all of the time, even at Bonneville.

 

Freiburger posts new videos every Thursday.

 

If I remember correctly he holds a 200 mph hat at 5 different locations

 

I appreciate his stand on why he went with a Chevy engine. Even here on the HAMB, we constantly get people who insist on Ford in a Ford and such nonsense.

 

Sam does some nice work...

 

I enjoyed the video so much I went and watched an earlier one where they drive Sam's Model A's to a show. I enjoyed that one also. I hope DF puts out a new video about the car every week!

 

I have spent some time with Freiburger in the Land Speed arena. He is anything but lazy. He is quiet and confident, because he has been there, and done that. He's come up around some of the greatest legends in the biz. No, he doesn't have a ton of time in any one thing/project, because he has spent so much of his life creating content for us to enjoy. Writing articles for magazines, doing photo shoots, editing video, endless travel takes a hu****ous amount of time. As an example, I watched him spend a whole evening, taking over 1000 images to get 1 perfect shot for the backdrop of a table of contents page in an issue of Hot Rod Magazine about 20 years ago. I think he's done a lot for the hobby, his videos are ultimately relatable, just like his writing style. We talked about being custodians of the Hot Rodding hobby. He takes that seriously. He isn't impressed by egos, and he works constantly to try and crank out material that he thinks would benefit us all. I feel blessed to have known the guy, and I hope he keeps on going with these types of videos.

 

With the following he has, young and old, this may help to peak some interest in the hobby.
I hope to meet him someday to thank him for the things he has done to promote and protect what we do in general.

 

Dude is living the dream

 

Geez some dudes are hard to please. Life has taught me that NOTHING comes from NOTHING. Ya'all better believe he's worked his *** off and likely has a bit of "luck" along the way. Like many people in life - nobody sees the "skinned knuckles, gut punches etc along the journey" they just see the glossy production.

The question is : if you or I were doing some of the stuff he's done - would we call it work ?

Mid 8s in an A Bone N/A.
200 mph on the Salt.
More cars than most of us can dream of (many ****ters too)
Drag Week
A Mopar guy who acknowledges Brand Xers as well (GASP !!!)
Editor of Hot Rod Magazine & Petersen publishing.
A ton of wrenching on different stuff
Roadkill Productions (nobody knows what time/work goes into this ****) the amount of time away from family /other commitments can take its toll.
Engine Masters etc

As for him not welding or doing other fab, how many here can do it all....... and maintain that kinda schedule?

I think DF is the real deal and not just for the above reasons. He LIVES and BREATHES this stuff like we all do. Simply put his path has been different to most of us but he has been successful doing "his thing" post Petersen and you cant take that away from him.

My 2c.

 

With his typical project work schedule and I believe Sam's home garage being a few hours from DF, I don't expect progress to be continuous. It has been a bit between updates.

 

Yep. The word “Helix” means only one thing. Hoffman junk.
They did say they would not be using the radius rods as they were too light/thin wall.
Must be part of the parts that came with the purchase of the ch***is.

 

Dave’s video and details of the build process are excellent.

Building an old school hot rod in a home garage and including his son as a helper has to be as basic (and memorable) as you can get. Yes, he has Sam’s experience and guidance, but most old school rodders also relied on advice and help from others who had stumbled down the hot rod build road. No pun intended. My friend Kenny told me to feel free to ask him any questions about fixing cars because he said he’s probably made the same mistake twice and he can save me from making it once.

Dave’s journalism background and ability to tell the story and at the same time explain the physics and mechanics of how things work is on another level. In my lifetime I’ve encountered master car builders who for a variety of reasons can’t or purposely won’t explain a technique. Racecar guys are at the top of that list. I get it - compe***ive edge.

I’ll probably never do a build like this, but I’m all in on following this project.

Moselli

 

Some of the view angles on the mocked up ch***is look like HRM covers in the 60s -70s

 

Whenever I see his name I think of when he had the big inch BB Camaro at Bonneville. It blew up on maybe the first run so he tore it apart and ran it as a 2 cylinder and set a record for the cl***. He gets my respect.

 

In Australia its called the "Tall Poppy Syndrome"....

Please dont beat me up too when I tack things together on a ch***is etc and then get a pro to actually weld it all together.

Understanding the limit of your skills, particularly when the safety of others is involved, and then admitting that publicly, especially when you are well known, that is well worth recognizing. Kudos to him.

 

I've been reading his articles and watch most of his vids and my impression was that of a true car guy. And he never claimed to be a pro car/engine builder, in fact he admits it when he does something which could be better done if he had the skills. And he does mention the guys who help him. Not sure what one of the posters meant when he said he found him arrogant but maybe it's that Cali (over?) confidence thing?

 

To me DF is the real deal hot rodder. Always enjoyed reading his editorials on the back page of Hot Rod. He’s been “there and done that” more than I can imagine. Meet him once at the Maxton Mile.
Flip flops and all are good with me. No animosity, only respect and a little envy from my little corner of the car world.

 

WOW
Now I would like to read THAT one.

Ben

 

The goals I stated in the episode are: look cool, cruise 80 mph anywhere, run 11s in the quarter, and do at least paper-slipper wheelies.

 

Thanks for the support.

Wow, I have not discussed anything on a forum in SO long.

 

Magnante is way better than I.

 

Short version, on the very first p***, the engine ingested a carburetor vent tube (teaching me to always check them). We removed the spark plugs and rocker arms from 6 of the cylinders (which is not the ideal methodology) and ran in a lower-displacement engine cl*** that had an open record. Our timing tag is 35 mph or something near that.

 

Thanks for the fair review. Oddly, I recall the hot rods and the inside of your shop, but can’t even remember you having a muscle car.

 

Should you change your mind…HeyFreiburger@gmail.com. I’d overpay for it.