Hot Rodding is Dead

[@dlinenberger]

Excellent commentary on the sport of hot rod. 35 years ago I drove a fuel altered for a team that did not have alot of money. The car was wicked scary and the car never wanted to go striaght down the strip. When the car broke or blew upped, it was left up to us to fix it. It was a major rush in the day. But, we went broke and still talk about how great the times were.

[@labrd41]

Picked up my grandson at a local high school last year. I found a parking spot between the door and the student parking area. I'm driving a '46 Chevy pickup, full fendered, V8, obvious hot rod. Schools out and half the student body walks past me with their eyes on a cell phone. One male looked up and said "Nice truck". Maybe there is still hope.

[@lorenreece1665]

Wouldn't count on it. Younger people want the rice burners to hop up.

[@lorenreece1665]

Should have kept my 34 Ford Coupe.

[@precesionnoreaster1507]

@@lorenreece1665 maybe old people shouldnt hve made the cars so expensive, kids dont have 70k to put on a 67 camaro

[@deronborghi5929]

It's a damn shame. I feel like generation X (me) are failing. I'm about to get my Roadrunner out of It's 11 year resto hiatus. And I will try to get my daughter back into it.

[@Wmxjdhdgdhdbkkf]

Ok boomer

[@leegourley209]

Wow. My wife watched this and said that sounds just like he knows you. That part about the garage sent chills up my spine ! I've built so many cars . I was never happy to build one car. Made my living welding . body and paint. Sadly my shop is gone. My tools are in a shed. Rusting . my fingers arthritic. My back hurts. I miss it every day. My friends. My customers. The rush of power. Tires smoking. The drag strips. Thumbs up from everyone. Nothing left for me . now I dream of past times. Nothing will take its place. Sigh...now fading into oblivion. People died trying to be me. Nothing to live for now . just waiting for the hand of fate to release me from this boring carless hell on earth . happy holidays.

[@Numberonecock]

+Lee Gourley You are one of the lucky ones who went out and did it! Too many people spend their lives whining about their boring, tedious life, but you, my friend, have memories enough to keep you warm for the many cold nights ahead. I have friends like you, they are the reason I started building cars, they are the reason I still build cars.

[@MrGGPRI]

+Lee Gourley Lee there ARE things your can do about joint problems; I worked a small business until I was 71 yrs when I finally retired to finish rebuilding my "old school" Deuce roadster again for the third time. Took suppliments for my aching joints and felt better after several weeks and now after two years I finished the roadster and my ligaments and joints are in fine shape and I can shift the 4-speed without pain. RAMARD "Total Joint Care" (equine powder form is MUCH cheaper) and Dr. Williams "Joint Advantage GOLD 5x" worked for me (and also the wife.)

[@ericyirka6444]

Lee Gourley finding old gearheads are the best. so much to learn and they have so much knowledge to give. im 26 years old surrounded by douchebags that dont know what real car culture is. they think civics and japanese hunks of plastic are cars. theyve never felt 1000hp windsor or a 600hp hemi under their feet. they only know 4 bangers and fart cans. the days of building it and making parts because your to broke to buy them from summit, or being tired all the time because you work 10-12 hours wnd come home and work another 5-6 on tour dream. theyll never know the satisfaction of taking a motor from a stand and making it fit in in a place it was never meant to go and the feeling you get when it breathes life for the first time. its sad but there are still some of us young guys out here trying to keep a dying breed alive

[@blueykoala3827]

Lee Gourley I'm just like you are the mind is willing but the body says no way, well do what I do I educate the younger ones on how it's done, at the moment I'm teaching 4 teens on there own cars, I love it.

[@GUE5TPA55]

please never take this down

[@Numberonecock]

+James Carr Hot rodding will never die! I live in the Philippines, it is 2016, and guys here STILL build hot rods, I am one of them.

[@chrishenniker5944]

+Paul Burgess, what are you building?

[@Numberonecock]

Chris Henniker A 1928 Model A RPU, nearly finished, but they never are. img.photobucket.com/albums/v225/Pburgess68/Roadster%20pickup/10340174_10153418144917338_8527174767676751374_n_zpsrah7amkm.jpg

[@chrishenniker5944]

Paul Burgess They're never finished, they just go faster.

[@Blwn2000pu]

Man, you about summed it up Eric. Good to know there are still some of us out there hanging on to the real deal.

[@Cadillac1955]

Thank you. From a woman who is still trying to keep the love of these cars alive.

[@flatjan8030]

"..and where some day that door will open..." yeah my "door" was opened this week after 6 years of work. Worth every second! Great moment when my flatty powered traditional hot rod roadster rolled into the light

[@DEATHTRAPHOTRODS]

HOT RODS FOREVER!!

[@donellmuniz590]

It didnt start at Bonneville, son. It began in the 1920s on the dry lake beds of SoCal. Muroc, El Mirage, etc.

[@jeeper426]

i've watched this video atleast 30 times, and each time i still get a tear in my eye, great job man, great job *claps*

[@mistabone3899]

it's a monsoon each time I watch,

[@freakineagle]

I agree 100 %! This is my Dream Coupe, "Coupezilla" me and my friends built from scratch! And REAL HOT RODDING IS NOT DEAD! Thanks for the AWESOME video EricDarby.

[@pulppeeler]

Very inspiring! I am one in the garage all hours of the night, working for the day I can see my Dad drive his hot rod!!!

[@31Roadsterford]

Right on! I own a 1931 Ford Roadster AV8, period correct, newest part in this car is the steering wheel (1951 Mercury). Build it for 4 years. 5x show 1st place winner :) Greetings from Finland!

[@jackboy2387]

That was a great speech. It's enough to make your eyeballs sweat. :,)

[@gearhead1930]

Thanks - This set up hasn't been run yet, but I am hoping for high 9's. Approx 750 HP and it weighs less than 2200lbs. I will post videos hopefully soon.

[@YowzaFullThrottle]

Really really well done. Great narration. Great footage. Great in all aspects. Keep up the good work! YFT

[@amishrobots]

all b&w footage filmed in 2005. awesome. thank you for expressing the passion we feel.

[@nashvilleoutlaw]

Do a search for "When Cars Had Fins" its another good hot rod poem

[@Hubs88]

Hot rodding isn't dead, it's just running out of cool old cars.

[@chrishenniker5944]

You can still find cool British & European cars from the 50s and 60s, like a Cortina or Volvo Amazon.

[@savington]

Guys like you are my inspiration. I'm 19, and I can't count how many times I've heard people tell me they had wished they had started earlier, or they wish they'd kept their high school hot rod, or all the stuff they'd wished. If you're young, and reading this, get out there, get a job, and get started on your dreams. If you start early enough, and keep your head down, you can accomplish anything.

[@theausteregentleman4622]

Huh... why's this guys mic so clean for 15 years ago. Also why does this hit so hard, geez.

[@dogheadchoppers]

Thank you. My build has started to slow down and this was the pick me up I needed.

[@slrrfan]

This is the best video on youtube bar none! I'm still in high school, with todays modern trends in a sense, yes I did think hot rodding is dead, even though i knew about all this stuff, but its something like this that shows how brilliant true hot rodding is, and why its an addiction.

[@63mrl]

Gave my son a 63 Buick Special that we've built up as his daily driver. He not a gearhead per say but, he is committed to driving this part of history that may not repeat itself.

[@qwertyword]

its sad.. i have a 1950 lincoln with a 337 flathead hardly nobody makes parts for it im trying my hardest to keep it original im not puuting no fiber glass on it im keeping the flathead, im keeping the gauges, it will have a paint job but im painting it myself, i am 15yrs old, i wish more people would help keep the old cars on the roads.. but not many ppl care.. :(

[@hotrodthug]

Bout time we got some real rodders voices on here, the tuner and glam rod would not exist if it were not for the old skool hawt rawds.

[@Hellathome]

My HOT ROD is a 70 VW bug 7.64 in the 1/8 on street tires. VW air cooled motor

[@Woodywagin]

Hotrodding is far from dead,just go to a Goodguys show or NSRA event and you'll see. Great video.

[@abejimeneza67c10]

Hot rodding will never die!!!!!

[@ne0fiend]

When I saw this headline in the 'Recommended for you' section, i freaked out. I thought WTF... Hot Rodding isn't dead! What an asshole. Then I listened to this kid. I nodded and agreed as he spoke, remembering falling asleep at work from being up all night fixing the Gasser. I remembered picking up my girlfriends in a car they always detested - Thinking 'Man, this car is beautiful. Why don't you like it?' This made me cry. Maybe that's lame, but it touched me. Long Live Hot Rodding!! Lucky13 ;)

[@cosmicwarrior62]

@ratrodrocky I agree with you. Hot Rodding is a passion and a true form of Octane Art... LONG LIVE THE ART OF HOT RODDING...

[@jasonhumphry5836]

Currently going through old Hot Rod,Car Craft and Popular Hot Rodding magazines from the past and now thinking I'm going to get a few different carburetor spacers and possibly cut out the intake plenum on a duel plane manifold and I'll be running a Rochester Quadrajet Carburetor for some OLDSMOBILE HOT RODDING

[@woolyhighlander7280]

Type in Cooks Cuda, a blown & Inj. 5/8 stroked 392,with 26% overdrive on the small bore 6-71, Great sound, crank it up,enjoy

[@RIPSNZ]

@cfaulc Although I agree with some of what your saying, with good modern tuning you don't need to read plugs or bearings and they can last a very long time. I won a huge amount of races over 3 years with a championship win at the end, in a japanese powered competition car and all we ever did was change the oil twice and the plugs once (1400hp from 182ci) 7.2 @ 185mph on petrol. There is a place for modern technology in current drag racing.

[@skoczzy]

Far better than most of the poetry I was forced to read in high school. Awesome spoken word art.

[@NonalignedVideos]

Excellent video for an excellent piece. How's YOUR hot rod coming along? What's your opinion of the "Pimp My Ride" show?

[@RareRS]

Why am I just now being recommended this 15 YEARS later?

[@bonespec]

Built, not bought.

[@mistabone3899]

nearly 16 years on and I'm still working in the garage at night. It is healing!

[@stewpidaso7145]

It's like rock and roll. It'll never die.

[@slippery396]

Your words made tears come to my eyes

[@savington]

This is an excellent video. One of my favorite car quotes is the last minute or so.

[@drkickflip13]

Amazing ending, it made me watch it twice. Very well done!

[@HipHopEmperor34]

Words fail me. Its guys like you that keep us rollin

[@Farmall80]

Pin Stripes and One color is all i need. In a hot rod but noting feels better when you make your hot rod, tractor anything your own, and go ride at a show.

[@moparmonster1965]

And what do you call "traditional?" A fiberglass '32 Phord with the milktoast 350/TH350/Phord 9" combo? Something with tweed interior and painted on graphics? And some Boyd Coddington billet wheels to match? You might not like rat rods, but they're a hell of a lot more loyal to what teenagers were building in 1955 than what you seen in Rod and Custom.

[@1320crusier]

i couldnt have said it better myself, its all about the thrill and pride that we get in our hotrods. no matter what genre of rod it is

[@seacopotan]

@cfaulc thank you for not being rude like most , this is more important than modern or old tuning , I respect old shool tuning too , of course it was not easy .to be scientific or not , it depends on the person not the tools , many modern tuners damage the engine during the tuning process , and many old timer did just that , the point is , now it is easier to tell if you are heading for a blown engine , and it is easier to tune , you type on keyboard now not a typwriter , same theory .

[@scottmcg666]

You read my mind in a way I could never express myself.

[@chrisgleis4297]

Bravo dude

[@vana1]

all i can say is Awesome , almost had tears because in a few months im going to be the one pulling out of that garage with a hand built 27 roadster

[@ITheInspector]

Never get tired of watchin' this.

[@exilemike]

Roy Caruthers in the famous #5 roadster.

[@outworldarts]

This is a wonderful video and a great commentary! Ours is a 1957 Chevy Belair.

[@leerider52]

LOVE your video....don't forget us bike guys too!!! At home I pass two project bikes(in my home) on my way to the bathroom a couple times a night.Not bragging we do the same thing as the car-guys just as fast on two~wheels. "Home built forever"

[@bikeboytim]

this sounds pretty scary to drive! i'll subscribe so i know when you put your vids on! can't wait! thanks for the info

[@PTStylin58]

We are those people at 2am. Very beautifully said. I still have chills. :-D

[@eldorado62]

1949 Bonneville Salt Lake Flats. Akton Miller takes out # 13 for a blast. Barton & Frostrom ran a class B non-fendered coupe to a new record of 124.19 mph. Ford flathead mills kicked out to 296 cu. ins. Great days.

[@bonespec]

The passion for building your own car will never die. Be is a 23 Ford, 38 Chevy Business Coupe, 55-57 Shoe box, late 60's muscle, 80's Fox Body Mustang, or even a fast Honda. It is a passion you BUILD into YOUR project with blood and sweat, not that you can BUY. You think the imports are different? What did people think about the low riders in the late 60's or the Van Craze in the 70's. It is a passion, it will never die.

[@Gassed250]

this brought a little tear to my eye

[@shanekaiser713]

I absolutely love this, ive shared the link a few times on my facebook pages over the years. I just put a video on tik tok with this sound, people love it! I steered them back here and told them to give you a like!

[@benderc7778]

And hotrodding has out priced itself, I put a 340 4 speed in my 84 dodge in 2013 and it was super expensive then. Lots of the parts to do it again are way up in price or not even in stock from the manufacturer anymore.

[@JDMblaistoise22]

this is EPIC! gave me chills

[@visti1]

very nice video. I Think that a hotrod can be diferent kind of cars, a hotrod in the 50'ties was a hommade american car but we are now in 2009, and for me a hotrod can be a car as my homebild and tuned volvo 244 1987. It's not a american but swedish car, but as the first us carbuilders i also took in a car in the garage that no others wantet and made my version of a hotrod. Hotrod lives.

[@chrishenniker5944]

What about putting the Volvo engine and transmission in a T-bucket?

[@CorpseGrinder006]

Great video! The salt flat footage looked like 1948! And please...rat rods are NOT hot rods!

[@OBrienTruckers1934]

Sure looks like Buddy George at 0:53 in his sectioned 34 3W. RIP Buddy!

[@philbitu]

I´m lost for words! Wonderful!

[@artemisboat]

nothing like a old school metal boded hot rod with a big block , nail it down the street , this is real driving

[@PursuitofSpeed]

Absolutely beautiful

[@UFO29]

No words are necessary, you pretty much said it all in four minutes. *sigh* Now I have to go build me that railjob I've been dreaming about for the past five years...

[@TheFrameoff]

Cool poem, that describes Hot Rodding to a tee and it is what it is all about, build what you like....... never say DIE.

[@motorcycles]

great video, look forward to seeing more.

[@artemisboat]

i am keeping my 33 plymouth old school , all metal the only way to go

[@markrskinner]

No, I didn't hear that. Neither did anyone I know.

[@leadfoots70]

right on man i have been dreamming of my "hot rod" for years working 2 jobs and saving up for that day to buy a wreck and build a rolling shine to all the men that built the fast car in town for 60 plus years hopfully my dream will be real soon

[@surgarkay290]

I hope not I am for #80 have to work for it keep your foot in it

[@bluflame9tv667]

I'm late but I was here and Loved every syllable!

[@atomickim]

this is the best video ever.

[@jazzfanjohn]

Great job - visually and verbally! ID for speaker if possible?

[@JohnBailey3]

You can feel the heart and soul that went into this piece. I'll point a lot of the uneducated here to this video.

[@jimervin387]

Whether hot rodding or restoring a car, it's all in serious trouble around here. I've got a '30 Model A Coupe that I've had since '64 and so I know what's happening in the old car hobby. I restored mine at a time when it was much easier just to get around to places like all the swap meets I went to for finding parts. Now we're so choked by traffic, we can't even plan a club tour anymore. No one even wants the job of being tour chairman. You need to own some land to be in this hobby and just try to find affordable land in my area. I only have it because I inherited my house and property. It's a hobby under attack , just like the whole white anglo race and culture. But still it persists. The popularity of the car shows and swap meets prove that.

[@cindys1819]

Well if hot rodding is dead...what is the rat rod movement? Also you have thousands of guys quietly putting in headers and reworking throttle bodies not to mention after market CPU's which are owner programmed. The whole performance diesel truck are an absolute mirror, with higher tech, of hot rod garage culture. And the Dodge Demon being released is not exactly a sign of everyone surrendering to Tesla. What about the after market block mfgs. And the fastest street car guys who order and use the blocks in their 4000+ HP rides?

[@Vohton]

Right on Man! Most eloquent.

[@milwaukeegregg]

brought a tear!!!

[@r.a.monigold9789]

Hot Rod. The name started with the Plymouth 6 cylinder engines trying to beat the "little" Ford V8. The six had a LONG stroke with skinny rods. Shaved heads raised compression so high, push starts were required. Advance the timing. Add alcohol to the gas, drill out the carb jets and the Plymouths would scream - for a mile or so. Then all that presume on those long skinny rods made them so HOT they'd bend. Cars set up that way were teased as HOT RODS. Then bad became good...

[@glisnake]

Right on brother!!! Think it, build it, Drive it!!!!

[@MikeMiller-fc2cc]

Very, very good video and true. In my area true hot rodding did die, even the early 60's hotrods and racers disappeared. Some guys tried having car shows even meeting up on ''THE AVE''. All muscle cars, not one true hotrod. I even fell into the trap, told myself , I cant afford to by a piece of junk with the prices they were asking. hotrods for sale around me at that time was 2-4 times what it would cost for a used muscle car. And, yes, I'M RELIVING MY YOUTH AT 60.I've built 2 hotrods and starting to build track roadsters as a business.

[@johncartelli]

RPEEK does a fine job with his "The day Darrel missed a gear"....

[@Gunny426HemiPlymouth]

WOW!!! So inspirational!! I agree completely. I hate what hot rodding had become, fucking 401k mobiles! I hate those gaudy plastic pieces of shit.... I want to build a Hot Rod, a 30's Ford, with a flathead or Hemi. Hell, even bucket Ts I want to build!

[@3melendr]

My sentiments exactly Eric.You have spoken well. I couldn't have said it better. I'm glad I saw real dragsters driven by humans not some E-module. I saw all the greats. Shirley Muldowney (sp.?) Don Garlits, Gene Snow, Tom McEwen, Don Prudholme, Kenny Bernstein, on and on. I saw them at S.I.R. in Washington state and El Paso, Texas. Those were the days. When our generation is gone, it'll never be the same though it carry on. Great vid and commentary!

[@Ogre302]

That was beautiful!

[@mattcuddy814]

I was born in Pick-a-Part Sun Valley, spawned in some anti-freeze and sixty weight mixed together and heated by exhaust. You don't have to tell me anything.

[@audiolabguy]

Preach on my Brutha...amen!!!!

[@CobandPeaz89]

Great video and great words,you cant beat hot rods, real cars real skill.

[@crezzyman]

I agree. I like the Top Fuel dragsters, but I think that it's much more interesting to watch a wheels up launch from a home-built 10-second Camaro than to watch a top fuel dragster make a pass in under 5 seconds.

[@bikeboytim]

sounds like a mean car! what times does it do on the strip?

[@evanjones8049]

This is art.

[@07canuck]

Very good comment, Eric, on the state of Hot Rodding!

[@johnonetrillion]

@Logik426 nope, it's a 1957 150 model.

[@catey62]

@Nicknamelessone Hi, dont mean to offend you,but I think the way he did it was perfect,it all fitted in so well with the overall theme,and I think thats what his intention was..beautifully done!!,wonderful piece of work.

[@TheBmx1288]

hot roding will never die, just get passed down threw the years. we may change the engines and electronics but i can guarantee you that 50 years from now people will die for any of these old cars. because their rotting away now the only originals will be in museums