Just watched American Hot Rod for the first time

lendaddy · 07-02-2004, 07:08 PM

That show is great! Seriously some of the best TV I've seen in a while. Was the one with the Swedish intern and the kid with the hairlip, simply hillarious. The hairlip kid has got some skills! Now I have something to watch other than news!

Fuzzbeaner · 07-02-2004, 07:26 PM

Just saw it too for the first time.

Honestly, I'd have to say dissapointing relative to American Chopper. You leave going "Man, those guys are talented" with chopper.

I got the feeling all the Hot Rod guys were...not talented. I mean seriously, nice shop and plenty of tools, but the employees?!?! jeeeesus!

Good entertainment though - but more like Jerry Springer then American Chopper.

-Jeff

lendaddy · 07-02-2004, 07:37 PM

Hmm, I think the chopper guys are skilless? Weird. Seems all the chopper guys do is bolt shiit together. These guys make EVERYTHING. I was impressed. If you've ever done any fab work, you know how hard it is to getting something like that perfect. I was impressed.

KevinP73 · 07-02-2004, 07:51 PM

I like American Hot Rod but the crew reminds me of a bunch of idiots. I know it's all in the editing because there is NO way anyone could create such nice cars with out some real skills. The hair lip kid does have talent. He crashed one of Boyds hot rods out on the dry lake and really suffered some facial injuries but seems competent in his position despite how the show makes him look. IMHO the only real professional there is Charlie the paint shop supervisor. I'd like to have someone like him working for me. He has a great attitude and work ethic Blue Bear is just an idiot and the shop foreman needs to get laid or something. He seems to think acting the ass is going to get him somewhere in the world.

araine901 · araine901's Garage

Any of you so cal guys can drive by the shop it is on Lambert just west of Harbor. I used to work around the corner from the shop. It kind of Ghetto (La Habra) but the shop is nice and Game Face Racing ( Porsche Shop is about 500 feet from there.

Az911 · 07-02-2004, 11:00 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Fuzzbeaner

Honestly, I'd have to say dissapointing relative to American Chopper. You leave going "Man, those guys are talented" with chopper.

-Jeff

Paul Jr from OCC just hangs crap on a bike. Come on the guy doesn't even weld he just tacks the parts together. Then another guy welds everything for him.

ronin · 07-03-2004, 12:38 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by KevinP73
I like American Hot Rod but the crew reminds me of a bunch of idiots. .... IMHO the only real professional there is Charlie the paint shop supervisor. I'd like to have someone like him working for me. He has a great attitude and work ethic Blue Bear is just an idiot and the shop foreman needs to get laid or something. He seems to think acting the ass is going to get him somewhere in the world.

ditto. Mr. Harelip appears to have the personality of a wet sock, that bisnatch hag in the a/r office really rubs me the wrong way with her "everything revolves around me and my job" attitude, and Boyd's constant pissiness gets rather tiresome quickly as well

as for OTC: I agree with Az911 that Paul mostly just assembles the parts which he orders, but there is still something to be said for his creative talent, as he does dream up all that leaves the shop. and quite a few of those mopeds are really out of this world. the 9-11 firefighter bike really did it for me, as did the Statue of Liberty one

techweenie · techweenie's Garage

Well, they're both great shows for varying reasons.

The 'harelip' guy in American Hot Rod is not a harelip. He had the muscles torn out of his face in a car accident and part of his face is immobile as a result. I have to agree, he's not too bright, but he looks like a genius by comparison to everybody else at Boyd's -- with the exception of Charlie the paint & body guy. Have to agree with Kevin, that guy has his ***** together. He does what it takes and does it cheerfully without drama.

What a collection of misfits. Lost a lot of respect for Boyd watching this. He's pissy every day and takes everybody out for a stupid 'bonding' event every other episode. And worst of all, what idiot employs both his new wife and his ex- in the same business?

American Chopper is a trainwreck, too. Ugly, but you have to watch. 'Hey, let's create a "tribute" to the all-American breakfast cereal.' They'll do it by welding heavy doo-dads onto a steel frame, then chrome it. Do any of those "bikes" weigh less than 900 lbs? Dad does no visible work, but he's always on the rag. Paul is a competent designer, but a bit of a flake, and Mikey -- lord, if that was my kid... off to the military academy.

Their suppliers save their butts. I hope they all have great insurance. You can't get away with welding and grinding without eye protection forever.

ronin · 07-03-2004, 08:23 AM

what? did they make a bike paying tribute to Wheaties or Cornflakes or something?

techweenie · techweenie's Garage

If you get a chance, "The great Biker Build Off" is much better than AC, in my never-to-be-humble opinion.

You get to see two different design philosophies and how two entrepreneur bike guys run their shops -- all in much less time and without the soap opera aspects of AC or AHR.

techweenie · techweenie's Garage

ronin: "what? did they make a bike paying tribute to Wheaties or Cornflakes or something?"

Not yet. Probably next season.

ronin · 07-03-2004, 08:42 AM

lol

yes, I have seen the "build off" and rather like it. Indian Larry and what'shisname from Florida are some of my favorites. I'm not much into the old-school bikes, but they do make some very creative rides

techweenie · techweenie's Garage

ronin: it's interesting to watch, because Indian Larry's Old Skool bike wins in the conservative Northeast, but the (Billy Lane) style bike would likely win in any other region.

There are a couple of guys (Russel in So Cal and Indian Larry) who make one basic bike, and they go up against people who are more innovative... sometimes I think it comes down to the builder's personality.

If you get a chance to see the episode with Russel (the Brit) I'd be interested in your opinion of the bike he builds. It's so subtle, you have to really look to see the elegance and purity of the design.

ronin · 07-03-2004, 09:00 AM

defitniely would like to see that. give me a heads-up if you know when it airs (sorry, I don't know how to operate a TV guide. all that newfangled technology is beyond my ability

) I have seen a few of those episodes, but that was a while ago. the personalities were more interesting as well

lendaddy · 07-03-2004, 09:01 AM

Meant no offense to "hairlip man"

Actually, having done a fair amount of fab in my day I can tell you some of that stuff is NOT easy. Bending those framerails for instance, gotta be perfect! Aluminum sucks to work with (except TIG welding). Getting the alignment perfect etc.. I would hire that guy anyday! I actually thought he was hillarious with the Swedish kid, I was laughing out loud at my TV for the first time in a long time. Neat show.

Pete Pranger · 07-03-2004, 10:44 AM

I gotta say that the "biker build off" is by far my favorite show out of the three of them. I would fire every single guy on "american chopper" that idiot vinnie couldn't get his bike to fire after working on it for like 5 freaking hours and then realizes his pushrods are too long...........will somebody get buy this guy a compression tester? " I don't know why it's not getting spark" that's all he said while working on it. WTF? moron. The kid with all the piercings is an AWESOME painter though, he rocks in my opinion.

I like "american hot rod", but I too have lost some respect for Boyd, he was always a huge hero of mine while growing up, I'll never forget "cadzilla" simply awesome. As a side note Chip Foose on "overhaulin" is brilliant. Awesome cars, no drama.

Did you see that bike Billy Lane built with a CHAIN driven open primary? This guy is hard-core, I have a 3' open primary on my bike and I can't even imagine a row of CHAINS swinging a 1/4" from my heel. Can you say meat grinder? I think that was the bike where he set his seat on fire from running the exaust too close. Outstanding.

Russel is that guy who runs exile bikes, I think he's cool (dig that internal clutch cable) but clip-ons? Nah, I'll save them for my crotch rocket. I don't really want a 150 series tire on my nose either. I do however agree with him that rear tire size had gone to ludicris size, do I need a 315 under my rear (but I wouldn't mind going from the 200 I have now to a 230). All in all a good place to get some ideas.

Pete

5axis · 07-03-2004, 05:20 PM

I guess I don't get the heavy, big choppper thing. This is more to my liking.
http://oldskoolsuzuki.info/cgi-bin/YaBB/YaBB.pl?board=articles&action=display&num=1054804372&start=0

A harris framed gixer. Very light, quick and flickable.

}{arlequin · }{arlequin's Garage

Quote:

Originally posted by ronin
lol

yes, I have seen the "build off" and rather like it. Indian Larry and what'shisname from Florida are some of my favorites. I'm not much into the old-school bikes, but they do make some very creative rides

I agree. I saw that episode too and I was glad as hell that Larry's old school bike won over that arrogant bastard's "assembly creation." That guy was an ass... just b/c he's "West-coast" famous and overcharges for bikes does not mean he's a star... Even better b/c the bikes win or lose on peoples' votes... not judges whose tastes may swing w/ the times... I'm more into sportbikes, but I can appreciate someone's dedication and effort put into building a machine like that while keeping a good attitude.

adamred · adamred's Garage

I love OCC but to me its about the friggen hilarious personalities over the product...Paul Sr. is a riot, that mustache alone is worth the 60 minutes....

The hot road show is cool, I loved the one with the sweedish intern but the big difference between the shows is the personalities, they're just not as interesting on AHR...My .02

Adam

ronin · 07-06-2004, 09:18 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by }{arlequin
I agree. I saw that episode too and I was glad as hell that Larry's old school bike won over that arrogant bastard's "assembly creation." That guy was an ass... just b/c he's "West-coast" famous and overcharges for bikes does not mean he's a star... Even better b/c the bikes win or lose on peoples' votes... not judges whose tastes may swing w/ the times... I'm more into sportbikes, but I can appreciate someone's dedication and effort put into building a machine like that while keeping a good attitude.

that guy was definitely an ass! especially with his arrogant little "who's this Indian Larry guy?" spiel. another thing that won me over for Larry was his positive attitude. he has good character. he also knows what he's doing. coolest thing I saw him do was taking a piece of square stock, bolting it on to the frame, and bending it - torch in hand - right there on the bike to make a sissy bar. came out damned straight and true. that's talent