Frieburger leaving CC ?

I normally would not respond to this type of thread. But, I feel compelled to do so...

Well said YDLUZ.

Like many in the forum, Freiburger made CC and HR interesting again for me. Hell, I enjoyed R&C a hell of a lot more when he was there too. I think a lot of us feel like we've gotten to know Freiburger through the pages of CC & HR. That's not to take anything away from Jeff Smith and his work. The man knows cars and does a hell of a job with the magazine, but I think a large population of the magazines' readerships relate to Freiburger on a very basic level - like they can picture themselves throwing back a few MGD cans with him in the garage at 3 am, halfway through some crazy swap.

I don't think there's a person here that can find a reason not to respect Jeff Smith and his work, but Freiburger has a sort of magnetism through his writing that makes you feel like a buddy writing a letter to you. It's a rare power.

Dave, I want to have your babies.  

I have met both and to me Jeff is the one that has the"magnetism" and people skills. Jeff is welcome in my garage anytime!   

Yes we do have a right to state our opinions about their different editorial styles and article writing . I do not remember anybody saying that Smith kicks dogs and beats his kids. We as the buying public have every right to criticise Smiths direction in which he was going with the magazine. just like if you do do your job poorly somebody WILL call your boss and tell him what he thinks of your abilities. It is up to your boss to decide if the criticism is valid. Apparently someone at Prime thought it was valid or else Smith would still be the editor. Smith may be a great guy but his editorial style and direction in which he took the magazine left more than a few people cold obviously.   

I typed a long response to this, but it's not worth it, I give, Blast away!!!!!!!!!!!!  

Thanks for the kind words from most of you. It's always appreciated when we hear that we're reaching people the right way. And don't any of you forget that it was Smith who hired me 15 years ago.

And, TurboDave, don't forget that your first words to me were essentially "Freiburger, you're an idiot" because we didn't pick your car for Pump Gas Drags. After seeing the car, and reading Smith's story, I still wouldn't. That doesn't mean it's not a fantastic homebuilt ride, which is why I sent Smith to do the story, like I told you I would.

DF

I dont ever remember calling you a idiot and if I did I apologize for that. Some how I knew that you would take that post personal. I have met both of you and  Jeff gets my vote for Mr. nice guy. It has nothing to do with the article Jeff wrote about my car, I liked him before that. I never really thought that you would contact me and do a article on my car anyways. I figured that you said that just to get me off your back. Thanks for the article,you stuck to your word and that says something for you. Everyone I know thinks JEFF SMITH did a awesome job on writing it. Jeff is easy to talk to, has millions of stories and he LISTENS to you. I never comparied his editorial skills to yours, just his people skills.  As a editor I would have to think that when someone came on and bashed one of your guys as bad as Jeff was bashed on this thread you would come to his defence. You came to your defence rather quickly. My post was not directed to you and it did not slam you, it just stated my preference was Jeff. As I said before, JEFF SMITH is welcome in my garage anytime.  

I did get the drift, and it's about time. I've had really mixed feelings during  the last couple of years. I think that each mag needs its own honcho,  and the exec ed should be focused on getting the right guys - then supporting them aand keeping the corporate weight off of their backs.
 
DF, I'm just an average reader, but it bothered me a lot to see your smiling face in both mags. You pulled Marlon to HR, and then told us that you loved CC -- it was hard to take.  Especially when you took over CC and said that you were going to 'bring it back'

Maybe it was what had to be, but I hope it's over. Part of CC's appeal is when it sticks a pin in the HR baloon. To me, it's an in your face mag -- and it needs an ed who would be fired -- if he/she didn't bring in so many readers.

It's obvious that you're a real guy with skills that I could only dream about -- but where you are now, I think that you have to step back and let HR and CC be themselves.  Fire the eds if they don't produce, but they need to own the mags

Hope you enjoy 3 piece suits!

ford2go

Just read Glads first column as editor of CC and yeah it was a good first foot that he got off to. But Glad with some of us do nto admit that SS Impala was a typo . I liked the idea that you did mean it was a boat because the only difference between them and the Titanic was the latter sank! I liek the fact that you are putting that Rambler together, makes me feel better about my 67 Falcon . It isn't the most popular Ford ever but you know what I love it and I have never seen another one in person like it .  

I wish I had an FE 427...mine is a stroker windsor, using a Coast Performance 427 kit.  It has early style TFS high ports, fully ported, flow is 310 at .600 int, 230 at .600 exh.  Super Vic intake, Demon 850, custom big tube headers, solid roller cam, etc.. I had a Tremec in it until early this summer, when I killed my Spec 4 clutch.  I pulled it out, and stuck a PA C4 back in with a custom built 4000 stall converter in it.  Because of my job, I still dont have it back together yet, but it will be coming back together soon.  Also getting painted right now.  The big inspiration for that came from the Disco Nova.  Only difference is instead of Zinc Yellow, I am using 2004 Viper Yellow.  I have several friends with `57s like mine, and their choice of power ranges anywhere from stock 312 F-code power (factory supercharged) to 302 to FE 390-406-427 to 429-460.  One of my west coast contacts has a 521 cube mechanical injected(shotgun hat on a tunnel ram) Pro Street style `57 Custom.  My favorite `57 I have seen yet belongs to a guy I know from North Carolina, blue and white with a Cammer 427.  Outwardly it looks like a stock `57, with a little wider steel wheel in back.  Stock hub caps and all.  I do love those old Fords, though I can dig a sweet old Mopar or Bowtie too.  In fact, my best friend and I dragged a ratty old `55 150 2 door sedan from the boneyard here last year.  He just got it running and brakes on it this week.  Still looks rough as the day we dragged it home, but man, is he having a blast with that thing.  We're all hot rodders here, let's just hope CC and HR stay up to par this time.  BTW, where is your friend from?  I know a guy that built his back in `67 because he wrecked and totaled his `56 Victoria on the way home after being discharged from the Army..  He still has it...Could be the same guy?  Guy I know name is Richard...  

YIKES!

You might ought to check with MRS. Freiburger on that one . . . .

(BTW, you wouldn't happen to be AMBER FRYE, would you?)

TurboDave!  Your car is awesome! 

But maybe Freiburger would pick it for PGD if you could show us it would card sick numbers on PUMP GAS (not brain-cell-killing leaded AV-GAS).

BTW, even most Jeff Smith critics admit he's a smart guy and a decent writer.   But I suspect he WOULD BEAT HIS DOG if ordered to do so by his handlers at GM  . . . . (That was a joke. Please JEFF,  DON'T SUE TURBOTED! I'll build an LSx, I promise!)

When Jeff Smith writes a multi-part build on a SOHC, 3V or DOHC Mustang (and can keep his subtle digs against them under control), then I'll defend him as unbiased.  But I strongly suspect his personal jihad for everybody to adopt  "Gen III" or LS V8s won't ever end. 

At least GLAD-Man is pumping up the non-GM elements in CC (under Freiburger's watchful eye, of course).

Sorry Ted, I guess that I bleed GM blood just like Jeff. I took my drivers license test in a AMC Gremlin when I was seventeen but if you asked me if I would own one now I would probably have to say no. Camaros are not my favorite car eather, even though I have owned a few. I like W-30 Oldsmobiles, Buick GS and old Mustangs but I dont desire to do what I did to this Camaro with them. This Camaro was a old race car and the damage was already done. And as for PUMP GAS in the Camaro we have tested with  the same mixture that was used at the PGD with good results. Maybe this year I will try a set of 8 ft wheelie bars. Nothing says "street car" like 8 ft wheelie bars out the back!   

I'm with Turboted in that if TurboDave posts his pump gas slips and they are competitive, then I can't see what Freiburger's problem with his car is.  If it's too radical, it will poop out on the cruise. 

BTW, that "street rod" that won sure ain't some NSRA fairgrounds rod--it's a thinly-veiled, barely-streetable pro gasser.

Of course, the whole "invitation only" thing about PGD (and for that matter, RSE) is troubling.  "Pay your money and take your shot" is much more "American."  That's why I'm looking forward to hearing about Drag Week (too busy to run anything this year).  

And I don't care if Jeff Smith is sold out to GM as long as CC balances him with other stuff.  If they are going let Smith and McGean go nuts over the "Gen III,"  then let's see some modular Ford stuff. I mean they build a lot more "cammer" Mustangs than LSx Camaros these days . . . .