It Has Been a Privilege

Roadkill @davidfreiburger

My first byline in HOT ROD magazine appeared in the February 1992 issue. Now, 30 years later, the February 2022 issue will likely carry my last. This is my final editorial column.

My life in print began in 1989 when Kevin Wilson accepted a story of mine for magazine, and soon I also wrote for Roland Osborne at . That freelance work helped me get an interview at Petersen Publishing in mid-1991. Hours before the meeting, I got my hair cut figuring they wouldn’t hire a guy who looked like he sang for Warrant. My interview was simultaneously with Pat Ganahl for magazine and Jeff Smith for HOT ROD. I’d also interviewed with Jeff when I was 18 and he was the, and he told me, “You seem like you have the right bones, but get some experience and come back.” I did, and after the HOT ROD interview it took about three months for Jeff to call me back, and I recall his exact words: “How’d you like to work for HOT ROD magazine?” In the years that followed I’ve thanked him many times for changing my life.