Abandoned Camaro Race Car - Will It RUN AND RACE again?

Sooo, the guy gets an old legendary race car running, hardly any tools, not ideal conditions, in a time crunch, when he himself should be getting ready to race, taking the time to put content together for us, his fans.....what a guy! Awesome car, awesome experience! Thanks Derek, and thanks to your amazing wife for sticking with you to get to do this, and live every man dream!

Derek you’re such a legend. I don’t think you even understand the extent of how much the fans appreciate you.

Can’t believe this car is still here. I built that car around 1994-95 for a guy named Frank Fredrick Also know as Agent Orange. He was in Vietnam when they sprayed agent orange to kill all of the foliage. He was heavy into the Pow/Mia movement. I worked on front clip for a week modifying ( cheating it up) so it would go around the corner by itself almost. It was run in the street stock class Headers, slicks, locked rear ended and under slung bars under rear ended to take the flex out of chassis. Had to watch video closely to make sure it was one of my builds. Thanks for bringing it back. Signed: Clyde Oran, Oran’s Garage, OranBilt

You know the old boy who put so much blood, sweat and tears into that car is smiling down at ya'll right now. Be proud of what ya'll have done and don't ever stop.

I could watch old race car revivals non stop. Fills me with joy to see this old Camaro brought back!

I believe Derek is a Magnet to cars with that Paint Design. And I am here for it!!!

I remember watching this car race always wondered what happened to her. Glad to see her running again brings back a lotta childhood memories. Thank you Derek and thank you James

54:46 WHAT A MOMENT!!!! Back on the track again!!!! Got chills down my spine just to see that thing entering the track!! AND THE SOUND..... OMG!!! Thank you Derek, that was one of your best videos!! Much love from Greece!

I don’t know how to express what I feel watching that old race car go around it’s home track. Close to 60 years ago I spent several weekends for a few summers working in the pits for a friend. He raced on local Northern Minnesota tracks and did quite well. Though I’d always had a fondness for helping my Dad work on cars it was my time with those old circle track cars that developed my love for uncorked exhaust and the smell of those hot greasy engines. Over the years I’ve always wished I could hang out in that environment again for just a few hours. To be in the pits with the sweat, heat, smells, smoke and dust while wrenching on some old wreck that should have been left where it was found is something not easily forgotten. I remember Dad calling them jalopy races. All the way back to when I was 4 years old in 1954 I can remember what some of those old cars looked like. I remember the old Ford coupes from the 1930’s with their flat head V8s. The Hudsons that looked like big old turtles that couldn’t be rolled over. Their flathead straight eights sounded to me like airplane engines. These old race cars have always been somewhere close by. Tonight I watched Derek wake up that old Camaro. I watched James take it for a couple laps and it felt like something inside of me was saying “hey look, the old car is tired and limping but it’s still making a showing! It’s standing proud once again.” Once again it was in the wind with the checkered flag waving over it. Definitely the most glorious car on the track. Thank you Derek!

Derek is the goat. A true family man, a friend too many and knows that success starts with living a life using your skills knowledge and abilities to elevate the lives of those around you and in your case abroad. You are an inspiration for a generation that needs home brewed down to earth fellas again

Shout out to Sam! Every shop needs a "Sam". He completes the package, ads fun and value to every build and never complains!
Sam, you are my hero!!!🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

I own a 1978 Camaro Z28 that I’m working on as a 20 year old in college, it’s always nice that a guy can sit down and watch Derek tinker on another Camaro and learn a couple things, thanks Derek 💯❤️

The aggressive battery throw never gets old 🤣

Derek is the kinda feller a guy can use as a role model for husband, friend and father. Love the channel guys!

Literally just stumbled across your channel earlier today. When I was a youngen back in the 90s here in Kentucky my dad raced a 77 Camaro every Friday on a dirt track. This video brought back many memories. This one hit home with me as my dad is bad sick at the moment and is only getting worse. I can still remember him winning races in that car and us taking pics with him and the car. Thank you for this video. I am officially subscribed and will be tuning into all your videos.

this is my first VGG video, and I love it. Derek's humor reminds me of Red Green. A old low budget comedy show I used to watch with my father when I was young. This is awesome!

I remember this thing running laps many years ago, good to see it running again! And it was a street stock! Love it!!

James is one of those guys that just looks like he is smiling all the time.

I hope VGG NEVER stops doing what they do!

That first rev at 49:06 gave me instant goosebumps. That was the soul of that engine screaming for the track

The pink swing seat is definitely a factory option for the drinker side.

Really enjoyed seeing this

man seeing it on the track back where it belongs brought a tear to my eyes, i love this type of stuff!

Putting that back on its home track is epic, great build!

Derek and fam - you guys have made me smile more in the last 2 years - THANK YOU.
Please continue to be the amazing folks and youngin's you are !!

I could feel the old man smiling from heaven. Literal goosebumps the moment the car hit the track.

The history of the car and seeing it back running again is just amazing! Great video Derek!

Derek the magician working on the Camero race car. James helped gathering up some parts and stuff. Derek came prepared as usual with a pair of vice grips (best tool to have and the Leatherman of course)! Derek pulled off a miracle getting this baby running and burning those tires! Thanks for sharing Derek and VGG.

I can feel the nostalgia through my screen. Derek is living his best life and we get to watch.

I got a little emotional seeing this old warrior race car back on the track and burning out again. Great stuff Derek as always!

Thank you Derek for this moment. Brought back so much memories.

Great story on the car, I love the history, and watching it go around the track was too cool! Watching Derek get in the car reminds me of seeing a 6'6" 330 lb friend get in and out of the 1st gen Camaro drag car he drives, although he does have the luxury of an operable door.

I drove circle track in the mid 80's and this brought back so many memories. This car has the soul of a racing man within, and he still knows nothing but how to Win. Kinda hope we hear and see more of "him" on the track in the future.
Thank you for this video, you just casually without fluff know what is wanted by us.

James is such an amazing young man. The knowledge he has for engines old and new is astounding. Great to see that veteran car back up and running.

56:15 he was with diesel brothers 🔥😈........GREAT man

I love the use of proper official terms, like Sparkilator and Fire-Maker-Happener.

Hey Derek, I’m absolutely amazed at how you brought this car back to life and gave it a second chance to run it’s old home track. Thanks so much.

That thing is a beauty. Got the right paint scheme too!

That's an excellent point about the large bolster for the right leg. I originally first hung around because of your sense of humor, then I stayed because of your blatant genuine love of cars and the insights. Thanks.

20:30 "Yeah, should we just crank her and try to make her bark?" --> Firetruck and stretcher ominously looming in the background 🤣😂

Dereck, you say "Bring in the Thunder" Well you brought back a Legendary race car alive = AWESOME !!

A man would be inclined to tip his hat to you sir if he happened to be wearing one, but you get the idea anyways. Myself and many others over here in Australia appreciate the content and the work that you must put into creating such quality. Been finding it hard to find anything more suited to sitting down with a few beers and some close mates in the shed with your videos playing on the wall mount tv device. Happy days mate, happy days indeed.

Derick you should be nominated for man of the year award, Great job man on the race car.

When I’m all caught up, I scroll through for something that YT says I haven’t watched. Yet often I find myself watching and thinking I’ve been here before, but I still keep watching. A few years ago I watched, but didn’t have an account to keep track. Anyway I’m watching and loving it. I’ve been to the FF and love everything about it, especially the history of it being the Desoto race track long before I lived an hour away.

Bring history back to life. Love it. Cleet and the gang is doing one hell of a job breathing life back into that place. Can't wait to get down there and see it for myself. The Freedom Factory to me is the KRplus Playground for all the great channels of automotive to get together and have fun.

Now that's how a race car should sound! That was cool, reminds me of the old Thunder Road days in Vermont! Thanks for sharing!

Fuel Make It Happener! Why is this my first time watching you? A true man of men right here.

Oh man.....this is where it's at...THANK YOU SO MUCH!

Hey man! Just wanted to say I love your content and will definitely be watching this as soon as it comes on!

Couldn't get the smile off my face when she was running round that track again, how damn cool was that to see!!

Derek, you crack me up with your lingo, truely one of a kind. The "Tanya Harding" and the "Can you move please? 6000"

I love how all you KRplus car channels have become such good friends. We all benefit greatly from it. Keep it up

Thanks for working so hard and turning out the episodes. I really appreciate you!

Derek you are one of a kind and have a wealth of knowledge. Thanks for keeping these classic cars going! Love it!

The old guy that built that car is smiling down on the freedom factory! Great episode Derek!

Always enjoy the content and interaction with you and your family. It's like great family TV, like you can't find on TV anymore. Thanks again for the videos. Happy Easter to you all. God bless!

With as much as James does for Garrett, he deserves to have something done for him. Great job Derek, for making a way to get this Camaro running, when James’ job may have kept it sitting for longer.

We're enjoying watching you and your family have good automotive fun together. Thanks VGG.

Holy crap I didn’t realize how much your channel has grown! Good job Derek you are winning at this whole KRplus’s thing keep it up!!

Doing all of that work for James and to see the car back on the track -- simply awesome 👍

Listening to that car echo around the track through headphones is almost as good as being there, great job boys

It was awesome to see you get it back on the track! I love how you showed the Camaro and the history of the car so much respect. Thanks for letting us see this. Now I have to say that guy airing the tire after the burnout (56:16) could pass for Diesel Dave.

What a incredible story , VGG saves another gem to live another day , and the pics of the car on the track is priceless .

Oh Dereck, this car is a keeper. How can you miss. You da man.

Reminds me of the story from the movie "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang", an old racing car with a real soul, comes back to life after being saved from the scrapyard crusher.
Here's to many more laps for the old girl and hopefully one day a full restoration, paint and all.
Please keep us updated on this one, it's kind of special.

This is the stuff that butters your bread, ol' boy. Straight comedy gold.

Man I'm so happy that your becoming such an icon in the world!!! You can tell everybody that gets to work with you just ends up being so so happy when the experience is over. Hard to not love a guy like yourself! Tha k you for all the years and many many more to come Brother!!!!

Love you guys, the whole family! Love everything you do!!! HAPPY EASTER EVERYONE!!!!!!!

2 Casa dillas and a stiff wobble pop.. Is freaking hilarious. I love this

sooo amazing!!! this revival actually made me cry! im just lost for words

You should make a circle tracker out of the barn find Camaro from a couple episodes ago and do a one on one race vs Jimmy. That would be awesome.

I have watched you do some amazing restores but you really killed this one. The look on James face when he drove that car was smiles all around

What a Masterpiece!!!! This is a True Survivor !! A Real AMERICAN MUSCLE CAR !!! Only a V8 Engine and fuel with a Steering wheel and 4 Wheels!!! Wow

the ol small block chevy...... they never disappoint, sits for years and fires right up with the help of the maverick mechanic Derik and rolls right out on the tracking true VGG fashion with no brakes!

Desoto Motor Speedway and drag strip. Way back in the 60's they had a race-what-you-brought event. I raced my mother's Oldsmobile 98 and tore the front bumper off it. I told my mom that someone backed into me. If you flipped the air filter over you could increase the horsepower of the 455 by at least 50hp. As I recall, she didn't corner well, hence the bumper back-up damage. My mom filed a claim with her insurance. Her claim was rejected and she never let me use her car for dating again. I told her what really happened 20ish years later.

This is the REAL “Lightning McQueen” VGG is the real deal, so glad you’re doing you!

dude that Raw Agressive sound of that old V8 Race Engine is Amazing

Such a beautiful car. Love that you went out of the way to fix it up just to drive it with James. This is so awesome.

That spraying the eyes out with carb cleaner line brought back memories of my grandfather. He was always getting stuff in his eyes/mouth/nose and then using even worse stuff to clean it out. Usually gas in the mouth/eyes from trying to siphon it and then using lord knew what to clean them out. Thanks for the laugh and memory Derek😂

So, as a Dutchman I know nothing about circle track racing. But trust it to Derek to give me goose bumps with the story telling and history that that lovely race car has. In addition seeing James and Sam smiling as that old beauty comes back to life and even for a someone looking in from the outside it's pretty clear that it's special. Thanks for the great content you and the family put out and showing the world the history behind all the projects you guys and gal take on.

I remember watching that same car win 7in a row beer can run championships, from 1995-2002 the drivers name was rusty brees he eventually went on to race in the jr nascar circuit. Where he won 3 turkey run races and 1 moonshine slide championship. He sold the car To my sisters husband cousin friend , who eventually thought he blew it up and sold it for scrap. Crazy to see her in almost all her former glory. Burning gas and Hauling ass 🥲🥲

I gotta say, a guy could get addicted to this content. I'm a fairly new fan of your channel and I think it has become one of my favorites. Your personality is perfect. So laid back and fun. So that's good. I don't know, I'll probably just go ahead and keep binge watching every episode and a guy can look forward to new content also. Anyway, awesome show!

That was actually kind of an emotional episode to watch you big-time ringing back an old time track original runner like that! Well done sir!

When two histories become one again.
What a beautiful thing you have done Derek.
Go hard you good man.

I love that it’s #13. I’m sure his family and fellow racers love seeing this.

Very,very cool 👍 Preserving a piece of racing history!! Thanks for sharing your passion Dman !!!

You're the envy of gearheads all over. Love your channel.

It's a perfect evening with a new vgg episode!

This left me speechless! Just love watching his videos. His mechanical passion is both inspiring and contagious! I need to go out to my garage and get my Dad's 82 Lincoln running. Haven't tried to start it in over 10 years. Got to get the opossums out of the engine area first!

Oh Mr Berri I love watching your videos, because you give me a six pack from laughing.

Top 10 channels left on shytetube , keep it real ! Loyal fan , love VGG!

wow this is incredible. The paint scheme matches Independence as well. If society collapses and we all need mad max cars you would definitely become the Immortal.

"Ahhh, right in the retina's. Oh it's bad." Had me rolling. Hilarious only because I can relate. LOL

Living the high life in Manatee County with a timing light...? High class my man...! Keep up the good work...! Thanks

You can just tell Derek reliving some core memories and just absolutely loving seeing this car back to what is was built for 100% most underatted KRplus on the platform

Derek,
Just for the love and joy of bringing history back to racing.
You are a true friend to automotive restoration.
Thank you.

I love that you guys all get along and collaborate together with other KRplusrs. You and the FF guys are all fun to watch. Thanks for sharing.

It is a pleasure to see you bring those beauties back to life.

This makes me miss spinning wrenches on my old stock car. Just can't afford it. Living through you Derek keep the vids coming man. My manhood depends on them. Lol I have a tired 4 banger vw race car but its nothing like my old stockcar.

Derek, most of the times I've seen youtube channels overlap it's a content fest with cameras and mics all over. You are the exception for certain. I have loved cars my whole life and that's what brought me to your channel. I come back for what you do with them. Keep it up and as always the best to your and your family.