105 | Creating the Impossible: The Stories Behind Rick Dobbertin’s Legendary Builds

Becoming UnDone

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About the Guest:

Rick Dobbertin is a renowned engineer, fabricator, and entrepreneur known for his groundbreaking work in the field of custom car building and vehicular engineering. He gained fame in the 1980s for his work on high-performance pro street cars, including the iconic Nova and J2000 builds. Rick’s inventive spirit led him to create the Dobbertin Surface Orbiter, an amphibious vehicle made from a 1959 milk tanker that logged 33,000 miles across 28 countries. Currently, Rick runs Dobbertin Performance, a company specializing in high-performance automotive components.

Episode Summary:

In this riveting episode of "Becoming UnDone," host Toby Brooks interviews Rick Dobbertin, a legendary figure in the world of engineering and custom car creation. Known for his incredible innovations and transformative approach to vehicular design, Rick takes us on an exciting journey through his career – from his early fascination with mechanical objects to the creation of the legendary Dobbertin Surface Orbiter, and his radical shifts into various engineering territories. Engaging and insightful, the conversation illuminates how Rick's relentless curiosity and inventiveness propelled him into crafting vehicles that pushed boundaries and redefined possibilities.

Rick's journey is a story of awe-inspiring achievements and personal trials as he narrates the challenges and triumphs of building some of the most audacious machines known in the automobile world. His ventures include the pioneering hot rods of the 1980s pro street movement, like the J2000 and the Nova, which featured cutting-edge designs and innovative engineering. The episode delves into Rick’s relentless pursuit of pushing the envelope, from the engineering marvel of his amphibious surface orbiter to his robust performance components business, imparting invaluable insights into the ingenuity and resilience that drive transformational life achievements.

Key Takeaways:

• Rick Dobbertin's transformative impact on the pro street car scene began with remarkable builds like the Nova and J2000, which pushed the boundaries of car engineering.
• The Dobbertin Surface Orbiter project demonstrates Rick's ability to merge theoretical ideas with practical engineering, culminating in an amphibious vehicle capable of traversing both land and sea.
• Rick shares how obsession and dedication can both fuel achievement and bring personal and financial challenges, shedding light on the labor-intensive creativity in automotive engineering.
• Through reflective anecdotes, Rick discusses the evolution of his work, underlining the importance of balancing personal passions with professional and familial responsibilities.
• Rick’s current venture, Dobbertin Performance, exemplifies his enduring commitment to innovation, offering high-performance automotive solutions worldwide.

Notable Quotes:

1. "I don't consider myself in the top… because I know what went into it, and I'm pretty much just an average person."
2. "This is just to say I did it. And now I can say I did it because I did it."
3. "If a little is good, then a lot is better and too much is just right."
4. "Everybody should travel out of their own comfort zone."
5. "Ignorance is blis

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Becoming Undone is a NiTROHype Creative production. Written and produced by me, Toby Brooks. If you or someone you know has a story of resilience and victory to share for Becoming Undone, contact me at undonepodcast.com. Follow the show on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn at becomingundonepod and follow me at TobyJBrooks. Listen, subscribe, and leave us a review Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.