Match Race Madness David Franklin Galaxie Starliner Interview with Bob Beck

David’s 1000 HP Galaxie Starliner “Old Yeller” — AFX Interview with Bob Beck | Match Race Madness 2025

Captured at Match Race Madness on November 8th, 2025 at Barona Dragstrip, this video features one of the most respected and long-running cars in the AFX community. Bob Beck sits down with David, the man behind the legendary Galaxie Starliner known as “Old Yeller.”

“Old Yeller” isn’t just a high-powered nostalgia machine... it’s a lifetime of dedication. Pushing over 1000 horsepower, the car has been actively campaigned by David since the 1970s, making it one of the longest-running and continuously refined AFX entries still hitting the track today. Decades of testing, tuning, and craftsmanship have shaped the Starliner into the formidable car it is now.

During the interview, David talks about why this weekend at Barona was set to be the car’s final outing, though in true racer fashion nothing is ever officially final. Whether this really is “Old Yeller’s” retirement run remains to be seen.

One of the most fascinating aspects of the build is the engineering behind it. David’s background in aerospace allowed him to machine and fabricate components for the engine that most racers could never produce on their own. Many of the car's parts are one-off creations made in his own aerospace shop, giving the Starliner a level of precision and innovation rarely seen in nostalgia drag racing.