by Bea Peterson
Gordon Fricke of Barber & Fricke Automotive, Inc. of Hoosick Falls can be heard once a month live on public radio station WAMC, 90.3. The show is Vox Pop and host Ray Graf, news anchor and director of news media, has a variety of experts on the show, from medical to gardening. “I’m the car guy,” said Fricke.
Fricke said it all began three or four years ago when one of his customers who
works for the station asked him if he would be interested in being part of a show loosely based on the syndicated Car Talk show with Click and Clack. This show, she told him, would be more serious and informational. If you think you would be interested, she asked him, can we give you a call? He told her sure. Then, more than three years later he got the call.
“At first I was scared to death,” Fricke said. “I didn’t tell anybody except my family. I was afraid I would freeze up.” As it turned out, he didn’t freeze up. “That first show just flew by!” He said Ray Graf told him, “That was great, will you come back?” And he’s been back ever since. He doesn’t always get a lot of advance notice for a show. “It’s anywhere from a week to one day notice,” he said.”It’s a bit of a commitment, but I find it interesting.”
Fricke said when they are on the air there’s a glass panel between the switchboard people and him and Graf. Sticky notes are pasted on the glass with the name of a caller, their make of car and a one or two word description of their basic problem. “It was the middle of summer, and Ray told me he didn’t expect many callers.” They began by talking about the automobile auction center Fricke had recently visited. “The next thing I knew,” said Fricke, “the glass was filled right up.”
“I very much enjoy the challenge,” he said. “And I enjoy the interaction with the callers.” It’s like anything else, if you know your topic, you can be comfortable answering questions. Fricke is extremely knowledgeable. In 1979 he went to Germany and trained at the Volkswagen Audi automotive factory school. Then he spent another two years in automotive school and went on to receive a Bachelor of Science degree in auto technical education.
In 1989 he and Mike Barber opened Barber and Fricke. Barber has retired from here and is now living and working in North Carolina. Fricke still loves working in the shop in Hoosick Falls.
He said the radio show “has been a lot of fun.” He adds that he will keep doing it as long as the momentum lasts. “A lot of people have approached me and said they like the show. That’s good.”