Uploaded April 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Season 2 of Let’s Be RONest kicks off with Rob Dahm, the guy behind some of the wildest rotary builds out there.
From being scared of loud engines as a kid to chasing world records and building a 1000+ horsepower RX-7, Rob breaks down how curiosity, not just passion, shaped everything he does. What started with computers and Guinness World Records turned into an obsession with speed, engineering, and pushing limits.
Ron and Rob get into the early days, from starting an IT business just to afford a Lamborghini Diablo, to maxing out credit cards building cars, to jumping into YouTube before anyone really knew what it would become.
They also dive into what it actually takes to build and drive a high-horsepower rotary, why data matters more than people think, and how Rob approaches problem-solving when things don’t go as planned.
The conversation goes deep on Pikes Peak, from learning the course, to trusting the car, to pushing it right to the edge. They also talk about balancing building, driving, and content, and why sometimes the win isn’t a trophy, it’s just getting the chance to do it.
This episode features Rob Dahm discussing rotary engines, RX-7 builds, Pikes Peak, data-driven tuning, YouTube, and betting on yourself.
Chapters
00:00:00 Introduction
00:02:06 Growing up not a car guy
00:03:56 Lamborghini Diablo dream
00:05:00 First car and turbo attempts
00:08:00 Discovering rotary engines
00:12:00 Learning tuning and early internet days
00:14:08 Starting YouTube early
00:19:45 The Bachelorette and first trip to California
00:22:20 Leaving IT and going all in on YouTube
00:24:40 Building the 3-rotor RX-7
00:27:20 Engineering mindset and fabrication
00:30:00 First Pikes Peak experience
00:34:00 Data, prep, and mental approach
00:42:00 Redefining what winning means
00:44:29 YouTube growth and real struggles
00:53:30 Same Car, Different Build
00:59:50 Inside Rob Dahm’s Garage: The 3-Rotor RX-7 and All the Projects
01:02:00 IndyCar and F1 engine deep dive, barrel throttle, pistons, and 15,000 RPM tech
01:10:00 Engineering limits, ignition timing, detonation, rotary vs piston theory
01:20:00 Massive engine collection, tooling, measurement, overwhelm, and chassis CAD work
01:29:00 Single rotor turbo build, simplicity struggle, first start, and future vision
Brought to you by Nitto Tire | FUELED BY ENTHUSIASTS.
Find the perfect tire match for your vehicle, explore full tire specs, and locate a dealer at:
nittotire.com
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#TeamNitto #LetsBeRONest #RobDahm #RX7 #Rotary #PikesPeak #CarBuilds #Automotive
Season 2 of Let’s Be RONest kicks off with Rob Dahm, the guy behind some of the wildest rotary builds out there.
From being scared of loud engines as a kid to chasing world records and building a 1000+ horsepower RX-7, Rob breaks down how curiosity, not just passion, shaped everything he does. What started with computers and Guinness World Records turned into an obsession with speed, engineering, and pushing limits.
Ron and Rob get into the early days, from starting an IT business just to afford a Lamborghini Diablo, to maxing out credit cards building cars, to jumping into YouTube before anyone really knew what it would become.
They also dive into what it actually takes to build and drive a high-horsepower rotary, why data matters more than people think, and how Rob approaches problem-solving when things don’t go as planned.
The conversation goes deep on Pikes Peak, from learning the course, to trusting the car, to pushing it right to the edge. They also talk about balancing building, driving, and content, and why sometimes the win isn’t a trophy, it’s just getting the chance to do it.
This episode features Rob Dahm discussing rotary engines, RX-7 builds, Pikes Peak, data-driven tuning, YouTube, and betting on yourself.
Chapters
00:00:00 Introduction
00:02:06 Growing up not a car guy
00:03:56 Lamborghini Diablo dream
00:05:00 First car and turbo attempts
00:08:00 Discovering rotary engines
00:12:00 Learning tuning and early internet days
00:14:08 Starting YouTube early
00:19:45 The Bachelorette and first trip to California
00:22:20 Leaving IT and going all in on YouTube
00:24:40 Building the 3-rotor RX-7
00:27:20 Engineering mindset and fabrication
00:30:00 First Pikes Peak experience
00:34:00 Data, prep, and mental approach
00:42:00 Redefining what winning means
00:44:29 YouTube growth and real struggles
00:53:30 Same Car, Different Build
00:59:50 Inside Rob Dahm’s Garage: The 3-Rotor RX-7 and All the Projects
01:02:00 IndyCar and F1 engine deep dive, barrel throttle, pistons, and 15,000 RPM tech
01:10:00 Engineering limits, ignition timing, detonation, rotary vs piston theory
01:20:00 Massive engine collection, tooling, measurement, overwhelm, and chassis CAD work
01:29:00 Single rotor turbo build, simplicity struggle, first start, and future vision
Brought to you by Nitto Tire | FUELED BY ENTHUSIASTS.
Find the perfect tire match for your vehicle, explore full tire specs, and locate a dealer at:
nittotire.com
Subscribe: youtube.com/c/DrivingLine?sub_confirmation=1
Follow Driving Line on Facebook: facebook.com/drivingline
Follow Driving Line on Instagram: instagram.com/drivingline
#TeamNitto #LetsBeRONest #RobDahm #RX7 #Rotary #PikesPeak #CarBuilds #Automotive
