[X-TECH MAN]

Originally Posted by Evan Smith

This is right in my wheelhouse so I will answer.

First and foremost, it's not 1970, there is a lot more cool drag racing going on than just NHRA/IHRA Stock and Super Stock. The heads-up stuff, not just 10.5 Outlaw, is awesome and exciting racing. Go to any NMCA or NMRA race and you will find guys having fun, racing heads-up. The rules are just as strict as NHRA and it is very professional and competitive. Events are two and three days so it's easier to do for many people, and you can build a car using new parts and go very fast. Plus there are car shows, which is another attraction to magazine guys.

With that, both Muscle Mustangs and Fast Fords and Super Chevy, two books which work on, have done NHRA Sportsman coverage. In fact, the July '10 issue of SC, which is about to hit, will feature Jerry MacNeish's Z/28, and SC has done tech and feature stories on the Ficcaci's, Steve Calabro/Joe Fasano, Aubry's 409, all in the last few years. In MM&FF I've done stories on John Calvert, Travis Gusso, Jeff Swanson, Grace Howell, John Presing, Indy coverage, etc.

Have any of you contacted editors and requested an article? Editors are always looking for ideas, so be proactive and propose an idea, with a photo or two and a well-written email.

Terry, I'm sorry you feel that way about those magazines. I can't speak for the other editors, but it is our job (as editors) to follow trends and keep our publications current. If all you care about is what happened in the '60 and '70s then that is cool, but you can't expect the rest of the world to linger in the past. That is not a dig on you, you are entitled to like whatever you want, but don't degrade a magazine just because it doesn't suit you. I don't care about street rods, but that doesn't mean what's been printed is meaningless. Obviously, there are many people reading our books, or we'd be out of business.

While I love Stock and SS racing, you couldn't sell enough advertising or magazines to do a book just on those topics these days. The racing world is just too segmented. Because many of put so much passion into racing we expect that the things like racetracks, magazines, sanctioning bodies, etc. should be perfect and the way WE want them to be. But there is also a business end of things. Most people would crumble at the knees if they knew our printing and publishing costs. It's amazing that we can still offer a product providing as much information as we do for just a few bucks.

http://www.superchevy.com/features/c.../photo_01.html

Evan

Evan......That is why I said we are Dinasours and its a sign of the times. I peronally just dont care for S$$T boxes with fart can mufflers and late model recycled "Tooth Paste Tubes" being built today. Its apples and oranges and when guys like John Dianna moved on (and got old) the magazines I used to read from cover to cover lost any appeal to me. I drive a newer Corvette and HATE the piece of junk. Its hard to work on (almost impossable) and other than the A/C its not what I would rather have. Im a 63-67 Corvette fan. Hot, low tech, bad mileage and all. I used to race a 69 Corvette NHRA stocker in the 7 inch tire days and almost beat Larry Lombardos "Buck Shot" Chev 2 a couple of times and could take it apart and put it together blindfolded.. As far as Fords go I love the older Mustangs (64-70),Falcons and I used to own (10 years ago) a black 1963 1/2 390 Police interceptor fast back Galaxie with a 4 speed (love the 61 Starliner also). Its was perfect with 53,000 original miles on it. I loved it but like most I screwed up and sold it like I did with my 67 427/435 Vette Gezzzz Im stupid.....lol. . Ive owned a 426 street wedge Plymouth when it was a new car and had the daylights stomped out of me by the GTO's on the street and the drag strip. Im not brand tunnel visioned. I love them all. What Im saying is the new stuff has no intrest to me and I cant speak for everyone but Im sure a lot of guys my age feel the same way. I was good friends with the Stock and Super Stock photographer Woody Hatten when he was alive and other than the funny car articles thought that mag. was the best out there. When the magazines mentioned in the other post followed current trends (computers and elec FI) I just let my subscriptions expire. Im old now and in exellent health, retired, and have some $$$ to play so what can I say. Its a young persons world today and I will survive as long as Im breathing and be a gear head and car nut until I die but NOT for the new stuff. Not even the new Corvettes interest me these days. My time as a tech person (1970's and 1990's) for NHRA and IHRA allowed me to meet and get to know people like the Late John Lingenfelter, Bobby Warren, Bob Glidden, Roy Hill, Jack Roush, Grumpy Jenkins, the Late Don Carlton, the Late Ronnie Sox, Tom Sneeden, Herb McCandless, Woodro Joesy, Jim Moragn (CJ racer and I lived close to his shop and used to do his and Dick Estivez's cyl. heads) and the list goes on and Im very thankful of those oportunities but like those guys.....our time has come and gone just as yours will in the future and all the younger guys racing today. Enjoy what you enjoy because one day it will all be different and you will miss it just as I do.