The Rodder’s Journal #34

Not to sound redundant but The Rodder’s Journal is the best hot rod/custom magazine going. To call it a magazine is a bit of a disservice. As the name implies, it is a journal. But it is so much more. And lately you’re getting more bang your buck. TRJ has been $12.95 since it began now each issue keeps getting bigger and the price is staying the same. Issue #34 is a robust 200 glossy pages. You say Street Rodder is bigger, trust me, apples and tuna fish.

This issue begins with Robert House’s ‘50 Chevy Fleetline. Holy crap. This car is what I see when I close my eyes. There is not a single thing wrong with this car. This is what a custom car is suppose to be, enhancing what is already there, not overpowering them. When GM made the ‘50 Chevy Fleetline they must have had Astro Supremes in mind. It’s a match made in heaven. Combine that with the perfect stance and you have one of the most unbelievable Chevies ever.

As with any TRJ you get great writing. With names such as Thom Taylor, Ken Gross and the legendary Pat Ganahl you get only the best. Thom tells us about the landmark Kessler roadster. Ken writes about the Williams brothers hemi powered Model A lakes car and Pat covered the previously mentioned ‘50 Chevy.

You also get amazing photo articles like Joe Lingrey’s dry lakes pictures and a really nice piece on Steve Reyes drag racing archives. You get historical footage that just cannot be outdone.

The Rodder’s Journal is simply the best.

www.roddersjournal.com

Bangin’ Gears and Bustin’ Heads- Roger Jetter

Everyone loves a hot rod story. Whether it’s about the big street race or picking up a cute girl, it’s always a fun read. Hot rod tales bring us back to a so-called simpler time. You were young, no house payment, no kids, just you and your car. It didn’t matter where you lived. We all had the same experiences.

Roger Jetter grew up in Iowa. Not the first state that one would think of when it comes to hot rods and customs but cars are cars no matter where you live. And so are car guys, Roger being one of them. Bangin’ Gears and Bustin’ Heads are stories from his youth. From driving Dad’s car to getting his first Studebaker, to ‘rat-racing’ and getting speeding tickets, Roger gives you all the sordid details.

There are some great stories included in this book, some real, some a tad unbelievable. But a good story is supposed to be entertaining so I’ll let a little embellishment slide. It took me awhile to get into this book. The book is laid out with the chapter first then ‘Episode Thots’ after. I didn’t spell that incorrectly, I’ll get to that in a minute. I guess the ‘Episode Thots’ is just a summary of the chapter. I’m not really sure why you need a summary of a chapter you just read. Also on more than one occasion the author mentions someone in ‘Thots’ that has the same name as someone in the chapter but isn’t the same person. It’s really confusing.

Now I’ll get to the spelling. The author is trying to write like he speaks. Examples are thought-thot, night-nite, coupe-coop, etc. This works when you are trying to represent a certain slang or accent but using it all through the book is quite distracting. I mean what accent is he trying to do? He’s from Iowa!

The stories, while good, tend to be redundant. The scenes describing ‘rat-racing’ all blend together and the author also jumps around the timeline quite a lot. One minute he has one car, the next he’s talking about a car he had previously and then the next he goes back again. It makes it very hard to follow.

This is an interesting book that I did actually like. But it needs to be cleaned up. More variation on the story subjects and please stop the creative spelling.

www.rajetter.com

The Rodder’s Journal #35

Ahh, the Rodder’s Journal. When you get a new issue in your hands it’s like the moment you held your first born. You were teary eyed, excited and full of anticipation. Or maybe it’s like Christmas morning and you see all the packages under the tree. You can’t wait to tear into the biggest one. Or maybe it’s like your first sexual experience... ok I won’t go there.

But The Rodder’s Journal is such a quality publication you can’t help but dive right in. And issue #35 is no exception. The Rodder’s Journal is always written with an absolute love for hot rods and customs. And there is never a simple numbers article. You know the kind , ‘Bill put in a 350/350, 9", Mustang II, blah, blah, blah’. They are mini-stories that are actually worth reading. And the photos are first rate. You get rare black and whites, beautiful color shots and the in-studio pictures are breathtaking.

Issue #35 has some eye-catching hot rods. Roger Berstrom’s ‘32 Ford Roadster is fantastic. I mean come on, Ardun-head, Halibrands, perfect body and it was built in Sweeden! A cool piece on Japanese rodders, Eric Clapton’s latest build, a ‘32 Ford Vick and coverage of Cacklefest from Bakersfield and Bowling Green. Some nice pics of Barney Navarro’s ‘27 Roadster. I love that car! And it all ends with one stunning, hand formed ‘41 Willys. Jaw dropping doesn’t even cover it. I think I actually licked the pictures. Did I say that out loud?

www.roddersjournal.com

Dice Issue #12 Jan/Feb 2007

I opened up the mail and lo and behold some Weesner art stared at me from the cover of Issue #12 of Dice. Now that’s the way to start off a magazine! Issue #12 is a bit thicker and that can only be a good thing.

More choppers, more choppers and more choppers. As if God reached down and touched the editors. Well something touched them. I’m not sure what. Bill Mize’s Pan is beautiful. I really don’t know where Dice keeps finding these bikes but they need to tell me! Greg Coddington’s flattie, metal flaked vision of a dirt track bobber is something that should be put in my garage. Now.

There are some cool vintage skateboarding pics, part two of the Dice Style bible(denim cutoffs) and again more choppers. You can never have enough choppers. Hell there is a picture of Slade inside the front cover! Cum on feel the noize.

www.dicemagazine.com

Dice Issue #11 Autumn 2006

I thought I knew what cool was. I was wrong. Dice is cool and all else sucks. Dice is a ‘pocket’ size mag that covers mostly choppers. Real choppers, no OCC crap. No live to ride, leather chap wearing weekend warriors. This is the real deal.

Tim O’Keefe’s rigid is stunningly beautiful. A flaked and scalloped wonder of the world. What some may call a dream bike. It’s in my dreams at least. Nick Svennson’s bad-ass Pan is another bike that is haunting my slumbers. Flake and lace paint, a knobby front tire and springer front end makes up one fine motorcicle.

Dice lets the builder tell the story. And the reviews section is top notch but I really don’t want Dr. Glory in my doctor’s office. Top it off with a hysterical look at facial hair and you’ve got a great mag.

www.dicemagazine.com

CK Deluxe- April 2001/Issue #21

CK Deluxe is the sister magazine to Ol’ Skool Rodz. Oddly enough they seem to cover the same subject material, cool cars, the occasional motorcycle and hot pin-ups. Which to say isn’t a bad thing, but do we need two magazines covering the same thing?

This issue has event coverage of the 7th annual Rat Fink party, the Hot Rod Reunion in Bakersfield, CA and the Ducktail Run in Gas City, IN. There were some good comments on the flamethrower contest at the Ducktail Run but not enough pictures! Come on, who just talks about flamethrowers but doesn’t show any pyro?!?!?!?!?

Issue #21 has some nice rides too. Jim Ireland’s ‘33 Plymouth Coupe went to Bonneville and almost conquered. The story seemed a bit brief and glossed over details on a very neat ride. A real nice Model A sedan that went to Bonneville and did conquer. Who doesn’t love a homemade tunnel-rammed 500" Caddy!

And then there is the prerequisite Bo Huff car. Now don’t get me wrong, Bo has built some very cool cars(the Merc in this issue is no different) and seems to be a really nice guy but CK Deluxe and Ol’ Skool Rodz apparently has a Bo quota for every issue! Seriously does Bo have some scandalous pictures of some of the staff? He’s everywhere!!!

But in the end the only big gripe I have with Issue #21 is the newsprint section is very dark. Which makes it hard to read and loses some details with the images. Probably a printing error but it was worth noting.

www.ckdeluxemag.com

Diggers, Funnies, Gassers and Altereds- Drag Racing’s Golden Age by Bob McClurg

If it’s not in this book, it’s probably not worth talking about. Seriously, this book is the treasure trove of drag racing. Great photos, great captions and more history than you can shake a stick at. Who’s in this? Stone, Woods and Cook, Ohio George, Grumpy Jenkins, Sox and Martin, Gene Snow, Big Daddy Don Garlits, Tommy Ivo, Shirley Muldowney, Wild Willie Borsch, Arnie Beswick, Jungle Jim, Jack Chrisman and . . .

What’s in this? Stockers, gassers, altereds, dragsters(FED and RED), funnies, roadsters and pro stocks. All the history, all the beauty is in this book. It explains what happened, who did it and why. You need this book. You will not be complete without this book. As I said before, if it’s not in this book, it’s not worth talking about.

www.cartechbooks.com