Its funny that you should post on here. Just in the last coupla weeks a fellow HAMBer and myself were talking about your father's great books. My buddy was saying how aggravated he was he had 'lent' his books out some time ago and they had never made it back home. I first ready Boy Gets Car about 20 years ago and thought it was one of the coolest books I ever read. The book really captured the time and spirit of a 50's teen trying to get/repair his first car and the pains of dating and all that comes with that age. Your father's books are truly treasures. Here is a mention of the book in Smithsonian display: http://americanhistory.si.edu/onthemove/exhibition/exhibition_14_4.html
I read "Hot Rod" in junior high school circa 1953. It was the first time I ever read fiction that concerned cars; I thought "wow, what a great idea!" Thanks for joining us!
I hope that you republish that book so I can read it one day. My dad "goldy" says he has a copy but I don't know if he will ever find it. If you do please pm me with the info to buy. It would be smart to republish that book you would make a lot of money because everone including my dad it has had a huge impact on.
I know this is a little OT but I was curious so I did a search. Found this. If I had an extra 225 I'd like to have it. It is signed by the auther himself. http://www.orielisbooks.com/si/006417.html
In the mid fifties I checked Hot Rod out of a tiny public library in Fransestown NH and did my first school "book report" on it. I truly loved the book and very vividly remember dreaming of the day that when I would own a hot rod and drive the hell out of. Now many years later I still drive a hot rod and do drive the hell out of it. You have quite a legacy from your Dad and I`m sure you will get tons of stories like mine I suggest that you start a thread and tell us about your dad and what got him started in roddin. I assume his stories to be at least partially true....let`s hear it.
The timing of your post is wild. Honest to God, I found and bought a vintage paperback copy of Hot Rod at a used bookstore recently, and had just started reading it (again) two nights ago! I first discovered Hot Rod and the world of Bud Crayne as a fifth grader, in the library of my elementary school in Morton Grove, Illinois (just outside of Chicago). It made a profound impact on me, and I've never forgotten. You should be proud of your dad -- its obvious that his work really had an impact with generation after generation of young gearheads. I'm 32, and I've seen posts on this thread from HAMBers in their 60s, 50s, 40s, and 20s. And I'll guarantee you that my son, now 2-1/2, will be reading my copy of Hot Rod in just a few years -- passing it on to the next generation. JR
i read all of the HGF books as a young man! i bought the 'repro' set at detroit's autorama, but did not have the courage to get them autographed, at that time. your dad and the 'lady' with him were a CLASS ACT! i deeply regret NOT having them autographed! i would see them afterward at other events, and NOT have the set with me! you have MUCH to be proud of! your dad influenced many in our hobby today! thanx----redryder!
It is truly a pleasure to hear from you and this is a great forum for your question. I remember reading all of the books over 30 years ago. They were available in the school library and I remember being amazed that someone was writing what I was feeling. Several years ago, I bought one of the box sets of paperbacks complete with your father's autograph on ebay. I quickly read every single one and thoroughly enjoyed them again. Unfortunately, I made the huge mistake of selling them on ebay several years later. Dumb. I see right now someone has a set on there with a buy-it-now of $550 or something like that. I don't really care about the value but would like to read them again in a few years and should have handed them down to my boys. I have no doubt that the paperback collection set would do well again if it were in print. I would be first in line. Welcome to the H.A.M.B. By the way, it would be wonderful to hear any stories YOU have to tell about your talented Father and the life that your family led.
Great thread! I too have enjoyed Felson's writing and thrill at finding copies at the swap meets. To that end, has anyone ever seen this book before? Ipicked it up at Hershey a few years ago and I'd never seen one before nor one since. It is edited by Mr. Felson, but has many contributors including Ed Roth and Mickey Thompson. Any information would be greatly appreciated. Apologies for any hijack faux pas....... - RBR
I have a copy of that book that I bought at a used book sale at my kids elementary school for 50 cents 15 years ago ,... If I remember right a local guy (Lou Wolf ) has a couple Deuces in that book.
I remember being an avid model car builder as a boy. I was really into hot rods as far back as I remember. I bought "Hot Rod" and "Boy Gets Car" at my school book fair. I remember them to this day and I am 53 y.o. Now instead of building model cars I run a custom car shop where we build the real things. I just found this thread, as a matter of fact, after having just spoken to a fellow with an eBay store. He deals in old books. I had just asked him about your fathers books and decided to hop on the net to do a search. I would absolutely LOVE to find the 2 books I used to have. Your fathers writing was mesmerizing to me and just cemented my love for cars and the route for my life. Gary Omaha, Ne.
I loved the books as a kid & it took me forever to get a hardcover Hot Rod on eBay, because it seems like everyone was vying for these books! I have most of of your dad's books now & they help make the long Michigan winters seem a bit shorter. Especially, when I'm too lazy to go to the garage.
Hello, HJ I am new around here too, and at 49 I came along a little late in the revolution that is the American Hot Rod, but loved your fathers work. I remembered the books from the Elemntary school library. In 1990 I stumbled across, "The Henry Gregor Felson Collection", a limited edition box set by GP containing Hot Rod, Street Rod, Rag Top, Fever Heat, Crash Club, and Road Rocket. The box says limited edition only 2500 copies. I grabbed it, and read the books every year. Your father caught the feeling of the times, the cars, and the people. He made it possible for the late-entries like me to drift off into the times when the cars were plentiful and life was simpler. His work helped make me a voracious reader, which I am to this day. Many of us will never forget him and the characters he created.
Welcome, I read 'Hot Rod' in high school in the '50s. I was not much of a reader back in those days but, I remember I could not put that book down.
The book "Hot Rod" changed my life. I have a learning disability and didn't know how to read until I was in 7th grade, that was in 1957. I got a copy of "Hot Rod" and taught myself how to read. At first I stumbled through the book and then ended up reading it through several times. The book must have "clicked on" something inside of me. I had just got interested in cars and couldn't put the book down, the timing was perfect. I also had each of my three children read it.
I checked "Hot Rod" out repeatedly in grade school from the Library. At one point I remember my teacher suggesting that I try a different book, so I said that I would read something different if it was about cars. Guess what we found? "Boy Get's Car", also by Felson. Week by week, I always had one of those two books out. Still to this day I reflect on what was written by Mr. Felson as I try to balance fatherhood, marriage, my livelyhood and my ingrained love of the modified automobile as an art form. Just like the characters, I have tried to leave cars behind and be more "normal", but I can't. And Mr. Felson's books reassure me that even though I still have to grind it out every day to make sure those that depend on me are taken care of, it's still OK to be a car guy. Please republish, a whole generation of kids need to know that they can actually accomplish something without a keyboard.
You seem to write pretty well now. It was one of my favorites, too. I need to find a copy for under $50!
Dang. With all that I read I can't believe I don't know these books. Looks like I'm off to the Used Book Stores!
First discovered his stuff at the Jr. High library - right across the street from where I now live. His simple eloquence was just a perfect fit for me at the time. I later noticed his paperbacks at the thrift stores and began collecting them. Years later, while living in Omaha, I got up some guts and weaseled his address from my Homey, Al Drake. I wrote to Mr. Felsen, asking for an autograph and recieved a letter typed on the same typewriter he wrote all those books on (that's what he said)! We started up a little correspondence... The last letter I got from him included a mention that his daughter would be driving him to appear at a car show in Des Moines and could I meet him there? I don't remember why, but I couldn't go (some last-minute snafu) and I never did get to meet him... But he encouraged me to write. Thanks in part to his prodding, I now enjoy a "side job" as a freelancer to some national hot rod magazines. I wouldn't be having any of this fun without his direct influence - something I'm very proud of. I never got to thank him. So I hereby pass along my gratitude to you, Holly. Thanks for your work to keep his words alive... Scotty
I,too ,am a long time fan of your fathers books. I found them in my local library about 1960 when I was looking for a book to read for a school book report. I was hooked after the first book(I don't remember which one it was) but has read them all since then. Glenn.
I am 63, the others ahead of me have said it all better than I can. Just wanted to weigh in with my two cents. Keep us informed about the web site.
I have the paperbacks from my grade school days a few of out of service school library hardcover copies (fun to see the dates they were checked out.) and the reissue set ... please get them in print again you won;t have any problem selling them
I read everything of his I could get my hands on, and my son has too. I read them back when I was about 10-11 yrs old, and so did my son, 20 yrs later. Those stories not only defined the culture, but put a moral context to it. I wish the fart can generation (just to be fair, some have) could get a dose of it. One thing I loved that I got from his books was that excitement you get from bringing a dead car back to life, that will never leave me.
I first read HOT ROD by your dad when i was in 6th grade back in the early 60's. I lived in fulton ny where it REALLY snows. I remember walking over a mile to the city library one very snowy afternoon and returned home with Hot Rod. I read it several times, and of course NEVER forgot the title or author. Several years ago, I Met your dad at SEMA and just had to have the complete collection. I bought the paperback set, and then proceeded to accumulate a number of vintage hardback copies for my library. The book really did cement my love for cars and a lifelong hobby that has gotten out of hand. What a classic !
my dad introduced me to HOT ROD in the early 70's. i was sick and missing school,he came in one day and handed me a small book. needless to say i read the whole book before returning to school. these days my copy is dog eared and tattered. grade school kids don't always take care of things. i have read it many times. if you have your dad's works reproduced it would be a great thing for us older gearheads and future generations as well. keep us posted.
The Jalopy Journal
