Ryan Personally I think you should have named him Nancy but Janet will have to do. I in no way could have read all the other replies but am sure they have the same sentiment. You are doing the thing they wish that they could. You did not sell your soul to the corporate world that thinks it knows what everyone else wants. You chose your own path and it just so happens that alot of people agree with you. Keep up the good work and maybe every once in a while throw in a little more MOPAR stuff. Later, Silverdome
I'd rather buy a good old magazine but fact is there is not a single one worth the paper it's printed on to me. If you were to take quality photographs leave the street rods, rat billys, when or how such and such takes his coffee B.S. and "my take on this" modern popular opinions out and go back to text book like reading material much like the early mags.... I'd buy a subscription. Now let's say you get anywhere close just don't be a retard and cover half of every picture with a silly tag line. For laughs, the wife over heard Ryan's video playing from a distance... She asked what the hell was I watching, porn? I was honest and said yes!
The best thing about print media is that it is still easier to take into the can, and it always has a secondary use if it's not up to your standards. A laptop just isn't the same. Jalopy Journal and all the sister sites seem to be getting exponential traffic, the stats must be impressive. Ryan has done a great job with the site(s). This "Janet" is making some foolish comments.
Actually not really any longer. It's sure easier to put my phone in my pocket, hit the john, and read the HAMB for a few minutes while taking care of business. If I put the newspaper or a car mag under my arm and walked to the john, the boss and other folks would know I'm reading in there.
I thought Hot Rodding created the magazine's world???? And apparently I'm a hoodlum? Whoda thunk? BTW keep up the good work!
Hot Rod, Street Rodder, and Rod & Custom Magazines They turned into catalogs with how to install our latest vendors equipment rags with some cars mixed in. When was the last time any of them did a comparison of ANY products head to head? Sorry guys, you used to be the only game in town, technology caught up and blew by you at Mach 1. I can write a question on the board and get an answer in the same day. If I write a letter to a magazine, the chances of getting an answer are slim to none. If you were creative, you'd cash in on your heritage and put MORE cars and more real tech in your pages and go over the historical pages from the past. But you won't; so whose fault is that? The HAMB/Jalopy Journal did not kill you, you committed suicide.
A certain publisher once angrily said, "History DOESN'T sell ads!" after proposing another story using our extensive archives. That told me I was in the wrong place.
Honestly Iv never understood why anyone would want to be in there any longer than absolutely necessary . What if you dropped your phone ? I have
Gotta say ... HAMB is the future, Ryan, you rock and screw the establishment! Hot rodding is a community and Ryan, we love you being our Mayor!!! Rock On!
I agree with Bass, hopeful that there's room for both. I can appreciate a good magazine while sitting in the bathroom, since I don't have a computer in there. But then again, I don't spend much time in the bathroom.
Ryan and all the people behind the Atomic Network take a bow, you have put together a 24/7 fix for gearheads around the globe. Here in NZ I buy a majority of the rodding magazines from the USA and also collected early pocket mags etc. I work for the NZ Hot Rod Magazine now and its certainly a changing world. I grew up into rodding thru my family and my Dad's friends. I bought R&C from when Pat Ganahl relaunched it and of that era I thoroughly enjoyed his work as well as that of Gray Baskerville, and then of the early American Rodder - Mike Bishop and Steve Coonan. It was inspirational times as I was learning about hot rodding and history which led to collecting early issues of R&C and Hot Rod. From here I gained appreciation for original and traditional hot rods, nostalgia drag racing etc (much like all of us) but its harder on the other side of the world in NZ. Currently my fav is The Rodders Journal (got every issue) - I really enjoyed Morty's Hop Up and I have taken a casual liking to some of the other Kulture themed mags. I still buy and enjoy R&C, Hot Rod and Street Rodder. I was shocked to learn that one of the writers at one of these major magazines was not a car guy but a qualified journo? How does that work? Writing and photographing comes from the passion deep inside us - much like building a bitchin car with cool stance! When I learnt of the HAMB - it really opened up another world as we are able to share photos - new or old - ideas - project builds and in most cases forge friendships that will last a life time. The internet is an instant form of information sharing and what the HAMB has been able to do is attract "same page" people from all over the globe and not try to be all things to all people or chase the next "trend" or "following". Its about staying true to your roots, or your brand and delivering on it. Or if an enthusiast - sticking with what we know and what we appreciate and enjoying similar company...... THANKS Greg Stokes
Imagine what magazines would be like if they were forced to print every thought that crossed every reader's mind... Sam
Went back and read some of this thread... I guess the problem is... things are changing in our world around us... and some people have a hard time with that. Sam
Totally! Including those of us sidelined by the "Downsizing" this new world has created. I don't hate the internet because of it- I actually was one of the early ones to embrace it, but it still hurts when your old friends either won't talk to you while they hold on to the sinking ship or you talk to other friends that were already forced to walk the plank too who still have some pretty hurt feelings over it all. I'm not bitter- but I think some people need to remember that they can just as easily be "downsized" when they choose to get all defensive. I was one of the biggest defenders - and it didn't help a bit when the big wigs decide to make cuts. I can ALREADY hear certain people saying "you were a victim of your own circumstance"- but I was definitely NOT the only one told I had a couple hours to clear out my stuff unexpectedly. It's only now 4 years later I can even talk about this- but feel it does need to be said. I don't expect to get beaten up further about this from certain smart asses as this situation was the beginning of the end of my own personal family and 20 year marriage. That's pretty serious.
I,m late on this subject, but Ive been thinking about this stuff for awhile. we can,t blame the mags for their own demise, they were just in front of the train and got rolled over by the internet. Simply put the internet is the culprit, plain and simple. Its a like the reinvention of the wheel, its a huge shift in communications thats affecting and changing the whole world. I loved to get my hot rod mags, car craft, rod an custom etc. it was my window to the world of rodding which I was into and out of for many years, till I finally stayed, now in my later years. the internet came in and allowed people all over the world to communicate, like talking one on one, and we have instant videos of info on building our cars, just at our finger tips, sorry but the printed word just can,t compete with that. The Jalopy Journal isnt to blame and the mags really didnt do anything really improper, its just plainly the fact that the internet for good or bad is here and doing what it was designed to do and more. However if I see a mag with clear pix, and well written articles that I can use on my cars, Im gonna buy it.
Like a lot of the other "Grey-Beard" guys out there, I've been reading the car rags since I was a kid. And like many of the others, I let my subscriptions run out years ago, due to the lack of interesting content and the over-abundance of 'fluff'... And then one day, all of a sudden, I 'happened upon' the HAMB! What has the HAMB done for me that the rags never could??? I'm glad ya asked! First and foremost is the people! I have a bunch of friends in Denmark, Sweden, Australia, and ALL OVER this great nation of ours... thanks to the HAMB!, I'm going to have a little "write-up" in a soon-to-be-printed "Coffee Table Book" about hot rodding on the east coast...thanks to the HAMB!, I have bought some really cool hot rods and hard-to-find parts for same... thanks to the HAMB!, I have SOLD some really cool hot rods and hard-to-find parts for same... thanks to the HAMB!, I have a group of Christian brothers and sisters I can count on thru the HAMB Chapel... thanks to the HAMB!, I have learned ALL KINDS of stuff, been exposed to some of the best ART & TECH stuff on the planet... thanks to the HAMB!, And maybe I've even gotten the opportunity to help another person or two with a problem that I had already been through... thanks to the HAMB! Keep on keepin' on, Ryan and crew!!! Thanks for following your heart and I hope by now you know that you know that you're on the right track!
Well said. Keep doing what you do. This web site has done amazing things for me. put me in touch with the right people and answers any question I have when a magazine can't. Through word of mouth I promote this web site to anyone I meet with an interest in Hotrods.
Ryan, I'm a little late on the subject - great video BTW - and as to the HAMB, between the video and Smokin Joe (I'm a grey beard myself) saying it all just keep on doing it, Ryan - you're doing it well. I'm sure there are other "Janets" out there - just like in all "car" generations - where change, difference of opinion, whatever, is hard to accept. But, it's still a free country and they can opt out to read it any time they like ....
I think Solohssa said it best, "As far as what the HAMB is for me. It is a community of creative and innovative people that have a respect for the automotive accomplishments of our past. It is a place where everyone has a voice and can ask for or share information freely. I am proud to be one of these "Hoodlums" I couldn't have built my coupe without you guys, thanks Ryan. Please keep it up! David Gallentine AKA Hot Turkey
Most of the following is surely already said in this thread, but I just felt I had to throw out my humble opinion on the subject too. I understand that the magazines have had a great effect on the way people think of what hot rodding and customizing are. They have also spread the thing and given lots of information about what's involved in it and what's its history. That's been important for many younger enthusiasts scattered over the globe, who weren't born into it nor knew nothing about it, but who just somewhere got to know that there were such things as hot rods and customs, and wanted to know more and to get involved. What I think the Jalopy Journal and the H.A.M.B. are is that they are about history, about what it was and about those who were, and about what it is and about those who are within this hobby now. Actually we make this culture exist. Magazines, internet forums and whatsoever are tools or ways to help us communicate, to express ourselves and to use as resources to improve our knowledge. Those who work with passion to carry out these media deserve our respect. Buthistory and culture themselves are common things created by all the people involved. They are things you just cant claim to own. Of course it's kind of tragic for the printed word how the internet has taken over a great share of everything. It also kind of sad how the change in communications has been so vast and fast, that people haven't been able to protect themselves or their children from misinformation and all the really mean stuff that has sprawled out almost uncontrolled. It's just amazing that many ordinary people (who often criticize media) have absolutely no moral judgment for what they publish. Ignorant people unintentionally give misinformation to each others. Angry loudmouths with strong opinions quickly influence vulnerable ignorant people, what leads to very frightening opinion atmospheres. All that said, it seems to me that the H.A.M.B. is one of best things that can happen to a hobby like this. It doesnt need to be main stream, thus it can focus on just this certain area, and on the other hand it can connect the people and compile the information in some marginal sub genres. It can bring a social extension to the hobby for lone wolves like me and it provides the means for interactive learning from and with other people. No printed publication could provide these things. It's inevitable that there is and will be loads of crap also, since there are thousands of people here, all basically free to speak what they want. But since so many of the people here are enthusiasts with a lot of first hand knowledge, and the H.A.M.B. is based on a clear philosophy, it can be kept reasonable enough and under control. I just cant blame people for making a really great thing like this happen, even if I know it hurts possibly also great things like magazines. Among other things like toys and scale models, the magazines were one important thing to give me the spark for cars when there was no internet yet, but it has been a more and more active and focused search for the things of interest since I got access to the net around 2000. I dont know if I would be importing a 1950 Chevy as I am now without this forum and many other things on the net, and all the information I have gathered to figure out what would be the right thing for me, and how it could be reached. Thanks for Ryan and the people who have participated in creating Jalopy Journal and H.A.M.B. for figuring out how it should be like and how it could be reached, and for the courage and hard work it must have taken to actualize it and keep it going!!! And for the rest of us: every one of us is responsible for what it is like, and if it stays good or not! P.s. It's a stylish video!
The Jalopy Journal
