Art & Inspiration Hot Rod Quarterly

No, because it had none of what I have liked about HR the past few years.

 

As part of the change to quarterly, we were supposed to get a "free" one year subscription to motortrend+ streaming. Well....I tried, and emailed support, and they assured me that eventually it would get sorted out. Then they announced that it was moving to discovery+ streaming. And today I got an email from them with the info to subscribe to discovery+, and it works! my wife watches a lot of the car shows, I watch a few.

so that's sorted out finally.

 

They're a very small crew with a tight budget and it was a winter issue. Hard to get new content when there's not much new. Saying you're probably not going to re-subscribe because of one issue of a new format is a bit silly, no?

I know I've been following the Hot Rod Pod and McGann is working very hard with his limited resources to please everyone. Assuming you have a yearly subscription, you're already trying to predict whether you want to continue your subscription based on 25% of the information. It's your money, but if I was in McGann's position, guys who do that aren't who I'd be worried about writing the mag for.

 

Nice! I'm a MT+ subscriber and my account doesn't transfer until the 26th apparently. I think my wife is going to be happy with all the home reno shows, and my wallet will therefore be unhappy.

 

Just because people post on the Hamb doesn't mean we are all disinterested in things outside the perview/limitations of the Hamb. It's amazing how some on the Hamb who have interests which include later than 1965 vehicles and trends assume that anyone who is critical of Hot Rods most recent issue is a Nostalgia fanatic.

I also realize that there was very little content which would have interested true nostalgia buffs........and they do have a point when they say that the magazine offered virtually nothing that related to their interests......and they should say that because its the simple truth. Its not any different than not being interested in Readers Digest or Vogue or whatever other magazine someone doesn't find material of interest in.

While I realize that Hot Rod is undergoing a change and trying to survive, I think most of the other magazines try to offer a Poporiee each issue so there is something for everyone. There are plenty of things which can be written about and pictured that relate to a broad spectrum of enthusiasts.
1. Selecting and upgrading rearends: Go thru several manufacturers and show upgrades and the pros and cons,a series of articles to cover them.
2. Upholstery for beginners: Again, a series of articles covering materials, machines and how to actually make certain things.
3. Braking Systems and upgrading to Discs as well as some nostalia swapping
4. Transmission Selection and how it affects a car. Articles on transmission mods and how and why they work. By that I mean explanations of trans brakes and stall converters. Again, a series of articles.
5. Tire selection and differences between types of tires
6. Bodywork and Paint LOTS of possible articles there
7. Wiring with an actual installation and maybe a comparison of some of the top harness brands
8. Oils and the history of them
9. Clutches and clutch linkage (hyd,mechanical,cable)
10. Dry Lakes Racing
11. A series on the evolution of engines from the beginning to current
12. Welding types, and the equipment and differences between old and new.
13. Building an exhaust system and building headers
14. Guages and their evolution
15. Lighting and its evolution
16. ETC..............

All these things are not segment limited and should appeal to people in all segments. Then attend events (like the SRN) where a cross section of the whole sport is available for picture taking. Pick a couple feature cars and then a bunch of cars from all venues.

Now all those things should pretty much appeal to anyone who craves information and wants to learn more about hot rodding..........so roll the dice and try that formula Hot Rod. I've got several hundred magazines on shelves in my basement. I look thru them again and again when I'm trying to research good ideas and information. I scan articles and save them in folders on my computer for quick reference, but I always go back to the mags when I can't find what I want on my computer. The thing is, technology always changes so I like to see new ways of doing things, and new ideas..........that's where magazines are great for me. Then I add that info to my computer so when I get to that point in my build, a few clicks and I'm reminded of what I wanted to remember to do on my project.

Its not about sticking my nose up in the air because Hot Rod doesn't dedicate itself to Nostalgia.........its about simply providing information that's both interesting and useful. Hot Rod is not going to stay in business catering only to us ancient folks, they realize they have to change to interest younger people as well. What we/they have to realize is that young people often don't have the opportunity to hang out at some mechanic's shop and learn the basics. Everything is computer these days...........so they need to gradually expose these younger people to lots of explanatory articles so they develop that interest. Ask your grandkids a few technical (but simple) questions about how their car works and maybe you will see how little they know about them. Hard to develop an interest when you can't picture things in your mind............

 

When I started reading hot rod in the early/mid 70s, they had lots of basic tech articles about how engines work, etc. I think that really helped me have the courage to dive in and start working on cars

 

Maybe they will do a tech on the best cam for a 283. Haha
Sorry folks but the last issue of HAMB period correct material in Hot Rod was in 1965.

 

I think it’s a stretch to imply that interest in only HAMB friendly cars is the reason for the disdain of the first HR quarterly issue. In my case, I never liked the Pro Street look, even when it was in vogue. It seemed pointless and poser like at the time and still does.

Traditional hot rods, muscle cars (stock or modified to a point), fifties cars, even malaise era cars and 80s Fox bodies or late muscle are of interest. I even subscribe to Car and Driver, and have since the sixties, and didn’t mind the van, pickup, and off road stuff, although not the mall crawler type, which I put right at the bottom, along with Pro Street.

 

Traditional style is not traditional build heck you even cover a glass car as traditional? I wrote that years ago and got my post deleted. Haha

 

I have been subscribing to HRM for at least 50 years, yes it may only take 25% of the first year going quarterly to sour me. Maybe not you and that is ok.

 

Nice edit job.
Glassical Roadster in the Feb. 2023 issue. I think Wesscot has been in business since 1959.

 

I'm hoping they saved the best for last....

 

Me too..........only a little earlier and then on into the 70s where the tech stuff reached a new plateau because of great tech editors. I sure didn't learn much from the so called "mechanics" in our neighborhood. You apparently learned well.......

My Fingers are crossed......

 

Marlan Davis was a great tech editor. How I miss him in today’s HRM. He was able to explain most things in a way that even I could understand.

 

Biggest waste of $15 I have spent this week.

 

I thumbed through it at Barnes & Noble and put it back down. The gas dragster article might have been the saving grace but I didn’t even check that out. As much as I like print they have completely lost their way, and if they want to do a coffee table magazine like TRJ (or is that gone?) they’ve missed the mark by a mile.

 

HOT ROD is, and probably always will be, a magazine which covers a wide range of vehicles with improved performance and looks, so anyone expecting any issue to feature one genre, type, trend, etc. for the bulk of a single issue is going to be very disappointed. That variety, however, is what allowed them to be flexible, and cover trending (trendy if you like) styles as they became popular, and popularity matters when it comes to mass magazine sales. If you want specialization and a narrow focus, HOT ROD is not for you. If you can understand and appreciate a well-built or styled vehicle which might not necessarily be in our comfort zone, you'll probably pick up a copy and enjoy it for what it is.

 

I'm going to keep getting it. I'm not a big pro street fan but I know not every single issue will be tailored to my taste. It's always been that way. I did enjoy the dragsters. I never know what might spark an idea for me. If we don't support the magazine they could go the way of other magazines and will not have a chance to put out content that is HAMB friendly. Keep that in mind.

 

Jorge Manrique: Coplas por la muerte de su padre. Jorge Manrique (c. 1440 – 24 April 1479) was a major Castilian poet, whose main work, the Coplas por la muerte de su padre is still read today.
- exerpts
cómo a nuestro parecer
cualquiera tiempo pasado
fue mejor.

No se engañe nadie, no,
pensando que ha de durar
lo que espera
más que duró lo que vio,
pues que todo ha de pasar
por tal manera.

Jorge Manrique expressed the same idea 550 years ago and doubtlessly others before him. Main idea is "things never get better, they just get worse." Pretty dark philosophy but probably applies to the latest iteration of Hot Rod. Don't look for it to get better and you won't be disappointed. As someone pointed out, they are currently understaffed and underfunded and of course (corporate think) it will be their fault when everything goes down the rathole.

 

"How, in our opinion, Any past tense It was better. Don't fool anyone, no, Thinking it's going to last What You Expect What he saw lasted longer Well, everything has to pass in such a way." Show-off

 

Wheel Hub is a pretty good quarterly. Some very high end builds and not all hot rods, but I think it's worth it.

 

do not think that I have heard of Wheel Hub before. search online could only find pics of covers. reviews very positive

 

I really like it. Again, it's a mixed bag, but the features are well done and I always come away with learning something new.

Glad I didn't order that Hot Rod Quarterly. I've got enough magazines and looking to get rid of some.

 

I look at it this way. When HOT ROD published monthly, they had twelve times a year to get it right. Now they only have four times a year to get it right.

 

Every issue they get it right and wrong, depending on ones perspective.

 

I have been subscribing to Hot rod Magazine since December 1956, yes, I am 83 years old. My subscription runs out in July, 2025. At that time, if I am still here, I will decide what I will do.

 

I've sub'd to HOT ROD since '64. My current sub expires in November, at which time I will have already re-upped my sub.
HOT ROD (and most others) has never been able to please everyone. You just pick & choose the articles you like and flip past the rest. Some issues have more stuff I like than other issues. That's how it goes, just like when all we had was AM radio: You listen to what you like as it comes. Better that nuthin', right?
HOT ROD is, at least trying to survive. I'm glad of it and I'll support them as long as they keep swingin'!
(B.T.W., I really miss HOT ROD DELUXE!!)

 

Yup, Hot Rod Deluxe was my favorite also, I am hoping that they will include some of H.R.D.'s Hot Rod history in future issues.