Art & Inspiration The Rodder's Journal #43

It's always a treat when I go to my mailbox and find that the latest issue of The Rodder's Journal has arrived ... today was no exception ... issue Number Forty Three was waiting for me (hermetically sealed in its clear plastic wrapper and heavy paperboard envelope).

Once opened, I always have trouble putting an issue of TRJ down ... but for some reason, this issue seems to be even better than most (if that's even possible) ... every single article and car feature is just awesome ... including:

* Pat Ganahl's The RJ Times column entitled "Done Deuce Chassis" [which begins with: It's been so long now, that most of you who've been asking "Whatever happened to Pat Ganahl's Deuce?' on the H.A.M.B. have given up asking. ].

* Part 1 of Spence Murray's "The Men and Machines of Valley Custom" article.

* @Chopperken Gross' "Art of the Hot Rod" article (which also makes mention of the HAMB).

* Steve Coonan's "The Indy Nationals Scrapbook" article with a collection of Richard McKinstry's photographs.

* Tom Madigan's "The Adventures of Sparky" article.

* Thom Taylor's "Dan Woods" article.

* Greg Sharp's "Correspondence by Medley" article.

* etc., etc.

Anyway ... Kudos to Steve, Geoff, and all of the contributors to The Rodder's Journal ... keep up the great work!

 

Mine came yesterday. They never disappoint, and you are absolutely correct in your assertion that a Rodder's Digest delivery indicates a much-improved day.

 

Dang, you ruined it for me. I haven't gotten mine yet and this will be my first. I can hardly wait!

 

I should have never let my subscription lapse...but unemployment had something to say about that...*sigh*...guess it's off to the news stand for me...

 

Ryan ... Not bad at all ... It's almost like browsing threads on the H.A.M.B. ... in fact, the subject of many of the TRJ #43 articles / columns were actually recent posts on the Jalopy Journal and/or the HAMB (e.g., Winfield's Shop Truck found, Dan Wood's Show Rods, etc., etc.).

It might get me permanently banned from the HAMB ... and many will call me "old-fashioned" ... but there's just something about reading a high-end publication like TRJ that (IMO) will never translate to online media ... I guess I just like being able to hold the darn thing in my hands ... take in the smell of a freshly printed periodical ... and really appreciate a photographic image printed on paper (more than one displayed on my computer monitor).


EDIT: Wait for it, Wait for it ... 1 ... 2 ... 3 ... "Hey HEMI32, you're just a clueless Old Fart ... you really need to get a clue and realize that print media is a dinosaur!"

 

AnimalAin ... I don't subscribe to "Rodder's Digest" magazine ... should I? ... or was that just a typo?

 

Rodders Digest? Are they still putting that one out?

I hate that I get everything after everyone else. Hopefully my Rodders Journal will show up tomorrow.

 

That's it, I'm re-upping my subscription tomorrow...I have every issue from the day I first saw it, it'd be stupid to stop getting them now when I need the inspiration the most...

 

As I don't yet have a subscription I'll have to make the trip to Borders and look for a copy. That is the only magazine I get that my wife picks up and reads. Often before I do.

 

Yep, I've looked through it but haven't read all of it. I particular enjoyed Ken Gross's sneek peak of his book "The Art of the Hot Rod" and Tardel's write up. Another great issue.

 

OK,now I'm fighting the urge to go to the book store to buy one since my wife can't remember if she sent in the subscription renewal , I'll wait till next week, I think?????

 

The Rodder's Journal is one of the best examples of where Print media can survive the Web's onslaught. So long as TRJ maintains it's excellence, I will by it sight-unseen forever. TRJ should be required reading for anyone in the Print industry who thinks they're losing the battle with the Web. If you make an excellent publication, targeted at a specific interest, with superior printing, writing, photography and subject matter, you can survive.

 

IMHO you could not duplicate that publication via the internet or electronically.

Here is an example of what I mean: Remember all those cool gate fold LP's with awesome cover art and liner notes? Well, yeah you do a search for it on line and get an idea of what the art looks like. But something happens when you are actually holding it in your hands. A tactile connection takes places.

The same goes for something as visually appealing as TRJ.

I have a hard time making that same connection with a digital image on a computer screen. Maybe I'm old fashion, but you know what? I'm OK with that. As long as the TRJ remains in print, I will buy it.

 

Great! I won't get to read it until Sept., my next trip planned home. I have my family send all my rags to Japan (my co. ships it to me free of cost, so I don't have to pay overseas subs), except TRJ. Why? I don't want to risk damaging it. I load up when I go home. I'm pretty anal about my TRJs. I have an Excel file with each issue cataloged for every article and a brief description of the article for ease of finding info. when I need it.

 

I got mine in the mail last week. Another great issue for sure. I really liked the Indy Nats article.

 

Got mine yesterday and it's awesome. Art in true form.

 

Patiently waiting. Why am I always the last one. Don't you just love a whinner?

Frank

 

I got mine yesterday and started reading the Art of the Hot Rod article. I am a happy man as long as I have a RJ around me.

 

The Rodders Journal is the exception to the "magazines" these days.
I only wish them the greatest luck and hope they continue to go like gang-busters!
With the HAMB,who needs the other three-month delay deals?

When TRJ shows in the mail,I ain't worth a damn for getting anything done for a while.

 

That's funny. My wife calls it black mail day for she knows the rest of the night I'm not talking to her.

 

Even with the price TRJ is the best bang for the buck by far when it comes to car mags IMHO. At least I get hours of entertainment instead of 15 min. like the others.

 

every issue just keeps getting better

well done

 

The real test of a magazines worth is how long it takes to read it, obviously. Most main stream mags take about 15 to 30 minutes to go through. Maybe an hour if it's got something really interesting.

Not TRJ. It's good it only comes 4 times a year 'cause it takes that long to digest it. It has gotten better and better with the increased emphasis on the history and roots of hot rodding. Easily the best print media out there, overall and a bargain.

I gave up wasting ever-escalating subscriptions prices long ago..... I'm loyal only to Hop Up and TRJ. The rest are a waste of money that I need for parts, tools and materials.

Rich

 

It's always a happy day when that big envelope is on my door step. I regret not subscribing sooner. Time to renew.

 

The best part of TRJ is no advertisements cloaked as tech articles. Value wise, when compared to the typical news stand rag, it is ten time better and only three times the price.

 

It might get me permanently banned from the HAMB ... and many will call me "old-fashioned" ... but there's just something about reading a high-end publication like TRJ that (IMO) will never translate to online media ... I guess I just like being able to hold the darn thing in my hands ... take in the smell of a freshly printed periodical ... and really appreciate a photographic image printed on paper (more than one displayed on my computer monitor).

...yeah. plus you can't take "online media" into the crapper for your morning sit down.

 

crap, I hope mine comes today so I can have it for the weekend.

imagine if you had to wait for the hamb like you had to wait for TRJ. Now, that would suck wouldn't it? Waiting a couple of months for someone to reply to your pic request or PM. No instant photochopping either or youtube videos. Good thing we can have the best of both and don't have to choose one over the other or worse, no choice at all.

 

Having been on the HAMB for less than a year, I quickly came to appreciate the fact that you see the latest stuff that's happening on here first, months ahead of the print.

As far as the Journal goes, it's amazing how they do keep the quality improving, getting bigger, holding the price and hopefully showing a profit. I'm not sure how they accomplish all of that, but I hope it continues.

 

Wow can't wait, should have mine by mid summer!