Terry Cook, Steve Collison,Lee Kelley and Bud Bryan, along with just about all of the others mentioned.
Yup, whilst all the others mentioned are up there on my top writers list, there's no magazine will ever match the wit, no downright riotous humour that the Hendrickson and Buger team integrated into what was my all time favourite rod magazine until Buckaroo ruined it. I could sit and read Rodders Digest with tears of laughter rolling down my cheeks. That rag was so good it was the only one my Mrs would ever open before I got home, she'd often remark that the guys had written another editorial about me. Yup, even before I ever met them it seemed they knew me better than I knew myself. Baskerville was right up there with these guys, writing with great wit and inventing a whole new language just for us hot rodders. It's a real shame he never got to write a book. Jay Carnine, took a little too long to get started, but nobody else ever wrote a book that made me feel like I knew all the participants and was part of the story as he could. Tex is still writing, but probably wastes too much of it fishing. Spends half his time here in Oz. Was lucky enough to work with Carrol Smith on a few occasions, incredible engineer with unbeleivable knowledge and ability to communicate it bot verbal and written communication. he was pretty good with a pencil too. Mike Bishop has a knack for simplifying the complicated and Gahnal just seems to like the same things as me and writes what I like to read. Dean Batchelor's book lives with the favourites on my shelf and anything from Spence Murray is always worth reading. I just wish he'd write the definitive tome on the Dream Truck.
I too loved reading Gerry Burger's ramblings in the old Rodders Digest. It was one of the only rag I would read from cover to cover to make sure I didn't miss anything because those guys would hide stupid stuff in the wierdest places!
I will go out of my way to read anything written by Pat Ganahl, Mike Bishop, and Peter Egan. The late Henry Manney (Road & Track) was stupendous, too.
Tom Medley makes the top of my list. Recently deceased John Thawley was not only an entertaining writer, but he had a knack for simplifying complex mechanical issues.
I could second almost all of the above, with Senter, Gahnal, Bishop, and Burger as top favorites. But how about Freiburger? with quotes like "the car dropped parts like a leper on a trampoline", how can you go wrong!
Ya know, I was trying to think of Frieburger's name last night for this thread. I really enjoyed the Ford engine series he did a few years back for one of the car mags (R&C I think). I'm pretty embarr***ed to admit I forgot to mention Ryan as well as Roger Jetter. Both are very entertaining to read.
There's a common thread running through this thread (pun intended) that almost everyone of the writers mentioned here started their careers long before the advent of the computer/word processor. All of the Petersen ***les as well as C&D and R&T had copy editors on the staff. Most of the copy editors were retired English teachers and they wielded a red pencil like it was magic wand. When I started writing for R&C, I used a portable Royal and onion skin paper with carbon paper. Copy had to be submitted at least 10 days before the deadline so it could be edited and corrected. I maintain to this day that writers who started out with a typewriter are better than those who mastered the cut and paste Word process and never outlined a complete story/feature before sitting down at the typewriter. I disagree with Ryan's premise that he's not a writer; he is, indeed, a car guy that's become a good communicator.
Amen on burn,em bill and good old steve miss em both real tresures to our life style r.i.p. and what about idaho joe
And many of the writer's listed are not dead, including ME... WHERE, Mr THudson, in Metalshapes' post does it state they are supposed to be dead...??? He simply said many of his favorite writers "had p***ed away"... Writer's read...perhaps you should too before you post. Of course, how could I be remiss in not mentioning Neal East...he lives right here in Denver...!!! R-
Was it Sawyer that said all GREAT writers have the inate ability to put themselves in other's shoes and show comp***ion no matter the deed done? I think it was... Simple mistake. No reason to be rude. Chill. ......... Steve H. was a very good friend of mine. Maybe the most heart wrenching experience of my life was meeting his dad at the HAMB Drags a few years ago. I cried like a baby for a good hour. ****ED. I miss Steve. A lot.
And Writers never completly die, do they. Their thoughts and stories live on every time we read them....
I come to the HAMB, hoping to learn something. In this thread, I hope to discover some writers that I am unaware of. Alive or not. I'll add Chris Martin to this list. He's a good ol' friend and a real hoot to read. He has a p***ion for stats and knows what is important. I recommend his Top Fuel Handbook.
A few favorite authors on my bookshelf: Louise Ann Noth: wrote Bonneville Salt Flats ... excellent book on the Bonneville experience. Albert Drake: Wrote Flatout, Hot Rodder! and Fifties Flashback ... "must haves" if you want do***entation of the early days of hot rods. Leon Mandel: Wrote American Cars, one of the better books on the history of the automobile in the US. He also wrote several other books on racing, the auto industry and a biography of William Harrah. He also was a senior editor at Car & Driver, Road & Track and was the publisher of Autoweek until his death a few years ago. He was slightly OT, but wrote about auto-related subjects of interest to all gearheads.
Did I step on someone's toes...??? Did I get called down for it...??? Oh man...If I did, here, let me apologize for that misstep for all to see... looks like we could all learn a lesson about comp***ion, and drama, and rudeness, and PC-ness, and ... R-
See how difficult writing is? Nevermind all the complicated word smithing, being factual and interesting enough to read. First you have make sure your not mis understood. I failed right away....
Ocee Ritch was good. Roger Huntington was good, but when you learn a bit about him he was amazing. L.J.K. Setright is a favorite. Pat Ganahl is the writer I most admire. Jay Carnine put so much wisdom and heart into his writing that I must include him with the other greats.
You took the words right off my keyboard. I used to read every word the guy wrote back when I was in high school. He was the standard for journalists, that's for certain...
Long time NHRA journo Chris Martin p***ed away yesterday {23-6-2010}. I always looked forward to his excellent insight into the world of drag racing. He was a man who trully experienced life and it showed in his writing. R.I.P. CHRIS MARTIN. 1947-2010. www.dragracingonline.com/finishline/xii_6-chrismartin-1.html
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