Is R&C killing Young Guns?

I just got the new R&C, Young guns is now a half page, they say the rest can be seen on the website. What's the story? Have they decided that the under 30 crowd doesn't spend enough money with their advertisers, or what? Not bitching, just curious.

 

Young Guns?????

To hell with that!

I wanna see Young Nuns.....vavavoooom.

 

They showed a couple REAL TINY pics of a cool roadster last month.
I never made it to their web site,
or bought their mag.

 

I don't really have time to screw around with their website...I spend all my computer time here.....

 

Give them time and the mags will just be "trailers" to articles that you have to pay more money for to see.
I think the speed of internet is really raising havoc with the printed periodical.
But if they intend to survive in print, they shouldn't be putting half empty information in the mag or even more people will abandon them.
I haven't and won't ever put a credit card number on the internet for anyone, anything, anytime so I won't be "playing" that website subscription game.
You listening Primedia?

 

You can't read the HAMB and take a shit...well, most of us can't, anyways.

 

I don't buy anything over the net either, Dr J. If I can't talk to someone in person, I'll do business elsewhere. Is Scribe still around here? I was hoping to get his input on the demise of his column, if his bosses will let him talk about it......

 

I'm pretty sure he said they were doing away with it from the magazine, but it would be a monthly internet feature. Here's an idea, if they don't think they have the room for that article, why not remove that back page that always tells what is on the webpage? The "teasers" that they show are always the same articles that are in the magazine. Why bother with that page at all?

 

Well, I didn't want to take up space with an O/T post or air my dirty laundry, but since someone asked, here's the scoop.

Rod & Custom magazine is undergoing major turmoil right now. Location changes, management changes, lots and lots of chiefs who all have ideas about how to run the tribe, but never remember to tell the indians. Young Guns was really starting to take off, membership is now well into the hundreds, and I do believe my column was generating more mail than anything in the mag's recent past. Unfortunately, the suits decided that the ad-to-editorial ratio wasn't quite high enough, so they killed some pages, including the Young Guns package (my column) and reduced it down to a half-page shadow of what it once was. You can't imagine how many young guys I had coming up to me at shows, thanking me for representing a different perspective (not just young people, but all people into traditional rods and customs) in the mainstream magazine world. It breaks my heart that just as this program was taking off, fostering good will amongst all age groups in this hobby of ours, the powers-that-be decided it wasn't "cost effective" and killed it, WHILE I WAS AWAY ON VACATION NO LESS, so I didn't even have a chance to defend my baby. To make matters worse, I had just received the amazing artwork done by our very own Brush (Norwell) for the YG t-shirts and plaques, which will now never see the light of day.

All of this combined with some location/commute issues have contributed to my decision to leave Rod & Custom Magazine. I had a great time while on board, got to meet some excellent people, see some awesome cars, and really dive head-first into what I believe is the last true bastion of American freedom and spirit... the world of hot rodding.

Please don't allow this post to turn into a tirade against the mainstream mags or a promotion for all of the "other" mags out there. I will continue to read R&C just as I did for years before scoring a spot on the staff. The guys I leave behind are all excellent and dedicated members of the rodding community, and I wish them well with their endeavors. It is incredibly rare to find one person who knows so much about so many things car-related, and I leave behind not one but three such men. I've learned from all of them, and greatly appreciate my time spent at such a legendary title. Anyone who has followed R&C for more than a few years knows that the magazine has always been the red headed stepchild of every company it has been a part of, which is probably why its been killed so many times.

For those of you who supported me and the Young Guns program, I THANK YOU. When we first came up with the concept I put the word out on the HAMB and memberships flew in... more so than from any other source. You guys really stood behind the club, and that is a true testament to your dedication and enthusiasm. I will continue to pick Young Guns winners for the next few months, and after the year is up I hope that the staff will continue to promote the program. It really is beneficial.

Sorry to take up your time and bandwidth with my little rant, but hopefully this will shed some light on the subject. Its unfortunate that I wasn't given a final column to let everyone know what happened. As a little bonus I'll attach a lo-res version of the R&C artwork that was supposed to go on the shirts... I think you'll find it as bitchin' as I did.

See ya down the road (and on the HAMB)...

Dan


P.S.
DrJ, as much as I'd like to agree with your little rant against corporate America, I think you'll find that the entire R&C website, including the archives, is free. No credit card numbers needed or wanted. The mags try to send readers to the sites because bandwidth on a server is much cheaper and more plentiful than printed pages in a magazine.

 

Thanks for the inside scoop. I was noticing a pattern here.
Ganahl had boosted the popularity of the mag with some great content. It seems when a mag reaches a high point in it's rejuvenated readership, the focus then changes to "bolt on" articles which mesh nicely with advertising.

It sounds like it is happenning again. I'm not doing any mag bashing, just seems like a normal cycle of magazine business.

 

[ QUOTE ]

...
P.S.
DrJ, as much as I'd like to agree with your little rant against corporate America, I think you'll find that the entire R&C website, including the archives, is free. No credit card numbers needed or wanted. The mags try to send readers to the sites because bandwidth on a server is much cheaper and more plentiful than printed pages in a magazine.

[/ QUOTE ]

My mistake, (currently anyway) Seems in the past I tried to read something on a car magazine site and had to "register" to view anything. Guess it wasn't R & C.
But the day may be coming....

 

I talked with Pat Ganahl for several hours at the KKOA 20th Aniv Spectacular in Whichita a few years ago. He told me lots of stories just like Scribe just did about the behind the scenes of magazine industry. It's got to be an insecure feeling working for a mag. Every time the wind changes direction, a new crew comes in and cleans house of the old crew.

Seems like Baskerville was the only guy that stayed put in the business for very long.

I was happy to read in the editorial of the newest Rodder's Journal that Ganahl is back on staff there. I think he has always provided a little soul to whatever publication he writes for.

 

Scribe, I'm very sorry to hear this. I think Young Guns was one of the best ideas I've ever seen in a mag. Good luck with your future endevors. I have no doubt you'll do well. FWIW I think R&C is making a mistake letting you get away.

 

Dan,i know ive told you before,but it was really an awesome feeling for me to be selected as a young gun of the month.too badd all this stuffs going on now,it was one of the cool things i looked forward to reading each month since it was first started. it was really cool to see that the big mags were doing something for us young guys. and all the sponsors helping out too. i really hate to see that your YG column is gone and now theyve cut the page in half.

anyways,hate to hear your leaving,cuz your columns and features are the ones i really enjoy reading.

well,best of luck in the future!

sammy furlong

 

Scribe,
I'm sorry to hear this too. When word got out about the 'club', i thought is was a great idea..still do.
I even sent in the form myself.

I looked forward to seeing what other 'young guys' were building, and i also enjoyed reading your editorials.

It's also too bad about your leaving, however, you must do what you feel is right for you. end of story.

Good luck man.

Rat..
"young gun #11"

PS, that shirt woulda been killer!!!! dammit!

 

Butt Reynolds took the words right out of my mouth.

Thanks for the hard work you put into a great idea, Dan. Sometimes the big guys just don't know what's best for them. I mean...Who exactly do they think is going to buy their mag after the older hot-rodders among us are gone? The young guys that they are basically pissing on? Sorry, I don't want to go off on a rant.

Anyway, thanks Dan.

-Brian Bass

'Young Gun #22jr'

 

Scribe. It takes a set of nuts to walk out on a paying gig like that. Good luck to you. Maybe TRJ needs some help....

As for the T-shirts. Those are too cool to never see the light of day. Is there ANYTHING we could do to score one? Duct tape over the R&C logo if nessessary...?

And the Young Guns thing..It's unfortunate that the powers that be don't realize that young guys buy parts too. As the "old guys" die off, who do you think is gonna still be building cars and buying parts? To me, that sounds like TRYING not to get new customers.

I would think R&C would be JUMPING at the oppertunity to present a Magnum Axle, Speedway or Coker Tire sponsered Young Guns article.

I'm glad I'm not in the magazine biz... -Abone.

 

I'll go off on a fuckn rant! I'm sick of this shit! What is wrong with people? Why won't those management fuck-faces realize that young guys probibly buy more mags than the gold-chainers 'cause they don't have the cash for their dream car yet? Man R&C used to REALLY have their thumb on the pulse, showing new ideas and top-notch craftsmanship in every issue. After the big "re-invention" of R&C, things were boss! I used to buy every issue. Now it's more and more billet dog shit I just have to flip past before I puke. That handbuilt car in the last installment looked awesome, and look at the attention it got...I was lookin for the rest! Needless to say I've bought fewer and fewer issues...

 

The reason that rod and custom is cuting down the size of the young guns feature is that that the young guns cars dont have enough fake shit on them. fake blower?

 

To keep this short I'll just add an AMEN to what has already been said. To me its quite obvious where managements head is in this decision and its where you don't see sushine or get oxygen so your brain will function.

Frank

 

Man....that sucks.
The mag has been great for the most part and I've been buying every issue as it came to the rack.
I think you guys were really having a positive influence...geez, you were writing most of the articles yourself anyway!
BEST luck to you in your future job, Dan. Sorry to see you leaving.
Young Guns was a great idea!
Bill

 

sad to see young guns going. i really wanted to be under that flag when the pontiac is done, looks like i'll miss out. and i really hate to see you go, scribe. i hate that it is going this way. i look at rod and custom from 2000, 2001, they're almost as thick as streetrodder and chock full of info, this new issue is as thin as i have ever seen one. you need people to buy magazines to be successful, and they always offer the dirt-cheap subscriptions, i'd gladly pay alot more for a subscription to a boss magazine. i'm not sure that i'll resubscribe, dropping young guns is a small small part of that, but if it gets any thinner, it'd be called a pamphlet. i really really hate to see it, rod and custom spoke to me when i first started reading it. man, i'm bummed the fuck out.

 

is theres ome way we could politely, yet meaningfully make our feelings known to the pwoers that be at R&C? i'm not talkin about getting out of line, i'd just like to get some crap off my chest about all this. anybody know?

 

I think the word "Management" is Latin for
"Over paid Dumb Fucks that take all the credit for other peoples hard work when things are going well,
who can't do the job themselves but know how to put up road blocks in front of those that do,
who know 1001 ways to alienate their long term customers and staff,
who add no value to the organization beyond their shallow personalities,
who change things just for the sake of change without understanding what sort of effect it will have,
and don't mind pulling the rug out from under some hard working slob when he's are not watching."

If you meet all 6 of these criteria,and don't mind wearing a white shirt and tie,you too can be a Mindless Management Weasel.

The money I was going to spend on R&C will go to support the HAMB.
I hope Jeff Norwell got paid for his submission.

 

Sorry to see you go Dan. I hope to red/see your influence agian in another magazine. Maybe some day the suits will understand that letting someone and their base grow with the magazine is a good thing? I dunno, you think the following Ganahal and Baskerville built would be proof?! Wankers, every last beancounter!

 

Thanks for the response,Dan. I wasn't trying to put you in an uncomfortable situation, I figured you were more torn up about this than anyone. It's just frustrating to see a good idea die an untimely death. Good luck to you, Thanks for trying to make R&C cooler than it actually is.......Young Gun #7

 

All these so-called management types are usually just to far removed from the real world. In this case the people who buy the magazines. Wouldn't surprize me if 'the so-called management' even read the magazine. They are always just interested in the bottom line. Max profit. From my point of view a magazine that caters to all the readership will gnerate max profit. I always like Ed Roth's business philosophy. Sell all day at a lesser price, rather than hang out all day for one sale at a big price. The same is true for profits in anything. If you offer a quality product more people will buy, don't offer that quality and less people buy. In this case the Young Gun feature is a big part of R&C that most of us see as being a big part of the quality product

 

<font color="purple"> You'll be fine as long as you don't drive all night to SLC, then send pics of your manhood to a female HAMBer. </font>

 

That's a real bummer Dan (well maybe not for you because you're walking away on the high road with your head held high.) It was nice dealing with you and I'm sure our paths will cross down the rod as long as you don't get into boats or guns or planes or.......................

Dennis