A Voice Of Reason
Hey Jeff, I hear you have some history at this beloved magazine. That eases my worries some. You have some big sandals to fill and a heavy crown to wear. I am sad that Matt King was yanked from us by "Import" Rod. He and his royal subjects really made this magazine the best auto mag on the newsstand. Car Craft alone got me through my first major engine build and walked me through the procedures of drag racing. Thanks to Car Craft, I turned a crappy-looking '65 LeMans that ran high 11s in the eighth-mile into a respectable-looking high-7-second car. By the way, this is the same car I put over 35,000 miles on in one year. The real world, that's what Car Craft is about. While all others are busy chasing trends, you are teaching my little brother when to chase threads. And while EFI is the name of the game everywhere else, Car Craft showed me how to perfect my Holley and Quadrajet tune-up. I got so good at it that, while working at a parts store, I had customers come to me to tune their Holleys and Quadrajets. I even get respect from import guys. I don't disagree with imports, I just believe they are on a different team. And two teams shouldn't read from the same playbook. Guess what I am getting at is please don't follow the path of the other magazines. Please maintain this real-world rodder philosophy that helped me become a true competitor at my local dragstrip. If you start following the same format as the others, what would make you any different from them? My father isn't into this hobby, so I don't have anybody to help me out much. I thank Car Craft for being there.
Michael Smith
via e-mail
How To Write To Car Craft
Mail: Car Craft Readers' Pages, 6420 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90048
E-mail: carcraft@primedia.com
Fax: 323/782-2263
Subscription inquiries: Car Craft, P.O. Box 56095, Boulder, CO 80322-6095
Remember: We can't handle your subscription questions here at the editorial offices (log onto www.carcraft.com for info on that stuff). We also can't return anything you send us, but we want all the real photos we can get-not digital shots.
Reader's In And Out List
In: Building a show quality orange '71 Z28 Camaro
Out: Ad (as seen on eBay) reads: "Dents on the roof and hood (thanks to an angry ex-wife); $2K to fix dents. 24K invested. Must sell due to divorce.
In: Going out of state to a magazine-sponsored car show
Out: Going to local car shows and seeing the same cars every weekend
In: Demolition derby is cheap therapy
Out: Cost of a real therapist
In: Hunting for demo cars
Out: Finding good cars
In: Welding on your car late at night
Out: Welding on you car in the rain
Out: Getting shocked in the process.
In: Building the cheapest car you can
Out: You have to build a cheap car because yours broke
In: Winning with the biggest piece of junk there
Out: Not able to get it off the trailer cause it's junk
In: Beating high-dollar cars with your beater car
Out: That you wished you had half the money they put into their cars
In: Demolition cars are still fun
Out: It's turning into a sport of who has more money
In: Working on your car
Out: When your throttle sticks and your car kicks into gear
Out: You are strapped to the hood trying to shut it down
In: You missed the neighbor's house
Out: Walking in on your 7-year-old son while he is sitting on the can [Thank you for not sending a photo like everyone else.-ed.]
In: Finding out he's reading Car Craft
In: Renewing your Car Craft subscription.
Out: No more money for beer
In: Canceling Hot Rod in favor of more beer money
Jeff Lang
Jacksonville, Florida
In: Street racing and smoking a Mustang Cobra by a mile!
Out: Discovering the state trooper was undercover, and those pretty blue lights mean you won't win that $50
John Polihronidisvia e-mail
Can you say "entrapment"?