Every hot rodding magazine ever published (not to mention numerous books and countless websites) have taken stabs at creating comprehensive glossaries of automotive enthusiast terms and phrases. Finally, Motorbooks has done it right with the publication of The Ultimate Hot Rod Dictionary. The title says it all. This book is 243 pages thick and includes more than 1,600 words and phrases, with definitions, phrase origins, and examples of usage. In addition, the Dictionary includes more than 225 line-art illustrations.
The book began as part of an English class paper on the specific language of hot rod culture by college student Jeff Breitenstein. Jeff's instructor gave the paper an A and encouraged Jeff to further develop his material. A lifetime of interest in the topic, combined with a whole bunch of additional intensive research, resulted in the most complete collection of terminology we've ever seen. In fact, we spent an hour trying to think of words he missed. We haven't thought of one yet.
n creating this dictionary, Jeff decided not to include all automotive terms, but just those exclusive to hot rods (as well as musclecars, lowriders, customs, and drag racers). For example, he omits the general term "camshaft" but includes the slang variations "cam" and "bumpstick." He also avoids falling into the sticky area of lifestyle terminology-avoiding terms that may be popular in current "car culture" circles but not specifically automotive.
If you never thought you'd find yourself reading a dictionary, this informative and fun book might surprise you. The Ultimate Hot Rod Dictionary by Jeff Breitenstein is published by MBI Publishing Company and is available for $14.95 at the best bookstores, by calling Classic Motorbooks at (800) 826-6600, or by visiting www.motorbooks.com.
Street Rod And Custom Rod Of The YearTwo of the biggest events rod and custom builders anticipate every summer are the Street Rod of the Year and Custom Rod of the Year awards, presented by Goodguys. The Street Rod prize, presented at the Goodguys Hot Rod Nationals in Columbus, Ohio, is for pre-'49 vehicles. This year's winner was Roger Ritzow's '32 roadster, an up-to-date interpretation of traditional built by Troy Trepanier of Rad Rides by Troy in Manteno, Illinois. In case you didn't notice it on the cover of the magazine you're currently holding, keep reading. We've got a full feature on the amazing Deuce just a few pages away.
At the Goodguys Heartland Nationals in Des Moines, the Custom Rod award-for '49 to '72 street-driven, functional customs-was won by Doug Hoppe's orange pearl and black '55 Chevy convertible, built by Roger Burman from Lakeside Rods in Rockwell City, Iowa. Hoppe's pavement-scraping high-tech shoebox features Air Ride Technologies bags in the corners, raising and lowering the massively modified body over the Morrison mandrel-bent rails, part of the completely custom chassis. Under the hood, it's a 502 Ramjet Bow-Tie big-block putting out about one horsepower per cubic inch. Burman and Hoppe's previous collaborative effort was a '37 Ford cabriolet featured in the October issue of Rod & Custom.
Aftermarket BasketAmericruise Thanks FlowmasterIn last month's issue, you read all about Rod & Custom's Americruise 2004, sponsored by Flowmaster. Flowmaster, the leader in performance exhaust technology, has been involved with and supported the Americruise program for many years. Flowmaster has stepped up as the official sponsor time and time again and we'd like to take this opportunity to thank them for their continued help and support. It's involvement from industry leaders like Flowmaster that add the icing to the cake, making a fun-filled event even more enjoyable. R&C is looking forward to future Americruise events and we thank its participants for supporting its sponsors.
So-Cal Opens In VegasSo-Cal Speed Shop announces the opening of a new store in Las Vegas. Located just off the Strip at 4200B W. Desert Inn Road, the new facility recreates the atmosphere of the original So-Cal Speed Shop opened by Alex Xydias in 1946, and features So-Cal's New Traditionalist line of hot rod parts plus many other performance products, collectibles, apparel. The official grand opening ceremony is Sunday, October 30. For more information, call So-Cal at (702) 651-1932 or visit www.so-calspeedshop.com
Cyber Roddin'More cool automotive places to visit on your next trip into cyberspace. Old-timey drag racing shots from the Northeast, a Hemi motor playground from Chrysler, and yet more great hot rod art.
Straight Shooterswww.motorsportunderground.com
Anybody familiar with our enthusiasm for old drag racing photography will know why we love this site. There are more than 1,000 vintage and contemporary shots racing from the Northeastern US. Black & white and color shots fill numerous scrapbooks and galleries dating back 40 years. The site, which is part of a family-owned business offering images and photographic services to the sport, even includes an instructional section on how to shoot better photos at the drags. Our favorite shot (so far)? The B&W image of Tommy Ivo wrenching on his drag between rounds.
We decided to break our rule against reviewing manufacturers' Web sites to direct your attention to this new one from DaimlerChrysler. More than merely a commercial for the new 5.7L Hemi, this site is loaded with photos and info that Hemi buffs will love. Some of our favorite material includes the Heritage page featuring early motors and the people responsible for it. The Racing page is loads with profiles on Hemi racers from circle track and drag racing, as well as noted Hemi builders. The Crates section offers spec information on all Hemis old and new. There's even a "Hemi IQ" quiz-see if you can do better than we did.
Featured Artist-Dale Kleewww.oldcarart.com
Rustic hot rod scenes, forgotten rods (waiting to be discovered and resurrected) parked behind a weathered barn, an abandoned gas station or diner, or in a weed-filled field have become a popular segment within automotive painting, and Dale Klee is a master of that genre. Dale says he spent his early days at his father's service station, where he would get "extremely excited whenever an old coupe or convertible would pull in for gas." He offers limited-edition prints and holiday cards via his site. "I like to think I'm painting for people who get an unexplainable thrill from discovering an abandoned old car."
Yesterday's Young GunsVictor Worley changed out of his work togs and donned his best Sunday suit for a photo next to his '33 Chevy five-window coupe. As a high school student in Portales, New Mexico, Victor used the car for daily to-and-from duty, in addition to trips to the strips. The coupe body was channeled five inches and modified in the back with '49 Lincoln taillights. The interior was rolled and pleated. The coupe rode on the stock rails with a '47 Ford front end with a split wishbone. A 264ci Buick was hot rodded with ported and polished heads and triple Stromberg 97s on a Weiand intake and backed up with a '40 LaSalle trans with a Drag Fast shifter conversion.
If you have photos of you and your hot rod from the '40s, '50s, or '60s, mail them, along with a brief story, to: Yesterday's Young Guns, Rod & Custom, 2400 E. Katella Ave., Anaheim, CA 92806, or E-mail them (3x5 inches at 300 dpi) to timothy.bernsau@primedia.com.