Just wanted to drop by and say "hi" from PHR. I'm a new member here and plan on hanging out as often as my heavy schedule will permit. As some of you know, I'm the editor of Popular Hot Rodding, and that means I'm always trolling for stuff for the magazine.

For starters, I'd like your ideas on a few things. Do you own a street machine that the world needs to know about? Do you have tech questions or ideas for tech stories in PHR? Is there an important happening that we need to know about? Do you have a complaint or suggestion about PHR's direction? How 'bout a funny story?

Whatever you have to say, I'd like to hear it. I will also be taking your ideas and posting new polls and questions on this forum. Also, please fee free to email feedback to me at the magazine. My email address is: john.hunkins@primedia.com. Don't forget to include your full name, hometown and contact phone (only if you need me to call you back).

Thanks,

JH

Welcome to the best board on the web. I also do some writting for the boys right down the hall from you. You will find a wealth of information on this site and some great technical stuff. Good bunch of people with probably hundreds of years of collective knowledge on all things including Chevelles.

Mark

Didn't Freidburg just ask us about PHR? there was a ton of feedback on that post.

Bill

Didn't Freidburg just ask us about PHR? there was a ton of feedback on that post.

Bill

Yeah, guess it got a little over his head so he pawned it off on someone else......

JH,

The new issue of PHR with the 447 HP 350 on the cover is pretty lame. I can't beleive you guys still write crappy tech articles like that. You built a high HP level engine with little disregard for durability so you could say "Low Budget" with big HP numbers, and then you put that engine on the cover. :confused:

PHR is not about budget so don't go there. That is Car Craft territory. Vizards build ups are much more enjoyable to read about. HP is not cheap so why try to fool readers into thinking it is?

Crap like that is why I don't subscribe to the mag!

Sorry, had to be honest and vent.

I do however like most of the cars that are featured in the magazine each month.

My advice to you is this: KEEP IT REAL! Avoid the BS!

Thanks for listening.

Motorhead62, dunno where you're coming from but 1.3 HP per cubic inch based on a 350 block sure doesn't strike me as a durability issue.

I mean our little SB engines have never been described as "delicate" in my memory.

Motorhead62, dunno where you're coming from but 1.3 HP per cubic inch based on a 350 block sure doesn't strike me as a durability issue.

I mean our little SB engines have never been described as "delicate" in my memory.


Read the article.

They reused the stock pistons and did minimal machine work. It was all about new heads and a roller cam. That is not budget in my opinion, more like a grenade!

Like I said, read before you you spout!

Welcome to the site Johnny, I applaud your effort to reach out to the readers in different forums since there are probably a lot of us that wouldn't write to you otherwise. I enjoy reading PHR and would like you to know that "MOST" of us here are cordial and have a lot of knowledge and opinions that might be of interest to you. I just wonder if you didn't join this board would motorhead62 take the time to write into PHR to express his dislike of your article choice? I think you are looking for feedback whether it be pos. or neg. but I hope that everyone shows some class and respect.
Jake

Welcome to the site Johnny, I applaud your effort to reach out to the readers in different forums since there are probably a lot of us that wouldn't write to you otherwise. I enjoy reading PHR and would like you to know that "MOST" of us here are cordial and have a lot of knowledge and opinions that might be of interest to you. I just wonder if you didn't join this board would motorhead62 take the time to write into PHR to express his dislike of your article choice? I think you are looking for feedback whether it be pos. or neg. but I hope that everyone shows some class and respect.
Jake

FYI,

I subscribe to: Hot Rod, Chevy High Performance and Car Craft. I have written to all three of these magazines editors at one time or another. I have had pictures of my Chevelle printed in two of the three.

Feedback is important. This is not the first post by an editor on this forum. I gave my opionion and I am not ashamed of what I said.

I buy magazines for three reasons: tech articles, new products and feature cars. Most savvy Hot Rodders can recognize shoddy tech when they read it. I love all makes and models of cars and enjoy reading about them.

Again, thanks John for asking our opinions. Good luck at the helm.

Hi Johnny,
Keep putting the 73 Chevelles in your magazine and other years post 72.
I like to see different cars.

http://www.chevelles.com/forums/showthread.php?t=141871

Your coworker Dave F. got quite a bit of good into there to. So at least you can get some good reading out of that too.

Thanks for the into. PHR is a cool magazine. Always enjoyed reading that one too.

WELCOME!!

I am sure everyone on here has a street machine they would like the world to know about. I am extremely LSX motor biased since I made my swap and would like to see more articles on these! New tricks, and builds. Also turbo stuff!!

If you look me up, I have a low dollar HOME BUILT Twin Turbo 1000 hp 93 octane ls1 powered 1971 Chevelle that deserves a good motor/turbo tech article if your looking!!!!!

How about boneyard crawling in the rust belt??? Something for us who can't afford to go to arizona or texas.

It has been a while since I've seen some sort of interchangeable parts article, like what brake stuff, or chassis compnoents will swap.

Best advice I can give:
See what questions are frequently asked here, and write about them. We have a lot of good resources and member experience. Sometimes with the number of excellent responses we get from a question, you would think it is common knowledge, but it probably isn't.

I haven't picked up a copy of PHR in a long time . Used to subscribe but articles seemed to get to the piont they held no interest for some of us with shallow pockets. I see some of the deeper pocketed think an article designed to help those with shallow pockets is not worthy of print, well I differ in opinion. I believe all magazines should cover all ranges of builds and budgets. Your reader base will grow if you cover the low budget builds. Over the years I have built motors sometimes with all used parts. One even made my 64 SS Impala run in the low 12's. The guy I sold it to eventially put that motor into his pickup and replaced it with a 409. He raced it with the small block for two years with no problems. I'll have to pick up a copy of PHR and see how it changed .;)

I bought a 69 dart 340 in 1969, and if I remember right, part of the reason I bought it was because of an article in popular hot rodding about those cars.

Could you tell me what years the magazine has been in circulation.

Thanks Rob

I'd love to see a post here from one of these car rag editors where solicited suggestions from some of us were actually put in place! :(

How about it, Primedia...over 30,000 members here on TC!

I'm tired of seeing so many roller cam motors being built, yes we get it, they are ideal for a street car and most situations, but nobody I know can afford to do that swap on an existing hydraulic flat tappet motor. Its nearly 1000 bucks between the parts and labor, which is unbelievably considering that you can get a quality set of performance aluminum heads for that price. I know its not a budget magazine but how about focusing on reality, unless you have a roller motor to start with the swap isn't something you do unless you are having machine work done to the block anyway. The reality is that all of us at some point or another have done cam/head/top end swaps with the motor in the car more than we've built motors from the ground up. Lets see some articles about what you can achieve without touching the shortblock on some of the more common engines (350, 396, 400, 454, 502)

I have to assume you've read Frei's post?
http://www.chevelles.com/forums/showthread.php?t=141871&highlight=popular+hot+rodding

My 2 cents worth: Make the magazine VASTLY different. It's too close to CC and HOT ROD and all the other rags. All of these magazines were getting far too generic. The changes made to Hot Rod were well done. It's it's own genre again.

As for PHR, read the title; POPULAR HOT RODDING - Focus on what that means and what it was intended for.

We're tired of reading info-mercials for your advertiser's bolt-ons parts. We want REAL content, REAL stories, REAL coverage of WHAT'S GOING ON- (Popular) If you don't have the resources to accomplish this, reach out to your technically oriented readers. There's plenty here........ We have cameras, computers, experience, cars, imagination, etc.

What I see at local, national and television car shows, and events are trends toward older Hot Rods, Rat Rods, 40's 50's and 60's cars that are affordable. Any classic car has a chance to be something speacial.The 69 Camaro isn't a car for the rodding masses any longer.
FOOSE is king right now. How about some HOW TO articles with him or Troy Trepainier or ???

Content: How do you swap in a new motor into an old car? From the junkyard preferably. Don't forget the DETAILS! The details are what's ALWAYS missing from magazine articles. I don't know if it's left out on the editor's desk or was poor writing, but we're all a little sharper now with some wrenching under our belts and are tired of reading filler. Get down with it. What do things COST? That means something you know. We have to budget for things just like everyone else. The prices won't scare us, honest. You can publish them. You're a periodicle, not a bible.

I'd like to see live web coverage of big time events, racing, cruises, tours, etc. Get with the new century or it will leave you behind, quickly.

Dont forget to keep the young kids interested... as they have hopes and dreams also!

Wow, I never expected this much response! This is very cool. As far as the negative comments, I can only say that blowing sunshine up my arse does not help improve matters, and constructive criticism is a good thing. This guy Motorhead62 is a tough customer, so if I can get him to buy a PHR off the rack, I've earned my pay, right? That's my goal then. Motorhead62 is the key to my success. You are THE man Motorhead. ha ha!

Some of you have emailed me, and for that I say "thank you." Some info: my 10-year-old daughter is in love with '69 Chevelles, so I'll be in trouble if I don't comply eventually. My first car was a '72 Malibu, so I'm already hooked.

As far as budget versus high-end engine builds, we plan to do both, so there will be plenty for everybody to like. Is there any specific product you'd like to see reviewed?

Yeah....take my 65 and set me up with one of your engine projects....seeing how I have been ripped off by two so called builders this year to the tune of about 7 grand.....hahaha yeah like that will happen.....
Honestly, just do like BillsCamino stated and use our suggestions, just don't blow sunshine up our arse..haha

addendum to above.......after thinking about it, do this when you do a low end or high budget article......select a deserving reader and give his/her car a makeover (maybe 4 to 6 per year).
You want people to be life long fans and buy up your mag like hot cakes at a church breakfast....this would be the way.

Hope you mind is as open as your eyes when you read this....thanks

I'll quote myself from the Freiburger topic:

I know some people will complain they want variety, but not me... I want to subscribe to just the magazines that have what I like in them, not every magazine to get enough of what I like.

PHR found a niche in the Pro Touring scene, keep it that way... make it an all-PT magazine for the PT crowd. Car Craft's niche is low-buck builds, make it an all low-budget magazine for the budget limited. Hot Rod is more of a traditional style mag, keep it that way - 15" wheels, rat-rods, drag-cars, etc.

Find a niche with each magazine, and stick with it. Make Super-Chevy all about restored/original chevys, and CHP about modified Chevys.

You'll get a loyal fan-base with each separate mag, and those who don't like a certain style won't have to write in and complain all the time.

Like I said, PHR's niche has been Pro-Touring. Make it ALL pro-touring.

For variety, throw in some mild PT cars, some wild PT cars, and some off-brand non-typical PT cars. If I want drag cars, I'll read a different magazine.

Pick up a copy of Grassroots Motorsports. Pro-Tourers need a mag like that, but with musclecars in it. Good coverage of HPDE's and Open-Track days would be nice to see. An article about what you need, what to expect, and how not to be the idiot everyone gets PO'd at your first time out. Maybe follow a first-timer to the track, show his rookie mistakes, and get his instructor's comments about his driving.

Also, I, like many others, prefer to read about cars that are "real world" obtainable. Those high-dollar trailer-queens are cool to get ideas from, but most of us can't justify $1000 for billet hood hinges. Lets see more of what some guy can build out of his home for under $20,000 or $30,000. The majority of us work on our own cars, rather than paying a shop to build one.

Bring back the shorty vans and street freaks :D

We're tired of reading info-mercials for your advertiser's bolt-ons parts.

That's the reason why I don't buy many car magazines anymore. It sure makes for some good bathroom reading to read about the latest and greatest bolt-ons, but magazines like that seldom make their way to my garage.

More hands-on info would be appreciated by us who can't spend our money on bolt-on aftermarket kits. The best articles I have read have been the "50 best tech tips" and similar, they are very valuable. I know that it would get old and would take up a lot of valuable space to repeat installation details every time you show, for example, a new distributor or a brake kit, but why not gather the down-to-earth tech tips on your web site?

I am definitely not one to go around causing colons to get sunburned, but like I said before if you really think about it each mag has a niche and I read them all (HR, CC, PHR,CHP). I have an open mind,I want to see what everyone is doing and I have applied ideas from many types of cars to my own projects. In a perfect world everyone would drive 9 sec. chevelles but there are other cars and manufacturers out there and believe it or not some of them have good ideas or designs. I also like to see how fast the competition is, ie: keep your friends close and your enemies closer.

I do like the idea of taking some readers rides and making upgrades and/or rebuilding them, especially if that person is deserving. I would like to see a series where you buy a $1000 classic car that needs a lot of work, have readers vote on how to rebuild, list details monthly, and give it away at the end of the year or raffle it off for charity.

I would also like to see some articles on body/engine shops around the country that a reader can write in about and you guys check them out and write a story on them. Or ask readers for a list or breakdown of different type of specialty shops in the country and make a directory, such as powder coaters, body shops, machine shops,etc. I am moving to Jacksonville next month and have no idea where the speed shops, machinists, body shops, where to get nitrous refilled, drag strips, and so on but it would be nice to see a directory.
Just my .02

Please read what I told Dave F. to do if you want to see my views on this.

Thanks and I HOPE you and/or Dave do.

pdq67

I went to a used magazine store last night and looked over ( and bought) some PHR issues. I have been pretty lazy in looking over the car mags in recent years , so I was in for a surprise. Some of the tech articles in PHR were very excellent. Vizard is good because he addresse a lot of details that others miss. So, if the focus of PHR is pro touring and good tech articles, keep it up and I will be interested. Like many others, I do not need to see yet another cam change and dyno curves that start at 3500 rpm. My car is an ordinary driver and I have no interest in drag racing (not since the 60's actually). But I do have an interest in what good performance for everyday driving. If the tech articles transfer theoretical knowledge, then maybe some how-to articles would complement that with the implementation skills.

For what it's worth Hunkins, I currently subscribe and will continue to. I like what you guys are putting in the mag. Like was mentioned above, the Vizard articles are fantastic! The in-depth info given in his pieces is some of the best I've read in a magazine. I subscribe to several rags and always find something that makes it a worth while read. I guess I don't expect every issue to blow me away....then again, maybe I should :confused:

Ok, so you like more hands-on tech (how-to stuff), everybody needs a 9-second Chevelle, build cars and give them away in the mag, and find all the top engine-building shops and list them in a story.

Right now, we're trying to put a lot more how-to stories instead of high-brow theory. We're doing more stories instead of fewer, longer ones, and we're doing a wider mix of street machines (instead of all pro touring), and lastly, we're trying more on-line interaction.

I had to chuckle at the idea of building and giving away so many cars. I can barely build a magazine each month! Still, it's a nice idea that we may have to visit. One story we're working on is how to take a plain-jane stock-looking car and make it look bitchin' for the least amount of money. I don't know what the price limit is going to be, but I think we'll do wheels, tires, some springs, and maybe some graphics. I think a lot of guys just want to get rolling in style when they buy a car--then figure out the rest a little at a time once they get it on the road.

It seems like you guys are really split between seeing budget and high-end stuff in the mag. Looks like we'll need to do both and everything in between.

Wow, I never expected this much response! This is very cool. As far as the negative comments, I can only say that blowing sunshine up my arse does not help improve matters, and constructive criticism is a good thing. This guy Motorhead62 is a tough customer, so if I can get him to buy a PHR off the rack, I've earned my pay, right? That's my goal then. Motorhead62 is the key to my success. You are THE man Motorhead. ha ha!

Some of you have emailed me, and for that I say "thank you." Some info: my 10-year-old daughter is in love with '69 Chevelles, so I'll be in trouble if I don't comply eventually. My first car was a '72 Malibu, so I'm already hooked.

As far as budget versus high-end engine builds, we plan to do both, so there will be plenty for everybody to like. Is there any specific product you'd like to see reviewed?

Johnny,

I'll tell you what, if you improve the magazine with your personal spin on things I will subscribe just for you. :D

For what it is worth I have always liked the editorial and writing styles of Jeff Smith and David Frieburger.

Remember that variety is the spice of life!

I dig reading about the Engine Masters Challenge, good stuff. :thumbsup:

Thanks again! :cool:

Johnny,

You need more WAGONS.

http://www.wagonshaul.com/

Something with a budget... that most kids can both do & Afford !! or maybe which EFI setups interchange or are the best to retro ... so the Kid can get it where he can buy gas for his American car !! Real world stuff not always the UNlimited budget chrome show car !!!

Popular Hot Rodding,
The term hot roddin to me means adding and changing the cars to your personalized taste. It doesn't matter if you get a cheapo build up or a high dollar polish job as long as you can see the "hot rodding" aspect of everything. I think today's trends is pro touring and adding that stuff to it but i dont think pro touring is the only thing out there that you can cover. If you can find little unique things that people are doing to hot rod their rides and cover it then I think you'll win respect for your publication.

High-dollar polish job, eh? Isn't that illegal? We've been trying to funnel some budget stuff into the mix. Did you catch the 447HP Vortec build-up in the November issue? Our g/28 '76 Camaro project was also a budget project, which had a self-imposed budget of $20,000, including the car. That car is now being recycled as a more up-scale project.

Like I said in the other magazine post...

Have a bonfire using Thesaurus' and Dictionaries as fuel - and abolish "billet" from your vocabularies. Write in simple english.

ALL buildups or add-on's should include an itemized pricelist (MSRP) of ALL parts & services/labor used. Even the "gimme's" from mfg's or shops exchanged for publicity.

Shove all the advertisements to the BACK of the magazine, and have the table of contents on Page One!

More articles of where you guys (staffers) do the work! You'll figure out what you can or can't do, and bingo... a new article on a "how-to"!

More articles on how to fix / repair things.... not just throw new parts at a problem.... Alternator rebuilds, Starter rebuild, Carb rebuild, Caliper/Wheel Cylinder rebuild... I think you get the jist of it.

Do the above mechanical jobs with "Shade-tree" ingenuity and the tools that most guys will have in their kits.... Most guys don't have a lift in their garage, and have to move 3 tons of cr*p out of the way to just work on their car. Instead of using "Slicko-tool Co." #123xyz... see if there's a way to imagineer something... If not, make note that some jobs will require a special tool and give sources for rental or purchase.

Promote SAFETY. Yeah, you'll look like a doofus in the photo's with your goggles/gloves/respirator/steeltoes on, but at least you'll go home with all your parts. I've seen photo's in mags where guys are rolling a car around (rotisserie) wearing FLOPS or sneakers for cryin' out loud!

id like to see average-joe builds done, ask around, see what we are doing, copy it, improve on it, test out some options with it, try to do it better on the same budget.