Lack Of S/SS Magazine Coverage

[Bob Don]

I worked for the late Steve Collison from '81 to '93. Most of my articles appeared in Super Stock & Drag Illustrated but I also wrote articles for Car Craft, Bracket Racing USA, and Muscle Mustangs and Fast Fords. I tried to highlight class racers whenever possible and did features on Dave LeBrun, Alan Peters, and Jim Barber to name a few. I love seeing magazine features on class racers. My friend Johnny D is doing a pretty good job at Drag Racing Action (When was the last time you saw a A/SA on the COVER of a national car magazine?) and I have seen some nice pieces in National Dragster.

I too love the old muscle but I also see a great diversity of combinations in other classes as well (like Art Leong's SS Neon). In a utopian world, I would like to see a resurrection of SS&DI but I realize the audience would be limited. Evan is right in that the bottom line is the bottom line. Selling magazines is the goal which means presenting a product that appeals to as many people as possible.

(BTW Evan, I am semi-retired now so if you're looking for a writer, let me know.)

[Jeff Lee]

If you want to see more articles to your style of racing, and an article appears on the news stand, buy the magazine. Don't just read the article you care about with subscription inserts dropping on the floor and placing it back on the rack when your done!
Send the editor a letter and let them know that's the kind of stuff that made you pay $5.99 for an issue that you could subscribe to for $1.50 per issue (the profit margins are huge on rack sales). Better yet, order a subscription at the same time. Ask for more articles. Send a picture of your own car, they may make a feature on it. I did that once with my A/FS Daytona and HPM did a full feature on it. You may even get a sponsor because of it.
I admit I want to just grab the mag from the rack and read only the interesting article. But I just bought DRA because it had 2 Pontiac SS'ers in it (Petersen & Angeles). I'll follow my own advice and send a thank you to the editor.

[Gary Smith]

Originally Posted by Bob Don

I worked for the late Steve Collison from '81 to '93. Most of my articles appeared in Super Stock & Drag Illustrated but I also wrote articles for Car Craft, Bracket Racing USA, and Muscle Mustangs and Fast Fords. I tried to highlight class racers whenever possible and did features on Dave LeBrun, Alan Peters, and Jim Barber to name a few. I love seeing magazine features on class racers. My friend Johnny D is doing a pretty good job at Drag Racing Action (When was the last time you saw a A/SA on the COVER of a national car magazine?) and I have seen some nice pieces in National Dragster.

I too love the old muscle but I also see a great diversity of combinations in other classes as well (like Art Leong's SS Neon). In a utopian world, I would like to see a resurrection of SS&DI but I realize the audience would be limited. Evan is right in that the bottom line is the bottom line. Selling magazines is the goal which means presenting a product that appeals to as many people as possible.

(BTW Evan, I am semi-rettired now so if you're looking for a writer, let me know.)

Bob I've read your stuff in BRUSA and always enjoyed it. Guys like you & Collison were the ones who made those mags great. (Evan I still think your an exception under todays standards as you've kept the faith LOL!!)
In fact I still have many of those mags packed away!!

Jeff I agree. In todays world of instant gratification and short attention span many readers fail to provide quality positive input like they did during the days of Car Craft All Stars etc.

[SS Engine Guy]

Personally I really like the new stuff in race configuration. Like was said earlier, once you get the engine compartment layed out like you want it and all the added junk removed they aren't bad to work on at all. I have to agree with X-TECH though. If you took the 350/300 and put it at 250 hp. it would be one BAD and under-rated combo even if it is old technology. Same deal only in reverse. It all comes down to the factoring as was noted. Got to remember that the 350/300 was a mid level performance motor as offered. Not a tricked out L-88 or LT-1 with domed pistons, flat tappet cam, aluminum intake and a Holley.