MAGAZINE

or...................HOP UP YOGA

Year-end homily, I guess. Pretty eventful stuff recently.

Our purpose here should probably be to put our hot rod fancies into perspective. They don't matter all that much...and then they do matter all that much. A Conundrum. (Note to detractors: that ain't a rubber).

Are you tired of hearing 'a changed world'?

Us, too. So, after adjusting to the gravity of that new cliche, go back to work.

Some of us don't think work matters much (witness how much i-net surfing goes on during the workday), but productivity matters. Go back to work. And then, when you have done what it is that you contracted to do for your employer (or customer, or client), and done it well and insightfully and with generosity............and only then.........let's go play. With cars. How 'bout, say, with hot rods and customs? That effort is the earned reward for our toil.

The recreation can be toil in itself; it's where we express ourselves in a something-less-than-artful way. Whether we just wash them and change the oil and hire done everything else...or build them from an embryonic idea all the way up to the first donut shop meeting......or somewhere in between.....it's our expression. Let's note that that expression is external. It expresses to others.... who we are, how we would do it, what we can afford, that we can do it.

What is internal ..........where it is refined and unspoiled.....is what counts. There, it competes in our noggins against demons we don't understand, and, because we are at one with it, it all just figures. It's Hop Up Yoga, Boys. It's the Hop Up Guy's path to peace. It's manifestations range from the silent realization that a particular art deco design or structural feature on a 30's car is as beautiful as metal can be...................to the manic audio that shakes the ground and quickens your heart at Famoso.

We should be comforted that we have something like this going on for us. IF you are a Hop Up Guy or Gal.....and not some other-directed voyeur whose interest in cars is simply to demo his ability to pay for them.............. then you have 'found your niche'........'dialed in'.......and you are kin. We know who you are..........and admire you for your self-actualization. Most of you who we know, know that we admire you. Most of you are out there quietly doing the deed, not really caring if we or anybody else knows you are there. For some reason you find affinity in the coarse words you read here.

We appreciate that.

Don't be reticent to send us a note. It won't be immodest of you to tell us what you are doing and send some pictures to share with the others out there. (Although we respectfully refuse to run pics of an out-of-proportion, bad stance, kit car attempt to replicate a V-8 era Ford -especially those from the manufacturer who pretends it's his garage project).

We look forward to the future and the unknown and, with respect to Hop Up, please don't think us insincere if we get somewhat commercial - with T Shirt line, hats, reprints and other print products - this is what ya have to do in order to promote truth in rodding. So if you dig Hop Up...............you might have t' get that musty wallet out, buy something, spread the word and be part of the future of the traditional rod and custom scene.

And we make a solemn promise that.........given financial success .....all the resulting profits will be recycled.....given back to ....ah...............er..........hmmmm........Naaaaaaaaw.

We'll prob'ly just keep 'em.

HOP UP HONOR.....STAY HONOR.