MAGAZINE

Dateline River City. Hop Up World Headquarters. Center of the Hot Rod Universe.

We been doing this mess for four years and finally, our 19th reader showed up (to join the other 18, along with the 3 detractors... and the real magazine guys, of course, who check in regularly to see what might be wrought from no experience!). Tends to make ya wonder. No matter. This is where we vent. Our stump. Our podium. It's a forum where things that need said, are said.

Pisses some cats off.

Gee. Maybe a refund would be in order?

Back then, we started out by saying we liked axles, carburetors, steelies and all that. Then we told you that we found ourselves here kind of by default and...God knows that's true. It could have been so good as a quarterly, with us sitting in the background, counting 'coupons' but that was not to be. For 48 issues and soon a third Annual, this Hop Up has been here to try to make a case for the unsung. For the guy in the shop. For the guy who doesn't sign his name with some 'credential' attached.

If we traveled around a little more, we'd meet more of you and tell your tale. And if we have it right, most of you would accept the (modest) honor but would not crave it. You would take pride in the fact that you were singled out as a person with great character, mechanical aptitude and yeah, Buddy: cool; but it would not change your behavior ...or make you posture for more of the attention.

For every notable 'featured' car owner - for every guy with his own picture on his web page - and for every plotting self-promoter and celebrity gatherer, there are bunches of you out there. You are the character models of Hop Up. People who can do it right and for the right reasons. It is about the iron and the peace you find in it.

So, go ahead back out to the shop and know that there are about 18 other BFG's out there - worldwide - doing it like you do. And know that Hop Up will be around to relate your story to those 18 other guys, and showing you what the rest of them are doing.

And know also that - if you continue to ask - and if the other mags continue to see us as, and call us, the 'competition', that we may realize that they are right...and go quarterly with a conventional sized mag in addition to the annuals; a mag with real distribution that gets the truth out to more deserving people. Yeah, we're thinkin' about it. Just thinkin''.

Wutta thought.

The Annual would remain the same format so that your collection of 20-30 of them will always look right in your library. And we may start trying to sell the books, since the 'competition' thinks they're so good. Who flockin'' knows? At very least, we are developing new print products to give you something real - and truthful - to put your hands on between annual release dates. The first one is due this spring.

SO, know this, you hairy-legged, ass-scratchin'' ol' hot rod dawgs: Hop Up is gonna get better and better....and......THAT is sure nuff the truth.

HOP UP HONOR