Subscribe Today!
The Rodder's Journal Issue #34
Issue #34 of The Rodder's Journal is another step forward for us, as the page count has increased to over 200. The 204-page format of #34 represents a 55% increase in the size of the magazine. We have done this without a raising the cover price or compromising the high standards of The Rodder's Journal. Readers now get more of our features for the same money.
These features are, as usual, detailed and diverse. This is seen in the cover cars selected for #34: Terry Baker's 1933 Willys coupe and the Williams Brothers 1929 Ford roadster. Baker's Willys is an amazing example of design and execution from Mike Chrisman, hiding a 1000-horsepower Art Chrisman-built Hemi under an uncut hood. The Williams Brothers roadster, by contrast, is an unrestored and unmolested Bonneville record holder that was garaged shortly after its 1954 heyday. These cars are vastly different but will be instant favorites of many hot rodders.
We also used Issue #34 to examine the Gary Kessler roadster. Voted as one of the top 75 Deuce hot rods, this wild yellow highboy pushed the limits of roadster styling and helped establish street rodding in the early 1970s. We unearthed the car's full history, and in the process discovered a pair of Ardun-powered roadsters that were built the Napa Valley region of California as early as 1951.
Three photographers are examined in Issue #34. Legendary drag racing photographer Steve Reyes opened his portfolio to us, and we selected some of his best Fuel Altered photography for an extensive feature. Joe Lingrey raced at the dry lakes just after World War II, when he was still a teenager, but he took professional-quality photographs of his trips and we have the first look at these great images. From rural Pennsylvania comes Stephen "Spike" Kilmer's photography of the Jalopy Showdown, a show that encouragers rodders to take laps around a water-soaked dirt track.
From Maryland comes a low-riding, high-horsepower 1940 Ford coupe. It has an uncommon interior and a 550-hp Roush smallblock that easily smokes the tires (we have photographic proof of that). Robert House's 1950 Chevrolet Fleetline was an unintended hit at the 2006 Grand National Roadster Show, and we have the exclusive feature. With its unassuming blend of hot rod, lowrider, and custom cultures and an appreciation for the factory lines of the '50, this Chevy is sure to impress. We also took a good look at Bob Rosenthal's 1936 Ford roadster. Its expert body mods and rare Pines hood trim elevate the roadster stylistically, but just as important as this car is the secret racing history of its owner.
In an artist profile, we revisit the work of painter Tom Fritz. It's been over ten years since we looked at Tom's work in Issue #3, and in that time his work has matured. In Issue #34 we examine his new works and his involved artistic process. Michigan's Nick Hardie is a graphic artist, but his latest creation is a 1932 Ford three-window coupe. It's been built to honor Joe Bisacky, a longtime Michigan dirt track racer. We also spoke at length with Jerry Dixey about the Street Rodder Road Tour and just what it takes to log almost 300,000 miles behind the wheel of a hot rod. There is much more happening in this issue, so if you want to know what's up with Hollywood Spring & Axle, if you remember the Cederquist Brothers '29 drag roadster, or if you want to know all there is to know about Moon tanks, TRJ #34 is on its way soon. Thanks for your continued support of The Rodder's Journal.
The TRJ Staff
