rod and custom ripped me off [Archive]

thirtytwo

02-28-2004, 09:22 PM

dont really know why im posting this other than to vent a little

i was at the shop today reading the newest r&c started reading the editorial for some reason the more i read the more fimilliar things got to sounding

about 4 mos ago i e-mailed both street rodder and r&c about a budget roadster proposal, in great length i discribed how i thought the rodding world had got out of hand with prices i felt i could build a trad style budget roadster, with no bro deals very limited swapmeet stuff ( e bay prices would be given to the swapstuff to keep things fair)(no monster garage pricing) most the parts would be off the shelve basic, function only type stuff ,i explained how i thought this had good advertising potential,for all the vendors, and i would like to do a step by step process in monthly installment would the be intrested in doing a monthly build,blah blah blah......

never heard anything back.... i know my idea is nothing origional hotrod did the bitchin budget roadster back in the mid 90s, but i think its a little too conveniant that one of the very guys i e-mailed the proposal to, wrote that editorial!

my plan was to build something basic traditional , with no special parts ,it wouldnt have been a cookie cutter either, cant wait to see what kinda bastard car them fuckers put on a tci stage 3 chassis, with a goodrench crate motor and tpi fuel injection and all kinda other stupid shit maybe ill even send them the fuzzy dice to hang on their review mirror http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif

Fat Hack

02-28-2004, 10:03 PM

Build your budget rod...do it YOUR way and enjoy the shit out of it! http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif

Yes, certain magazines use the letters (and e-mail) pool as a shortcut to thinking up their own ideas at times, I had one mag rip off one of my letters word for word then claim it as their own work a few years ago...but that's a rare exception to the rule.

Magazine types must walk the line between pleasing their advertisers (which pleases the big corporate entities which now own most major titles!) and providing a product that the enthusiast will BUY! The best of them will pay close attention to what readers have to say, and follow their suggestions to produce issues that sell well to their specific demographic. It's not as easy as it may sound, and it's often a thankless job!

In your case, you submitted an idea that was of interest to you, and it's entirely likely that whoever read your letter brought the idea to the editor as a story/project proposal. It woulda been nice if they had acknowledged your contribution, but in the end, the given magazine is now moving towards offering the exact type of story that a good portion of their readers probably WANT to see!

(If ONE reader took the time and put forth the effort to write to them, then there is a good chance that many others share similar viewpoints and opinions, and mag types do well to heed those suggestions!)

I understand you feeling gyped or taken advantage of...it can and DOES happen from time to time. But...if you step back and consider the bigger picture, you may have single handedly sparked an idea that will unfold into a story that many other rodders will benefit from and enjoy reading! I believe that you should have gotten at least a quick mention if indeed your words inspired the story...but on the flip side, it's nice to know that they at least READ your letter and that it helped them to provide EVERYONE with a better magazine more in tune with what it's readership wants to see!

I know, that may sound like fartin' in the wind to you now, but somebody somewhere might just read that story (or series of stories as it may be) and decide to build a traditional rod for themselves...creating one more trad rod builder/owner, increased magazine readership, sales to certain parts and services providers, and further helping to keep the hobby alive and viable...and steering it towards a more down-to-Earth, REALISTIC...and TRADITIONAL feel!

So...like I said...build your proposed car for YOU, and doccument the process as you go. We'd love to see it and read about it HERE, and you'll be helping like minded folks by sharing ideas and combinations we may not have thought of! I mean, you said yourself, it may not be the most stunningly NEW and original idea in the world, and it's just possible that the magazine guy was already gearing up for such a story proposal anyway. They all keep tabs on what's going on in the hobby, and articles like Dan Kahn's little Modified build-up are EXACTLY what many of us want to see these publications doing! If you've partly helped to inspire another such project, then we all owe you a tip of the hat...but don't deny yourself the satisfaction and enjoyment of building the car you described just because you think someone else may have pinched your idea! It's hard to re-invent the wheel, and styles will tend to cycle through every so many years. Just be glad that we NOW live in a time openly receptive of more traditional, home-built hot rods!

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif