The Jalopy Journal

**Ryan** · 07-20-2011, 09:42 AM

Throughout the 1950's, Fawcett Books put together small format annuals that looked in depth at things like customs, sports cars, and hot rods. In 1953, they released a book titled "Best Hot Rods." It's a glorious publication edited by Ray Gill who's ...

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**dustdevil** · 07-20-2011, 12:23 PM

Champs not chumps!! Very well written article. Reading parts of it make me think it could be part of a song. Very detailed explanations of whats going on. I can't imagine going 200mph now let alone then. Great Read!

**JeffreyJames** · 07-20-2011, 12:45 PM

They've got far more sand this I do that's for sure. I find myself letting off really putting a car through the paces because I'm such a hack in the garage I know if something breaks it's going to be down for a bit while I figure out how to fix it.

These guys didn't care, they were going for gold every time and that's probably what fueled the innovation back then. That 4 carbed flatty modified is rad.

**James Curl** · 07-20-2011, 12:59 PM

Those Fawcett little yearly were 75 cents back when Honk, Car Craft, Rod and Custom as well as Hot Rod was still 25 cents an issue. Back then all of the printed material had a lot more technical material in them to help a 17 year old build his first hot rod. Mine was a 29 roadster with 40 hydraulic brakes, no fenders, four banger with an Anson dual down draft manifold with two 97 carburetors and a straight exhaust. 5.50 x 15 on front and 8.20 x 15 on back using Chrysler wheels, thought I was the cats meow, a true hoodlum, duck tails white tee shirt and Levis red tag jeans with the belt loops cut off and roach killer cowboy boots. Ah those really were the good old days.

**john81** · 07-20-2011, 09:21 PM

Thumbs up on steering wheel is the what i was told at early age. Long time ago seen a super flip & do end over ends, When they got driver out he was missing a thumbs. Them flat spoke wheels would take them off.

**hotrd32** · 07-20-2011, 09:38 PM

Sometimes you scare me Ryan....I just found and bought this.....

garth slater · 07-21-2011, 05:48 AM

I dig the quotes but can someone tell me why auto journalists wrote so wierdly back in the day?

**James Curl** · 07-21-2011, 06:21 AM

Most were writing for an audience of 15/17 year old boys. If you watch the old Hot Rod Movies they too had the same theme, all 15/17 year old boys had a short attention span and needed for it to be simple and fast, just like sex.

damagedduck · 07-21-2011, 08:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hotrd32

Sometimes you scare me Ryan....I just found and bought this.....

i inherited my grandpa's repair books & about a thousand magazine from the 50's to 2010,i have that one,ya just gotta love the pocket books of the 50's,it's amazing that any boy did any homework in the 50's,

**Skeezix** · 07-21-2011, 09:18 AM

Also some cool pix evolve from this sort if driver training

Mike · 07-21-2011, 09:23 AM

Good read. Spot on across the board.

1950ChevySuburban · 07-21-2011, 10:10 AM

I'll come back and read this during lunch... The way you snuck the HAMB in the laundry girl pic is quite clever!

1950ChevySuburban · 07-21-2011, 12:13 PM

Exciting read! Glad you shared that with us Ryan

327-365hp · 07-21-2011, 05:02 PM

Excellent reading, thank you!

07-20-2011, 09:42 AM	#1
Ryan Administrator Join Date: Jan 1995 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 13,611	How To Be A Hot Driver Throughout the 1950's, Fawcett Books put together small format annuals that looked in depth at things like customs, sports cars, and hot rods. In 1953, they released a book titled "Best Hot Rods." It's a glorious publication edited by Ray Gill who's ... To read the rest of this blog entry from The Jalopy Journal, click here.

07-20-2011, 12:23 PM	#2
dustdevil Alliance Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: illinois Posts: 787	Re: How To Be A Hot Driver Champs not chumps!! Very well written article. Reading parts of it make me think it could be part of a song. Very detailed explanations of whats going on. I can't imagine going 200mph now let alone then. Great Read! __________________ Automotive and Custom Art www.nategrice.blogspot.com wanted:::32 Plymouth pb garnish moldings/rear fenders My gas station build:: http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/s...d.php?t=163787

07-20-2011, 12:45 PM	#3
JeffreyJames Alliance Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: SUGAR CITY Posts: 15,917	Re: How To Be A Hot Driver They've got far more sand this I do that's for sure. I find myself letting off really putting a car through the paces because I'm such a hack in the garage I know if something breaks it's going to be down for a bit while I figure out how to fix it. These guys didn't care, they were going for gold every time and that's probably what fueled the innovation back then. That 4 carbed flatty modified is rad. __________________ I PLAY WITH TIGERS WWW.SUGARCITYSPEEDSHOP.COM CHECK OUT MY INSTAGRAM IMAGES

07-20-2011, 12:59 PM	#4
James Curl Alliance Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Georgetown, Texas 78626 Posts: 294	Re: How To Be A Hot Driver Those Fawcett little yearly were 75 cents back when Honk, Car Craft, Rod and Custom as well as Hot Rod was still 25 cents an issue. Back then all of the printed material had a lot more technical material in them to help a 17 year old build his first hot rod. Mine was a 29 roadster with 40 hydraulic brakes, no fenders, four banger with an Anson dual down draft manifold with two 97 carburetors and a straight exhaust. 5.50 x 15 on front and 8.20 x 15 on back using Chrysler wheels, thought I was the cats meow, a true hoodlum, duck tails white tee shirt and Levis red tag jeans with the belt loops cut off and roach killer cowboy boots. Ah those really were the good old days.

07-20-2011, 09:21 PM	#5
john81 Alliance Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: red oak,tx. Posts: 10	Re: How To Be A Hot Driver Thumbs up on steering wheel is the what i was told at early age. Long time ago seen a super flip & do end over ends, When they got driver out he was missing a thumbs. Them flat spoke wheels would take them off.

07-20-2011, 09:38 PM	#6
hotrd32 Alliance Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: WA Posts: 2,639	Re: How To Be A Hot Driver Sometimes you scare me Ryan....I just found and bought this..... __________________ "Life ain't no dress rehearsal"

07-21-2011, 05:48 AM	#7
garth slater Grenade Inspector Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Melbourne Posts: 220	Re: How To Be A Hot Driver I dig the quotes but can someone tell me why auto journalists wrote so wierdly back in the day? __________________ its time to kick out the jams

07-21-2011, 06:21 AM	#8
James Curl Alliance Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Georgetown, Texas 78626 Posts: 294	Re: How To Be A Hot Driver Most were writing for an audience of 15/17 year old boys. If you watch the old Hot Rod Movies they too had the same theme, all 15/17 year old boys had a short attention span and needed for it to be simple and fast, just like sex.

07-21-2011, 09:18 AM	#10
Skeezix Alliance Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: SoCal Posts: 803	Also some cool pix evolve from this sort if driver training __________________ For the way it was : Www.fredsslides.com*

07-21-2011, 09:23 AM	#11
Mike Old School HAMBer Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Phoenix, AZ, USA Posts: 2,725	Re: How To Be A Hot Driver Good read. Spot on across the board. __________________ "Punch it baby...punch it."

07-21-2011, 10:10 AM	#12
1950ChevySuburban Member Emeritus Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Tucson AZ Posts: 6,239	Re: How To Be A Hot Driver I'll come back and read this during lunch... The way you snuck the HAMB in the laundry girl pic is quite clever! __________________ *My '29 Sedan build thread can be viewed here:* /showthread.php?t=635145

07-21-2011, 12:13 PM	#13
1950ChevySuburban Member Emeritus Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Tucson AZ Posts: 6,239	Re: How To Be A Hot Driver Exciting read! Glad you shared that with us Ryan __________________ *My '29 Sedan build thread can be viewed here:* /showthread.php?t=635145

07-21-2011, 05:02 PM	#14
327-365hp Old School HAMBer Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Central Mass Posts: 4,614	Re: How To Be A Hot Driver Excellent reading, thank you!

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