Page 45 - Issue 33

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means they’re going to
means they’re going to
emphasize the things that
emphasize the things that
make them different.
make them different.
Whether it’s preserving
Whether it’s preserving
old relics, hunting
old relics, hunting
for junkyard parts,
for junkyard parts,
or fabricating their
or fabricating their
own – this community
own – this community
is strengthened by
is strengthened by
these simple blue-
these simple blue-
collar principles that
collar principles that
make them who they are.
make them who they are.
Because rat rod culture is
Because rat rod culture is
fueled by individuality, there is no
fueled by individuality, there is no
such thing as
such thing as
He or she doesn’t exist. we refl ect we refl ect
a typical rat rodder.
a typical rat rodder.
He or she doesn’t exist.
on the
Instead, we just have a
Instead, we just have a on the
t to pass the torch… and in this day and age o pass the torch… and in this day and age community of unique
st
the younger generations are distracted by “people.” People open
all sorts of things. Many have never turned to different ideas, state of ate of
the ra
a wrench or even changed oil, let alone excited about sharing
fabricated something out of metal or solved their craft and their the rat rod t rod
a mechanical problem. The thing that can’t vision, and people who
scene and cene and
be disputed is that the popularity of the rat are excited to be part s
rod scene has brought a new cool factor to of the AWESOME hot
its place ace
hot rodding, and with its “no rules” attitude rod scene that is still its pl
and low-buck entry point, it’s giving younger growing and thriving.
in the
people a sense of “hey, I can do this.” Call it what you want, in the
And when I say “no rules” I mean no but we’re all in this
automotive utomotive
limitations. Of course there are rules… but together. Park your
you don’t have to match parts – you can ’57 Chevy, Corvette, a
jump in and make things work. As long as Triumph, Beetle,
ecosystem.cosystem.
it’s safe, it’s in play. No, that doesn’t work for WHATEVER, next to e
everyone in the industry and I get that – but my ratty Model A,
it works for a demographic that may not let’s swap stories, and
otherwise be interested. for God’s sake – let’s make this love of cars
Rat rodders are a proud bunch – like accessible to our youth so there’s someone
any segment of automotive culture. Which to carry that torch in the future.
RATRODMAGAZINE.COM RAT ROD MAGAZINE 45

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