Page 4 - Issue 42

My fi rst issue as Editor in as Editor in

Chief of Rat Rod Magazine….
Chief of Rat Rod Magazine….

ow freakin’ awesome is that!? Before I get into too something that isn’t. So, unless you read on one of these
something that isn’t. So, unless you read on one of these
much here I want to say a few things about the pages… it probably isn’t.
pages… it probably isn’t.
shoe’s I am fi lling. They are… huge. I mean, have you I’ve watched the rat rod scene grow by leaps and
I’ve watched the rat rod scene grow by leaps and
bounds over the last 3 or 4 years. The Rat Rod Tour
Hever stopped and thought about what Steve has bounds over the last 3 or 4 years. The Rat Rod Tour
proved rat rods more than road worthy. We launched
really done here? Where do you really think rat rodding proved rat rods more than road worthy. We launched
would be today without the national platform he gave it? the fi rst ever rat rod build off, encouraging people to
Rat Rod Magazine put rat rods in the face of a national push themselves creatively in their builds for a shot at
audience and inspired countless to build them. It showed the national spotlight. Now there are build off’s all over
that you didn’t need a huge bank roll to have a bad ass the place. We were instrumental in creating the biggest
national-magazine-worthy car. You didn’t need miles of rat rod show in the country with Hawg Pit/Steelfest
chrome… you didn’t need fancy paint. With a little blue Weekend. Currently, we are working on the fi rst every
collar ingenuity mixed with vision and some hard work, Home Built Summit. All of this and more could not have
legendary cars have been built. Car shows that used to been possible without the vision of Steve Thaemert.
frown on rat rods were forced to start rat rod classes. When I say the shoes I must fi ll are huge, I mean it. As
Movies and music videos started scripting them! So, I Editor in Chief, I along with this staff will continue to make
must ask: have you ever really thought about it? Hard to sure the rat rod community has the national platform it
believe 5 or 6 years ago, I wasn’t a fan of rat rods at all. deserves and I will forever be grateful to Steve for giving
Not until I met this crew at a show and picked up my fi rst me the opportunity he has.
copy of RRM. From that point on I was hooked. Now, With any growth comes pains. The rat rod scene
here I sit, taking the place of the man who created it. has seen its share of changes. More and more people are
Anytime there is change, the rumor monsters start pushing the limits of what a rat rod is. There are folks out
coming out from under the bed. We here at RRM are no there who can afford building high end and folks who
stranger to those monsters. Most the time when they can’t, building with bare bones budget. Both ending up
make their way to us, (and they always do) we can’t help with their own pride and joy in the end. One guy may not
but look at each other, scratch our heads and think… like the others and that’s ok. That’s why rat rods are so
“huh?” So, I’m going to ask you to do this: Next time cool and appealing to more and more people. No two
you’re at the newsstand to get the latest greatest copy are the same. But what isn’t ok with me is when someone
of RRM, pick up one of the other automotive magazines openly bashes someone else’s build because it doesn’t
and look through it. If you’re like me, you’re going to exactly fi t their own personal vision of what a rat rod is.
fl ip past a whole lot of pages before you hit a feature. That is the very kind of thing that divides and destroys
In between those features are ads. Lots and lots of ads. friendships and spawns a cancer within a community
Now… look through RRM. Notice what’s missing? Folks of good people. I’ve personally seen this happen and
the real money in the magazine biz comes from those it’s a shame. This is the main reason why you may never
ads. Yes, we could hire a sales team, pack each issue with see us do another build off. We would much rather do
ads and fatten our wallets. The only ads we have are from events that bring this community together. I hate to see
folks who truly support the rat rod culture and that’s friendships tore apart because of a competition or worst
the way we want it. Yes, we must make money, after all yet, a difference in opinions. Everyone loses when we let
this is a business. You wouldn’t believe what it costs to that happen.
keep this big rusty machine rolling, but this is our passion I hope you enjoy this issue. As always, I’m very open
just like building rat rods is yours. Steve believed in the to feedback, after all this is YOUR magazine. Feel free to
rat rod community and sacrifi ced an awful lot over the email me at jerry@ratrodmagazine.com. Until next issue…
years to give this community a national voice. Your voice! RAT-n-ROLL!!
All rumors do is mislead good people into believing - Jerry

4 RAT ROD MAGAZINE ISSUE FORTY-TWO

4 EdNote.indd 4 2/2/17 11:36 AM