May/June issue and ?????

[Steve Moskowitz]

I am wondering whether Antique Automobile is getting to be something members are taking for granted. West and the rest of our team constantly try to do something new and better each issue. I am a bit surprised by the unique cover not generating any discussion on our site yet a Street/Hot rod site had a lively and interesting thread on it! And no, there was no attempt at saying that the car should be modified but only how cool it was and how interesting its history was as well! Just curious whether the car and story were too old or what?

[Terry Bond]

Funny you should ask! I'm sittin here at the office drinking my morning coffee after a meeting and the mag is right on my desk getting lots of looks (including an evil-eye from the boss). I've had at least four of our local club members call and express their excitement about having something early on the cover, and commenting on how great and creative that cover is. Personally, I think it rivals the Olds Limited photo as one of the best ever. Interesting around here, everyone is getting used to logging onto the forum and our local Tidewater Region website to see what Susan and I did over the weekend. Congratulations to West and Steve for making (and keeping) our mag the best old car pulication around.
Terry

[Shop Rat]

We haven't gotten ours yet so maybe others haven't either. That might be part of why comments are not showing up yet.

[Restorer32]

It's easy to become complacent as a reader. I thought the cover was STUNNING. Each issus of the mag seems to be better than the last. Keep up the good work!

[Steve Moskowitz]

Really wasn't fishing for compliments but thanks Jeff. It was just that the HAMB site seemed more interested than our own!

[Restorer32]

You are now giving Horseless Carriage a run for their money when it comes to artwork, pics and generally interesting reading, in my opinion. Antique Automobile has gone from a "peruse and throw on the pile" publication to a "take along to the bathroom and read" publication. Highest compliment I can bestow, according to my wife.

[BruceW]

Originally Posted By: Steve Moskowitz

I am a bit surprised by the unique cover not generating any discussion on our site....

Steve,

Perhaps we've gotten spoiled from such great work done on Antique Automobile, both in its covers and content that it doesnt surprise us any more. I know after receiving our issue, I kept picking it up and looking at the front and back cover a number of times before I had a time to sit down to read the content. I kept thinking about how it was a great cover idea and it was so well done, and when I finally did get a chance to read it, the article was great.

I don't believe that the car and story was too old. Di and I both love all old cars from the earliest pre-brass horseless carriages to the 60s and early 70s factory muscle cars. We love to read about all of them!

[novaman]

Some of us are just way too busy at the moment.

Rate things are going at the moment, I might be bald by the time the Sentimental Tour starts. Why do they instead on doing bridge and road repairs during the summer? I 'm starting to believe they have an informant on our committee telling them where we are going so they plan work for there.

Looking forward to seeing those that are coming on the tour. Everyone should have a good time and get to see some interesting things in the area.

[Packin31]

Steve,

I just received mine the other day and have not had a chance to look at it. Been in the garage workin on Old Bessie. I think this time of year people are out and about and don't have much time to sit down and read the magazine. More of a winter/rainy day thing.

The last issues I have read they are top notch. Keep up the great work.

[Ron Green]

Unfortunately I haven't had a chance to look at it yet and will be lucky to get to it in the next month. The cover looks great and I'm sure the article(s) will be even better.

[nearchoclatetown]

Gee Mr. Moskowitz, I guess my "spring is in the air" thread was just chopped liver?! Are we spending too much time on the hotrod site lately??

[Steve_Mack_CT]

Steve this may be more a function of the time of year than anything else. This is seat of the pants but I think posts are generally down, for those of us in the northeast the good weather is finally here. My issue came, and I happened to go right to the feature story, the car is not too old at all. But I have not yet gone through the whole thing. Memorial Day weekend, several shows to choose from, yard work to catch up on, spent most of Saturday prepping the old "A" (when the restoration is older than some other antique cars - you need the whole day!) for a parade and club picnic on Monday.

We will be bringing the copies of the magazine to our show next weekend, in hopes of generating interest in both National and local membership. I still maintain that the magazine is still one of the top features of national membership, especially for those who have not yet been able to take part in a national tour or show as a participant. I get around 8 periodicals and the AACA one is by far the best.

Here is an idea, why not ask membership for feedback on the magazine, set up a survey using the web site. Ask for the feedback there and NOT by email. This may do two things - 1) drive some members to the sight that have not looked at it before and 2) give you fresh feedback on the magazine. I have no idea why, but in our club we have lots of computer literate members with email, but only a couple of us regularly post on this site. I just think the others miss out. I know, sort of a tangent but I think you could kind of take an opportunity to do two things at once here?

BTW - looking forward to the next issue, could I be so bold as to suggest a "catch up" issue twice a year? Would be great to get in the dead of winter around here!

[Dick380185]

The cover was great. When I first saw it, I thought the graphics person simply took the picture of the restored car against a museum wall that had a mural (of sorts) of an old machine shop. When I saw the back, I assumed he/she just hit the "sepia-tone" button on Photoshop for the "old fashioned" look. Later, I read what pains were taken to really do the cover, and was amazed at the work that had been done. I don't think anyone in this club would think the car is too old for the cover. Anyhow, thanks to the photographer/designer and the graphics people for coming up with yet another great cover idea. [img]<>/wink.gif[/img] Dick

[Steve Moskowitz]

1. The unofficial mayor of Hershey and Hummelstown, Mr. Nearchoclatetown apprised me of the HAMB thread. First dang positive thing he has done in awhile. Too busy eating donuts I think! [img]<>/grin.gif[/img]

2. Yes, the next issue is 16 EXTRA pages all in color! We really hope to catch up with all the material we have

3. The idea for the shot originally came from Dick Balsley at GM. The studio put the car into the shot without the fade. I liked it better and still do but our editor was pretty insistent that the cover made more sense with the fade so as usual I gave into him.

4. We ARE working on some survey ideas and just may have to include the magazine as one section. Mr. Mayor keeps telling me our forums lack real interest. I disagree in the sense that a lot of people are being helped but I do agree that we do not seem to get the serious discussions about cars and the hobby as maybe some other sites do. Jokes and fun are fine but when you really entertain, educate and excite people about the hobby that is when the site really benefits all of us. IMHO.

[Art Griffin]

We got our copy of the Antique Automobile, and it is simply great! I can say that with each issue, and we are proud to have such a fine publication. Thanks, West for your outstanding work and leadership.

And that 1902 Cadillac is certainly not too old. The cover pictures and the article inside show us all about really early vehicles. And the other featured vehicles give us an excellent variety of vehicles, something for everybody.

So, after the comments posted here above mine, I sat down and spent enough time to browse practically every article.

Thanks for a great publication!

Art Griffin

[Jay Wolf]

Some of us weren't smart enough to look at the front and back cover at the same time till you brought it to our attention.

[imported_Mika Jaakkola]

I can't wait to see it !! I think every number has been well more than I ever expected. Thanks for great editors!

[stock_steve]

A truly amazing production--fine work Steve, West, everyone involved...

[West Peterson]

Originally Posted By: Dick380185

When I first saw it, I thought the graphics person simply took the picture of the restored car against a museum wall that had a mural (of sorts) of an old machine shop.

That is EXACTLY what I was afraid of. I, like Steve, much preferred the overall look of the completed car in the photo, front to back. But when I put myself in the place of an AACA member seeing the magazine for the first time, I realized people would just think it was a pretty car in front of a vintage stock-photo background. It wasn't in easy decision, and in the end it was practically a coin toss. I had to get opinions from members, asking them what they thought they were looking at. When they said "restored car in front of a stock background," my mind was made up.
Of course, once you know what you're looking at, this photo is much more beautiful.

[rocketraider]

Thought it was great. I noticed the car had different tires front and rear and wondered if it was a retouched original photo.

This was the first AA I've read cover to cover at one sitting.

West, we don't always say it, but you do a quite fine job with the magazine.

gw

[Moepar]

HOLY COW! My magazine arrived BEFORE Susan's?!? My mail lady musta traded her slow postal delivery yak in for something a little more speedy! I can't believe it - may take weeks for me to recover!! [img]<>/laugh.gif[/img] [img]<>/whistle.gif[/img]
What can I say, another great looking issue. Before I even looked inside, I was spreading that cover out. Cool [img]<>/cool.gif[/img]

[Shop Rat]

Originally Posted By: Moepar

HOLY COW! My magazine arrived BEFORE Susan's?!?

Go ahead Moepar, rub it in!!! [img]<>/cry.gif[/img]

I think our copy has been eaten by the cicadas. [img]<>/sick.gif[/img]

[R W Burgess]

Well Steve, work took me by surprise this week. I only have 45 e-mails to catch up on now.

The cover? Yes I noticed it and was about to write to West and praise his new found talent, when I actually read the inside page. Oh well, that's as far as I got. I had good intentions West. I realized that you had a lot to do with the final copy, so Congratulations!

I'll take my copy to Burlington, NC Sunday morning and stand up and ask if anyone noticed this front/back cover.

I still need to make some business cards promoting the forum, still a lot of AACA members that haven't found us(them) yet. [img]<>/wink.gif[/img]

Stay tuned next week guys for a running commentary and pictures of the Sentimental Tour.

Wayne

[Steve Braverman]

I think the cover may be the best ever. I had to show it to my wife who is a graphic artist and Photoshop user. She was also very impressed. Very nice work.

[ChrisSummers]

I'm half an hour from Susan and mine hasn't arrived yet either...maybe someone at the distribution center likes our magazines!