Popular Hot Rodding Readers' Rides Projects Wanted!

[MilesSpeed]

Right now, you’re probably “digging” snow, while your unfinished project sits happy as a clam in your garage. I want to give you some added motivation this winter to get that ride in finished form by spring, so here’s the deal: I want you to snap some digital pictures of your unfinished project, and send them to me. You’ll probably have to stand outside and shoot into your garage to make your car fit totally in the picture, but that’s ok. Engine on the stand, body on the rotisserie, fenders off, trans on the bench, interior stripped, body work in progress, “before” shots, rendering, send it all in.

So who qualifies, and who doesn’t? The answer is simple: if you’ve got a muscle car project that is not finished yet, or is being refurbished, or is being upgraded, you qualify. If you just bought a project and haven’t started, you qualify too, as long as you’ve got a specific plan. We like renderings too, so we can show readers what the end product will look like, but it’s not a requirement. Above everything else, we need good solid photography to print. Here are the guidelines:

-Get the whole car in the frame. Move stuff if you have to. It’s cool if you roll it outside.
-Turn on all the lights and use your flash. The more light, the better.
-No blurry shots! It helps to use a tripod or set the camera on something steady.
-Send key detail shots, like engine, interior, and special fabricated parts.
-If you’ve got a rendering, send it to us also (a digital copy only—we can’t return drawings).
-Include a detailed list of specs. The more detail, the better.
-Include your story! Who are you, and what’s making you build this? Why this style?
-Include a photo of you with your car (you’ll need someone to help you take this photo).
-Tell us how to contact you (daytime phone and email address). Do you have a website?
-Send lots of pictures! Put them on a CD, and include prints. Please, no emailed photos.

Send your photo CD, prints, specs, and cover letter to my editorial address: Source Interlink Media, attention: Johnny Hunkins—Reader Projects, 774 S. Placentia Ave., Placentia, CA 92870. In order to make the cutoff for the Reader Projects issue (August 2009), we need them no later than April 2nd. And remember, we will print EVERY car you send, as long as you follow the guidelines. And check this out: we’re picking one lucky unfinished project to photograph for our cover. We’ll even come to your house to shoot it!



Feel free to email me questions but please do not submit your projects electronically.

[email protected]

[Steve1968LS2]

Hey, stop by my office I have one for you.

[Yelcamino]

Hey Liz, I'll send you some pics of my Chevelle!

[1969CamaroRS]

What about past Reader's rides? Before all I had was an engine and a few picks of the car apart, now its all back together, thou not running yet.

Just throwing it out there since you said you would print all that applied.

[Takid455]

I have one for you but its not a chevy or a ford. I guess my chances of publication are out. Its a Trans Am (commonly referred to/ misidentified as a Camaro). Its on the ground now, so i'll be taking some overall shots soon.

[GMachineDartGT]

Is Popular Hotrodding focusing on Pro-Touring cars again? Last I looked, it was back to drag cars?

[Bill Howell]

Hey Steve, didn't you take a couple of a certain Charger in September?

[1badchevelle]

Im in I will start napping away.

[carguy502]

X2. You guys take daily drivers that will be getting "freshened"?

[novanutcase]

Can I submit even though I've already been featured in Readers Rides?

John

[JEFFTATE]

Liz,
My car is always a work in progress.
It will never be finished.
Can I put it in just like it is ???

[trapin]

That's a great offer Liz, and everyone here deserves a shot at it. I got mine in a couple years ago and it was a real thrill. I'd love to submit again but it's someone elses turn. Good luck everyone. And thanks again Liz.

[Munster]

When I read this short blurb in my subscription I noticed it said that they would print "all" readers rides that were submitted for their next readers ride special. In the issue that they are setting up for it. Seem like he said he had a hard time choosing for the last article and thought about running all cars he received for the next time.
Says nearly the same thing again in this thread. I will snap away some pics and follow their criteria for submittle. Finger crossed.

[MilesSpeed]

First, "everything will print" are Johnny's words not mine, but he does out-rank me.

As for this being a drag racing magazine, I would double-check the last several issues and see how much turning cars are in there.

I have personally written up several Trans Ams in readers rides, and I am happy to write up more.

If its just your "finished" car is just being freshened up, I would need to see some pictures of some surgery, not just new seats and a gauge or two.

Keep in mind its ALL that meet the criteria in Johnny's eyes. We ran ALL of the readers rides we got for this year's contest that had a decent picture, so it looks good for this Under Construction "contest."

[Ron L]

I missed the part that explains how we get the "motivation this winter to get that ride in finished form by spring". Sounds like rolling it out to take pictures is going to create more work for the procrastinating folk. I've been saying "finished by next month" for the past 2 years.

Prints are really necessary?

[MilesSpeed]

We don't need prints, we are looking for a CD with the photos. Is that what you meant?

[novanutcase]

If its just your "finished" car is just being freshened up, I would need to see some pictures of some surgery, not just new seats and a gauge or two.

Keep in mind its ALL that meet the criteria in Johnny's eyes. We ran ALL of the readers rides we got for this year's contest that had a decent picture, so it looks good for this Under Construction "contest."

So your looking for something that's still in the construction stages? Something like this?







John

[JEFFTATE]

WOW !
WOW !!!!

That Nova is beautiful !
Nice work !

[Bigblue73]

Oh man, that metal work is awsome. Great to see it....I love raw metal....Keep up the fantastic work.

[Ron L]

We don't need prints, we are looking for a CD with the photos. Is that what you meant?

Yes that's what I meant, since it says "Put them on a CD, and include prints."