Oh, we do appreciate the feedback. That's why we host these forums. Sorry you read my statement of fact as accusatory.
As for how it reads in the magazine, several posters have said they only skim, or don't read it at all. Which explains why they seem unaware that many of the suggested articles have appeared in the magazine in the last year or two.
We're happy to hear from folks, and as Tommy has said, we're always discussing the forum and trying to incorporate ideas we glean here.
Margie
Since the forum readership tend to be more interested in tech/DIY, maybe we need a Tech Archive part of the forum where we could put things like the how to build fender flares on the cheap thread. There are several methods in that thread, and they all give good looking results.
It is clear that that stuff won't be making the magazine, so put it in a place where it can be easily found. Some amazing fabrication is done around here, and many of us have never seen the details.....I would love to see how this honda suspension setup was created
Marjorie Suddard wrote: Oh, we do appreciate the feedback. That's why we host these forums. Sorry you read my statement of fact as accusatory. As for how it reads in the magazine, several posters have said they only skim, or don't read it at all. Which explains why they seem unaware that many of the suggested articles have appeared in the magazine in the last year or two.
Well you did accuse us of being unrealistic, and didn't express any appreciation for the feedback...
As far as skimming articles, I guess if those posters are representative of the majority of readers, then your point is taken, but I know I'm not one of them. If it were me, I'd be giving some thought as to what led them to stop reading it cover to cover and start skimming it.
I can only speak for myself. I keep all my GRM issues. I won't go into detail again, since I think it's covered here already, but I much prefer the issues of even just 5 years ago than I do the current issues. But I also don't read this particular mag just for enjoyment. I do it to learn something. When I stop learning, I'll stop reading. I, like it sounds others here are, am unfortunately heading in that direction.
Marjorie Suddard wrote: several posters have said they only skim, or don't read it at all. Which explains why they seem unaware that many of the suggested articles have appeared in the magazine in the last year or two.
Guilty as charged. Will try giving it a better read. (Still not reading new car reviews
)
I love the new car reviews. Only because they are more objective than almost anything else I read.
I think every new car should have to do a "power lap" of the Ocala Grand Prix kart track. Just because. With JG as the Stig.
For instance, I loved the body work series Per did on the Saab. It was a great how-to, and had plenty of tips on how to do it properly. Having never done body work, it gave me a good idea on what was involved, and showed me that it's something I'd like to try on a project car someday.
pinchvalve wrote: If the engine comes out of the car, it is a rebuild in my book. How extensive is up to your budget and what is needed. I swapped in a new long block and went through the heads thoroughly on the MR2, but that would not be a rebuild by your definition. To each his own I suppose.
We pulled the engine out of our Chumpcar to give it a good inspection over the winter. It ended up with new rocker arms and a head gasket. I would not consider that a rebuild by any stretch of the imagination. Some definitions should not be left open to wide interpretation.
So I can advertise my 2004 Dodge Stratus as a Porsche 911 because I say it's a Porsche?
Here's an idea. Hot Rod has a series where they take a car with a problem, fix it and explain the fix. The most recent was was a truck with v-belt problems, and how it was converted to a serpentine. Sorting out fuel problems seems to be common as well. They're pretty in-depth and well done, about 3 pages longer than you expect them to be. The problem solving is done by a local shop, the documentation is done by Hot Rod.
GRM could do something different, but not necessarily mechanical. For example, one issue could be sorting out a handling problem or improving the braking of a given car by adjusting the proportioning. You could also work on the driver, watching over the shoulder of a coach as they deal with common mistakes on the autocross course.
(New guy pipes in again)
If the staff is looking for ideas, maybe a basics section for us noobs? Someone that buys a $2000 MR2 on cragislist and has assorted things to fix on a 25yr old car, with limited mechanical knowledge but willing to read the article and give it a go? (Totally random example, of course.)
Keith Tanner wrote: Here's an idea. Hot Rod has a series where they take a car with a problem, fix it and explain the fix. The most recent was was a truck with v-belt problems, and how it was converted to a serpentine. Sorting out fuel problems seems to be common as well. They're pretty in-depth and well done, about 3 pages longer than you expect them to be. The problem solving is done by a local shop, the documentation is done by Hot Rod. GRM could do something different, but not necessarily mechanical. For example, one issue could be sorting out a handling problem or improving the braking of a given car by adjusting the proportioning. You could also work on the driver, watching over the shoulder of a coach as they deal with common mistakes on the autocross course.
You know, that's the first thing I read when I get a new Hot Rod, and it excites me much like GRM used to, so I have to agree. Since one of my responsibilities at work is designing belt drives, I took particular interest in that article. Marlin Davis used to just do a question and answer section, and while that was good (because, you know, Marlin is The Man), you can only do something like that for so long until it starts to get redundant. This relatively new section you speak of is a good example of both changing with the times and providing something of real value to the readers that the rest of the mag doesn't.
I'm just throwing this out there, it's not what GRM is about but it's what I and a few others would probably like to see in a magazine.
I'd love to see a "project car" magazine. Go to the build threads section for inspiration. I'd like to see builds like these, classics, oddballs, whatever. Start from the purchase and show the build, multi part series are fine. I personally dont even care if the car is race or performance oriented, my interest is in the fabrication, the imagination and the building.
Its not a very marketable magazine, thus it doesn't exist. But at least GRM contained a little of that, and it still does, its just the little is getting smaller. I love the rare features on challenge cars, even the ones which weren't very competitive or race oriented (like my own) I appreciate that you'll take the time to showcase ingenuity and creativity.
Keith Tanner wrote: Here's an idea. What's going on at those little dirt tracks all over the country? Sure, it seems simple, but I know there's a whole lot more going on both in the cars and the driving. Send a staff member out and stick them in the middle of the mayhem, that would be one interesting thing to read about.
It certainly isn't cheap to build a competitive car, but my own bias would like to see GRM cover the Chili Bowl here in Tulsa.
The ventilation has been much improved over the years, the last few it doesn't even get smoky/hazy in the building anymore.......although you still home smelling of rubber/dirt/exhaust.
I just like saving cars that other people have given up on.
I'm relatively happy with the content of the mag, I like stuff like the Mazdaspeed article.
Take car, document installing parts/tuning, and the real world results and testing.
I, for one, thought it was a worthwhile article.
Nutshell: "We repaired everything that was possibly dodgy and left alone everything that was well within spec and saved over $3000 compared to a full overhaul."
In reply to Knurled:
I could be wrong, but I don't think anyone was implying that the 911 article wasn't good.
The dirt track thing has been recommended pretty regularly over the years as well. I'm assuming they either have no interest, they think it's a bad fit, or it's too time consuming.
It would be a real eye opener. I guarantee it.
kb58 wrote: To me, "rebuilt" means the engine was fully disassembled, the cylinders honed, rings and bearings replaced, valves done, etc.
A lot of times, that isn't actually necessary.
For example, 200k mile Buick Series II 3800. Patient presented with extremely low oil pressure. Engine was removed and disassembled to find all bearings and surfaces in as-new condition, and the #3 cam bearing walked out of its hole. New cam bearings, polish the scuffing off of the cam journals, a quick swipe of a hone in the cylinders to verify roundness (they were), and put it all back together.
I wouldn't call that a rebuild either, but if it ain't broke then wrenches just make it worse. I WOULD consider it to be an internal inspection.
Next we'll be discussing what exactly "mid-engine" means...
Why is there a discussion on that? "Mid engine" is defined by the SAE. That'd be like saying there is a gray area in what consititutes "front wheel drive", or how many cylinders a V8 has.
a motor is an engine is a motor....
bravenrace wrote: In reply to Knurled: I could be wrong, but I don't think anyone was implying that the 911 article wasn't good.
That's almost all of what I'm seeing, IMO.
Actually, it seems to be two camps - GRM is turning into a "we take pictures and write checks while someone else does everything/gets plugged", and/or "GRM is encouraging hack job repairs". So in that respect it does seem to average out... isn't a compromise a situation where everyone is equally unhappy?
Can we just say the articles are missing the nuts and bolts for now having some awesome paint on the exterior?
I actually think the 911 article is a poor example of what some of us are bringing up as "big cash, little DIY" types of things. I think the BMW thing was closer in that respect, and certainly nothing GRM does is whole-hog write-the-check, so the bad idea we're all rallying against doesn't exist in pure form.
I have an idea. How about everyone here that has posted up in this thread try writing an article and submitting it to GRM. A build, a tip, a quick how to or even something more philosophical like my SCCA bumper sticker "article" Posted on the board a year or more back. Yes I understand that the likelihood of it getting published is next to nill. I asked about this one time about 5 years ago and was politely told NO. However it would do three things.
It is not as easy as you think. Trust me I have tried. I have my moments of brilliance but tying together a complete article or even three paragraphs is tough. You will gain a huge appreciation for what the writers in GRM do.
By sending things to GRM they can see what you want to see.
Although the chances of anything that is submitted making the magazine is very slim I am betting that there would be some really good stuff that would be more than acceptable to post up on the forums where the readership can read it comment and discuss or better yet the GRM staff can comment. Threads / article would have there own section and only be started by the GRM staff but could be posted in by all.
Lastly to make the life of the GRM staff a little easier all submissions would have to be in electronic format only. That way it could be easily be cut and pasted in to the forum. The only problem would be photos but hay this is an idea in progress.
JThw8 wrote: I'd love to see a "project car" magazine. Go to the build threads section for inspiration. I'd like to see builds like these, classics, oddballs, whatever. Start from the purchase and show the build, multi part series are fine. I personally dont even care if the car is race or performance oriented, my interest is in the fabrication, the imagination and the building. Its not a very marketable magazine, thus it doesn't exist.
I dunno, it sounds a lot like Project Car magazine :D
The bumper sticker thing I wrote a while back.
http://grassrootsmotorsports.com/forum/grm/bumper-stickers-there-is-allot-more-to-them/10205/page1/
I like this kind of car writing as well. Why I will always check on what Tim has written as soon as get my issue in the mail.
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