Kit Car Magazine--latest issue

Yeah....Cosmo! Our favorite supermarket register-line mag!

It's obvious that Max is impassioned about his craft, his publisher and his hobby. He just wrote the equivalent of three columns on here to deliver his views!

Thanks, Max, for your insight. I certainly appreciate it.

Just wondering, though.....The last time I bought a printed magazine, othe than "Street Scene", was last Thanksgiving while wandering through the Atlanta airport and looking for something to do. Any possibility that KCB might come out in a digital edition anytime soon? I get all of my news and other mags on the laptop or pad and would love to see KCB the same way.

Thanks, gn

Max, thanks for that post; KCB is the bible for MOST of us, as is the aura of owning a replica of one of the world's most revered cars. There have been many narrow minded remarks posted on one subject or another, which leads to anger other members but will continue because of inflated egos and those who think their car is better. Man, we diss PCA for being elitists but when it comes to elitists, bigots, red neck, knee jerk individuals, SOC has it's fair share. Some members look down on other because their replica isn't authentic enough for their tastes, some look down on other replica builders than the one that built theirs and other just like to see their words in print and take pleasure in pissing someone off. After living with owning a Perry 550 Spyder and now owning a SAS Cabriolet, I've grown a thicker skin and no longer take heed to the crass remarks posted and now ignore them. I look forward to receiving my latest issue of KCB regardless of it's cover or content, I enjoy reading each article and by-the-way since that other Kit Car magazine stopped publication I refused the Hot Rod substitute they tried pawn off on me. Even though I prefer sports cars or hot rods I'll accept Cobras as hybrids, a sports car bodied hot rod.

Holy Carp, that was a lot of readin'! I need a drink!

My subsciber days to kit car magazines of all stripes harken back to Kit Car, Kit Car Illustrated, and todays Kit Car Builder. I've been reading them all forever and nothing on this forum is going to change that. I actualy remember what the industry was like prior to the birth of Cobras. It was Glasspar, Devin, Byers, Woodhill, et all.

I wonder if some of the above ranting is nothing more than an earnest desire for a return to the diversity of the "old industry", where a wider variety of replicas and/or original design vehicles was available? Back when 30 different "Cobra companies" would have been making 30 different vehicles, not remotely related to each other other except perhaps in the shoddiness of thier manufacture?

A lot of us would not be kit car owners today if the same diversity and lack of material qualilty still pervaded the industry. I guess I am real happy with the quality of todays vehicles, the ready availability of parts and comaradarie of its owners. Perhaps the price we pay is we see a lot of Cobras, not only magazine ads, but filling up car shows. Small price I say. Count our blessings.

Right on, Max. I'm with you 110%. Kit Car Builder magazine is the ONLY magazine for kit and specialty cars and serves the industry well. Jim owns a Speedster and donated KCB subscriptions at Carlisle - NOT to the Cobra club - but to the Speedster Meet Spyders at Carlisle gathering for the annual raffle. Don't be fooled by the BS - Jim Youngs is a stand-up guy with loyalty to the industry and the magazine is well worth the annual fee. Don't get me going or I'll need three pages too!

Perhaps we should show some unity in the kit car world and invite the Cobra guys to join us in some of our events and cruises. If they choose to it would be wonderful for the hobby. If not... well, we would know more about their character. Personally I think they would enjoy our craziness. I'm certainly willing to send and invite over to Club Cobra.

I think I shed a tiny tear just now.

TC, see what you started....everything was going along fine, all the East coast guys were mentally masterbating each other over a dumb ass mag, you add your 2 centavos, and all of a sudden were inviting the cobra guys for a ride-along....
the cobra guys could give a rats ass about us...that's as bad as trying to get the 356 guys to like us....
Who needs them....

Aw hell, Vince, I just wanna drive a Cobra once.

Now since TC has stated his plan to join us in Carlisle, I think Vince should come to. That'd be a serious hoot!

Vince + TC . . . hmmm . . . in the rocket science world we call that pryofloric, i.e., just mix 'em together and they ignite, no spark needed. I'd pay to see it. Come to think of it, I have already paid. Come on, Vince, if El Guapo can get here, so can you.

I'm gonna have to think about a cruise w/ the Cobra fellows -- they make so much noise!! Now if they were offering rides, as Lane suggests, that would be different. They are very cool cars as a group, classic even, and some of the engineering that has gone into these "kits" is outstanding. Like I said, a different kind of madness is all, not better or worse, just different.

Max....very well written, like everything that comes off your keyboard.

I've subscribed to every kit car publication that has ever been published. The "too much Cobra" debate has raged over every one of them. I think your comments here should put the debate to rest for good.

Anyone want to count how many times my humble MG TD replica friends have been on a cover over the past 30 or so years?

Hmmm...all the compliments flying around here about Max have me thinking...

Before he was the rich and famous KCB columnist, Max was the meek, mild club secretary for the NJRC. I have every one of his monthly "meeting minutes". I bet if I compile them into one book, I can sell them for big bucks!

Kelly, I actually had plans on coming a few years ago, but had to change plans because my kids father died (I'm the step-dad)and I had to send two of them to Texas...even got in a battle with the hotel you guys stay at because they claimed they never received my cancellation notice and charged me for the first night..
I will make it to carlisle one of these years......

Jesus Vince, learn to spell "masturbating" correctly...buy a dicktionary

Lane - You in a Cobra. I mean, I can see it, but I'd REALLY like to see it. Anyone with the skill (Cory?) to graft Lane's smiling head onto a Cobra? For a six of New Jersey River Horse at Carlisle?

I for one, Lane, am glad you turned our way.

BTW -- you can get a ride in a Cobra at the annual London Cobra Show in London, Ohio, for a ten buck donation to (I think) the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. The guys take contributors on eighth-mile burnout rides down Main Street. The cops run the thing and clock the cars. Some up to 90. I don't know who hoses out the passenger seats at the finish line.

Or you can make friends with a Cobra guy. Real easy. Good guys.

Gordon -- Another great presidential idea. It'll take a lot of keypunch cards, and Jim's got a couple of fickle tubes in his mainframe, but I'll see what he thinks.

Vince -- We use the same magazine the Cobra guys do. Just different pictures. But mostly we save our feet for walking.

did someone say free Cobra rides

Online Mags! Gack...YUCK....PHOOEY! Read a REAL mag......Pressmen gotta eat TOO!

~WB

Oh Yeah! Call me an isolationist, but I don't wanna roll with no Cobras!

~WB

"Vacation Man is ALIVE!"...love it

I'm with you, Mr. Bridges. Sitting on the crapper with a laptop just isn't the same. The seat of self-responsibility. This new generation just doesn't get it.

...don't EVEN diss Mad Magazine!

Here is a look back...

http://cruzintheavenue.com/CarsWeDrove.htm

Thanks Vince. Didn't want to come back. New favorite link.