RIP: GM High Tech Performance, Popular Hot Rodding and Camaro Performers

[will69camaro]

Apparently these magazines got cancelled and it was announced today. Huge blow to the magazine industry for our hobby...

William

[Jr]

Damn... Maybe Steve will chime in

[NOPANTS68]

No way. PHR is about all I read. Wow that's beyond lame.

[sokoloka]

Popular Hot Rodding?! That is by far my FAVORITE magazine. I can't believe it.

:(

[rickpaw]

Popular Hot Rodding?! That is by far my FAVORITE magazine. I can't believe it.

:(

Seriously, PHR too? that's my favorite magazine.

[ArisESQ]

You sure? I was under the impression they just changed their web presence by folding into Super Chevy's website. (according to their facebook page as of yesterday)

[will69camaro]

Just what I heard from a pretty reputable source. Hope someone more in the know can verify and prove me wrong. Like all those magazines...

[EBMC]

Cant say thats a big surprise, I personally havent opened up a Magazine, newspaper or phonebook in years unless its one of our customers cars in the magazine. Sounds harsh but thats reality, its an Online world now.

[cjfirstgen]

I read the staff at Automobile magazine were let go today as well.

http://jalopnik.com/automobile-magazine-cuts-90-of-staff-and-fires-editor-1583277569

[gearheads78]

Cant say thats a big surprise, I personally havent opened up a Magazine, newspaper or phonebook in years unless its one of our customers cars in the magazine. Sounds harsh but thats reality, its an Online world now.

Pretty much my thoughts too. I used to live for my magazines to drop each month and read them non stop from cover to cover. Now having the web you have a magazine with unlimited pages with more pictures and material that you could ever read and look at.

[waynieZ]

What happens to our subscription's

[LS7 Z/28]

What happens to our subscription's

I'm wondering the same thing if this is true... I really hope not. Camaro Performers is my favorite magazine.

[waynieZ]

I'm wondering the same thing if this is true... I really hope not. Camaro Performers is my favorite magazine.

Same here.

[tones2SS]

Yup,...they are gone. It's a shame.
A bunch of Ford magazines are gone as well. LOTS of people laid off today from all those places. I know someone that writes for a Ford magazine and she is pretty bummed out about it.

[tmadden]

Man I just got subscriptions on iPad as a gift last month.

[JKnight]

That's unfortunate. I must have an old soul because I still like looking at the actual magazines. I have active subscriptions to most of the affected publications, so this is very disappointing.

[70 tt rustang]

I better get some kind of refund check from them!
Lame!

[Build-It-Break-it]

To much technology to fast. I'm surprised the newspapers still get printed. No one even physically talks to anyone anymore either, kids don't play outside. Its a world of gadgets we buy of things we don't need then act shocked when things like this happen. I only look at magazines in the store and half the time its full of ads (understandable to pay the bills) . Never anything truly useful anyone can't find on the internet for free tho. Still sad either way.

[214Chevy]

...... I only look at magazines in the store and half the time its full of ads

Me too and as far as a prescriptions to any car magazine, I cancelled mines about 7 years ago. Surprised it took this long to happen to magazine/print media with the popularity of the internet. I knew it would happen to magazines just like it did to phone books and some cities news papers.

[Che70velle]

What's a magazine?

[hifi875]

That bites I have subscription to phr and camaro performers

[LS7 Z/28]

What's a magazine?
You Joke, but what will happen to events like the Popular Hot Rodding muscle car of the year competition, the Hot Rod Power Tour, The Car Craft Summer Nationals and Street Machine Nationals, etc. When the title sponsor is no longer in existence. I hope to be able to attend events like these and I still enjoy reading the magazines.

[ccracin]

I'd really like to know what happens to our subscriptions we paid for in advance. I know it seems insignificant when people are losing jobs, but this is potentially a huge money maker for Source Interlink. Subscriptions are bought and paid for then you just cancel the product. Seems illegal to me. I would happily give my subscription refund to any of those losing a job, but I don't want that company keeping it!

[Matt@BOS]

I'd really like to know what happens to our subscriptions we paid for in advance. I know it seems insignificant when people are losing jobs, but this is potentially a huge money maker for Source Interlink. Subscriptions are bought and paid for then you just cancel the product. Seems illegal to me. I would happily give my subscription refund to any of those losing a job, but I don't want that company keeping it!

I believe your Source Interlink will incorporate the subscription base into that of one of the other magazines, so if you received Camaro Performers you will probably receive Super Chevy instead, or one of the other magazines. I don't know if you can call for a refund, but I imagine they will change your subscription to something else if you already get Super Chevy, for example.

[WSSix]

You Joke, but what will happen to events like the Popular Hot Rodding muscle car of the year competition, the Hot Rod Power Tour, The Car Craft Summer Nationals and Street Machine Nationals, etc. When the title sponsor is no longer in existence. I hope to be able to attend events like these and I still enjoy reading the magazines.

This is a good question, Casey. It's going to be interesting to see what happens in the future.

[TorqDork]

Sure about this? Websites are still up and talked to a friend at Edelbrock today and didn't mention it and it's something he would have known.

[cjfirstgen]

Here is the latest:

http://jalopnik.com/heres-how-former-source-interlink-mags-are-reorganizing-1583470716

[Che70velle]

You Joke, but what will happen to events like the Popular Hot Rodding muscle car of the year competition, the Hot Rod Power Tour, The Car Craft Summer Nationals and Street Machine Nationals, etc. When the title sponsor is no longer in existence. I hope to be able to attend events like these and I still enjoy reading the magazines.


Yeah, I have no idea. Somebody will step up and cover the cost. There's money to be made in promotions. Of course, Super Chevy Show was a huge deal a couple decades ago...
I didn't mean to sound harsh. I was simply being relevant. These guys are downsizing because there's too many publications covering the same contents, and thanks to the ol' interweb, paper is fading fast.
I have a stack of Hot Rod magazines almost 4' high...
I only read current publications while waiting for the wife at the grocery store. Sad but true.

[89 RS]

Man, if this is true, those are my 3 favorite magazines. Call me old school, but I still like actually getting the magazines and reading them.

[cjfirstgen]

It's true. Read a letter from the CEO of Source Interlink. According to the consolidation list Super Chevy and Hot Rod will still be around.

[CRCRFT78]

So the article says that these magazines will be consolidating to get rid of the redundant subject matter. Hot Rod showed signs of this after their last makeover of the magazine. I don't care that they are consolidating however, I do like having an actual physical item instead of a digital copy. Hell I still read real books, buy actual CDs to listen to and hang real pictures on my walls at home. Not all technology is good technology. What happens when you don't have backups for any of that stuff and your computer or laptop takes a dump or gets stolen then what.

[glassman]

So the article says that these magazines will be consolidating to get rid of the redundant subject matter. Hot Rod showed signs of this after their last makeover of the magazine. I don't care that they are consolidating however, I do like having an actual physical item instead of a digital copy. Hell I still read real books, buy actual CDs to listen to and hang real pictures on my walls at home. Not all technology is good technology. What happens when you don't have backups for any of that stuff and your computer or laptop takes a dump or gets stolen then what.

Its like when i'm on a flight and they say "please turn off all electronic devices".....i keep read-in my inkstinkin mags....

At one point all of these rags were independent of one another (hence competition)...its like anything else in a free market, you buy up your compete-tiers.


And i've experienced very unreliable subscriptions from iTunes on ALL the mags i electronically subscribed too. Signed up for and paid for a year and about two months later "you must subscribe to see this" After that happened three times, i said "EFF This"......"So as society regresses forward"......As the world burns....

[Wissing72]

Sad to hear. It is an unfortunate reality. I wonder where some of the editors and staff will end up? I met Johnny Hunkins at DelMar, super nice guy.

[sokoloka]

I wonder if there will be anything like a "Final Issue" or something similar for PHR. Absolutely love that magazine.

[travmon]

I am going to need a moment of silence ( R.I.P PHR ). thank you for that moment..technology is cool and all but my laptop is never in the bathroom where my PHR is ! When I fall asleep and my media falls off the bed it only wrinkles a few pages , not a broken screen !.. Not a huge fan of ALL the technology..moderation is a good choice across the board..

[Build-It-Break-it]

Everyone is caught up in this one magazine being canceled which is understandable but what about the actual book stores that have closed down? Barnes and Nobel, borders etc. Whenever I went inside to get a book there was dozens of people reading books and magazines for free, drinking coffee etc. People tend to forget about the people losing money for you not buying those books, myself included. Its like when people go call vendor and ask a bunch of questions about there car, the vendor wastes hours talking to them, then they go buy product from a different vendor just because its a little cheaper? Then wonder why people have to shut down there business or act shocked when they do. Us reading these publications for free in the store cost the people there jobs period. Buy the book or magazine, they make money, people stay employed, simple economics.

[bret]

As a businessman, the print ad format has been in decline for 10 years with increasing intensity. As a hotrodder, I will miss reading these magazines. The ipad version just could not convey the texture that the print version did.

My strongest thoughts are for the people who worked there. They've been thrown into chaos. At a minimum, they'll be reassigned to a new book. At worst...they're on their ass.

As for my subscription money....keep it. Consider it a tiny token contribution to a group of people who improved the quality of my Hotrodding experience. May you all go on to bigger things and our paths will cross again.

[CRCRFT78]

For me its not about that one magazine, its about technology being so great while slowly taking away some of the simple things that are causing the dumbing down of us as a people. I feel bad for those out of work, the same way I felt bad for the gas station attendant whose duties got cut because of self-serve pumps. Or the grocery clerk out of a job because of self-checkout registers. I have tried to read magazines/books on my laptop and for whatever reason I just cant enjoy it the same way I enjoy holding a physical copy. Rant over.

[TorqDork]

As a businessman, the print ad format has been in decline for 10 years with increasing intensity. As a hotrodder, I will miss reading these magazines. The ipad version just could not convey the texture that the print version did.

My strongest thoughts are for the people who worked there. They've been thrown into chaos. At a minimum, they'll be reassigned to a new book. At worst...they're on their ass.

As for my subscription money....keep it. Consider it a tiny token contribution to a group of people who improved the quality of my Hotrodding experience. May you all go on to bigger things and our paths will cross again.

Bret,

Very well said. I was fortunate enough to be on staff when it was Petersen Publishing and all was well. I had the time of my life when there were budgets and not so many Chiefs taking a slice of the pie. Sadly, the mag I was on also got the ax but the PHR chop is odd. I doubt Hot Rod will cover that segment of the market. Everything started to go to Hell after Petersen sold the company.

[GregWeld]

Life changes.... while some things die - other things are born.

I used to be able to see Mt Rainer when I turned south on Bellevue Way... it was great to see the early morning light turning it pink or purple or both. Haven't been able to see it for several years now since they began putting up high rises...People live there, and there are many shops etc on the street level, and people are hired to clean and mow and manage these buildings. Not to mention the people that worked a couple years or more building them.

I used to bitch about that.


I live in Bellewood FARMS....


Oh yeah --- it used to be farmland... orchards actually. Think the farmers around that farm bitched when the owner sold it to some developer and he ripped out all the trees and built houses back in 1950?? I'm certain they did. All that traffic (there were 10 homes built)!


I'm truly sorry if you are in the print media business and didn't see this coming... I really don't know what to tell ya. I'm not even in the business and I could see it coming. I still have all manor of subscriptions -- and they pile up around where I sit - and on the nightstand... rarely, if ever, opened.

[Formula43 Wheel]

Sorry to see these Mags go, but I believe the writing as on the wall so to speak for many years. Like the music industry and so many others, new technology creates new markets and opportunity. I'm sure many of the writers/staff, etc. will land else where and hopefully it takes them to a new higher level in their career.

Can't remember the last time I purchased a magazine, book or CD. I was talking to good friend that builds engines yesterday and asked him when was the last time they built a 383 stroker motor. All he does now is LS motors today. Same thing in wheels as I had a request for 17" recently, just no market for them anymore. When's the last time anyone has heard of a Pro-Street Camaro being built with a giant blower sticking out the hood.

On the business/advertising side, print advertising has a low ROI. For a very small company like F43, we get much more bang for a our buck with forums, social media, video and trade shows.

[ironworks]

With as many times as Source Interlink has sold in the past few years it all up to the bean counters now. There are a few titles that carry the rest of them in some sort or fashion. And I think each new buyer thought they could do it better then the last and just saw potential to make big money and not the reality. But I'm more amazed this did not happen sooner and that they really have not set out to truly promote the online side of the business like it has been done by some many others now days. They kinda let the ship sale on videos and original online only content. When they could have been the industry leaders. I still don't think any one really does it well still these days. Lots of people try but it really takes a talented crew to bring it all together and alot of cash.

Now it will be even harder to get a car in the magazine unless the cross over magazines pick up more advertisers and have more pages to add content but I don't see it being that easy.

The other thing that I think gives the industry a lack of credibility is the tech articles. How long can a magazine promote a product we have all seen and know is junk, just because they company is a major sponsor of the magazine. There is no credibility in the magazines. I read the mountain bike magazines, because it makes me feel like I actually have the spare time to ride my bike. But the say when something is junk or could be made from inferior materials. I understand they need to make as much money as possible, but there needs some kind of respect in the industry for the parts they promote.

Hot Rod Magazine does what they call a flog test and they beat the crap out of a car to see how it performs and tell the readers what actually happened. So you better have your ducks in a row or everyone will hear about it. We did the flog test a few months ago and quite a few cars had issues. Kyle Newman and I drove our cars 100's of miles each day to each event and had no issues at all, alot of the guys who trailered their cars to each event had vaporlock issues and other basic issues that will be publicized if it makes it to print and to me reporting what really happened gives the mag credibility.

[69MyWay]

I'm just getting caught up with this and am not totally surprised.

I've had the pleasure to tech write for Amos Publishing for a number of years now. When I first started, they were broken up into "Corvette Enthusiast, Mustang Enthusiast...etc" and had a very specific audience and staff for each product/vehicle following.

That later became "Automotive Enthusiast" as they folded in their other brands and let staff go. Recently they announced a change back to their original old title - "Cars and Parts"

I've been fortunate to actually have a very recent piece printed in "Cars and Parts" on a Vintage Air Sure Fit custom system.

I have several other projects in the waiting - but we all know that this business has been getting tough. Amos has put more precense on the Web - but I am the kind of guy that likes to have a magazine. No batteries needed - and can take it anywhere.

I like the guys at Camaro and PHR - A LOT! They have tons of creative and interesting ideas and well put together material. Yes...we've all seen LS blah blah blah, until we are blue in the face...but they have made it interesting still and I always learn something especially from PHR.

[BMR Sales]

http://business.transworld.net/150340/features/source-interlink-media-rebrands-ten-enthusiast-network/

[buickfunnycar.com]

Anyone know anything about CHP...?

It's not on the axed list but when you go to their site, it re-directs to Super Chevy.

Would hate to see Henry D out of a job...too good of a guy to be out of work.

[Vince@Meanstreets]

Well I think it would be a great time to bring out the Lateral-G network magazine series. Seems like a huge opportunity.

There are a few writers and photogs here.

Lateral-G High Performance Tech magazine
Lateral-G Street brute magazine
Lateral-G Track Freaks magazine

[Ron in SoCal]

Well I think it would be a great time to bring out the Lateral-G network magazine series. Seems like a huge opportunity.

There are a few writers and photogs here.

Lateral-G High Performance Tech magazine
Lateral-G Street brute magazine
Lateral-G Track Freaks magazine

I love this idea. :welder:

[Che70velle]

Well I think it would be a great time to bring out the Lateral-G network magazine series. Seems like a huge opportunity.

There are a few writers and photogs here.

Lateral-G High Performance Tech magazine
Lateral-G Street brute magazine
Lateral-G Track Freaks magazine

The idea is great, but we are living in an era where we are seeing a lot of publications dying off. Let's face it, paper publications are going bye bye.
I'm a pastor, and because of smart phones and tablets, only about 10% of congregations still actually bring a bible to church.
Just imagine where we will be in 20 years...

[Vince@Meanstreets]

The idea is great, but we are living in an era where we are seeing a lot of publications dying off. Let's face it, paper publications are going bye bye.
I'm a pastor, and because of smart phones and tablets, only about 10% of congregations still actually bring a bible to church.
Just imagine where we will be in 20 years...

Well if it was due to low readership or lack of content I would agree but they were IMO and in a nut shell were sold by a liquidation company.

Having a paper publication and no internet support would be the bad way to go. Internet is the future but I still believe there is a place for magazines.

A few years back a member was looking into starting a magazine but at the time there was so much competition. But now if you can package all of the lost magazine content in one rag then I think you would have something.

[ArisESQ]

I'd say this would at least be a good opportunity to improve and enhance the existing featured cars page on lateral-g, and maybe change to a blog format for those features. Maybe something similar to http://www.speedhunters.com/ or http://www.canibeat.com/. Attract more users to the site through the use of big flashy pic galleries.

I personally haven't ever really been a big fan of the format of the monthly feature car pages and feel that there is some room for improvement.