Paying the Piper
By noderel:
Several months back I introduced HotRod Hotline readers to my current project: a too-long overdue autobiography. I pointed out the reason was I have come to grips with my fading years and equally fading health. To wit, chemo from now on and necessary blood top-ups. All sucky stuff, but such is the way of life and flat-motors.
Whatever, I am half way through all the words, and there are a lot of them. This past summer I went up to Idaho to look through the tons of pix that have accumulated around my feet through the years, so I have what I may need in that arena sorted. The result of this is that it looks like I’ll have everything ready for Maryanna at Graffitti by the end of January, which means that through the trickery of electronic publishing we expect to have a signed book to those who have pre-ordered (at 50 bucks a pop), almost on schedule this coming Springtime in the Rockies. Because I base in Australia now (much better health system for my condition), it means the Aussies will get their copies sooner than stateside. But, listen to this, because of the electronic state of things, I can simply fire off over the ether everything to a printer in the States and those copies will be wending via USPS shortly after.
Meantime, I am starting a new service through Hot Rod Hotline of the kinds of editorial leader material I used to do when we were a’building the hot rod sport. I’m open for suggestions, kudos and karate chops at any time: [email protected].
Down The Road, doods, and on to the editorial!
PAYING THE PIPER
You can call it luck of the draw, or karma, or any number of names, but the fact remains that the American economy has been in the toilet for almost a decade. And the hot rod sport/hobby is smelling very ripe as well! So far, our end of things has escaped too much damage, meaning much of our industry has been only wounded, but not mortally. Not so anymore. The boat is leaking, head for shore.
Our survival is a real question of just how much we are self protective, and how much self destructive. It all starts with admitting that we got trouble right here in river city. And this admission is one that many in the hot rod parts industry refuse to pronounce, believing that to close eyes to the obvious is the best way to make it go away. Much like a major hot rod player many years ago did not want to admit publically that some suspension parts were failing.
Contrast this kind of myopic refusal logic with how some manufacturers and retailers are approaching the problems today. Let me give you a “fer-instance.” In the last several months, there have been some imported suspension items that are readily identified as specific to hot rods involved in dramatic failures in New Zealand. You haven’t seen anything of this in the American rod hobby press.
One item was a dropped, forged front axle that snapped apart just outboard of the perch bolt. The supplier would just as soon that no one knew of the problem but in NZ the government required an immediate investigation, and correction, of the problem. Finally, the manufacturer announced that a small batch of the cast axles were made with inferior materials. The problem was traced to the actual axle maker not following correct procedures with casting steel. Immediately one retailer, the Hoffman Group, searched out their processes to make absolutely certain no such problem could beset their product, which is similar in appearance. What was released to the media, and the public, was a full report of their findings.
More recently, metal fatigue and failure has occurred in American labelled tilt steering assemblies. More than one, and again, in New Zealand. Snake bitten the second time. Again, the Hoffman Group rushed their products to testing and evaluation, and as prior again came out with a clean sheet. So, given this approach compared to one of denial, which will lead the consumer to optimum confidence? And which approach will prompt the most government safety concern.
You see, the manufacturer may simply fold its tent and steal away into the night, giving not a whit of care about the hot rod hobby or the participants therein. You, and I, are left holding an empty bag of enthusiasm.
I offer this example. Several years ago, a hot rod enthusiast from down Mexico way, whose family owned a large manufacturing firm (glass as I recall), decided that he would produce a turn-key ’32 Ford roadster completely made in Mexico. Quite possible, given the presence of so many north-of-the-border automotive people in the south.
A substantial amount of pre-production effort and fanfare went into the product, and it seemed the right product for the time, which was ahead of similar American efforts by several years. That person had done his homework, and duly hired a well known and respected American designer and artist from the Denver area to handle much of the advertising and public relations campaigns.
Rather than take a payment for services, the artist instead accepted the first production Deuce in recompense. In a stroke of fate, the Mexican national was visiting the artist in the Denver surrounds one day when disaster struck!
The pair had decided to go somewhere and had taken the ’32 for a drive. On the nearby freeway on-ramp, the dropped front axle let go, sending the car and occupants over the embankment. Fortunately, neither was seriously injured. Investigation revealed that the dropped axle had been cut and welded, then the weld dressed neatly for appearance. The manufacturer did not know of the problem, and the inexperienced workers thought that was a proper solution to a problem. That hot rod effort never made it further. It could have had tragic consequences.
Unlike a major player in this hobby, who years ago would not allow one of my editorials such as this to appear for fear it would harm the hobby (read: sales), Hot Rod HotLine has chosen to become a leader in our hobby. Hot damn, it’s about time!