New Hemmings Magazine Zeroes in on High Performance
24 May 2000
New Hemmings Magazine Zeroes in on High Performance
BENNINGTON, Vt., May 24 Hemmings Motor News, the "bible"
of the old car hobby, has announced the launch of a new magazine to help the
automotive enthusiast buy or build the high performance car of their dreams.
In his editorial for the initial issue of Hemmings Rods & Performance,
which hits the newsstands this week, editor Richard A. Lentinello points out
that this magazine has goals parallel to its the mother ship -- Hemmings Motor
News.
"Hemmings Motor News long ago earned its reputation of being the
undisputed mother lode of old cars, parts, accessories, tools, literature,
supplies, and suppliers of restoration services. With Hemmings Rods &
Performance, we have take the HMN concept, added pages of editorial and
technical content, and created a package the hot rod, muscle car and motor
sports enthusiasts will find irresistibly useful and informative," said
Lentinello, who also edits the company's Special Interest Autos magazine.
The premiere June/July issue is 144 pages with 14 page of editorial,
including features on how to get started in dirt track racing, the advantages
of KB Hypereutectic Pistons, a survey of street rod fiberglass bodies, and a
profile of ten drop-in high performance engines you can buy via mail order.
Upcoming editorial feature will include in-depth parts reviews such as the
pros and cons of a particular component's construction, theoretical articles
explaining the functionality behind the design of individual engine and
driveline components, and different engine build-ups complete with dyno
results, costs, and insights from the engine builders themselves.
Each issue will also feature a new product section, car show directory,
web site index for advertisers, and thousands of display and classified ads
organized by topic, make and model. Publisher Terry Ehrich realizes it's not
easy to launch a new magazine in the crowded automotive category, but feels
strongly that the muscle and high performance cars and parts market is a hobby
segment that is rapidly growing deserves a new communications forum.
"Our advertisers have told us that other magazines in this area either
don't have good distribution, don't provide enough useful editorial, or don't
have enough relevant classified ads organized in the right way to interest the
broad readership they are looking for," said Ehrich, who, along with his
partners, has owned Hemmings Motor News since 1968.
"Besides street rods, muscle cars, and custom street machines, Hemmings
Rods & Performance will cover the entire range of motorsports including drag
racing, road racing, autocross, and circle track racing. What will male this
magazine unique is the combination of in-depth editorial, directory-style
advertising, and the emphasis on high performance cars and parts classified
ads not found anywhere else in the marketplace."
The Specialty Equipment Manufacturers Association (SEMA) estimates that
the high performance and motors sports segment of the automotive aftermarket
accounts for $2.6 billion in sales and related services.
Hemmings Rods & Performance is available on the newsstand with a cover
price of $3.95, or by subscription for $17.95 per year. Additional
information can be obtained by calling Hemmings at 1-800-CAR-HERE
(1-800-227-4373), ext. 550, or by logging on to the magazine's web site at
http://www.hemminngsrodsandperformance.com .
Since 1954, Hemmings Motor News has served the collector-car hobby as its
primary trading place and currently carries over 800 pages of hobby
advertising each month to a paid circulation of nearly 260,000 and readership
over 500,000. Loaded with tens of thousands of classified and display ads for
collector cars, trucks and motorcycles, parts and services, clubs and events,
and other hard-to-find resources for the hobbyist, Hemmings has become
indispensable to the collector car enthusiast.
Along with the monthly Hemmings Motor News and bi-monthly Special Interest
Autos, the company also publishes the Hemmings' Vintage Auto Almanac, the
world's most complete directory for the collector-car hobby and industry, as
well as the new Hemmings Rods & Performance described above.
Hemmings also offers a complete line of ancillary products, which includes
an extensive line of die-cast models, calendars, books and clothing, all
available by phone or online.
For online hobbyists, http://www.hemmings.com , has greatly expanded its
information franchise, offering an online database of over 30,000 searchable
ads for cars, parts, tools and services plus a host of new features, including
Car Club Central, their unique Online Car Show, and an Online Dealer Showroom,
featuring the collector-car inventories of over 80 classic car dealers coast
to coast.