Those of you that just received ( in the mail or purchased at the news stand ) , your August issue of Super Chevy Magazine , will be interested with the coverage of the Super Chevy Show we attended at Palm Beach International Raceway in Palm Beach , Florida . Credit was given to Rudy Wickmann for receiving an Editor`s Top 10 Award for his 1970 SS454 El Camino . In drag racing ; Villian , Derek Putnam from Gainesville , Fl. , won first place in the DOT Class . He had a time of 11.304 at 110.83 mph driving his 70 Nova . In True Street Class ; Derek , also earned a second place finish ! I was a little disappointed that NECOA did not get a mention for winning the Club Participation Award for having the most cars . Other winners were Street Class Outstanding for C.J. , Tootie and HotCamino , Glenn with Skinyfisher ; Jay , the overall winner . In Modified Class , Lenny Carey earned a first . In Class Conversion 464 Elky ; Neil , took a first as well as a first place in All Class Conversations for his 464 cu. in. Stage 1 Buick engine installation . In this issue there are a few other articles you may find of interest on doing a face lift on a 5 th. Gen. by replacing the headlight bezels , parking/turn signals , grill and bumper . There is also one on resuscitating billet wheels and making up a set of spark plug wires to fit around headers . While the articles are not online yet , you may be interested in looking at their website at www.superchevy.com (http://www.superchevy.com) and www.superchevyshow.com (http://www.superchevyshow.com) .

I got a brief look at the issue at the market, as I became unhappy with Super Chevy Magazine itself not super chevy show promtoras they are two different companies.

The reason I don't get the mag anymore was once again present in the photo shoot of the show, even with one elky in by way to weird to talk about gets a picture layout an I will say it was a bad choice award for a not to good looking 70 el Camino stock to represent the saturday choice of Best El Camino for the saturday there was at least 5 other cars in different year that should been given that award, however this car has won this before with this same cenaior came about. But when the NECOA has the largest group of club supporting cars in the show an was given the trohpy would not be listed the award articles, or given a picture.
Super Chevy man JIM Campasino says the NECOA is great and will be taken care of when the show comes to press, I have heard them say this in past years for a big nothing and while none of the wining or outstanding or Best of Model Winner were in the pictures . But every car selected in AMSO Light Contest has mulipal picture and story line for the totol a benfit of the show promtors giving plent of room. Jim Campisano shold understand ticket sales a group buying a block of 20 and 20 hotel room and wins the club award along with all but one award given gong to NECOA members mean something about to be said. No ATTENTATION GIVEN 20 MISSING CARS AT 2012 SHOW. This adds up to no attentation, no 20 cars and 20 hotels

I personally wash tlaked to be jim at the show about the great coverage the NECOA was going to get. Also how he could do nothing about the model of the cars for the contest and that next year we would be included "want to bet" Super Chevy Magaazine is alabout the money and the top go fest cars the show is a step child just like the El Camino is a step child to the Chevelle butr I can handle that one.

I have to agree with skinyfisher; I stopped subscribing to Super Chevy, as well as a few other car related publications because I believe they, mistakenly believe that the only vehicles people want to read about are first gen camaros, Novas and chevelles. While I love all three of these models, (Those who know of me will know that I collect camaros and firebirds.) I really do get tired of reading about the same types of cars over and over again. (" Oh, look! Theres a Blue AND a red '69 camaro in this months issue!" Wow.) My favorite publication, lately, is GM high tech performance, though they do have the tendancy, lately to believe the 4th and 5thgen camaro is all there is out there....

I,m sure most of us feel the same about same ole/ same ole being published all the time. these days, I go to bookstores monthly & look before I buy. Haven't seen an el camino focused issue in over 5 years! And you see the same article in 3 to5 different mags. For some reason, most car shows that do judging seem just as bad. When I first attended a super chevy show in 03 or 04 my ls1/t56 swap was still a less common item to see. One of the judges keeps coming back to me during the snow, talking about the tremac award. During awards, as usual, the older guy that paid someone to do his interior 1 color, exterior 1 color, & a crate 1st gen 350 wins. If almost half the crowd booed the announcement, don,t think this makes me a sore looser, does it? this is usually what I see happen to mine & other nice rides that should win at least once in a while. For this reason, I mostly stick to local non- judging shows.:secret:

My point is not at all an overall judging complaint or problem at all the one car for Saturdays pick is subjective and it had its point of being a real 70 454 stock car just not a good one. The balance of my point was directed at Super Chevy Magazine period not the Super Chevy Show production car show people they are very seperate companys. They number one, use a team to cover the show that is very race car driven and this time it may have been somewhat better than many show prior on that issue but they still cover the show based on money driven cars and cool to the mag pictures not actual coverage of what the people see and talk about and or what cars are supporting the show ie the NECOA group that wins the Club Trophy and does not get much or any coverage or just mention in my book, along with the model itself and the group had some real good cars presented for the two days. But whne the head editor Jim Campiseo thake the time to tell you and think you than blows you off in the issue 100% oppsite of the verbal and email, that's wrong.

That was the last show I took the El Camino before my son got it. When I saw the PBIR was being featured I thought a picture of all our cars would have been included as we had quite a large showing, too bad.

Haven't seen it yet but I will be on the lookout

I've been considering weather to renew my SC subscription, because lately, it has been "same old, same old". I've found that I enjoy Car Craft a whole lot more. Plus, the Super Chevy editing, while much improved over the 10 years I have subscribed, is still not very good. This is certainly another strike against them, and it will factor into deciding to write the renewal check or not.

forgot i have to get someone to scan my copy of Fastest Street car magazine. there is a bunch of the member's cars in there from the brandenton NMCA race/show. i will see what i can come up with. just got it in mail recently

Bgblockcamino, I already scanned and put a thread link in Region 6

ok just wanted to make sure everyone got it. had soem nice coverage in there.

I guess I'm the odd one out here, because I thought the coverage was a little more balanced than in year's past. It got to the point where coverage was 3-5 pages of mostly photos, and results were listed as "see www.superchevy.com (http://www.superchevy.com) for race and show results" because I'm guessing it took up too much space to list them all, and people probably want to see photos instead.

This issue had 4 drag race shots (2 action and 2 in the pits), 15 show shots (including the Amsoil / Danchuk "Best of the Best" page, which I'm sure is a sponsor deal that was given a page as part of their agreement, 2 autocross shots, 1 of Joel Rosen's new Camaro and 1 from the swap meet. Considering the number of show cars to the number of race cars (which I'd say from my time there, the two groups were close in numbers), I'd say the show cars got more exposure than other. But on the flip side, the drag race and autocross groups got their results published (again, I'm guessing it would take up too much space to list all the car show classes).

I just got lucky and got a shot of my car in there, but it could have easily been another racer that did well. :smileyb:

On feature cars, the issue had a little bit of everything (a '64 Chevy II SBC, '69 Camaro BBC tri-carb, '56 Nomad w/ Ram Jet BBC, '80 Malibu w/ LS power and '67 Impala BBC). I thought that's a decent selection and variety.

Remember, a lot of magazines today welcome reader feedback, some even put comment cards/pages in there to ask how/if you'd change anything. After all, they need people to subscribe & purchase the magazine to survive...

Just playing devil's advocate this morning...

Derek

derek any boards that you are not on lol? you going to bowling green or indy for lsx shootout?

Derek and ALL, I see and do not disagree with your points, however they have always posted a spread of pics that are geared more to the favorite cars of the hobby, not towards fan favorite of the day, cudo's to the largest club to back the show with attendance unless it a Camaro or a Vette club. JIM Campiso took the time to come over and explain the AM SOL contest and tell us why el Camino's were not in, thanked us for our large group and he would give us some space in the show issue, with a Club trophy and the rarity of good El Camino's in a bunch. Issue comes out with no heads up for the NECOA no Elky pictures and no coverage again, also they droped the Palm Beach show from the main web site coverage also ??. Prior years say 2006 and older the writing and photos were always geared toward the cars as they were presented on day of show, has not been that way and is not that way anymore. Example NMCA less cars smaller show more coverage spread out to all cars and all winners noted on the net and in the FSC mag.
I know more guys that have dropped Super Chevy Mag in the last several year but they just keep going in a direction that is got to be costing them. Florida's free to the car guy Cruise News does a better job.
THe NECOA's head director Lenny Carey and 3 helpfull directors along with a group of members that have worked hard and attended everywhere, sponsored, donated and thank every show holder for there efforts in the name of the hobby, gave them cudo's, articles on this forum and some other publications and NPD, NMCA, Cruise News, FLAcarshows.com, OLD town (before sale) all gave back in some way both in writing and in buisness to us and probably all others that show the care for the hobby. Derek "YOU" are on the top of the list with help incouragement one on one help to most that would call you or NPD. NPD as a company can't be beat for service and doing it right on a personal basis I have had nothing but good, even if a problem jumps up it is handled right or help is offered so all of our members should be giving NPD the chance on any business, it well pay off.

I have been a faithful reader of Super Chevy for years as I feel it is a well done magazine , covers my interests and is my favorite . My subscription runs through 2013 . I do feel like many others that what the majority of readers are frustrated about , are magazines that seem to believe that the only cars worth writing about are the Tri Five Chevy , 69 Camaro , 70 Hemi Cuda , Yenko or one that has had more than $ 100,000 poured into then . I would love to still have my 55 Chevy or 70 Cuda but honestly speaking , if I had to give up my Camino for them I would not do it . I do like seeing a variety and think Super Chevy has been betters than others but they are also part of this tunnel vision publishing and are Very slowly putting in other vehicles that an ordinary person can ever hope to afford . I`m sure a lot of what gets printed is what brings in the money for them from the advertisers and after market suppliers so that is what will get published and like it or not , that is the way it will continue . I have dropped 5 other magazines and will drop S.C. and Hot Rod Magazine unless I see more balanced coverage .

derek any boards that you are not on lol? you going to bowling green or indy for lsx shootout?
I get around I guess :beer: I should be working the LSX Shootout finals at Indy.

I understand the points from both Skiny and Lenny. Maybe there was a missed communication between Jim Campisano and the author of the piece (since Jim didn't pen the article), there wasn't space due to commitments from higher powers, etc. Not making excuses as I don't work for them, but I know from working at several different shows, races, etc that what might appear for coverage and what actually happened can be very little slanted or heavily biased. As mentioned, some magazines seem to show vehicles that are out of the "average guys" price and construction range. I see a few of them coming around, but the problem is quite a few magazines still operate from the west coast, leaving some to wonder if they're in the "non-coverage" area.

Again, just from my seat in the stands, if you have five minutes, write them an e-mail! The readers can make or break a magazine, and a few have gone by the wayside in the past year. If we can post it on here, we can bang the keyboard to editors (in a constructive manner) to hopefully give them another perspective.

Derek

Did the email twice to Jim Campisano and copied another forgot his name. First time Jim replyed with info again on the AM SOL contest and again mentioned that the group would get coverage when the mag cam out. No reply to second email on what happened to the mag coverage that was sorta promissed.

Hi guys. Patrick Hill from Super Chevy Magazine here.

A good friend gave me a heads up about this thread, wanted to respond and talk to you all.

About the El Camino club not being mentioned in the event coverage, Campisano didn't say anything to me about his communications with the club and promising a mention in the story. If I had known about this I would've gladly worked you all into the story. Outside of liking all Chevys, I've always liked El Caminos since I was a kid. My favorite years are the '68-'69, which is also my favorite years for the Chevelle/Malibu. Currently I don't own an El Camino, but listed the '69 in my profile so I could register for the forum and make my apologies.

We/I appreciate you guys coming out to the show and your following of the magazine.

If you have any questions I can answer (or try to at least) respond to the thread and I'll do my best to answer them in a timely fashion.

Again, sorry for the omission. Nothing personal or against El Caminos on my part.

- Patrick Hill

Hello Patrick , Welcome and thank you for responding to this forum . I was not aware of the full conversation with Jim Capisano until it appeared here in this forum so I will not comment on that . I did say that I was disappointed that NECOA did not get a mention in the April issue of Super Chevy Magazine after winning the Club Participation Award at the Super Chevy Show . I am not mad , upset or lost any sleep over it . However , I did say that Super Chevy is my favorite magazine but felt that too often , it appears that they have the same tunnel vision that afflicts other car magazines . It seems to me ; and many others , that unless it is a Camaro , Yenko , Hemi- Cuda or had $ 100,000 poured into the build , it will not get coverage . Subscribers do enjoy some of these builds to see what is possible but it is done so often that it appears they are the only rides worth mentioning or exist . The vast majority of readers want to see builds and coverage that the ordinary person could ever hope to afford , modify ,restore , drive and enjoy . There are exceptions but many of them go from garage , to the trailer , to the show and back on the trailer . They cost so much to build that they never see what a public street or highway looks like . Yes ,many of us wish we could afford one and find no fault with those that can , but please show us stuff that is reasonably affordable , gets driven and actually gets dirty ! Perhaps each month another car club could be mentioned with a few photos ( not suggesting mine ) . Again Super Chevy is my favorite magazine and hope you keep it that way and I encourage others to read it . Thanks again .

Patrick, Lenny has done a great job of telling things as I would, in talking to car guys all week long and at ever show I would be bold enough to say more than 50% feel the same way about the coverage or lack of complete show driven coverage. I have always taken the mag untill the favorites and money cars floated to the top every issue and it seams it is instruction to do so by the editors or just the fact that these are the writers choice along with the fact the the headliners cars are so cool, one can not say they are not. I have had my share of mag pics but not sense the coverage has gone to what most of us feel it is today the club is were I just don't get it, no clubs no cars no help and no support.

I am also the one that spoke with Jim both at the show and than in an email in which he did explaining of AM SOL and pretty much said don't worry will cover things in the show issue for our models and club.

This is enough talk about what was lets put it to bed and prepare for next years show and fun as it is really about the HOBBY.

This is enough talk about what was lets put it to bed and prepare for next years show and fun as it is really about the HOBBY.

Well said! Obviously we all like our Chevys and the good times that comes with it, so let's try to focus on the positive and how to move forward from it.

Derek

You guys will be happy to know I'm working on a '60 El Camino story for an issue coming up!

Is it a Super Chevy Show winning Car or mulitpal Super Chevy winning car is it in the popular years of of the hobby. There were three cars at Palm Beach that have that distinction, but you probably know this person or it comes from a sponsor related heads up, if not that is wonderful. Yes a 60 is a cool retro and super hard to get parts etc. will look forward to seeing this 1st Gen Camino in the months to come.

Thanks