Latest HappeningsWhat's going on

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The Countdown to DuQuoin 2013 is ON!!!

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Fat Tire Manifesto

We’ve been lied to. For years we’ve been told that pro street was dead. Pro street was impractical. Pro street was SO eighties. And we bought the lie. Read more

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Working outline...check it out!

Work on Sensory Overload continues. Check out the chapters I have lined up:

• Home Built: The growth of Street Machining in the Midwest
• New Kid In Town: Birth of the Street Machine Nationals
• Unmistakable: Scott Sullivan
• Shredder: Rod Saboury
• Lovin' Every Minute of It: Party on Wheels
• Family Affair: Matt & Debbie Hay
• Rock On: Rocky Robertson
• Paradise City: "Woodstock on Wheels" rolls into DuQuoin
• Out Radical Rageous: Rick Dobbertin
• The Business: Rich Gebhardt
• Nothin' But a Good Time: The Party Heats Up
• The Kid: Troy Trepanier
• The Canuck: Al Hinds
• Don't Go Away Mad (Just Go Away)
• Dare to Be Different: Bob Maynard
• Mr. Nationals: Bret Voelkel
• wOOt: Billy Wooten
• Last of the Breed: Merle Goldesberry
• Don't Know What You Got (Til It's Gone)
• Glory Days: Gone Forever or Just the Beginning?

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The Street Machine Nationals Godfather...Harry Hibler

Did you know that the original idea for the Street Machine Nationals is widely attributed to Harry Hibler, legendary drag racer, Petersen Publishing manager, and SEMA Hall of Fame inductee (2002)? Hibler pitched the idea in 1976 as a means of generating magazine features and creating interest for Car Craft Magazine and other Petersen titles. The event, formally launched in 1977, was held in Indianapolis because nearly half of the Car Craft readership at the time lived within four or five hours of the Circle City. Harry Hibler

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Audio interviews are coming!

Over the past six months, I've conducted interviews with prominent pro street builders of the era, area politicians and law enforcement, and automotive media folks who remember their times at the Street Machine Nationals. The intent was to add to the historical accuracy, humor, and nostalgic feel of the book. However, these interviews also gave me a chance to get to chat with guys I would consider childhood heroes. In the coming weeks, I will be releasing an edited clip of one interview each week. I'm contacting my interviewees first to make sure they're cool with it, but I think you will really enjoy getting to hear their stories (at least the ones we decide to let you hear:) in their own words. Stay tuned!