posted 03-21-2005 07:37 PM                  

As many of you know I am on a personal quest to gain the appropriate “Hot Rod” Status with the mainstream automotive publications and sanctioning organizations for our beloved Prowler. These diligent efforts have been mostly disappointing until now, so get ready.

There is a NEW “Hot Rod” publication which I was recently introduced to… STREET THUNDER, the Official Magazine of the STREET MACHINE CLUB. The first 2 issues of STREET THUNDER really impressed me and I was compelled to contact the Editor and Executive Director to ask some simple questions regarding the Prowler, their Magazine and Club.

More than impressed would be an understatement… in less than 24 hours I received a personal reply to my questions and would very much like to share these with y’all as follows…

Question #1. Will the Prowler be welcomed and included as a conventional part of your STREET MACHINE CLUB and STREET THUNDER Magazine features?

Reply… We welcome Prowlers. They are a unique foray into a niche market by a major manufacturer, and represent an atypical production vehicle. The only reason I can think of that they've not been given their "just due" is the lack of aftermarket support, the limited production numbers, and maybe their lack of factory power. We were yearning for a Hemi-powered version since day one, but this dream never came to fruition.

Still, I dig 'em and I always have. We welcome the Prowler enthusiasts with open arms and would encourage all of you to make yourselves known to the rest of the membership.

I respect your want to "fight" for your rightful place, but you'll not find resistance from me. I'll support you guys and am anxious to see some tastefully modified versions of these great cars. Since we're a street machine magazine, the cars we run are all modified from the way they were manufactured, and I'd have to keep this rule firm. Few enthusiasts want to see bone-stock cars. We're celebrating the enthusiasm of our members in how they modify their cars to suit their individual tastes, and we'd expect Prowler owners to follow suit. Anyone can "own" a non-modified car, but it's what the owners do to make them better that we're talking about.

Question #2. If your publication finds favor with the Prowler and our love for this Classic American
Automobile, can you issue an "Official" proclamation certifying the Prowler as a Street Machine?

Reply… If it's American made, has the engine in the front, and makes the rear tires spin, it's got street machine potential as a traditional American car to me....

Thanks for the note Jay, and I look forward to seeing some tricked-out Prowlers!

Scott Parkhurst
Editor
Street Thunder Magazine

There you have it… I suggest that each of you log on to www.streetmachineclub.com and support this excitement… it’s been a long time coming and we still have a long way to go, but at least we’ve got a ticket.

Sincerely, Jay

PS… regarding the most recent eMails and personal letters I sent to one of the mainstream automotive publications, I NEVER RECEIVED any reply, whatsoever!!!

posted 03-21-2005 09:12 PM                  

While I feel our two cats have many mods,,,,there is a large number of owners who have relatively stock Prowlers. While I have absolutely no objections to the cat being left in stock condition, it seems that many owners would be excluded??? jmo

posted 03-21-2005 10:05 PM                  

THANK YOU JAY
for taking time away from your work schedule
to promote our Kats.
We support you in your efforts to obtain recognition.

posted 03-21-2005 10:39 PM                  

quote:

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If it's American made, has the engine in the front, and makes the rear tires spin, it's got street machine potential as a traditional American car to me....

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I took that to mean that any modified Prowler had the "potential" of being featured in his magazine. He said that they feature cars that are personalized (modified) and that if they just had pics of stock cars then less people would be interested in viewing them.

I'd have to agree...while I like the stock Prowler, I'm much more interested in seeing modified pics when I browse the Scrapbook section of the POA.

posted 03-22-2005 06:16 AM                    

Thanks Jay....

posted 03-22-2005 06:53 AM                  

Ed - as soon as you replace your stock battery with a premium $29.99 WalMart battery,,,,,you'll be modified, lol.

posted 03-22-2005 06:18 PM                  

quote:

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Originally posted by Bob Goetz:
Wow these people are 30 minutes away from me. I called and left a message for the editor I am going to try to convince him he should make a day at the Dells if I pull off the Drag Strip day.

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posted 03-22-2005 09:42 PM                  

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posted 03-23-2005 02:35 AM                  

quote:

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Is there Hooters up there?

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posted 03-24-2005 07:36 AM                  

Also, don't forget to support this magazine's efforts and JOIN the Street Machine Club. This will insure a bright future for all of us, knowing that Prowler articles and pictures are welcome based on their individual merits and not Corporate sponsorship.