Dave Brackett grew up in the Pacific Northwest, and like most kids in school in a water sports area, he drew racing boats and hydroplanes during classes. 

That all changed when he moved to Southern California in 1958 as a high school freshman. His interests changed to race cars and hot rods. He took welding, machine shop, and drafting in high school, then got a four year degree in Industrial Technology, from Fullerton College, majoring in auto shop, welding, machine shop and engineering. Getting his drivers license in 1959, his first vehicle was a 1949 Cushman motor scooter. He had to be different, so he painted in light blue, with pink and yellow flames, and did some modest customizing. 

Mitzi Valenzuela has been working as a freelance photographer in the hot rod industry for 8 years. Her images can be found in over a dozen publications in both the US and overseas. You can find her at a number of events throughout the year and always in a new city and state with a beautiful pinup model.

“I’ve been a regular contributor to several hot rod, motorcycle, and tattoo magazines since 2007. I am very passionate about both writing and photography and I strive to leave my thumb print on hot rodding history by telling the amazing stories of those who live the life daily. I built a stock 1930 model “A” coupe into a hot rod a few years back, and my wife cruises in a 1954 Chevy sedan. My passion is all things hot rod related, and I attend as many shows as humanly possible each year, often camping in our 1962 Shasta. My wife and I live in Eau Claire, Wisconsin in a mid-century home with a our 2 cats”.

John “Gunner” Gunnell has been writing about cars since ‘72. As a kid in Staten Island, N.Y., he played with a tin Marx “Service Garage” loaded with toy vehicles, his favorite being a Hubley hot rod. In 2010, he opened Gunner’s Great Garage, in Manawa, Wis., a shop that helps enthusiasts restore cars. To no one’s surprise, he decorated 3G’s with tin gas stations and car toys.

Tim’ Kennedy’s RACING SCENE Column has covered motorsports since 1968. His race results stories and weekly column are avidly followed by racing enthusiasts nationwide.

No one has contributed more to hot rodding than Tex Smith. Tex was one of the founders of the National Street Rod Association. He has been an editor and contributor to many American car magazines, written several national best selling books, created TV shows, played professional baseball, and served in the Air Force as a jet fighter, among other things. His impact on our hobby is felt everyday.

Tex contributes monthly to Hotrodhotline to share his experience and memories of his life in this industry.

Richard Parks is the writing half of the Gone Racin’ column while Roger Rohrdanz does the photography. We have a huge archive of articles from Richard and Roger’s collaborations, including many inside looks at some of our industries heroes and legends.

Jim Clark is Hot Rod Hotline’s resident Hot Rod M.D.

THE CLASSICS: A car can be a temple of desire and worship. The car is a reflection of our self-imposed expression. Since the 1960s, society has gradually forced car manufacturers to acquiesce restrictions concerning safety, pollution, and gas consumption, leaving the car designers a certain inertia for individual styling and character. Ironically, the car design has done a complete circle, becoming more of a utilitarian vehicle designed by computer analysis, committee decisions, financial restrictions, and environmental regulations. Initially, the Model T focused on the technical challenges, pushing all thoughts about its appearance to the background as form followed function. On top of everything else, restricted speeds and congested roadways have exasperated the pure enjoyment of driving. The sense of freedom; the car’s original premise, barely exists. If is of little wonder that there has been a demand for the ‘retro’ look and why car enthusiasts and collectors look back fondly at the halcyon days of the automobile.

Selected articles/interviews are from Clive Branson’s book, The Classics: Today’s Passion for Yesterday’s Classic Cars. The book examines the passion owners have for their restored, collectable and classic cars ranging from custom and hot rods to American Vintage and Chrome (1900s-1950s); American Muscle and Sports (1950s-1970s); and British and European Classics. Today, there is such a resurgence for classic cars, muscle cars, customized cars and hot rods. Each summer hosts a plethora of Cruise Nights and Auto Shows and each summer they are growing exponentially as owners and enthusiasts embrace what makes a car unique – its individuality. The articles are based on interviews from the owner’s perspective about their car and their prognosis as to the future of the classic car.

Clive Branson is a photography graduate from Parsons School of Design in New York City and has since divided his career as an advertising creative director/copywriter and as a freelance writer/photographer. He is the author of Focus On Close-Up and Macro Photography and numerous articles for magazines and newspapers throughout North America and Britain. Clive lives and works in Ottawa, Ontario.

Mike and Maureen Matune have been contributing to HotRodHotline.com as writers and photographers since 2015.  They cover vintage car shows and rallies, and their work has been published in national publications. We’re so happy they’ve chosen to share some of that work with HotRodHotline.com readers.