Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

Update: Richard Lentinello's new magazine: Crankshaft

Collapse
X
Collapse
 
  • Page of 5
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts
Previous 1 2 3 4 5 template Next
  • #1

    Update: Richard Lentinello's new magazine: Crankshaft

    UPDATE: I exchanged e-mails with Richard Monday, May 17th. For those of us anxiously awaiting Issue #2, he said it should be going to the printers during the first week of June.


    The back story, unchanged: As you may know, Automotive Publishing Expert Richard Lentinello parted ways with Hemmings Publications last year. I am not at liberty to disclose what I know about that separation, so I won't.

    That talent did not go wanting very long; Richard immediately set forth to design and publish his own collector-vehicle journal, which he named Crankshaft. Here is the front cover of Issue #1. I have Issue #1 in front of me and will attempt to describe this worthy effort below the photo.

    Click image for larger version Name: crankshaft1.jpg Views: 0 Size: 151.4 KB ID: 1888430

    Crankshaft will be available by subscription only at $59.95 per year; four issues, postpaid. Newsstand copies for single-issue purchase will not be available; the cost of their speculative nature is ridiculous for the return to be had, so I don't blame Richard for offering the journal by subscription only.

    However, he had many extras of Issue #1 printed so they might be purchased as "singles" for persons wanting to examine it before subscribing. They are available by ordering here:

    https://na01.safelinks.protection.ou...%3D&reserved=0

    Is it worth it? You bet! While I have no skin in this game, I may do an occasional article for Richard in future issues and will soon be making a Studebaker-specific proposal for one of them, per his request.

    In a word, this journal is beautiful. In a second word, gorgeous...and in a third, magnificent! To compare it to Hemmings Classic Car, which let him go unceremoniously, is difficult; it is higher-class throughout. It measures 9.125 X 11, as opposed to HCC's 8.50 X 11. (My scanner will only scan up to 8.50 wide, so that's why the above photo of Crankshaft #1 is cut off a tad on the right side.)

    Crankshaft is printed on a higher-quality glossy stock; full color throughout, of course. To give you an idea how meaningful that is, consider: The May 2021 Hemmings Classic Car is 72 pages and weighs 5.40 ounces. Crankshaft #1 is 144 pages and weighs over three times as much; 17.70 ounces, to be specific. (I weighed both of them on my wife's food scale she uses to keep us fit and trim...well, at least her...

    Crankshaft has virtually no advertising. Of the 144 pages in Issue #1, only four contain any advertising... and two of those are for Concours de Elegance events.

    Yes, I am still writing for Hemmings Classic Car, but things are in flux there and communication has been spotty, so I don't know how long that will continue. I have no plans to resign and will "keep going" as long as I'm paid and my columns appear. All I can say about that gig right now is, "stay tuned."

    Meanwhile, if you want to follow Richard Lentinello's talent, I encourage a trial purchase of Crankshaft #1...and, if you like it, a subscription. It's well-done. BP
    Last edited by BobPalma; 05-18-2021, 05:19 AM.
    We've got to quit saying, "How stupid can you be?" Too many people are taking it as a challenge.

    G. K. Chesterton: This triangle of truisms, of father, mother, and child, cannot be destroyed; it can only destroy those civilizations which disregard it.
    Tags: None
    • Likes 1
  • #2
    So Bob, is this new magazine more along the lines of 'Rodders Journal' as far as printing quality and paper weight?

    Does it contain advertising?
    Paul
    Winston-Salem, NC
    Visit The Studebaker Skytop Registry website at: www.studebakerskytop.com

    Comment

    • #3
      Originally posted by r1lark View Post
      So Bob, is this new magazine more along the lines of 'Rodders Journal' as far as printing quality and paper weight? Does it contain advertising?
      Yes, Paul; it's been a while since I've seen a copy of Rodders' Journal...but IIRC, I think that's a good comparison.

      I edited my OP to report what little advertising is in Crankshaft. For all practical purposes, none. BP

      We've got to quit saying, "How stupid can you be?" Too many people are taking it as a challenge.

      G. K. Chesterton: This triangle of truisms, of father, mother, and child, cannot be destroyed; it can only destroy those civilizations which disregard it.

      Comment

      • #4
        Bob, how does it compare to Collectible Automobile? (My standard of automotive excellence after the demise of Automobile Quarterly)

        Comment

        • #5
          Originally posted by BobPalma View Post

          Yes, Paul; it's been a while since I've seen a copy of Rodders' Journal...but IIRC, I think that's a good comparison.

          I edited my OP to report what little advertising is in Crankshaft. For all practical purposes, none. BP
          Thanks Bob. I've ordered issue #1 to check it out. Like Bob in post #4, I do enjoy Collectible Automobile and have read every issue. And I also subscribe to Rodders Journal, and of course get Turning Wheels. But these are what I have trimmed my subscriptions down to...............used to get several others but got tired of more advertising than articles.
          Paul
          Winston-Salem, NC
          Visit The Studebaker Skytop Registry website at: www.studebakerskytop.com

          Comment

          • #6
            I gave the first copy a try as well. Too bad that it is quarterly, but I imagine that there is a large amount of work to produce each issue.
            Tom Senecal Not enough money or years to build all of the Studebakers that I think I can.

            Comment

            • #7
              Originally posted by AnAvanti4Bob View Post
              Bob, how does it compare to Collectible Automobile? (My standard of automotive excellence after the demise of Automobile Quarterly)
              As odd as it may seem, it's difficult to compare the two. CA seems to have less passion in it, if that makes any sense. CA is kind of a nuts and bolts thing; I guess you'd say bland by comparison.

              Of course, this is just the first issue of Crankshaft, but I think it's a more enjoyable read. The line spacing, type styles, and design / graphics / layout are much more appealing and "readable" than those of CA.

              As you see, it's a matter of personal opinion and preferences. If someone read both journals and said, "Well, I prefer CA for XYZ reasons," I'd respect that even if it wasn't my opinion.

              I will say this: I found only one technical mistake in this first issue of Crankshaft, and I can usually identify several in a given issue of CA.

              CA's Owner/Editor seemed arrogant when I authored the article on High-Performance Studebakers of the 50s and 60s for them years ago. It was the only article I ever did for them and I would not be interested in doing any more after that experience, although they did pay on time.

              They had certain ideas about what they wanted the article to say and seriously re-wrote at least 25% of what I submitted to suit their opinion, and the photos they chose were horrible as to authenticity. I was given no preview of either the edited text or the photos or captions, so with my name on it, it looked like I had been responsible for the entire presentation, which I was not.

              The biggest gripe I had was that they insisted high-performance Studebakers began with the 1956 Hawk series. I felt the 1955 Speedster deserved that role; first year of the enlarged V-8, first year 4-bbl carb and dual exhausts, etc...and standard equipment on that special car.

              But they said "no" and deleted all the Speedster material I submitted as the starting point for high-performance Studebakering. My opinion was, "Why pay someone to write an article if you already know what you want it to say? Just do it yourself!" BP
              Last edited by BobPalma; 04-05-2021, 03:37 AM.
              We've got to quit saying, "How stupid can you be?" Too many people are taking it as a challenge.

              G. K. Chesterton: This triangle of truisms, of father, mother, and child, cannot be destroyed; it can only destroy those civilizations which disregard it.
              • Likes 2

              Comment

              • #8
                Hemmings Classic Car; it has become a shadow of its past. I am not interested in the cars of the late 70's and newer and Many contributors were missing ; in the latest issue. In my opinion the magazine has been going down hill for over a year. I ordered a copy of the new magazine. I have no problem with advertisers ,it keeps the reader up to date as to what is available and it helps keep the cost down
                Ron

                Comment

                • #9
                  Originally posted by ronstrasser View Post
                  Hemmings Classic Car; it has become a shadow of its past. I am not interested in the cars of the late 70's and newer and Many contributors were missing ; in the latest issue. In my opinion the magazine has been going down hill for over a year. I ordered a copy of the new magazine. I have no problem with advertisers ,it keeps the reader up to date as to what is available and it helps keep the cost down
                  Ron
                  Totally agree Ron. To much foreign car coverage lately to.

                  Ordered a first issue of Crankshaft and see what it’s like...Mike
                  Mike - Assistant Editor, Turning Wheels
                  Fort Worth, TX

                  Comment

                  • #10
                    Originally posted by ronstrasser View Post
                    I ordered a copy of the new magazine. I have no problem with advertisers, it keeps the reader up to date as to what is available and it helps keep the cost down. Ron
                    True on the advertisers, Ron, but problems surface when an Editor feels beholden to a certain advertiser's point of view...or insists a certain item be covered to their liking under threat of pulling their advertising.

                    To that end, I quote directly from Richard's introductory "Hello and welcome to the new magazine" Editorial on Page 4 of this first issue: "...No fluff or boring content added just to fill pages, and no unethical quid pro quo articles to appease advertisers. Not happening folks..." BP
                    We've got to quit saying, "How stupid can you be?" Too many people are taking it as a challenge.

                    G. K. Chesterton: This triangle of truisms, of father, mother, and child, cannot be destroyed; it can only destroy those civilizations which disregard it.

                    Comment

                    • #11
                      Originally posted by Silverplate View Post

                      Totally agree Ron. To much foreign car coverage lately too.

                      Ordered a first issue of Crankshaft and see what it’s like...Mike
                      In the interest of full disclosure, Mike, it appears Crankshaft will have about the same percentage of "foreign car" content as does Hemmings Classic Car. However, assuming this issue is representative (and I think it is), a majority of the content will be what you'd call domestic.

                      Nor am I a big "foreign car" enthusiast, but I believe the print market just isn't there for a magazine devoted exclusively to what we would consider domestic makes....and I believe that, as enthusiasts, we swim together or sink individually! BP
                      We've got to quit saying, "How stupid can you be?" Too many people are taking it as a challenge.

                      G. K. Chesterton: This triangle of truisms, of father, mother, and child, cannot be destroyed; it can only destroy those civilizations which disregard it.
                      • Likes 1

                      Comment

                      • #12
                        Originally posted by BobPalma View Post

                        In the interest of full disclosure, Mike, it appears Crankshaft will have about the same percentage of "foreign car" content as does Hemmings Classic Car. However, assuming this issue is representative (and I think it is), a majority of the content will be what you'd call domestic.

                        Nor am I a big "foreign car" enthusiast, but I believe the print market just isn't there for a magazine devoted exclusively to what we would consider domestic makes....and I believe that, as enthusiasts, we swim together or sink individually! BP
                        Oh my gosh, I hope they don't have an article about those foreign 1965/1966 Studebakers!! They were built in that foreign country to the north, you know. ****Just kidding folks****

                        A reasonable mix of domestic and foreign is ok with me. There were some very interesting foreign cars built! (And I have three "foreign" collector cars.)
                        Paul
                        Winston-Salem, NC
                        Visit The Studebaker Skytop Registry website at: www.studebakerskytop.com
                        • Likes 1

                        Comment

                        • #13
                          Originally posted by AnAvanti4Bob View Post
                          Bob, how does it compare to Collectible Automobile? (My standard of automotive excellence after the demise of Automobile Quarterly)
                          Automobile Quarterly is what I thought of after I read Bob P's description.
                          Gary L.
                          Wappinger, NY

                          SDC member since 1968
                          Studebaker enthusiast much longer

                          Comment

                          • #14
                            I agree with post #8 . I used to read HCC cover to cover but now I flip thru page
                            by page looking for something interesting to read.

                            Comment

                            • #15
                              Originally posted by studegary View Post
                              Automobile Quarterly is what I thought of after I read Bob P's description.
                              I'd say the primary difference between the former Automobile Quarterly and Richard's new Crankshaft is the fact that AQ was a hardbound publication, whereas Crankshaft is softbound.

                              That said, Crankshaft's cover material is thick and stiff, many times thicker than what you would consider "regular" magazine cover stock. More on the order of Turning Wheels' cover stock. (If it wasn't bedtime, I'd take both of them out to my shop and use a micrometer to measure the cover thicknesses; I bet they're about the same.) BP

                              We've got to quit saying, "How stupid can you be?" Too many people are taking it as a challenge.

                              G. K. Chesterton: This triangle of truisms, of father, mother, and child, cannot be destroyed; it can only destroy those civilizations which disregard it.

                              Comment

                              Previous 1 2 3 4 5 template Next
                              Working...
                              X