[Bruce Meyer]

Ron- Steves event may be on the small side but it gets bigger every year. I think it deseves at least a mention in any Pontiac related magazine. Ive been to every one of his events and at first, Yes, it was too small to mention but its growing fast since he started having events only a few years ago. I suspect politics at play over at PE.

Tom V.- Geez lighten up a little. We are all Pontiac guys over here. Ive known Steve for a while and I think you might be taking him wrong. If you were to meet him or talk to him I think you would lighten up a bit. He really is a nice guy.

[Goatman]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Ron:
Like it or not, the traditional Pontiac engine is no longer manufactured and in fact will never be manufactured again. The current designs of engines by General Motors are not Chevy engines, they in fact are corporate engines with no brand label attached.

Soooooo, if an event wants better magazine coverage and increased attendance then it would be better for everyone involved to open the event to all Pontiac cars. In fact why isn't the late model Grand Prix with the 3.8 engine allowed to participate??
http://www.pontiacenthusiast.com/GTO4RON.jpg <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Because some "enthusiasts" got lost 30 years ago and never found their way back....... A quick look at his choice of vehicle to build and his statements here are all we need to know. Nice guy or not, he needs to get his head out of the sand.

Chance favors the prepared mind.

[Ron]

Bruce, with all of the Pontiac events that happen every year and only so many pages of magazine space available it is doubtful that the Pontiac Heaven event will get coverage from anyone. It is a nice event but never the less a small local event.

Specialty magazines such as PE need to attract a large and varied audience to stay in business. They need to cover events/project cars/etc that will allow its magazine to attract a large and varied interest crowd. The Pontiac Heaven event puts limits on who can attend and that along with its small size reduces/eliminates its attractiveness to magazines.

The Pontiac Drag Days series is held in Southern California every year, in fact 2003 will be its 10th year. This event draws more racers at a single race than Pontiac Heaven does and hands out more than $10,000.00 in cash, prizes, and trophies. All said, Pontiac Drag Days is still a local event and has not received any magazine coverage either.

I also go back to the statement that Steve made regarding advertising dollars. He has chosen to spend them with another magazine, thats fine, does not bother me as I'm not in that business, but that magazine has not provided any coverage and they are a 12 issue per year magazine. So, since Steve has made the decision to spend his money with another magazine he needs to rag on them to get his event covered and stop bad mouthing PE and get off of their back.

Bruce, why do you say that politics play a part in magazine coverage?? Share your insight/information, etc with all of us so we can better understand the politics you are talking about.



[This message was edited by Ron on January 01, 2003 at 08:09 PM.]

[Bruce Meyer]

Ron- I suscribe to PE and I think I remember them mentioning the Pontiac drag days. Just a mention of Steves race would be reasonable. I woudnt expect them to cover it with a large article and pictures. Anyway that racing series you talk about. Where can I get info on it. I wouldnt mind taking the short trip to CA.

[Ron]

My point exactly. If a magazine such as PE does not cover an event such as Pontiac Drag Days, the longest running/largest Pontiac only race series in the USA, and right in their back yard then why should Steve expect/demand that PE cover his event?? Pontiac Drag Days welcomes all Pontiacs to participate, regardless of year.

As I said before, Steve does not spend his advertising money with PE so he needs to apply pressure to the magazine or magazines he does spend his money and stop bad mouthing PE as the ONLY magazine that does not cover his event. The magazines that he DOES spend his money with won't or hasn't covered his event. He needs to rag on them!!!

Pontiac Drag Days has a web site. www.pontiacdragdays.com

I still want to hear more about the politics involved in media coverage of the Pontiac Heaven event. Please share your insight and information with us all.

Ron

[Bruce Meyer]

Ron- I replied to your post before you edited it. One of the reason why I suspected politics is that Steve was promised a mention in PE I think it was his second event. They told him to have an article written and send pics. One of the board members here, Tim Corcoran, was asked to do the article. A lot of pressure was put on Tim to get it in before the "deadline". Tim asked me for a little help and I went over to his house to assist although I wasnt worth a sh*t. LOL. Tim got it done sent and sent it in. Someone at PE called him and told him he did a great job and it was going to be published. It never got published and no reason was given. At least make up an excuse or something! PMD does a lot of advertising in PE and if Im not mistaken when you buy a new Pontiac you get a years sub to PE. Thats why I "suspect". Not for sure. Just suspect.

[Tom Vaught]

Bruce,

Quote:

"Tom V.- Geez lighten up a little. We are all Pontiac guys over here. Ive known Steve for a while and I think you might be taking him wrong. If you were to meet him or talk to him I think you would lighten up a bit. He really is a nice guy."

Bruce, I was having a good 1st day of the New Year until I logged on the PY board and saw Steve
running me and Marty down.

I have talked to a few people that know Steve and they all say he bleeds pontiac blood (which is
fine). They also say he is a theory guy with very
little success in finishing any projects, has
never had a 10 second car "Ride" like Goatman and
many others have had. (high 11s) and has no money
to race a Competitive vehicle etc. This is from
people that DO know him. See Steve, I did my home
work. If you look at the Poured heads post, I
give one of the guys my full background and my
job description. You dream, I been there. Tom V.

By the way, you owe Marty an apology. For me, I
could care less about your "dreams"

Bruce, so Tim did the work and Steve wants the PR.

[Goatman]

Tom brings out another good point.

Let's end all the BS and speculation.

Mr. Barcak, exactly how fast have you gone in a Pontiac that YOU built? What was the wieght, tire size, suspension, and model of said vehicle?

A "die hard" Pontiac guy like yourself must have gone pretty fast in the day. What's the number?

Chance favors the prepared mind.

[David Holmberg]

I think that even the smaller events should get some press. I would not expect a reporter and camera man, but the hosting club should provide results and a Pic or two. That's how the events grow. Look at the National Dragster and Dragbike, they show the little guys from small events as well as John Force. And If you look at some of the smaller events you may even find a future "Cover car"...

One think I would really like to see is the ET's posted when they do a story. Now you just get winners and R/U's...

Besides you can't expect HPP and PE to run the same stories. I have no problems with the Grand prix stories and the new TA tweaks as long as older cars are included.

[tempest455]

Without plagiarizing his comments, I was told by a PE editor, there would be less emphasis on drag racing in the mag. Wasn’t that what PE was founded on when Pete M. was running it? Yes, road racing, resto’s and POCI shows are fun but honestly, the only reason I ever subscribed was the Drag Racing and engine building stuff. The Pete M. and Alan Leese articles were great.

Now, were lucky to get a KRE or Butler build up once a year. Neat stuff but not near enough of it. My dollars are better spent elsewhere

tempest455

[Bruce Meyer]

Tom- Tim had written a few articles for the local GTO club and is good at writing them. He was a logical choice. Steve put the race on. I would have to say Steve did most of the work promoting and running the event. Im not an apologist for Steve. I dont care how fast hes gone. Hes done a lot to promote real Pontiac powered cars. Sometimes written words can be interpeted in different ways. I think you and Steves misunderstandings can be worked out with a phone call.

[Ron]

Bruce, I don't know why the article was not printed, I don't work there. What I do know is that there are hundreds and hundreds of articles, car projects, photos of cars, events, etc., submitted every year. Only so many pages available. Someone had to make a decision and things don't get printed. No politics involved, just a basic business decision. There are lots of good and some great articles not printed every year in all magazines. Heck, I've submitted articles to PE and they have not been printed. Do I rag on them about it......NO, do I bad mouth them about it....NO! I go about my business and when time permits submit more articles. It must be somewhat like going to Las Vegas........the more articles you submit, the broader your article is as far as appeal, the better your chances are for getting one printed. That being said I would suspect after Steve ragging on PE about not "supporting" him the chances of haveing an article about the event is slim to none. (My opion only) Steve needs to focus on the magazine(s) where he spends his advertising money and get them to do an article. They haven't yet but there is always tomorrow.

Does the fact that Steve limits participation to only a select few make him a bad guy....NO IT DOES NOT. Every event has entry rules. But by limiting the types, or years of Pontiacs that may enter it severly limits his events marketability and public appeal and thus the prospects of having an article published about the event are diminished or even eliminated. It also severly limits the participation in the event. Remember, there were only so many traditional Pontiacs manufactured and that manufacturing era ended years ago.

Ron

[Ron]

Well Tempest you can see where the "drag racing" magazines are. BRUSA - DEAD!!! Drag Racing USA - DEAD!!! Stock/Superstock - DEAD!! The list goes on and on!!!! Not broad enough of an appeal to the masses to support the magazines. Great idea but it did not pay the bills. Same as when Pete owned the magazine I suspect. The original name of the magazine was GTO Enthusiast. I suspect that they could not pay the bills on such a small following, my opinion. Yes drag racing and nasty large horsepower motors have the glitter and speed but drag racing and nasty motors only appeal to a very small portion of the people in the Pontiac Hobby and they can't pay the bills. Pontiac Enthusiast magazine has a much broader appeal and as such is still in business today.

The issue befor last had a cover shot of Rodney Butler and his beautiful fast '65 GTO. Can't get much more drag racing than that.

Nice geography lesson Tom!!! The poinsettia bush/tree would be beautiful this time of year, at those locations, wouldn't it.

Ron



[This message was edited by Ron on January 01, 2003 at 10:18 PM.]

[Bruce Meyer]

Ron- Your right. PE is in business to make money. Just like every other business. If they feel the need to pay more attention to the newer (corporate) Pontiacs to increase readership I really cant fault them. Maybe if Steve ran ads with them they might be more receptive. When I subscribed to PE years back they wrote great tech articles on the traditional Pontiac engines. Pete McCarthys head porting articles were outstanding. Now they write articles about more seating room for minivans. I guess I just miss the old format too much, but I cant fault them for wanting to make a buck.

[Steve Barcak]

Yikes! I got off the web for awhile and things have gone nuts. What is everybody upset about? I only said Tom doesn’t know me and is not in a position to know what I am capable of. What is wrong with that, nothing. Who is fired up? Also, read the post clearer please! I, in no way offended Marty at all. In fact, I Applauded him for his efforts, I just questioned some of his combination and intentions. What is wrong with that? Does someone have to run a number to ask questions or to post comments? No, I haven’t gone real fast. I decided not to race anymore until I could develop parts to go real fast and I have not bragged or claimed to have gone fast. I have only talked about my plans. That is all. On my choice for an FED, if you don’t like them fine but, how many are afraid of them? Door cars are OKay, I'm building one myself.
Lighten up. Tom’s reference to my junkyard further shows he knows little about me and his claims. My yard is a hobby only, not a living. Geez guys, you took that post the wrong way here. Steve www.pontiacheaven.org

[tempest455]

I don’t fault them for trying to increase sales. However, I think they are alienating some of their core readers by going the corporate, FWD and the minivan route. In the long run, I suspect it will be the wrong decision. I can read Motor Trend for reviews of late model Pontiac’s, which probably are better written and contain more data.

tempest455

[Ron]

Remember the name of the magazine - Pontiac Enthusiast. It does not named Pontiac Drag Racer, Pontiac Restoration, Pontiac Road Racer, Pontiac Mini-Van, Pontiac FWD, Pontiac Engine Builder, Pontiac Car Show.....it is named Pontiac Enthusist. Trying to appeal to the total Pontiac Enthusiast, not just a nich or two. I like the magazine and always have, even in the days of GTO Enthusiast. I like it better today than yesterday because of the different types of articles. To me it has a little bit of something for most everyone and from time to time a good in depth article on something I really enjoy reading about, like engine building or new performance parts and equipment.

Ron

[jim brady]

Steve, your chances of being competitive in Nostalgia T/F will be a giant battle. I hope you can be succesful. I just don't think that you can be competive with guys like Rance McDanniel, or Jack Harris who have went in the 5's. You might have a chance if you would use a IA block. If you choose not to, well good luck. Frank Parks who's son Scott runs Jr fuel which is limeted to 355 inch and stack injectors has run 7.0's It will be hard for you to even qualify for JR Fuel. As Eddie Hill said, the best thing he ever did with a Pontiac Top Fuel motor was when he loaded all of his spare stuff and dumped it in the bottom of a lake! You have one other chance and that would be to have The guy on the west coast build you one of those killer 350's. Enough said. I really do hope that you can do it.

[Steve Barcak]

Jim, Thanks for your encouragement. I know this is a most difficult task but, if successful, it will bring the best reward. I am realistic and realize I will not run with Rance or Harris, at least not for quite some time. These guys have decades of experience. It will take time to learn stuff. When Eddie Hill and others dropped Pontiacs, that was their decision. I have made mine and will stick with it. To build parts to run a Pontiac in top fuel or in a funny car has been a big task for me, it has taken years. Some criticize me here for not racing but, the parts were not around, I had to design them myself. Now I have some good parts and it is time to learn to tune and drive this thing. I will be making test passes within the next few weeks and they will be posted on my site. I have a few other interests, one being American History. In 1961, President Kennedy made a very inspirational speech, it was geared to the space program but, should be an example to us all in our dialy lives.
Part of that speech was " We will do it not because it is easy but, because it is hard".
Also, the IA block is not for me. It is a great piece but, not designed for high percentage fuel applications. The alum one is the way to go. I'll be easy on these iron ones until they are ready. In the meantime, I will get experience running it. Cool pics on my site. www.pontiacheaven.org Steve

[jim brady]

Steve, I truly think that you have spent a lot of time and money and I commend you for not racing so that you could chase your dream. I now realize that you are realistic and I think that you can become competitive. Just be careful and have fun. You know alot of the thing about racing a Pontiac is being different. Good luck. Oh I am sorry about the west coast 350 thing, I just couldn't resist.