Does it really get any better or easier? I submit that it could not.

Consider: Last week, we gave away two copies AND a book! (Art of the Hot Rod by Ken Gross, a killer coffee table book LOADED with studio shots of hot rod goodness) simply for being you and being a part of Studio PCK.

“How’s it all work?”, you ask…. Easy as this: Head to the link above, and drop in your details to become a subscriber to our e-Newsletter. It’s fast, easy and FREE. (we’ll never use your info for anything nefarious, nor sell it, spam it, etc.) Then, as a subscriber, you’ll be entered for our random giveaways and shiny, informing and entertaining e-News.

Even better: Once you’re subscribed, send the link to friends, neighbors, car club pals, co-workers… and have them put YOUR name in the “Referred by” box, and bingo… you’re BOTH entered to win the DVD (you’ll each get one). DVD’s will go to a random referred subscriber AND the subscriber who refers the most new folks. Obviously, you can only win if you’re a subscriber, so what are you waiting for?

Spread the word, or sign up and THEN spread the word! Thanks!

These are Gildan Ultra Blend tees,and the printing is light enough (and has enough open space, too) that you won’t get that dreaded “sweaty back” feeling… And, as if that weren’t enough, we threw in some ‘flake, too… because, after all, what’s cooler than THAT?

You can buy some tees in our online store… As we said, limited quantities remain, and Summer’s here, so grab ‘em while they last… And, as always, thank you for the support!

Ideas upon ideas… Oh, we get lots of those… and while we could write a book about the ideas Brian throws out there each day, we just can’t afford a blanket insurance policy that big. Suffice to say, then, that it made our day when the new Motorbooks Custom Cars Idea Book hit the doorstep…

Alan Mayes (managing editor of Ol’ Skool Rodz and Car Kulture DeLuxe) has thrown down a nifty collection of photos reminiscent of the Motor Life, Car Craft, et.al. specials and columns of the 1950′s and 1960′s highlighting custom car ideas and trends, and packaged them neatly in this 160 page (with, dig this: 536 COLOR images… yes, over 500 color photos!) book. What this amounts to is a great reference piece for the garage or den or studio. Imagine having all of your Google searches for headlight and tail light, top chop, grille and other ideas in one book?

For me, it’s a great lunchtime companion… seriously. A couple of times a week, I take a break to just sit back and eat something, and this book is a tremendously fun way to kill a few minutes, and stretch the brain, car-wise when the mood hits. It’s laid out in an almost intuitive fashion, spanning Pre-War models, the ubiquitous ’49-’51 Mercs, and then on to 1950′s and 1960′s cars, before diving into show rods, trucks and a few late-models. There are even handy sections (a-ha! a pun…) on front and rear end treatments, chassis, paint, trim and more.

While I’d certainly love to see more on show rods, it’s a great overview, and again, collection of custom cars. It certainly works very well to spark your creative side when planning a project, and excels as an overview of popular customizing techniques. This book would be a fantastic primer (pun count: 2) for anyone new to the hobby, and certainly a great quick-reference guide when the inevitable “do you know that car?” conversation pops up.

My only gripe would be with some of the photographs, which seemed sourced rather than shot with the specific intent of being used in a book of this nature. A few more “head-on” shots or closeups would have been great, but overall, the message in each photo (and all are captioned, by the way… which is FANTASTIC) comes across loud and clear, and the clarity of every photo is great. Highly recommended for your reference library, and well worth the cover price.

Speaking of the price, you can scoop up a copy in our bookstore, and save a few bucks, too ($8.50 to be exact)!

Custom Cars IDEA BOOK: Coupes Sedans Pickups
Alan Mayes
Paperback
160 Pages
Illustrated with 536 color images
Motorbooks
Availability: June 8, 2010

As a visitor to the all-new PCK Studio Mobile site, you’re seeing it all first… The NEW No.40 deck will hit the online store soon (and in limited numbers, no less), and we couldn’t help but make an entire line out of the art! (hahaha…. “line….art”…. forget it.) It’s the design that started me on the whole “crushed Velour” look for the 2010 lineup, and the response to it in-house has been overwhelming. Color? Rich and bold. Artwork? Clean and crisp. Bitchin’ factor? Eleven on the dial.

…and there will be more to come in this lineup, too… The other artwork is pretty slick as well (grab a peek at them here).

…and hey…. if I can be of use to design YOUR next killer apparel piece, logo, car, website, whatever… hit me up, please!

We in the Studio were stoked to be a part of it all, and were sponsors alongside the big dogs like OPTIMA Batteries, Hellwig Products, ISIS Power, Camaro Performers Magazine, Currie Enterprises, Heighton Restorations, Speed Tech Products, Spectre Performance, FM3 Performance Marketing, Pozzi Racing, and Mothers Wax’s and Polishes… Hell, we even rode along (logo-wise on the spoiler, anyway! As the wife said, it gives us some street cred, making us kinda like the “Carlton Banks of street cred… known for doing something well, but still funny to watch dance.”)…

…making this our near-official domination, appearing on and off-road, in the air, and on the sea. All we need now is to sponsor a submarine, a train  and some form of spacecraft, and we’re golden (we’ll settle for a hoagie wrapper, a scale model of the Enterprise and a few laps around a Christmas tree on a Lionel. Not picky, you know…).

Our sincerest congratulations and a hefty swelling of pride for the team, and best wishes on the next conquest! HUGE thanks, too, to all who grabbed a t-shirt and helped to support grass-roots racing at it’s finest.

No doubt that this win puts a little something extra in the meaning of the shirts, and I can’t begin to tell you how cool it was to have the opportunity to play a part!
(if you haven’t grabbed one yet, hit the boys up HERE, and grab a few!)

If you’ve wandered here from seeing a decal on a car window, well… brilliant indeed! If you’ve found the site via our Fan Page on Facebook, well that’s even cooler… and HUGE bonus points for scanning the QR code if you stumbled across that! (there’s going to be a LOT going on with that weird little image in the future around here, so please keep checking in! You’ll be scanning like mad soon enough…)

Suffice to say, we’ve taken the mobile route to make it even easier to find us, as well as make the whole Studio PCK experience a lot more interactive and fun. And no, you don’t need a phone to join in the fun, but there will be times when it’ll be handy. Not to give away too much, but at car shows, for instance, having the old iPhone or Droid handy will involve you in some fun side activities.

All of that said, we’ll be offering the e-Newsletter here, as well… It’s been suggested many times, and truly makes a ton of sense to make that a reality. Watch for that in the coming weeks! Along with that, look for some entertaining content, images, and, of course, the interactive goodies!

Thanks for looking in, and keep checking back as we add more and more! Thanks!

Mr. Schorr brings the Motion Mystique to life with his in-depth, highly entertaining and enjoyable book. This is a book that reads about as fast as the cars Joel “Mr. Motion” Rosen put together. The author begins with a little history lesson about auto racing, going back to 1904, when the cars from Buick Motor Division were cleaning up at the tracks. We are treated to some racing history about the Duesenbergs, Stutz Bearcats and the Hudson Hornets (the Hudsons won 27 of 34 NASCAR Grand Nationals!), and the inspiration that a young Joel Rosen would draw from these cars. Interestingly enough, the exponential growth in speed and power over the years from these early supercars would be mirrored in his own brand of high-powered muscle.

In the mid-1950’s, Joel became tired of the lack of hands-on experience offered in his college engineering courses, decided to join the Air Force and hone his talents working on airplanes. Shortly after his discharge, Joel opened his own auto shop and in his spare time competed in gymkhana and hill-climb racing with his wife. They raced a Corvette and did very well, but it was a street Cobra that brought major attention to his tuning talents prior to his alignment with Chevrolets. It was Joel’s magic touch in dyno tuning that created a name for his shop, and soon, there was little time for wrenching on the neighborhood grocery getters… It was performance-only from then on.

Having a keen entrepreneurial spirit, he struck a deal with Baldwin Chevrolet to “built to order” street cars with a money-back guarantee. His success with the big block Camaros found buyers waiting in line across the U.S., Canada, Germany, Iran and Switzerland to mention a few…. and the list of Motion supercars was as impressive. Motion-prepared engines were finding their way into Novas, Chevelles, Vegas, full size Biscaynes and Corvettes. The success of all the Chevrolets brought interest from Pontiac and Oldsmobile as well, and even an Iso Grifo sporting a 427!

Joel Rosen was not a one-trick pony. His love of horsepower led to building super fast boats at Motion Marine, as well as performance street VW’s and dune buggies at Motion Mini Car. Overcoming the obstacles placed before him by the oil embargo and the Clean Air Act of 1970, Joel ventured into building Mako Shark Vettes, IROC Grand Ams and Monte Carlos well into the 1980’s. In 2005, he debuted an all new Camaro at the annual SEMA show in Las Vegas.

The book documents the vision and keen determination of an automotive genius. We are treated to a bevy of photos which add to the enjoyment of the story. You get the feeling that you are one of Baldwin Motionís satisfied customers… As my father put it, “I know my left foot kept looking for the clutch pedal. For anyone who has ever raced or even dreamed of racing this is one book you should own.”

Truly a great addition to any high performance lover’s bookshelf, the book is one of those rare works that brings the historical, emotional and factual ingredients together in a slick package. It has some great “repeat” value, meaning you’ll find yourself cracking it open again and again… if not just to enjoy the great collection of photos and car features. Truly a wonderful documentation of something uniquely American.

Motion Performance
Tales of a Muscle Car Builder
Martyn L. Schorr
Illustrated. 176 pp.
Motorbooks
$35.00

Grab your copy here, and save almost 35%

This is, of course, the all-new paperback version of Cotter’s book, originally released as a hard-cover in 2005, and the first of his “In the Barn” series (which also includes Hemi in the Barn, Vincent in the Barn, and the forthcoming Corvette in the Barn). The book takes the approach of the classic bench racing topic of that one rare, hidden or forgotten gem that someone always seems to find in the back of a barn, or tucked behind years of junk in a garage, and backs up the exciting premise with true stories of such finds!

From stories of pure chance finds, like the ‘40 Ford Woody found when a hunter sought refuge from the rain, to tales of utter compulsion and persistence (years of phone calls and visits simply to purchase a long-term project), and everything in-between, the book is a true page-turner, no matter what your automotive tastes. From cars found literally around the corner, to travels almost around the globe, you’ll find yourself wrapped-up in the cars, people and stories.

Like so many of the people featured in the book, I can certainly agree that there’s a thrill in the chase, and occasionally, we learn that once the prize has been captured, it’s simply on to the next hidden treasure… While for others, the cars and their stories become a part of their lives and heirlooms in the process. This was the first automotive book I’ve had in the studio that just grabbed and fascinated everyone who happened to pick it up! Even my wife read the book, cover-to-cover, and has made it a point to seek out the other titles in the series.

As the press release states, “Author Tom Cotter uses his engaging writing style in telling the tales of found Cobras, a rare Delehaye found disassembled in Czechoslovakia that eventually won Best in Show at Pebble Beach, a Ferrari racer found in a California wood chip pile, and several more. Cotter traces the early histories of the cars, how they were discovered, and where they are today.” I’d like to add that the book also stresses the importance of research, and the struggle for some to decide between restoration or updating and personalizing these finds… And having the ability to learn from others with just a simple flip of a page make this book a treasure all its own!

Grab your own copy here and save a couple bucks!

The Cobra in the Barn
Great Stories of Automotive Archaeology
Tom Cotter
Illustrated. 256pp
Paperback
Motorbooks
$19.99

As stated right from the beginning, Jeffries was never one to “toot his own horn”, and this may be a large part of the reason that many folks don’t know that much about this incredibly talented man. While he was one of the pioneers of the custom car movement (alongside the more “celebrity” names like Barris, Winfield, Von Dutch and Ed Roth), he’s always been relegated to the footnotes, or seems to play the “behind-the-scenes” role more often than not.

The humble visionary was born in Lynwood, California in 1933, the second of three children, and from an early age took an interest in cars… but preferred metal work to mechanical, as he hated to get his hands dirty. His father being a mechanic and truck driver who wrenched on race cars (midgets, namely), took young Dean to the races, further inspiring him.

Jeffries left school early to join the Army, and served during the Korean War, but was stationed in Germany, where he served duty as a map maker, and began pinstriping. Upon returning home, he worked nights in a machine shop to spend his days as an apprentice under Ken “Von Dutch” Howard. Eventually Jeffries became the “house striper” at Barris Kustom, honing his metalworking skills, and becoming a contractor to Barris, and plied his craft on such cars as the Ala Kart, Clarence Catallo’s ‘32 Ford (the very same from the Beach Boys’ Little Deuce Coupe album cover). Moving from Barris’ shop to Hollywood, Jeffries was in a prime location to serve movie stars, and began building specialty vehicles for the motion picture industry.

The book delves into the well-known Jeffries-Barris rivalry, offering insight to those who may not have been initiated to this historic debate. What’s truly interesting about this small part of the book is that Cotter not only gives Jeffries’ side, but takes time to talk with Barris as well, making for an entertaining aside.

As the book moves forward, we gain extensive insight to Jeffries’ personal life, detailing his long marriage to his late wife Row, underscoring her importance to him in many ways, and being the driving force behind his never-ending creativity. We’re treated to an extensive look at his creations, including some absolutely incredible photos from Jeffries’ personal collection, as well as those collected from sources close to him.

From the aluminum masterpiece “Mantaray” to the Kyote dune buggies, we’re treated to some wildly insightful looks at the creative process, as well as Dean’s great business mind. Moving forward to his work on the Ford Custom Car Caravan (and his ahead-of-its-time Falcon Python), to the supremely well-designed Deano Toronado, we begin to see the scale of his creative genius. There is some tremendous coverage and in-progress photography of his many movie and television cars, including the Green Hornet’s Black Beauty, the Monkeemobile, and the absolutely immense Landmaster for the film Damnation Alley (looking over Jeffries’ designs and engineering thought for this project is almost worth the price of admission alone). Being a creative, yet practical customizer, Jeffries built a mobile shop from a van to handle on-set repairs for movie cars, and we get a glimpse of what was, at the time a state-of-the-art rolling repair shop. Following some mini-features on many of Dean’s creations over the years, the book hooks a big turn to his involvement in motorsports, painting cars for the Indy 500, and even includes some of his designs for an Indy car from the early 1960’s.

If all of that weren’t enough, we learn about Jeffries’ work as a stuntman, performing feats that today would be deemed as too unsafe, and on one notable occasion while jumping a bridge with a truck, he broke his back. Some fantastic photos accompany this part of the book, and they go well beyond the typical studio PR shots, keeping with the book’s “personal” feel. Overall, a very well presented book, loaded with rare photos and insight, and one of those “must-have’s” for any fan of hot rods and custom cars. It has that fabulous, high-quality Motorbooks feel with sharp photos, just the right size text, and thick pages with just enough sheen to look great, but not glare when reading. Truly a great addition to any collection, and it’ll even look bitchin’ on your coffee table!

Grab your copy HERE, and save over 30 percent!

Dean Jeffries
50 Years in Hot Rods, Racing and Film
Tom Cotter
Illustrated. 192pp
Hardcover
Motorbooks
$40.00
($29.20 in the Studo PCK Bookstore!)

For anyone interested in tracing hot rodding’s roots, all roads lead back to the dry lakes and the men who were interested in one thing: speed. Early on, the Mohave Desert provided a testing ground for anyone seeking to try their hand at that all-American pastime of tinkering. As fast as Detroit could build them, you just knew there would be some guy out there looking to make his car faster or more unique. Naturally, any display of creativity breeds a sense of competition, and with competition, we often find ingenuity and innovation. Such was the case with hot rods, and following World War II and the return home of servicemen who had been exposed to new technology and training, the industry began a period of exponential growth.

Mr. Smith takes a look at twenty six of the original speed parts manufacturers over twenty-two chapters, giving some personal history on each, and digging up the inspiration behind their contributions to the industry. The book was written using the hundreds of hours of interviews conducted, and the voices of the men behind the history really shine through. From humorous anecdotes to sobering looks at tragic wrecks, we are presented with a living history of this truly American industry. We are treated to an ongoing series of innovations, witnessing the evolution of technology, and ever-changing business and manufacturing standards. The pursuit of quality and craftsmanship reaches ever-higher benchmarks as the stories roll on, and the “inside story” of so many parts we now take for granted seem to fill the little gaps that so often appear when one wonders “how’d they come up with that?”.

Being born at the close of the musclecar era, so many of the names in this book were, up to reading this volume, just that… names. I was treated to what felt like a first-hand drive through the living history of the sport and industry I grew up loving, and make my living in. The book is a substantial 240 pages, loaded with over 250 images of the men, the parts, and numerous action shots. Truly a must-have for anyone seeking the “behind the scenes” history, and truly priceless for the artists out there who are looking for rare reference photos of parts and accessories.

More than just a history of the speed parts industry, we are invited to share the memories of the “founding fathers”: Lou Senter (Ansen Automotive), Tommy Thickstun, Frank Baron, Bob Tattersfield, Nick Brajevich (Braje Equipment), Harvey Crane Je. (Crane Cams), Vic Edelbrok Sr. (Edelbrock), Jack Engle (Engle Racing Cams), Earle Evans (Evans Speed Equipment), Chet Herbert (Herbert Racing Cams), Stu Hilborn (Hilborn Fuel Injection), Howard Johansen (Howards Racing Cams), Ed “Isky” Iskendarian (Iskendarian Racing Cams), Frank McGurk (McGurk Engineering), Barney Navarro (Navarro Racing Equipment), Fred Offenhauser (Offenhauser), Chuck Potvin (Potvin Racing Cams), Mel Scott (Scott Fuel Injection), Al Sharp (Sharp Speed Equipment), Bill and Tom Spalding (Spalding Racing Cams & Ignitions), Wayne Horning and Harry Warner (Wayne Manufacturing), Harry Weber (Weber Racing Cams), Phil Weiand (Weiand Power & Racing), And Dempsey Wilson (Dempsey Wilson Racing Cams).

It’s one of those rare multi-purpose books that will occupy equal time in the Studio being cracked open for research, as well as being brought out for some additional inspiration in those late-night bench race sessions.

Merchants of Speed
The Men Who Built America’s Performance Industry
by Paul D. Smith
Illustrated. 240 pp.
Motorbooks
$40.00

Grab your copy here, and save almost 35%