In the Beginning...
I have been a Jp subscriber since the beginning. When was that? In the latest issue (Trail Head, Jan. '11); John Cappa says it was in January 2001 that he typed out Trail Head. I have my copy of Jp from spring 1996, which is labeled Premiere Edition Volume 1, Number 1 with a Trail Head written by Rob Reaser. Help, I thought my copy was the original. Do you think the first couple of issues that I have are of any value?
Neil Hitz
Beverly Hills, MI Everything you wrote is accurate. The first issue of Jp came out in spring of 1996. I didn't become editor till the January '01 issue. It was my first editorial. Not the first for the magazine. Are the first issues worth anything? Nope. I have a whole stack of them. But if you find some sucker willing to pay a bunch of money for 'em, let me know.
Come-on Trasborg!
First, congrats to the Comman D'oh for the first place finish; at least Hazel did every event (and pushed it, too) which brings me to my gripe. When you do something like this, hype up this derby, do builds, have contests of vehicle capabilities, let's actually do it! Don't wuss out (Trasborg) because you built something you wanna drive daily. That wasn't the essence of this build/contest at all. This was about taking something (whatever the condition bad or good) and building it to be thrashed for one contest. Trasborg's effort, or lack thereof, was a total letdown, in this, the finale of the derby. Personally, I had his rig being the frontrunner of the whole deal (had he finished the 4WD conversion and not been such a wuss in those opted-out of events). I was really looking forward to seeing how well it did, or as in this case, didn't do. It's like going on 4-Wheel & Off-Road's Ultimate Adventure trip and not wheeling, and what's worse, whining I can't do that; I might scratch my paint or dent my fender.
Well done Hazel and Cappa. You kept with the spirit of this build/derby and should be commended.
Oh yeah, the bumperettes, Trasborg, really?
Joshua Kriger
Via email
Sh!%box Hater
I'm writing in regards to "The Sh!%box Derby" in the Jan. '11 issue. I would like to start out saying Hazel, you are a dumb a$$. Is that the best stuff you can find to write about? Was Cappa napping at press time?
Come on, I hope you didn't spend much time on writing this crap. As I was reading it, I tried to side with you on who your target audience would be. I don't see how the JK or Wrangler crowd would give a rats a$$ about your derby. I can't see any classic-breed Jeep owner getting anything out of you acting like a 10-year-old with ADD so other than your attempt at humor, your article added no valve whatsoever to any Jeep enthusiast (there must be a humor magazine you can transfer your talent to and spare us). Destroying classic Jeeps (or any Jeep) is not funny. They don't need you or your buddies' help-rust claims enough of them without you.
If purposely destroying Jeeps is something you plan on doing in future articles, please send me a refund on what's left of my subscription. Stick with Jeep articles, builds, and how-to articles.
Don Fletcher
Via email
Derby Lover
I read "The Sh!%box Derby" and loved it. I think you should rename it "Ultimate Sh!%box Derby." You could have readers submit, pick two a year, or whatever works, and also have guest competitors. Let Hazel marshal the whole event and let it roll! I love it.
I would also like to see more content. I am reading the mag too fast, maybe pick up some reader project "specials" that they could submit. I would also like to see more of Randy's Electrical Corner. More than one page with more photos would be great. Thanks for your guidance and humor!
Mike Parker
Fruita, CO