19 replies to this topic

[Cheater]

At the suggestion of a close friend, I abstracted the story of our trip to bring the Model A home for the Antique Automobile, the bi-monthly magazine of the Antique Automobile Club of America (AACA), which I believe is the oldest and largest collector car club, certainly in the US. The May-June issue hit my mailbox yesterday and it looks great. The editor wanted a vertical format picture to use on one of the covers and he put it on cover 2, the inside front cover.

I've been writing for publication since 1977 on and off, but I think this is the highest-circulation magazine I've ever been in. Too cool.

The Atlanta Journal, Atlanta's sole remaining daily newspaper, contacted me last week about doing another version of the trip story for their recurring "Personal Journeys" feature that appears on the front page of the Sunday Living section most weekends. I'll be meeting with the section editor next week to discuss the approach she wants. Not a done deal yet, but so far, it looks like it might happen, assuming I can scribble up something they'll print.

Never imagined my spur-of-the-moment purchase and trip would generate so much interest...

 

 

 

[MSwiss]

Big congrats.

[Noose]

Cool!

[Cheater]

Met for coffee today with the editor of the "Sunday Living" section of the Atlanta Journal to discuss the approach she'd like me to take in a re-write of my Model A trip story. Their intention (assuming I can write something they'll print) is to publish it in their every-Sunday "Personal Journeys" feature that always starts on the front page of the D section.

 

The best part is it is a paying gig. The worst part is now I have to write the silly thing...

[Half Fast]

Good luck, Greg!

 

Too bad space limitations prevent the reporting of the day by day agonies that made the blog posts such interesting reading. 

 

Cheers,

[racie35]

Those are cool rides... I always liked the Shay replica, too.

[MattD]

I am impressed by the professional style you have written in. Not just a trip re-hash but a very nicely written article that makes you want to read on!

[Cheater]

Thanks for that, Matt.

 

I've been writing for publication since I was 17 and while I was always decent in English class, being a voracious reader has helped more than anything else, I think.

[Slow1ron@yahooo.com]

Kudos, Greg.

 

You should be proud.

 

[Cheater]

Thanks, Ron. Much appreciated.

[Dennis David]

Greg, I'm so happy for you. One door closes and another one opens. Now you just need to meet some nice 30/something that likes antique cars and "older men" on one of your trips. LOL.

[Pappy]

Or one about 90 years old, with a lot of money and a bad cough. 

[Cheater]

Just so you guys will know what happened about the newspaper story, the Atlanta Journal wanted me to downplay the actual road trip and the car-related stuff and to write about the people I met along the way.

Well, that proved to be a bit difficult, because we got up early every day and drove all day, to get to the place we were going to stay overnight. So we really didn't interact with a bunch of folks, other than pump jockeys and hotel clerks.

I really couldn't produce the approach they wanted so we (I) killed the AJC article.

[MattD]

That's on them. You would have had an interesting article if they had allowed you to tell of your journey your way.

[Samiam]

Should have just made stuff up. Imagine all the interesting people you could have met along the way. Hitchhikers, hookers, hobos, handymen, and hicks. Call it "Truthful Hyperbole."

[jokar124]

So, what's next on the bucket list?

[Cheater]

Good question... but don't have a solid answer. 

 

Thinking about a trip to Michigan to spend a bunch of time at the Henry Ford and at the Gilmore Museum complex.

[Jairus]

Just drive that thing in traffic downtown Atlanta and you could write a pretty good story, Greg. ;-)

[Cheater]

It might have to be a posthumous story, J!

I don't drive the car in Atlanta traffic very much, simply because of the period Model A brakes and the idiots who jump in front of me and jam on their brakes. I can drive defensively but it often isn't enough to do that, as I recently discovered with my street car, to my very great expense.

[Phil Hackett]

Is there is sort of update on the enjoyment or regret with the car?