This month's feature: Hot Rods & Street Rods

Are you a committed Street Rodder, Hot Rodder, or a hobbyist that spends a lot of energy, time and money in trying to find and build the car of your dreams?

Ever since you can remember, have you always had a passion for it and immersed yourself in everything you can that relates to street rods and hot rods — from shows and events to your favorite rodding magazines?

But you feel some people out there don't understand you, or just simply don't know what rodding's about.

We do. And that the reason for this month's topic focused on the Hot Rod and the Street Rod market. Luckily enough, we got a hold of rodding experts from Coker Tire, GoodGuys Rod & Custom, BDS, and Isky Racing Cams to help answer some questions and here's what they had to say:

Q: We hear the terms Street Rods and Hot Rods. What is the difference?

"The difference between street rods and hot rods is two fold. Mechanically they're different in many aspects. Street rods in my opinion are comfortable, colorful pre 1949 cars built for luxury and elegant looks. Comfortable interiors suited for long road trips, exotic paint jobs and extensive refinish and metal work adorn street rods. Fancy wheels and a conservative and reliable power train also come to mind when the term 'street rod' is mentioned. Street rodders tend to be speed-limit abiding citizens.

Then you have hot rodders. Hot rodding is a mind set. Rebels, guys with tattoos, outlaw types drive hot rods. Hot rods have big back wheels and smaller front ones. Hot rods have supercharged, hi horsepower engines. Hot rods do not have to even have paint jobs to look good. Flames and chopped roofs come to mind when I think of hot rods. Hot rods, like street rods are mostly pre 1949 American made cars. Hot rods are loud while street rods are muffled.

In closing - you can almost sum up the entire description by labeling both terms. Street Rods are 'pretty.' Hot Rods are 'Bitchin'." - John Drummond, Goodguys Rod & Custom Association

"Most of us classify them as the same thing. Street/Hot rods are usually cars built from the early Model T's to the 60's Muscle Cars. The great thing about the Street/Hot Rod market is the diversity within it. You can have a Blown Fuel Injected 63 Corvette or a Ford Model T Bucket with a brand new crate engine in it." - Nolan Jamora, Isky Racing Cams

"When I think of a Street Rod, I think of an early 30's Ford that has been heavily modified, dressed out with chrome, oversize tires, the whole nine yards. I would consider a Hot Rod to be more along the lines of an early to late 50's Chevy or Cadi. All original parts, maybe a few extra pieces of chrome here and there to dress it up a little." - Todd Harless, Coker Tire

"Street Rods and Hot Rods are the same thing. A Hot Rod is an American car that was made before the 1950's and 'Hot Rod' is just an old term which is now cross referenced to the newer term, 'Street Rod'." - Norma Isky, Blower Drive Service

Q: What shows or events would you suggest for those who are new or getting into this market?

"Being that I work for the Goodguys Rod & Custom Association, naturally I can only recommend some of our signature events around the country. For sheer mass and variety, you cannot beat the Goodguys PPG Nationals, held the second weekend in July at the Ohio Expo Center in Columbus, Ohio. Next year, the event will be held July 8, 9 & 10, 2005. The event features over 6,000 1972 and earlier rods, customs, classics, muscle cars, street machines and tricked out trucks. A newcomer to the industry would find this event appealing due to the massive gathering of manufacturer and supplier exhibits. Factory reps are on hand with large product displays.

The Goodguys West Coast Nationals held in the San Francisco Bay Area at the Pleasanton Fairgrounds is recognized industry-wide as having the country's finest 1954 and earlier cars on hand. You can find a complete listing of all 23 Goodguys Rod & Custom Association events at www.good-guys.com." - John Drummond, Goodguys Rod & Custom Association

"Check out the Goodguys events, and go to the PRI Street Rod Show they have in Indy every year along with the regular PRI Show." - Nolan Jamora, Isky Racing Cams

"Local car clubs and organizations can be a great starting point for information to anyone who is new to this market. Since traveling is half of the fun in rodding, I would also suggest checking out the SEMA show in Las Vegas. There you will find thousands of vendors from all over the world in the automobile aftermarket industry. If Vegas isn't really your speed, maybe a cruise to Hershey, PA, for an annual swap meet would be more your style. " - Todd Harless, Coker Tire

"The PRI Shows are great. PRI has two shows a year, one is simply called Performance Racing Industry, and the other is a Hot Rod Show held in the East Coast. It's great for dealers and distributors. It's a huge show!

The Goodguys Show, and NHRA Manufacturer's Midway, and the small local shows all over the US are really good, too." - Norma Isky, Blower Drive Service

Q: Where do you see this market growing most in the next few years?

"I see major market growth industry-wide instead of one particular segment. Pick up our monthly magazine, the Goodguys Gazette, or STREET RODDER magazine. It seems with each issue there are more advertisers offering revolutionary products from wheels to complete pre-fab street rods and hot rods. Look at the cable television market. Shows like Rides, Overhaulin', Monster Garage and others have used our industry as a highly entertaining platform. As long as classic American cars extract human emotions and make people smile, the street rodding and hot rodding industry will flourish. These cars make people happy and with so many different ways to get involved, I feel the sky is the limit as far as continued growth and prosperity for enthusiasts and manufacturers alike." - John Drummond, Goodguys Rod & Custom Association

"Being such a diversified market you need to be able to cover the traditional and high tech guys at the same time. Many guys who are just getting into it for the first time are looking at all the technology available such as Fuel Injected Motors and Electronic Transmissions. If you are able to supply this stuff turn key where they just have to pick the car up that's what they want. On the other hand you have guys from 35-55 who are gear heads and are getting back into it because they have the money to do it now. The want to turn every wrench on the car and just look to buy parts and install them. So keep stuff in stock!

Long term will be interesting. Street/Hot Rods are mainly a baby boomer thing. When these guys get older who will take up the slack. Most of the young guys now are into imports so it will be interesting to see if the market will sustain its pace after 5-10 years ." - Nolan Jamora, Isky Racing Cams

"I believe with a younger generation starting to be more active in the Street Rod market that it will really begin to take off over the next few years. You really can't help but love to see the nostalgic style speed shops such as Honest Charley begin to pop-up throughout the country. " - Todd Harless, Coker Tire

"The custom end has always been and will always stay around. Especially now that you are able to go online, parts are more accessible, and you are able to view pictures and diagrams of what's out there. In the past, you had to go to a special shop to get what you wanted, but now, it's a lot easier to see and get what you want because they are accessible online.

Sometime next year, we are going to be on HP TV on the Spike channel. The 'how-to' shows like this one, are a big help in bringing Hot Rods and Street Rods closer to home. Everything about Hot Rods will just keep growing and growing since everything is now more accessible." - Norma Isky, Blower Drive Service