Is the Slant Six News still distributed? As far as I know I am a current member, but have not gotten on in about a year. I have moved twice, but it has not been forwarded. I put my most recent address on this forum, but not sure if it got sent to the proper authorities....

ktbarnwell1@juno.com

You have not gotten one in over a year? I think it's about 3 or 4 years since my last issue came. I'm still owed one or two issues. Far as I know the magazine is kaput.

Kevin:

I hope you're not still sending $25/yr to Jack Poehler. He's been taking people's money, $25 at a time, in exchange for NO magazine, for years now. You do NOT need to be a "member" of the no-longer-existing Slant-6 Club of America to take part in the activities of whatever regional chapters might have stayed together and continued "doing their own thing" (like the Bay Area meets Doug still runs, last time I checked).

-DS

redbear@vrx.net

It will be a long time before there is another issue. Jack Poehler lives in my area and he has health problems. He has been looking for someone to publish the magazine but no one will do it for the same price or extra amount of work needed to publish the articles. The number of people that get this magazine is only a fraction of say "Hot Rod" it's not worth it for the big companies to even publish it for what the people in the club are willing to pay. Jack still puts on car shows in this area. Their will be one in Portland,Or on Sept. 9th from noon till 5pm. Rain or shine.... For more information here is Jack's number 503 581 2230

damuel@kalama.com

In my dealings with him, I've never known Jack to be anything other than a straight-up guy. He arranged for me to get in touch with various /6 Club members who had information I really needed way before this terrific web site was ever conceived. And every back issue I ever paid for, I got.

The guy really busted his hump to keep that little mag alive for a long time. I've done layout and paste-up and stripping: it's tedious work. Then there's hustling up enough material to make an interesting issue...and dealing with the printer...and getting the finished product all mailed out...all this in your "spare" time (who's got any of that)?
When the mag folded, I ended up overpaid on my subscription too...but with all the stuff I'd learned from it by then, I STILL think I got one hell of a bargain. Thanks, Jack!

---Red

Torr66@aol.com

I agree with your comments. It's easy to criticize, but putting out a publication like the Slant 6 News is a major undertaking. The quality was outstanding! I considered taking it over from Jack, but I already do another newsletter and all the work is generally unappreciated.

It is indeed a major (and mostly thankless) task, and the quality was indeed quite good. You'd think that the major investments of time, effort and money by all the people who made the magazine what it was (especially the tech reps who spent a lot of time researching and answering tech questions, and those who contributed often-lengthy and time consuming articles) would be rewarded with a free mag or so. That was never the case; the tech reps received *zero* support for their efforts. As for Jack's "health problems", I have little sympathy for self-inflicted disease.

Ink-on-dead-trees newsletters are pretty much dead. They served their purpose adequately for the time, but a forum like this, where lots more information can be disseminated with much more immediate and participatory feedback, is just better. On that note: THANKS, Chuck and Doug!

DS


redbear@vrx.net

I don't know what the cost of the magazine was, but at the price charged, there is no way Jack could have made any money for himself. A free magazine really means nothing to most of those involved, at least it wouldn't to me. Anyone who undertakes such an effort does it for reasons other than money. Most of the time the newsletter I publish doesn't pay for supplies. The 80 hours or more I put into each issue are freebies to the organization.

I don't agree with you on the demise of a paper magazine/newsletter. You can't collect simple text like you can a magazine. There's more than words and information in any publication. Good ones have a personality that makes you want to refer to them time and time again.

I also have no sympathy for Jack's self-imposed health problems, but I will stand up for him for carrying a major load for Slant6 fans for many years.

Dan,I know you were a big part of the magazine tech articles, as was Doug, and I appreciate the work you and others did. I also appreciate everyone who makes this forum possible, but it doesn't mean I don't miss the Slant 6 news and wish Jack well.