R.I.P. Vette Magazine 1976-2019

Dateline: 2.25.20 – On December 6, 2019 I received an email from Vette magazine editor Brian Brennan. The title of the email said it all; “Vette is Terminated”. I wasn’t surprised, as I’d been hearing rumblings that the magazine was on thin ice for well over ten years.

Just the same, it was a sad day for me. Instantly I was back in the summer of 1976 when one hot steamy day in southern New Jersey at my local newsstand at the Cherry Hill News Stop at the corner of Haddonfield Rd. and Chapel Avenue in Cherry Hill, New Jersey; I saw a new magazine that stopped me in my tracks. There among the rest of the familiar car magazines was a new title; “Vette Quarterly”.

I had been haunting the local magazine stands for car magazines since 1965 and I was always on the lookout for Corvette special editions, but this was better than any special edition I’d ever seen. Vette Quarterly was “Corvettes-only” and I wanted to be part of this new publication. My favorite car magazine then was “Hi-Performance CARS”; a great east coast publication filled with the kinds of cars I saw on the local street scene and at the Atco Raceway and Cecil County Drag-O-Way where I’d been working as one of the weekend track announcers since 1972.

The icing on the cake was when I saw that Martyn “Marty” L. Schorr was the editor of Vette Quarterly. I was very familiar with Marty’s writing and leadership as the editor of CARS, so I knew Vette Quarterly was going to something special.

I’d been drawing for several car magazines for two years, so I made copies of my best illustrations and wrote a letter asking if I could be a contributing illustrator for Vette Quarterly. A week later, I got a call from Marty. As soon as I heard Marty’s voice, his Big Apple accent told me who was on the phone. Marty said, “Scott, I got your samples, very nice. What would you like to do?” That was it, I was in!

What I didn’t know was that that was the beginning of a 43-year long relationship with the publication. Vette Quarterly went bi-monthly in a few years and then by the early 1980s was a full-fledged monthly, Corvette-only magazine and I was part of it.

In the early ’80s Marty moved on to start his successful marketing and PR business, “PMPR, Inc, Public Relations & Marketing Agency”. As the decades rolled on Vette magazine was sold and bought by numerous publishers and somehow I managed to stay on as a contributing artist and writer.

In the spring of 1997 I pitched then editor, Richard Lentinello a concept I called, “The Illustrated Corvette Series” as a monthly column. Lentinello liked the idea but didn’t have an open page for another columnist, so it was, “Thanks, but no thanks”. A week later Lentinello called me to ask if I still wanted to do a column, as one of his other columnists informed him that he could no longer do his column. Of course, I said, “Yes!” My plan was to cover every year Corvette in chronological order; so maybe I’d have 50 installments. When Vette magazine was shuttered last December I had completed 275 installments and got a book deal from Car-Tech Books in 2010.

So, when I learned that Vette magazine was finished it was a sad day, as I never dreamed that my association with that one specialty publication would last so long. Along the way, in addition to my monthly column, I did a lot of feature stories. All of my feature stories and many of my monthly columns were published on www.SuperChevy.com. To check them out,, just use the search tool at the top of SuperChevy.com’s website.

In 2008 Vette published an interview with Marty Schorr where he shared with our readers how he got into the magazine biz and how and why he launched Vette Quarterly. Then in 2016 I wrote “Happy 40th Birthday Vette Magazine”.

Below are links to the two mentioned stories, as well as the transcript of when I interviewed Marty and Joel Rosen on my “Far Out Radio” show where they shared how they created their Baldwin-Motion Phase-III Supercars.

Will Vette magazine ever be resurrected? The paper publishing world is rapidly shrinking, even for mainstream magazines, so it is doubtful that we’ll ever see Vette magazine on the newsstands again. But, you know that old saying, “Never say never”. Anything could happen. We’ll see. – Scott

Marty Schorr interview for Vette magazine, Pt 1 – CLICK HERE.

Marty Schorr interview for Vette magazine, Pt 2 – CLICK HERE.

“Happy 40th Birthday Vette magazine”, CLICK HERE.

“Marty Schorr & Joel Rosen Interview, Pt. 1, CLICK HERE.

“Marty Schorr & Joel Rosen Interview, Pt. 2, CLICK HERE.


 

Book Review: Corvette Sixty Years – by Randy Leffingwell

Dateline: 7.5.12

A Most Excellent Addition To Your Corvette Library

I’ve been collecting car magazines and car books since the mid-’60s. My library has gotten larger than I ever imagined. There’s one book that I accidentally bought three times. I have four different versions of essentially the same book authored by Randy Leffingwell and published by Motorbooks. All four versions are very nice books, loaded with excellent images and well written prose by Leffingwell. But each time I bought the book online, I thought I was getting a different book because the covers and sizes are all different.

So, when I saw that Motorbooks was publishing “Corvette Sixty Years,” I was holding out in hopes of a totally new book and not a shuffled around version of the previous “Corvette Fifty Years” with some updated C5 and C6 material. I was NOT disappointed! Leffingwell and MBI have delivered the goods! The book is, for me, a visual delight. You see, when you have as many books and magazines as I have, you’ve probably seem nearly all of the old vintage photos showing the design and development work on the Corvette. At least, that’s what I thought!

Continue reading “Book Review: Corvette Sixty Years – by Randy Leffingwell”

David Kimble “Art Of The Cutaway Car 2011” Book Update

Dateline: 3.22.12

David Kimble “Art Of The Cutaway Car 2011” Book Update

 

Sorry Kimble fans, but David's book is SOLD OUT!

In February 2012 I posted a story about technical illustrator, David Kimble’s new book titled, “Art Of The Cutaway Car 2011.” Road & Track Magazine first published an ad for the book last Fall and indicated that Motorbooks International was to be the publisher. After running the post I heard from a friend at MBI that they did NOT publish the book after all and that they weren’t 100-percent certain, but CarTech Books might have had the honor. So, I checked in with my editor at CarTech Books, Scott Parkhurst (Scott edited my Illustrated Corvette Series book in ‘10) and YES, CarTech Books did indeed publish David Kimble’s new book!

But the story is a mix of good news – bad news. Obviously, the good news is that the 168-page, 10” x 12” full-color, $100 book, with 138 illustrations was published, so KUDOS to David Kimble and CarTech. Now the bad news. The book is SOLD OUT! Yes! All 1,000 copies have been scooped up and are no doubt thrilling 1,000-plus readers.

Since the first printing of the books are all sold, the mind wants to know, will more be printed and at what price? It’s a little disconcerting because if you go to Amazon.com, the book’s listing page says that Motorbooks International is the publisher and that no books are available. Also, there’s a mistake on the Amazon listing, as they indicate that the book is only 24-pages. Then if you go to CarTechBooks.com the title is not listed. And over at the world’s largest flea market, eBay.com, there are no listings. Parkhurst explained that since the book is sold out, they are not showing or advertising the book. Continue reading “David Kimble “Art Of The Cutaway Car 2011” Book Update”

Corvette Book Review: “Legendary Corvettes”

Corvette Legends Randy leffingwell

“Vettes Made Famous On The Track And Screen” by Randy Leffingwell & Photography by Dave Wendt

Let me get this out of the way, up front. I love this book! For Corvette lovers, like us, this book is a visual delight. Veteran automotive writer, Randy Leffingwell and seasoned photographer, Dave Wendt have teamed up to present a visual and literary trip through 18 unique Corvettes.

As you page through the book, keep in mind that the images you see have not been PhotoShopped – they are “photographs.” Now “novel.” Wendt is a master at lighting. This is photographic “art.”

Keep in mind that our criteria for this book is, “Vettes Made Famous On Track And Screen.” After I had that settled in my head, everything was fine. Our visual trip begins at the beginning – the 1953 Corvette. The images draw out the inherent beauty of the car. It was just too good-looking to give up on, by a few very important people. That’s where Leffingwell’s prose lays out the stories. Continue reading “Corvette Book Review: “Legendary Corvettes””

Tom Falconer & James Mann C4 Corvette Book Review

Tom Falconer's Collector's Originality Cuide for Corvette C4

“Collector’s Originality Guide: Corvette C4 1984 – 1996” by Tom Falconer & Photography by James Mann

The introduction of the C4 Corvette in the Fall of ‘83 was a much anticipated automotive event. Times were tough through the ‘70s and no one anticipated in ‘68 that the new Mako Shark-inspired car would have a 15-model-year production run. And when you consider that the car was riding on a chassis designed in ‘60-’61 for the C2 Sting Ray, it’s all the more amazing that the late C3 cars set all-time sales records.

Just like all Corvettes from the beginning, the C4 was a car that was in constant evolution. Every year, Corvette Chief Engineer, Dave McLellan and his devoted crew of engineers and stylists made small improvements, with an occasional big leap forward. Little did we know when the C4 was first shown at the end of ‘83 that this Corvette generation would last almost as long as the C3 generation – 13 model years. Continue reading “Tom Falconer & James Mann C4 Corvette Book Review”

Illustrated Corvette Series Book to Order!

Illustrated Corvette Series the Book by Corvette Writer and Artist, K. Scott Teeters is now available!

You may place Your Order for a Signed Copy from the author/artist.

I have an ENTIRELY new respect for what it takes to make a book! After 13 years in the making ( Illustrated Corvette Series the Column appears monthly in Vette magazine) and over six months of production work, we’re happy to announce that “The Illustrated Corvette Series” book is now available for purchase. But you can be among those to receive this greatly anticipated book signed personally by the author and the artist.
Continue reading “Illustrated Corvette Series Book to Order!”

The Corvette Factories by Mike Mueller, A Review

 

The Corvette Factories
The Corvette Factories

The Corvette Factories: Building America’s Sports Car by Mike Mueller, A Book Review

By K. Scott Teeters

 

Mike Mueller Gives the Tour and Shows Us How Corvettes Are Built

 

Until Chevrolet’s Bowling Green Assembly plant started offering the Corvette Museum Delivery option (RPO-R8C) most Corvette fans probably never thought they could actually see how Corvettes are built. What’s the assembly line like? What are the conditions inside the building? For most of us, you place your order for what you want on your Vette and it arrives. We all know that Corvettes aren’t hatched, they are made on an assembly lines, but the important part is taking delivery and driving! Continue reading “The Corvette Factories by Mike Mueller, A Review”

Social Media is Catalyst that Gets New Corvette Book Published!

LinkedIn Plays Key Role in Getting K. Scott Teeters his Illustrated Corvette Series Book Deal!

The Creation of the Illustrated Corvette Series

by K. Scott Teeters

ICS Front Cover
ICS Front Cover


That Corvette History Column

The Illustrated Corvette Series book is something that I have been thinking about for a long time. My VETTE Magazine monthly column began as a wild idea – “Hey, wouldn’t it be fun to do an illustrated monthly column telling the chronological history of the Corvette?” That was in Winter ‘97. I created a rough layout and faxed it to VETTE’s then editor, Richard Lentinello. Richard thought it was cool, but didn’t have any open pages for another monthly column. Thanks, but, no thanks. A few days later, he called me to tell me that one of his columnists bagged out on him. “Are you still interested in that Corvette history column?” It was a shocker for me because “no” usually means, “no.” I replied, “Ahh… sure, YES!” After I got off the phone, I thought, “Oh wow! Now I HAVE TO get these done every month! Continue reading “Social Media is Catalyst that Gets New Corvette Book Published!”

Motion Performance by Martyn L. Schorr; Book Review

COVERLOGO Book Review: Motion Performance – Tales Of A Muscle Car Builder by Martyn L. Schorr – Forward by Joe Oldham

Hardcover – 176 pages, 10.9” x 9.4” x 0.7”, 262 photos (113 color, 149 B&W), $35.00, Published by Motorbooks – First published 2009, Copyright © 2009 by Martyn L. Schorr

Review by K. Scott Teeters

I’ll say this up front. I was NOT disappointed with this book. Actually, I had a tough time putting it down. Author, Martyn L. Schorr is THE man to tell this story because not only was he there as CARS Magazine editor, he helped plan, develop, promote, and market the entire enterprise. Plus, he got to drive most of the Baldwin-Motion Phase III Supercars! Continue reading “Motion Performance by Martyn L. Schorr; Book Review”

Illustrated Corvette Series Book

Coming in 2010!

“The Illustrated Corvette Series” Book

Subtitle: The Illustrated History of the Corvette

from 1953 to 2010

by K. Scott Teeters

_______________________________

CarTech Books will publish a 144-page book version of Scott’s  Illustrated Corvette Series column, as seen every month in VETTE Magazine since 1997. Continue reading “Illustrated Corvette Series Book”