One of the really fun things I like to do while I'm traveling the country covering the various truck shows is to swing by and visit with some of the companies that advertise in Custom Classic Trucks. It's no secret that for most of the people involved in the industry of providing high-quality aftermarket parts for customized classic trucks, it goes beyond just making a living, it's a lifestyle. While I was in Knoxville, Tennessee, for the F-100 Supernationals last May, I dropped by Lokar Performance Products and discovered that the guys and gals working there are no exception.

Looking for a spindle and brake kit for your lowered truck with big tires and wheels? CPP's introduces their new modular 2" drop spindle and drop spindle wheel kits for 1960-87 Chevy pickups. This exclusive new design helps solve tire to fender interference commonly found with lowered trucks. Classic Performance's new modular spindle and bracket works with factory 1971-87 C10 brake components, or for a HIGH performance option, combine CPP's spindle with their new Big Brake 13" Rotor, Twin 52mm Piston Brake Caliper kit (shown). Classic Performance's new Modular Spindle offers many benefits available for the first time, installs easy without modifications, works with factory ball joints and tie rod ends, lowers your truck a full 2", offers adjustable steering stops, provides 1-1/8" more fender to tire clearance, allows use with standard factory brakes and performance aftermarket "BIG" Brake Kits.

Mark your calendars for October 4, 2008, because ididit inc., the steering column specialists, are having their 22nd annual car show and open house. Enjoy a fun filled day with the ididit folks to celebrate another successful year, at their place of business in Tecumseh, Michigan. Activities include a live band, food, festivities, tour of ididit's facilities and just good ol'fashion hanging out. Make the last days of taking your '79 or older vehicle on the road memorable. For more information, visit ididit's website www.ididitinc.com or call (517) 424-0577.

Texan Jeff Sanderson shot Buster Simpson's '56 Studebaker 2E, a former plumbing truck, on the road home through neighboring state Oklahoma. Unlike quad-headlight arrangements introduced on 1958 Ford and Chevrolet trucks, it's interesting to note Studebaker trucks never featured quad headlights right up until their demise on December 27, 1963.

When we look back at the '90s a few things come to mind: grunge rock, Britney Spears, extreme sports, Bill Clinton waving his finger at the camera stating, "I did not have sexual relations with that woman," and much more. But quite possibly the biggest thing to come from the '90s is what modern-day Americans now depend on for everyday survival: the Internet.

If a person doesn't mind sitting through all of the commercials cable TV was promised to be free of when it first appeared, there's some pretty neat stuff to be seen. I'm not exactly sure why, but one of my favorite networks is HGTV. Maybe it's because I can completely rebuild my entire house seven times in one day without ever having to leave the comfort of my own couch. I think I could probably be a designer on one of those shows where the host cruises the local scrapyards, and then goes home and makes something cool with the junk he found. Of course, that's if there's no discrimination preventing heterosexual designers from having their own show. One of my favorite creations is the bed I made for my girlfriend and I. Before my girlfriend moved in, it was just myself and five mixed-breed dogs. In the wintertime, the dogs would all jump on the bed and either sleep next to me, or on top of me. Then the girl came, and something had to be done about the dogs. The first matter dealt with curing canine flatulence, but I don't think it would be appropriate to discuss that here. Moving on to the pup's habit of jumping up on the bed, I went out into the garage and robbed a set of custom-fabricated steel sawhorses from underneath a bare '56 Ford frame and dragged them into the master bedroom. To make a little extra floor space in the master I rolled my Shovelhead Harley out into the living room to graze along side of my 100th Anniversary Sportster with 400 original miles. Next, I cut 2 feet off the end of a 4x8 sheet of 1-inch marine-grade plywood, and then plopped it on top of the steel sawhorses. A quick trip to Sam's Club in my trusty '79 Chevy, and I had the mattress in back and headed for home. With the bed elevated, it not only solved the original problem, but as an added bonus provided an additional 32 square feet of storage space for new truck parts.

When a guy can make a living doing what he likes best, that's a good thing. When the same guy can start a business, then employ a bunch of folks to do what they like to do best, that's a real good thing. The pages of Custom Classic Trucks are filled with advertisers from all over the country that specialize in manufacturing and distributing products made to improve all phases of a classic truck's performance. Anytime the staff of CCT is out on the road attending classic truck events, we like to set aside a little extra time and pay a visit to some of the better-known manufacturers in the area and shoot a shop tour.

Impala Bob's has established three new operating units, one being a Chevy and GMC Truck division, which will make it easier for customers to find parts for their classic truck. The new Impala Bob's truck unit is dubbed Bob's Chevy Trucks. 888-57-PICKUP (888-577-4258), bobschevytrucks.com

After more than 50 years of manufacturing headers using mild steel materials, Hedman Hedders, located in Whittier, California, announces the introduction of performance headers manufactured using Type 304 stainless steel flanges and primary tubes.

Gear Star Performance Transmissions' has developed a "Fail Safe" Maximum Pressure Valve Body System for 700-R4 and 200-4R transmissions which automatically reverts to high pressure in the event of a misadjusted or damaged throttle pressure cable, letting you know there is a problem with your transmission and not allowing the transmission to burn down. It works in conjunction with Gear Star's Vacuum Lock-Up System which denies lock-up to the torque converter under aggressive throttle application giving the equivalent of a 5 speed automatic in overdrive transmissions. Gear Star's Level 2 small-block package is rated up to 400 horsepower, and includes a 12-inch Furnace Brazed Flanged hub Converter with a Carbon Fiber Lock-UP Clutch. Each, and every Gear Star Performance transmission is built by one technician from start to finish, and then signed with his initials, and number matched to its warranty invoice.

When it comes to Custom Classic Trucks guys, it not only seems that we live and breath old trucks, but a lot of us drive newer trucks day in and day out. Well if you're in the market for a really long and big truck, and you're not of the faint of heart group, you gotta see this, the stretch truck. "The Stretch Truck Company does what its name implies, they "stretch" trucks. While their trucks turn heads like a limousine, they remain fully functioning trucks for work or play. Words like "incredible", "stylin'" and "awesome" have all been used to describe stretch trucks in parking lots around the nation.

To better service those needing to charge and maintain more than one battery at a time, PulseTech Products Corporation has introduced the Xtreme Charge X2, a ruggedly designed dual-station 12-volt maintenance charger.

To avoid glob-like gap-filling welds, the PipeMaster is the tool that will save you time, material and frustration.

You always hear people say that a song can empower one to overcome or conquer anything. Whether that means that a song can inspire them to do something with their lives, move on after a life-altering moment, or run down the street chasing the ice cream man to see if David Lee Roth will pop out of the window all depends on who's telling the story. No matter which way you look at it, people are always talking about how some song has played a part in their life.

It takes about two months from the time I write my editorial to when it first hits the newsstand. On the way to the office this morning, June 12, 2008, the price of gasoline at the 76 station near my house was $4.59 a gallon. On my way home when I drove past the 76 at 6:40 p.m. the price had risen to $4.67. I can't put a finger on it, but I have a strong feeling that by the time this issue hits the newsstand on 8/19/08, the price of gasoline will have risen to over $5.

Straight out of Dyersburg, Tennessee, where this magazine is printed by some of the best folks in the publishing business, comes a photograph sent in by Phil Roser. Phil wrote us that he calls this photo: "It's been awhile since I got to work on the old truck, but I plan to work on it next week," or "For Sale: '54 Chevy, 4.11:1 rearend, needs paint, three-on-the-tree."

Edelbrock Corporation recently made the most of the Hot Rod Power Tour stop in the city of Topeka, Kansas, June 9, 2008. Edelbrock CEO and President Vic Edelbrock, Jr. awarded Keith Carroll of Longmont, Colorado, the 2008 Vic Edelbrock Sr. Northwest Kansas Technical College scholarship.

The new COMP Cams Race Track Jacket is the hot ticket to staying warm when the weather turns cool. The high-quality jacket is made from a durable Teklon nylon outer shell, which is backed by a lightweight fleece inner lining. As a result, these attractive jackets deliver excellent warmth on those chilly nights at the track, or waiting in line at the bus stop. They're also water and wind resistant, should the weather take a turn for the worse.

Mr. Gasket Co. no offers the AnchorTrax Pet Restraint kit. This kit is perfect for securing your pet in the bed of your pickup truck or livestock trailer. This 12-inch product actually installs easily with stainless steel cap screws into the countersunk holes. The track is 0.5 inch high, 1.25 inches wide, and 12 inches long. The kit package includes one section of 12-inch track, one heavy-duty back plate, one sliding loop harness, and all mounting bolts required. The countersunk holes provide more usable harness positions.

LMC Truck in Lenexa, Kansas, showed off their new City Pickup Counter where local customers have the option of stopping by to pick up their truck parts. More than 250 people attended the Grand Opening on June 14th. Customers displayed their trucks and registered for prizes every 1/2 hour plus a grand prize drawing for a $250.00 gift certificate to LMC Truck. The City Pickup Counter more than doubled in size to over 2,000 square feet displaying two fullsize trucks and a variety of parts and accessories.

Cherry Bomb, the official 2008 Hot Rod Magazine Power Tour "Cruise Night" Grand Finale sponsor provided the Long Haulers (participants who traveled the entire tour) a much-needed break at their final destination in Madison, Wisconsin, on Friday, June 13. During Power Tour week, the participants found themselves in the middle of some of the worst storms and flooding the Midwest has ever experienced. While making their way from Rochester, Minnesota, to Madison, the beleaguered group came to an abrupt halt when the interstate was completely shut down due to massive flooding. Five hours later, and after a complete re-route, they made it to the Alliant Energy Center, where Cherry Bomb provided them with VIP treatment.

Nace accepted the award, a specially designed character painting by renowned hot rod artist Bob McCoy, at a special industry reception Thursday evening, July 10th in Columbus.

Gasoline was less than 20 cents a gallon in the U.S. when early in the 20th century the Ford Motor Company pioneered the eco-consciousness movement. Almost 100 years ahead of his time, Henry Ford developed technology enabling each and every Model T that left the Ford factory's assembly line to operate on either gasoline or ethanol, possibly creating the world's first mass-produced flex-fuel vehicles. Among the revolutionary materials that Ford lead the way in were plastics derived from renewable sources, such as soybeans.

That's right, steering columns from ididit, inc. will be featured on the popular TV show "How it's Made"! Filming took place for over 12 hours on May 23, 2008 and the show will air this summer on the Discovery Channel. The film crew followed a steering column from raw material to finished product in great detail. Ididit was thrilled to be offered the opportunity to show off their quality American made product to the masses and can't wait to see the finished production. ididit will announce the air date on their Web site at www.ididitinc.com when the producers finalize the date.

In celebration of Cherry Bomb's 40th anniversary, the company has announced the Cherry Bomb Charger Sweepstakes. Lasting through November 7, 2008, one lucky person will win the official Cherry Bomb R/T Hemi project car. Built as a joint collaboration between Cherry Bomb, MOPAR, and Hot Rod magazine, this distinctive car features a custom Cherry Bomb exhaust, SRT Body kit with Brian Klock-designed paint scheme, Foose Wheels, SSBC brakes, and multiple MOPAR Performance upgrades. Entry is available online at cherrybomb.com or powerblocktv.com. Courtney Hanson will present the car to the final winner on Powerblock TV which will air on Spike TV February 7-8, 2009.