Putting this issue together was kinda special. In many ways, it was like the good ol’ days. Justin (AKA Dirty) stayed late to help me dig through some dusty crates and unearth five years of golden PC memories. And like back in the day, when Justin was on staff, we miraculously found ourselves falling behind on deadlines. I guess things wouldn’t be right around here if we didn’t keep our managing editor on her toes. Although she won’t admit it, we think that she secretly enjoys dealing with our tardiness. Hey, we’re working hard and perfection cannot be rushed.
Every so often, it’s important to stop and look back at where we’ve been because it helps to guide us toward the future. Looking at old photographs brought back a wave of good memories. For us, a big part of wrenching for the magazine has been about hanging out with friends and having fun. Some of the pictures we dug up were freaking hilarious. Having a copy of each issue in the archives is one thing, but taking the time to browse through them is another. Thumbing through the early issues felt like looking at old photo albums. Call it being sentimental or whatever, but it was a good feeling. More importantly, it served as window into Project Car’s true soul and reminded me of what this magazine was founded on.
Gazing through the rearview mirror, it’s obvious that our magazine has evolved; in many ways for the better and some for the worse. Though I embrace change, I do miss seeing certain faces around the shop. Things haven’t been the same without Will, Jesse and Andy around—or the humor that came with them. I can’t blame them for being strangers; they’re just moving on with their lives. Looking forward, life is what we make it and there are plenty of new memories to create. In time, new members will replace the old ones and the cycle will continue.
Although five years is a drop in the bucket to some, it’s a big deal to us as it’s taken a lot of hard work to get here. We know that finding our magazine hasn’t always been easy and subscriptions still aren’t available. We’ve had a lot of loyal readers driving across town, stopping at every store to get their hands on each and every issue of Project Car. Our magazine survives because of your newsstand purchase and it is each one of you that has kept us going for the last five years. We know that times are tough and it’s not always easy to put aside six bucks to get the new issue. We sincerely thank you for your support and for helping us reach this five year milestone. We’ll keep wrenching and creating the next five years of memories as long as you keep searching for a copy and dropping your six bucks on it. Peace Out,
Old Man Gary inbox@projectcarmag.com