"A NIGHT AT THE ARCHIVES" OR "THROUGH THE PAST HEARTILY" . . . . MIKEEY RAT HAS BEEN PRETTY MUCH OBSESSED WITH COLLECTING OLD AUTOMOTIVE BOOKS AND MAGS FOR TWENTY FIVE YEARS . . . . THE AMOUNT OF TIME WE'VE SPENT READING IN HIS MAN CAVES DURING THAT PERIOD COULD RUN INTO YEARS . . . . THUMBING THROUGH THESE GEMS FROM THE DAYS BEFORE INTERNET AND INSTANT GRATIFICATION . . . . EJAMAKAYSHUNAL.

FILE THIS UNDER "FLASHING ON THE PAST IS A CONSTANT PREOCCUPATION AND ALWAYS A GAS"

WHEN I WAS A KID 'WHITMAN BOOKS' PRODUCED THE "BIG LITTLE" SERIES WHICH WERE AMONG MY FAVOURITE READING MATERIAL, STILL GOT EM SOMEWHERE, MIKEEY WAS TAKING ME THROUGH A COUPLE OF THEIR OTHER RELEASES ON FRIDAY NIGHT, PURE PERIOD PERFECTION, FROM THE DAYS WHEN DIGGERS AND OTHER F.E.D's RULED THE ROOST AND EVERYTHING WAS BRAND NEW . . . . HONEST AND WHOLESOME LIKE SHIT USED TO BE BEFORE IT WAS ALL REPACKAGED AS SMARMY, SMARTARSE ADVERTISING BUMFODDER, YOU NEED TO SEEK THIS STUFF OUT IF YOU HAVEN'T CLAPPED EYES ON IT, WRITTEN FOR MALE ADOLESCENTS OF THE DAY GOING APESHIT FOR NITRO INJECTED THRILLS, IT'S STILL WORTH THE READ. 

DARING DAPPER DUDES IN DIGGERS DICING DANGEROUSLY WITH DEATH

"C'MON JOHNNY, HOLD MY HAND . . . . YOUR DAD WILL NEVER FIND OUT"

FUNNY CARS WERE ALWAYS SERIOUS SHIT, FLOPPERS MAXIMIZED DRIVER SHRAPNEL DAMAGE

SLAYER "RAINING BLOOD" . . . . TOTAL BUMMER, SLAYER GUITARIST, JEFF HANNEMAN, DIES AT FORTY NINE . . . . SO GLAD I GOT TO SEE THEM LIVE, JUST THE ONCE BUT IT'S ENOUGH . . . . FOR ALL THE HARDCORE AND LONG-TERM FANS, MY THOUGHTS AND CONDOLENCES . . . . IN THIS WORLD OF SHORT-LIVED, MANUFACTURED, CONTRIVED, NO TALENT, SHALLOW OUTFITS, MR HANNEMAN WILL BE SORELY AND SADLY MISSED . . . . FORTY FUCKIN NINE, THAT AIN'T OLD !!!

"[SM] - SPEED MERCHANT SO-CAL" ['SHERIFFMEDIAGROUP'] . . . . A NEAT INSIGHT FROM THE SHERIFF INTO THE TRIUMVIRATE THAT IS 'SPEED MERCHANT' SO-CAL . . . . DAN BEGAKIS, MARK KAWAKAMI AND BRANDON HOLSTEIN, THE BLOKES BEHIND, BESIDE AND IN FRONT OF THE BRAND . . . . A TRIO OF RATBAG TALENTS THAT HAVE SPEWED FROM 'THAT' GROUP OF GUYS WHO HAD SUCH AN IMPACT ON THE RENAISSANCE CHOPPER MOVEMENT FROM PRE 'THAT' FILM

Let me state from the outset, I'm a fan of what these guys do, not because I love the SM finned derby cover on the Purple Penis, not because it's a great piece of kit, not because Denver Dan is undoubtedly one of the sexiest, bearded men alive and not because the three Speed Merchants are all members in long standing of 'that' club of like minded dudes who have all proven themselves as innovators, leaders and strictly legit in the world of two wheels and far beyond . . . . none of the above really, it's about dedication and perseverance when the crunch is on, not letting the bastards grind you down when the initial pathway is blocked by scammers, jammers and bandwagon rammers, the behind the scenes story of the establishment of Speed Merchant is an object lesson in not giving up when the chips are down, belief in your partners and your concept, and I only have a third hand insight into what went down . . . but it's more than enough to win my admiration and respect. Speed Merchant parts, stick em on your bike, they work.