In the March issue, we introduced Cover Quest, a fun little contest of sorts that gives you, the reader, a chance to see your truck on the cover of this magazine. For those who missed it, here's how it works.
Our panel of seasoned judges critiques readers' rides submissions to 8-Lug based on the truck's build quality and use of aftermarket products. From those initial reviews, we will publish photos of at least one truck each month in Cover Quest.
At the end of the year, we'll announce the ultimate winner and the truck will be forever immortalized on the cover of the magazine in a 2010 issue. Our sponsor, General Tire, is also kicking down a set of tires. Log onto www.generaltire.com to check out its eight-lug truck line!
If you think you've got a truck worthy of the cover of 8-Lug magazine and you have an uncanny personality for accepting constructive criticism with a big smile, then send us your photos right away. Otherwise, step aside and let the challenge begin.
How To CQ
Email your digital photography (high-resolution 300 dpi) to bob.carpenter@sorc.com. Please send no more than 5 MB per email. Multiple emails are acceptable, but please identify each one (example: JoeSmithTruck1, JoeSmithTruck2, and so on). Include a brief (100 words or less) description of your vehicle (make, model, year, parts), along with a daytime phone number in case we need to contact you.
You must attach exterior, interior, and engine JPEGs (that's "photos" to those who are camera shy) to be considered.
All photography submitted becomes the property of 8-Lug magazine. Don't delay. We'll pick a CQ nominee each month through the December 2009 issue.
If you want to send us a CD of photos, address it to: 8-Lug Magazine, 2400 E. Katella Ave, 11th Floor, Anaheim, CA 92806.
The Panel
If you haven't realized it yet, Cover Quest is in the hands of the critics you see here. Their decisions are final and you can count on their comments to be brutally honest or sincerely encouraging.
Each reviewer has a different specialty, but in the end, two or more judges must agree on the worthiness of each CQ truck for it to move into the final round of elimination. Typically, selections for publication have been a confidential thing, handled behind the scenes of a magazine like 8-Lug. But for 2009, we're showing you the people behind the curtain. Well, most of them anyway.
Bob Carpenter
With his proudly shaved head and broad wardrobe of Hawaiian print shirts, Bob Carpenter could be mistaken for the captain of a cruise ship. But he's not. He's a dyed-in-the-wool motorsports junkie. Bob is also the founding editor of 8-Lug.
His career with automotive magazines dates back to 1982 when he was the editor of Dirt Rider magazine. After the stint with motorcycles, Bob subsequently took the reigns of magazines like Custom Classic Trucks, Truck Builder, and Family & Performance Boating and never looked back. He's contributed to more than 20 other automotive publications as well.
Bob knows what it takes for a truck to be good enough to make it onto the cover of 8-Lug. He also knows that someday his fancy Hawaiian print shirts will come back in style!