Inside The Hub

     I love cars and trucks, but I’ve had to accept that I’m not very good at building them. I realized at an early age that my skill set is best suited to serving the automotive media. Back in high school, when the internet was in its infancy, I stalked automotive journalists via email and AOL instant messenger, begging for advice on how to break into the industry. Much to my surprise, some of them actually responded. I printed up their emails, and to this day they still hang on my walls. Following this advice, I landed an internship at Hot Rod Magazine in 2003. After working on staff as a junior editor for two years, I quit to pursue a career in freelancing. 

Over the next 12 years, I very much enjoyed the opportunity to do the same type of work, but with the autonomy and independence that comes with working outside the system. As my writing and photography skills began to plateau, however, I felt compelled to find the next challenge. That’s when I teamed up with Robert McGaffin and Rodney Hutcherson to launch Wheel Hub in early 2018. Robert and Rodney are two of the most creative minds I’ve ever had the privilege to work with, and I will forever be grateful for their commitment and hard work. 

Now it’s time for the next challenge. It was only a matter of time until Wheel Hub expanded into a new market and that time is now. I look forward to bringing the Hub experience to truck enthusiasts all around the world through the pages of Truck Hub.

     Cars and trucks have always been a part of my life. As a young kid, I always had Hot Wheels, built model cars, collected automotive magazines of every genre, and plastered the walls of my room with posters and images of some of the coolest rides of the time. I remember playing with my parents’ Instamatic camera, and starting out with a Kodak instant camera at eight years old. I would take the models I built, place them in interesting environments, and photograph them. Along came high school, and I eventually acquired my first camera, a Pentax K1000 that came with a series of lenses. As a very basic SLR, it provided a great starting point. That camera started my love of photography. I started to see the light. 

After college, I spent the better part of 15 years working in photography studios in Chicago, apprenticing and shooting a wide variety of products, food, people, and architecture. While I was working for a large gift and collectible company, I entered Popular Hot Rodding Magazine’s photo contest and ended up winning. That led to a career as a full-time freelance photographer for the biggest magazines in the business.  

Over the last 10 years, I've had some great opportunities, shooting many of the top builds in the industry and getting to know the talent behind them. This experience has afforded me many opportunities, and I’ve established some long-term friendships in the industry along the way. One of those is my good friend, Stephen Kim. Along with Rodney Hutcherson, we partnered together to create Wheel Hub in early 2018. Thanks to the support from the industry and our growing readership, we are growing and bringing you Truck Hub Magazine. I’m excited to raise the standard in print for trucks of all genres.

     Perfect! That was the response Stephen gave me when I told him I knew nothing about magazine design. Graphic design? Sure. Ads? No problem. Never a magazine, but I'm not scared. I do, however, know cars. I spent the first 20 years of my professional life painting, modifying, and designing them. I love 'em. I've had the pleasure of painting on many ISCA winners, Great 8 recipients, and just about every type of vehicle one could imagine. At one time or another, I was very fortunate to crack open a paint lid at Boyd's, Gene Winfield's, Pinkee's, Roy's Body Shop, and many, many more. An open can of paint still gets my blood flowing, and so does the marvelous satisfaction of creating something, from nothing.

     Looking back, it's almost surreal to think of the talented people I've had the great privilege to work with and receive guidance from. I'm forever grateful to Chip Foose, Alton Gillespie, Roy Pigford, and many more. I've always believed that the folks involved in hot rodding are the finest people you'll encounter. That belief is reinforced every day. Stephen, Robert, and I have been overwhelmed by the support offered to us. I'm both encouraged and humbled by it.

     At an early age, I watched my father, a very talented gunsmith, pursue a ridiculous level of perfection at the craft he loved. I thought he was crazy...until I found myself becoming that same person. I hope that relentless pursuit of something great is reflected in Truck Hub.

     To Stephen and Robert, two of the hardest working and most talented people I've ever met, thank you. I have over 30 years of hot rodding fun, the grace of a loving God, the support from a loving and patient wife and family, and the encouragement of great friends. Life is good. One of my favorite book titles is Michael J. Fox's "Lucky Man." Just as those words proclaim, I am truly lucky.

         Creating Truck Hub has been a lot of work, but well worth it. As I often and only somewhat jokingly tell my friends, "Onward through the fog." So here we go.