Hot Rod Empire details Robert E. Petersen's creation of Hot Rod Magazine in the 1940s and the Petersen Publishing empire that grew to the mainstream juggernaut we know today. The end of World War II marked the release of pent-up war-years energy and the desire to live. For many this meant indulging in long-denied purchases, like a new car. For another group, including young vets, it meant a return to car building and racing. Money, exciting new cars, and speed parts all flowed freely in post-war America. Robert Petersen, a young SoCal-based photographer and Army Air Corps vet, noted the rapidly growing hot rod scene in and around Los Angeles. His first move was to organize the Los Angeles Hot Rod Exhibition in 1948. His second, and brilliant, move was to launch at the same event the first edition of Hot Rod magazine. From this launch pad, Petersen Publishing Company would grow to become the most influential enthusiast publisher in America. Petersen’s magazines were rallying points for all aspects of the car, truck, and motorcycle hobbies, well as nurturing and promoting all aspects from car building to racing to show events. Hot Rod, Motor Trend, Car Craft, Motorcyclist, Off-Road and Four Wheel Drive and some 75 other enthusiast titles dominated magazine racks and provided substantial influence over transportation and numerous other hobbies. Hot Rod Empirecelebrates the birth and explosive growth of the transportation hobby under Petersen’s watch.

A deserving tribute to the American muscle of the hot rod, this edition is filled with eye popping photography, gatefolds, and four prints to hang.

Get ready for a hot read on some cool cars! From modified 1930s Ford cars, such as the “Deuce” roadster and classic Model T, to crazy VW Bugs and pumped-up pickup trucks, HOT Hot Rods will show kids what makes these jaw-dropping cars and their powerful engines so special! With incredible, full-color photographs, thrill-seeking readers will learn all about the history of hot rods and the people who create and drive them. So fasten your seat belt and get ready for a fast ride!

There was time - not long ago - when cars were much more than transportation. Part function, part fashion, part id, cars were the largest thing you could wear. Every American teenager dreamed of having their own car because it promised joy, freedom and self-expression. During this era, Bob Larivee was the undisputed ringmaster of the greatest show on Earth - the indoor hot rod and custom car show. Driven by pure enthusiasm, and possessing a natural gift of knowing what would draw people, Larivee built an empire that showcased style, color, chrome, horsepower, pop culture and fantasy. His Promotions, Inc. (PI) produced events for decades that helped define American car passion while fueling the dreams of millions around the world. Hot Rod Dreams - Car Shows and Culture celebrates the people and stories of this not-so-long-ago - and still evolving - world. From the earliest days of Ed "Big Daddy" Roth through the golden era of car-crazy TV, Hot Rod Dreams celebrates what it was really like to buy an "Outlaw", employ Playboy Playmates, and make sure Dale Earnhardt got home in time for dinner - while also exploring how popular culture inspires our concepts of personal identity.

The history of hot rodding and performance cars has been well chronicled through the years. Books and magazines have covered the cars, builders, pioneers, engineers, early racers, muscle cars, street racers, etc. Most take a nostalgic and fun look at the cars that many have loved their entire lives. Some even cover the lifestyle, the hobby as it involves people, and the effort, time, and commitment people put into it. It is more than just a hobby to most, and to many, a certain wave of nostalgia comes over them when remembering what the car scene was like "back in the day." The local speed shop is an important element of the nostalgic feeling that people have when fondly remembering their hot rodding youth. Speed shops were not just parts stores, they were a communal gathering place for car guys wanting to talk smart, bench race, and catch up on the local scene, as well as to solicit the expert advice from the owner or staff behind the counter. Here, longtime hot rodder and industry veteran Bob McClurg brings you the story of the era and the culture of speed shops as told through individual shop's histories and compelling vintage photography. He covers the birth of the industry, racing versus hot rodding, mail-order, and advertising wars. You learn about the performance boom of the 1960s and 1970s, lost speed shops as well as survivors, and a overview of the giant mail-order speed shops of today.

Magnus, the mightiest gladiator in all of Rome, gives the people what they want - bloodlust and death for their entertainment. He and his mortal enemy, Urius, are the best of the best of the slaves doing battle for the roaring crowds. Slaves of the Empire immerses readers in the brutal age of ancient Rome, when the powerful took their sadomasochistic pleasure from the weak, and pain and death awaited every slave, no matter how strong. This tale has it all: fine writing, complex characters, and a story of rivalry, power, torment and an abundance of steamy gay sex.