Comments on: Daily Podcast: Car & Driver Vet Brock Yates To Write for TTAC

By: OneLapFoto

OneLapFoto — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 00:50:47 +0000

Great to see Brock is on board. It WILL be fun to see what he has to say. Always entertaining.

By: Robert Farago

Robert Farago — Sun, 27 Jan 2008 15:51:05 +0000

OK, well, a quick and important update: Mr. Yates has decided that he would like his column to run as is, without editing. I have decided to honor this request.

I do so with the hope expressed clearly above: that Mr. Yate’s participation here will draw in some new readers, who will enjoy the full spectrum of TTAC’s talent.

I also trust that the feedback that TTAC’s Best and Brightest provide Mr. Yates will help shape the content of the writer’s future work for this site.

By: red stick

red stick — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 03:41:10 +0000

Polarizing? Sure. But toward the end at C & D also maddeningly erratic. When’s he good, he’s very good. For example, Sunday Driver is still must reading, and if you haven’t seen a copy, it’s worth finding. When he’s mailing it in, well, I have a lot of faith in his current editors.

By: Samir Syed

Samir Syed — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 03:13:53 +0000

I’m probably too young to have read his stuff, but judging from the comments, he appears to be a polarizing figure. Great. Consensus is for weenies.

By: David Holzman

David Holzman — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 03:13:07 +0000

This is going to be very interesting

By: Robert Farago

Robert Farago — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 03:11:55 +0000

red stick :

My fear is we’ll get two or three good columns, then he’ll revert to what became tedious at C & D: (1) the aforementioned reactionary politics; (2) more columns about “fixing” open wheel racing by returning to front-engined roadsters, and (3) using any excuse to tell the story of how he once drove cross-country with Dan Gurney. Crossing my fingers…

There is a wild card, an element that C&D didn’t provide, that will help forestall a stalled literary engine: Brock’s new editor. That and the editorial freedom to let slip the doigs of war on ANY target he chooses.

Anyway, if Mr. Yates doesn’t know it now, he’ll know it soon enough: all of us here are slaves to the TTAC brand.

By: red stick

red stick — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 03:01:18 +0000

The inside story about Car and Driver would be fun, and I’ve been a subscriber for thirty years. My fear is we’ll get two or three good columns, then he’ll revert to what became tedious at C & D: (1) the aforementioned reactionary politics; (2) more columns about “fixing” open wheel racing by returning to front-engined roadsters, and (3) using any excuse to tell the story of how he once drove cross-country with Dan Gurney. Crossing my fingers…

By: Robert Farago

Robert Farago — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 02:26:47 +0000

willbodine:

As long as he keeps his reactionary politics to himself.

Uh, after the phone call I just had, I wouldn’t count on it.

But here’s the crucial difference: Brock will be on-line to face the music, and dance.

By: willbodine

willbodine — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 02:10:25 +0000

As long as he keeps his reactionary politics to himself.

By: storminvormin

storminvormin — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 02:04:08 +0000

These are milestones. (tear)

By: speedlaw

speedlaw — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 01:27:56 +0000

Back during the bad old days of the 55 mph National Maximum Speed Limit, Brock was very consistent in supporting the push for more realistic limits. I will always thank him for his mentions of the National Motorist’s Association and support for the struggle.

By: Nopanegain

Nopanegain — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 00:26:58 +0000

Sans computer, I read Cannonball on my honeymoon. When I came home, I read TTAC. I can’t think of a better combination!

By: Jordan Tenenbaum

Jordan Tenenbaum — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 23:22:07 +0000

I never really read any of Brock’s pieces back when I read the buff mags, but I can’t help but think this he is going to be a great addition for this site. One million hits per month can’t be that far off.

Congratulations TTAC!

By: Landcrusher

Landcrusher — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 22:16:48 +0000

I have always enjoyed Mr. Yates’ columns. I don’t always agree, but I do enjoy. Welcome aboard.

By: Steven Lang

Steven Lang — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 22:11:23 +0000

To paraphrase the words of former President Clinton, “Everything he’s written, I’ve inhaled.”

By: Acd

Acd — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 22:11:14 +0000

Nice addition TTAC! Brock Yates was always interesting even when he was wrong. He had a big part in building up C & D and the monthlies back in the day and he will help bridge the gap online from the 60’s to today.

Very aggressive, Robert. Congratulations!

By: Lichtronamo

Lichtronamo — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 21:49:25 +0000

Great to see BY’s contributions return for auto enthusiats to enjoy. C&D lacks its soul without him.

By: ZCline

ZCline — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 21:37:42 +0000

Yates was one of the few reasons to keep up a subscription to C&D … I know I won’t be renewing mine when its finally up. Most issues go unread, and end up in the trash.

That said, with this announcement, and the radar gun editorials, along with all the regular news and columns, I’m very excited about TTAC! Not to gush too much, but if you had stock, I’d buy some. At least 2 shares!

By: TomAnderson

TomAnderson — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 21:37:18 +0000

Nice. Can’t wait to read his first TTAC piece.

By: Turbo G

Turbo G — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 21:30:49 +0000

Great move! Look forward to reading his column! Some of us still do dream of big bore v8’s and having a carbon footprint the size of a Sasquatch!

By: unleashed

unleashed — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 21:13:58 +0000

Great news!

By: David Holzman

David Holzman — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 20:55:47 +0000

I thought Yates’ old column in the Washington Post Magazine in the 70s and first half of the ’80s if memory serves, was terrific. I did not think that was true of most of his last few years of columns in C/D. I hope this works well for the sake of my virtual hangout.

By: theflyersfan

theflyersfan — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 20:54:35 +0000

Great picture – mug shot from Cannonball?

By: KixStart

KixStart — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 20:34:56 +0000

JB: “[on the Tesla]… what’s scary… you can’t take this car to your local mechanic…”

Or your electrician… “I ain’t workin’ on that.”

By: quasimondo

quasimondo — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 19:56:01 +0000

Wow…