Scorpions, Crazy World - 1990

Seems to me that increased gas prices are putting a damper on many things. Until the last couple of years, I've almost never seen hotrodders bring up so many questions about "cruising" gears, lower HP motors and gas mileage.

I also suspect that many of the hot rod $$$ are getting poured into ricers by the younger set.

Another issue could be the "instant gratification" generation that's in the prime hot rod age. A project takes years, and with the fairly recent technology explosion, the twento-to-thirty somethings are kind of used to getting what they want, and getting it now.

Along with that comes the availability - because of electronics and fuel injection - of factory hot rods. Why build it when you can buy it?

Perhaps its just a cycle, and we're on a normal downswing.

Finally, we shouldn't forget that thousands of potential hot rodders are away from their jobs, and encamped in the desert or on some military base getting ready to be rotated over there.

Are these all reasons? You got me. I don't know any more than the next guy. However, I do know that when I go to a Saturday gathering at one of the several shopping centers in the area, the lot is full.