“Ragtops & Runningboards” is the premier source of car show news here in the Southeast.
For over thirty years, Ragtops & Runningboards has been a trusted resource for information about upcoming car events and gatherings. Few have done more to promote the car hobby in the Southeast than Joe Hester, the editor of the publication.
In a digital age, his publication comes out as it always has: on paper and delivered to your mailbox. Using the internet and Facebook forums alone, you’d be hard-pressed to find half as much information on upcoming car shows.
If you’re lucky, you’ll run into Joe at a local car show, where he’s handing out free introductory copies of his publication. Fortunately for us, we bumped into him at the recent Caffeine & Octane event.
With North America’s largest monthly car show serving as a backdrop, we asked Joe about his magazine and the state of car shows.
A Love For Car Shows
Rod Worley – Editor – Joe, you clearly love car shows, but how did you transition to producing a car show listing?
Joe Hester – Ragtops & Runningboards – Rod, I’ve been a car nut since high school. My first car was a 1969 Chevelle SS396 (the one that got away.)
After returning home in 1980 after serving four years as an Army mechanic I joined several clubs to receive their newsletters and learn about upcoming shows.
I used to go to shows and see flyers for upcoming shows, then go home, type out a listing, and put it on my refrigerator. After years of constantly gathering show dates, my list was consistently longer than anyone else’s.
I owned several collector cars (drivers), but in 1990, I restored my first show car, a 1958 BelAir, and began entering events myself.
My friends in the hobby were always asking me about which car shows were coming up. So, in May 1993, I published my first edition of Ragtops & Runningboards.
Fortunately, it took off like a rocket. Eventually, the number of subscribers grew to the point that I had to charge a subscription fee to cover the expenses.
In the beginning, I put the newsletter together using an electric typewriter, so it took some time. We did everything by hand back then, but now I use a computer and have an excellent printing company that handles the printing, binding, and mailing.
Over the past 30 years, there have been ups and downs, but we stayed at it and learned how to make it better along the way.
Business Is Up
Rod Worley – Editor – Have you seen evidence that interest in car shows has rebounded since the pandemic? With the push to digital publishing, have you considered moving your publication to a digital format?
Joe Hester – Ragtops & Runningboards – Everything slowed down during the pandemic. But this year, the number of events, subscriptions, and advertisers is higher than before the pandemic, which is a good sign.
Over the years, we’ve considered going digital. But there’s something about holding a printed version of Ragtops & Runningboards in your hand that resonates with our thousands of dedicated subscribers.
I often run into people who tell me they go through it with a highlighter as soon as they get it to plan the shows they’ll be going to. Because we’re a multi-state event listing service, some will even travel from state to state to attend certain big shows.
As I travel from show to show, I smile when I see a dog-eared and highlighted copy of the publication on the front seat of a show car.
Chock Full Of Information
In the case of Ragtops & Runningboards, the publisher, Joe Hester, reflects his publication. Both are friendly, unassuming, and chock full of useful information.
And to top it off, if you want to place an advertisement, an event listing, or subscribe, you can pick up the phone and actually talk to them.
Your call won’t be routed to an overseas operator or asked to spend 10 minutes listening to prompts and elevator music. Everything about this 30-year-old publication is clean, neat, and to the point.
The subscription is $25.00 per year, payable by check to 62 Whipporwill Hollow, Summerville, GA, 30747, or by Master Card and Visa. Subscribers also get free classified ads!
If you enjoy car shows and cruise-ins, a subscription to Ragtops & Running Boards is a must-have every year.
Ragtops & Runningboards Info
Social Media: Facebook
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 706-397-9932
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