For over 20 years, Down To Earth (or DTE) has been hitting the scene strong sporting some of the lowest, sickest vehicles in the So Cal scene and beyond.inline_mediumwraptextright31040292/lyfestyle/1001mt_truck_club_profile_down_to_earth1001mt_01_+truck_club_profile_down_to_earth+custom_toyota_truck.jpgTrue

SHOW OF THE YEAR

From the cover to every single feature, department, and pretty much every page in this issue you will find an upgrade.inline_mediumwraptextright25384910/lyfestyle/0912mt_draggin_thru_what_is_art0912mt_01_+draggin_thru_what_is_art+radiator.jpgTrue

Layed Out Video
A new DVD company has hit the scene with Hot Rods and Home Movies. Paul Devine and Angie Beyer didn't plan on going into the DVD business, it just sort of happened. They've been able to produce their first DVD thanks to friends like Draggin Thru Productions, Surface Video, Crime Pays Video, Sikness Video, Downtime Designs, and Graphic Disorder, who have all given them help and advice along the way. With names like that you know their vid is going to be good. I recently got the chance to watch this new DVD and it's been added to my must-buy list from now on. I know people will love the show coverage and can enjoy the fact that as they're watching the movie, they're also watching someone grow as a videographer and develop a new style all his own. You can really see a steady progression from the first few shows in the vid to the last few featured. Layed Out Video is currently filming for its next DVD as we speak. To snatch up a copy of the DVD or some cool gear check out Layedoutvideo.com.inline_mediumwraptextright30868269/mt_news/0912mt_layed_out_video_hot_rods_and_home_movies0912mt_01_+layed_out_video_hot_rods_and_home_movies+dvd.jpgTrue

Beginning with this art issue we decided that it was finally time to include special artist profiles. We've done a couple here and there over the past few years but have never been able to fully dedicate the space or resources to keep them coming.inline_mediumwraptextright25386752/lyfestyle/0912mt_artist_profile_daisuke_maeda_aka_fudemae0912mt_01_+artist_profile_daisuke_maeda_aka_fudemae+fudemae.jpgTrue

To submit a question, email: minitruckin@sorc.cominline_mediumwraptextright25374854/lyfestyle/0912mt_maximized_what_are_you_into0912mt_01_+maximized_what_are_you_into_december_2009+custom_car.jpgTrue

We had a total of 44 builders sign up for the Minitruckinweb.com 2009 Scale Model Build Contest, Round 2, held March 11-May 11, 2009.

Hello, and welcome to another jam-packed edition of The Hot Seat. In case you missed last month's story, each month we take a person who has been a vital part, a mentor, or made some significant impact in the scene, and expose him or her and make them blush for your reading enjoyment.inline_mediumwraptextright25348490/lyfestyle/0912mt_hot_seat_interview_jamey_handmade_jordan0912mt_01_+hot_seat_interview_jamey_handmade_jordan+toilet.jpgTrue

Let me introduce you to a club that has been hitting the Northwest show scene for more than 20 years.inline_mediumwraptextrightDanny's Mazda is one of the many featured vehicles from the Sittin' Pretti ranks.25386002/lyfestyle/0912mt_truck_club_profile_sittin_pretti0912mt_01_+truck_club_profile_sittin_pretti+custom_mazda_truck.jpgTrue

Have you checked out the Mini Truckin' magazine Article Archives on minitruckinweb.com yet? While somewhat hidden among all the cool things you'll find on the web-site, these archives are a fantastic resource, and we really want to make sure you don't miss out!

Hello, and welcome to another jam-packed edition of The Hot Seat. In case you missed last month's story, each month we take a person who has been a vital part, a mentor, or made some significant impact in the scene, and expose him or her and make them blush for your reading enjoyment.

To submit a question, email: mini.truckin@sorc.com

Jeffrey D. Hurta (JD), age 23, was diagnosed January 13, 2005, with Rhabdomyosarcoma, a rare sarcoma of the maxillary sinus (a muscle tumor form of cancer). JD's mom, Mary Kay Hurta (Momma Hurta), recalls when she first realized JD's affection for minitrucks.

Let's talk about a club that we've all heard about, seen around, or had a beer or ten with. Freaks of nature have always been the "freaks" in the scene.

When you look back through the last 20 years of Mini Truckin' magazine's history you will likely stumble across a name that has been around a little bit longer. We put together this special issue to celebrate California Mini-truck Dismantlers thirty-year anniversary-that's right thirty years!

Gator Drag, Now Hosted By Negative Camber
Over the years, Gator Drag has tried to put a new twist on the show each year and 2010, will be no exception. Back in the early nineties, clubs were more involved in making sure they showed up together and were seen together at the shows. A very particular club called Trendsetter Minis was one of them. They all met up, rolled in together, and parked together. This is where Gator Drag's new idea came into play. Not only did Trendsetters park together, they made it known how much club pride they had with the Trendsetters Saloon that they built and brought with them to shows. Gator Drag 1.0 wants the clubs to roll in together and park together, and what they are offering to the clubs that want to participate is a Club Corral - a specific place designated for them to do just that. Gator Drag set this up a year in advance so the clubs have time to figure out what they can build for the corral, whether it be swinging doors, a bar, or hell even a castle. Each club will have a banner sponsored by Gator Skinz with their club logo on it to easily identify each corral. Not only is Gator Drag 1.0 trying to bring clubs together for this event and meet friends new and old, they are going to give away one of their famous trophies by Chaotic Rod and Customs for the Best Club Corral. On top of all this, they will also have a mechanical bull in action, "sounds like a mini-trucker rodeo in the making." Also with Negative Camber hosting the show, a burnout competition, legal dragging on the show grounds, as well as a $1,000 cash and prizes bikini contest; this is going to be one not to miss. For more info, visit Gatordrag.com.inline_mediumwraptextrightGator Drag Flyer26423812/mt_news/0911mt_reds_mt_atuo_news_november_20090911mt_01_z+mt_news_summit_racing_equipment+gator_drag_flyer.jpgTrue

A couple of months Back I wrote about a little change here at MT headquarters. At first it was a daunting task being the ONLY editor here in the office, editing every single story, picking every single photo, etc. but I quickly had a few good dedicated people come to the rescue. Now, they may look like a bunch of misfits, but trust me, they are real minitruckers! They've each been chosen for a different reason and for their unique skill sets, outlooks, and personalities. So without further ado, meet your new and improved Department Editors!

Hello, and welcome to another jam-packed edition of The Hot Seat. Can you believe it's already been a year since the very first edition?

To submit a question, email: mini.truckin@sorc.com

Red's MT Custom News
I guess as the new guy on the Mini Truckin' team I should start by telling you a little about myself. Don't worry, this will all be over in a minute. Everybody who knows me calls me Red, because that's the only name I gave them. My real name is actually Robert Hall and I have been around minitrucks since 1989. Air ride was not around yet and we would push cans and cigarette packs across the high school parking lot to see how low we were, and that was 20 years ago. I feel quite old now that I said that, but I still live the life of a minitrucker day in and day out and I don't think that will change anytime soon. I love going to shows, building trucks, talking a lot of crap to the people I call friends, and partying until I wake up and say "Why did I do that?" Now that I'm part of the team here, my goal is to bring you the news that matters, YOUR news, and whatever else I want to talk about that happens in the scene. There won't be any crap that minitruckers don't give a rip about, just real MINITRUCK news. I will also STILL be doing my weekly video broadcasts, so make sure to sign up at Minitruckinweb.com and check them out to get in on the freebies and all the action. Now as your official "News Editor" let's get started.

Our web producer, Monica Thompson, recently posed a great question in our blog section on Minitruckinweb.com. She asked "Is minitruckin' a hobby, sport, or a lifestyle?"

Q. Can you tell us why you are often referred to as Matt "I cherish your friendship" Baker?
A: The first week that I left California I ended up at Carlisle and a bunch of great friends were there. I was a little messed up in the head that week because of leaving my family in California. A little drink sometimes makes the emotions come out. I'm just glad I had friends there to point this out... bunch of punks!

New Blood
Flyin' solo here at MT headquarters means that our outside, or what's referred to as our "freelance" staff, is more important than ever before. We've taken that process one step further and enlisted a new "Lyfestyle Editor" to take the reins of the Lyfestyle column, as well as Ridin' Around, and other stories as we see fit. Join us in giving Ben Da Pirate a nice friendly Mini Truckin' welcome as you will be seeing him at more shows and he will be pumping some new life and story ideas into this Lyfestyle section. From here on out send your Hardluck, Garage, Tattoo, or any other cool story ideas to BenDaPirateMT@gmail.com.

Remember we cant use cell phone or internet pics. We need high resolution jpegs at least 500k and larger to print in the magazine. The better the pics, the better your chances of making it inside this magazine.

Two New Minis From Ford?
Ford Motor Company is not out of the game when it comes to minitrucks and midsize compact trucks and announced they will be offering two new trucks by the 2011 model year. The first, code named P525 and might be badged as the F-100, will not be sporting a V-8 like its big brother. It is slated to be offered with four-cylinder and V-6 EcoBoost (gas direct injection and turbocharged) engines. The second mini from the Blue Oval boys is the replacement Ranger, code named T6, which will be the direct replacement for the current Ranger platform. Details are slim on the T6, except that it will be built at plants in Thailand, South Africa, and Mexico. As more details are released, you'll be hearing from us. Now, the real question is, who will be the first to put one of these puppies on the ground over some big wheels?

This month I have some sad, scary, yet exciting news to share with everyone. I know it's quite a lot to lay on you all in one month, but have no fear; all is well in MT land.