1965 Ford Mustang | Photography by Nicole Ellen James

Let Me Introduce Myself

Greetings. My name is Nicole Ellan James and I am the new editor of Street Muscle Magazine. It is my goal to keep you up-to-date, informed, and entertained with the industry news, events, and trends that are most important to you.

To Begin With

Photographing an IndyCar race

To start, I’d like to express my gratitude to the former Street Muscle editors for establishing the magazine, the content, and its readership. I am incredibly honored to be entrusted with all they have created. I believe that regardless of if the magazine is delivered to your doorstep or to your computer, it is still and foremost the work of an editorial team for a discerning audience – it’s a package of ideas, words, and images that a group of experts have prepared for its readers. Magazines are about trust and partnership. As the editor, I will strive always to keep you engaged; you, the readers, are free to engage with me or not.

For as long as I can remember I have always loved fast cars and writing. Over the last six years my career as an automotive journalist I have been  exposed to virtually every different genre of automotive and all different levels of enthusiasm.

I have had the privilege to learn from and work alongside Larry Edsall, a former Managing Editor of AutoWeek and published automotive author; as well as Bob Golfen, a former Speed Channel journalist, during my time as a staff writer for ClassicCars.com.

Other experience has included my service as the Editor in Chief of Car Street Journal, participation on the board of the Phoenix Automotive Press Association, and published photography and stories in DuPont Registry, SpeedHunters, and Fox Sports among others.

Daily driven 2014 Ford Mustang

Raised In The Garage

As a kid, I spent a lot of time with my dad in the garage. He is a mechanic, loves American muscle cars, and only listened to classic rock and roll. I would ask him endless questions about the car he was working on, the service he was performing, but quizzing him on the historical significance of the car and the role it played in society was always my favorite line of questioning.

With Jay Leno at his garage

As a result, I know all the words to every Led Zeppelin song and I can tell you more about classic American cars produced in the 1950s, 60s, and 70s than any other car era. Like my dad, I also have an unrelenting need for “more power” and to “go fast” – this led to my first car, a 1965 Mustang, followed by the addition of a 2005 Mustang that I am incredibly attached to, and the need for a daily driven 2014 Mustang.

I have been blessed with many extraordinary career highlights and experiences thus far – covering events at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, on track photography during Formula Drift and other professional motorsport events, attending the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, talking cars with Jay Leno at his garage, and receiving the 2017 SEMA News ‘35 Under 35’ award are just a few. However, one of the most rewarding experiences of my career occurred earlier this year.

I was asked to be a celebrity judge at Carlisle Events’ Winter Autofest, in Lakeland, Florida. The only judging criteria I was given was that the winner should be selected based on my personal preferences, regardless of what they were. I found myself more attracted to the underdogs of the show and had skimmed over the garage queens and trailer kings on display.

My First Mustang

The experience reminded me when I first got my 2005 Mustang and how I frequented car shows with friends who all drove imports. I knew at every import show they always managed to have an award for domestic cars or cars they considered lady-driven, and I figured if I showed a domestic I’d be a shoe-in for such awards. But that didn’t happen and the entire experience quickly deterred my dreams of owning a show car. I realized fairly quickly at the time that being a self-funded college kid with a part time job meant I couldn’t afford to buy the best of the best for my car or even do a bunch of different mods all at once, so I did what I could and was proud of what I had.

2005 Ford Mustang

My show car dreams had evolved into race car dreams but I learned the same lessons relatively quickly. Though I was older, I knew a trophy wasn’t my motivation. I appreciate the connection car enthusiasts share with one another and how it serves as common ground to bring us all together so we can share our builds, talk about our passion, and the have the chance to inspire more enthusiasts. What I liked so much was driving my car, experiencing the world around me, and enjoying it for what it was. My car and I embraced the idea of being labeled as daily driven and all the rock chips and windshield cracks that came with it.

My process to select an award winner was simple — I wanted the car to win that normally wouldn’t or was probably overlooked due to the wear and tear of everyday use and the owner’s limited means for doing customization. I selected a car that didn’t appear to be a garage queen, that wasn’t a racer, but to me, appeared a deserving winner as it was driven and loved.

The Direction Of Our Magazine

It is my intention as the editor of Street Muscle to apply a similar methodology and place a focus on cars that are driven, loved, and enjoyed. Respectively, I hope to inform you of more events that make our passion for cars more of a lifestyle than just a hobby. My goal is to offer a unique experience with news and features written by enthusiasts, for enthusiasts, aimed to inform, entertain, and enhance your involvement in the automotive industry.

Corkscrew at Laguna Seca

Street Muscle aims to showcase enthusiast-built cars that reflect a dedication to the hobby. We recognize the desire for aftermarket upgrades related to safety, reliability, and comfort in addition to improved looks and performance. We will present a wide range of styles and applications for all levels of mechanical inclination, from “do-it-yourself” amateur garage installs to semi-pro homebuilt heroes.

As the editor I welcome your car-feature submissions, your story ideas, event proposals, commentary, and engagement. I look forward to building a relationship with you.