Fueled by history and wanderlust I have been fulfilling a childhood dream by building a library filled with books, and magazines, that blend my passion for road trips and automotive history.
As our followers know, at Jim Hinckley’s America, we don’t just tell folks where to go. We share stories that keep the wheels of history turning and the thrill of the open road alive. Many of those stories are born from our library that continues to grow.
If you’re like me, a near perfect evening is a worn map on the table, lots of notes gleaned from an array of sources, a strong cup of coffee (or cold beer), a supportive partner that will share the adventure, and a good book or magazine about road trips and vintage rides.
This week, I’m shining the headlights on a few of my favorite road trip inspiring reads. And I also want to tell you about a legendary bookstore where the two great passions of automotive history and road-tripping Americana blend seamlessly.
So buckle up, bookmark these gems, and let’s hit the literary road.
Crankshaft Magazine: Where Timeless Iron Meets Thoughtful Ink
📌 Visit: www.crankshaftmagazine.com
First up on this literary joyride is a magazine that’s equal parts grease-stained nostalgia and high-octane storytelling: Crankshaft Magazine.
The brainchild of Richard Lentinello, former editor of Hemmings Classic Car, this quarterly publication is a love letter to all things automotive—classic iron, forgotten marques, barn finds, and the evolving cultural heartbeat of America’s car scene. Richard brings decades of experience (behind the camera and computer, and in the garage) and editorial finesse to every issue that is more book than magazine, with stories that feel like a good conversation at a roadside diner.
From the golden age of Detroit steel to the neon that adds a glow to the roadtrip, Crankshaft captures it all. This isn’t just a magazine. It is an experience, complete with gorgeous photography, in-depth features, and a distinct respect for automotive heritage.
COMING SOON: I’m thrilled to announce that Richard Lentinello will be a guest on an upcoming episode of Coffee With Jim, my weekly podcast on Podbean. We’ll be talking about his diverse career, the creation of Crankshaft, and a few unforgettable cars he’s encountered along the way. You won’t want to miss it.
Books That Keep the Engine of History Running
By Motor to the Golden Gate by Emily Post
Yes, that Emily Post—the grand dame of etiquette. She was also a renowned journalist and an early cross-country adventurer! Before she taught America how to properly set a table, she documented her epic 1915 road trip from New York to San Francisco with humor, elegance, and surprising grit.
Part travelogue, part historical record, By Motor to the Golden Gate is a time capsule. Reprint or original, this book is an illuminating snapshot of early 20th-century motoring, complete with muddy rutted roads, mechanical challenges, and of the people that were being swept up in a societal transition driven by technological advancement.
This book is a must for anyone intrigued by pre-Route 66 road travel and the trailblazing spirit of early motorists.
Motoring West: Volume 1 – Automobile Pioneers, 1900–1909
This is one of my favorite books. Edited by Peter J. Blodgett, this anthology is a treasure trove of reprinted newspaper articles, personal accounts, travel journal entries, and essays from the dawn of the motoring age. Motoring West captures the chaos, curiosity, and sometimes comical aspects of Americans learning how to travel by automobile on roads made for a horse and carriage.
These are the stories of fearless pioneers who braved unmarked roads, unreliable machines, and skeptical townsfolk to chase the adventure. If you’ve ever driven across a dusty backroad and wondered what it was like “back in the day,” this book gives you the answers straight from the source.
Two More Old Highways Across America by Denny Gibson
Denny and I have shared a few cups of coffee, and a breakfast or two, while enjoying road trip inspiring conversation. This recent addition to my library is described on Anmazon as, “An illustrated travelogue of crossing the United States twice in 2024 on a pair of historic named auto trails. The drive from New York City to Los Angeles followed the Pikes Peak Ocean to Ocean Highway, while the National Old Trails Road was used for the drive from Los Angeles to New York City. More than 200 black-and-white photos help tell the story.”
That is a rather sterile description. As with all of Denny’s books this is a tidy package that blends road trip inspiration, and fascinating history that reads like a novel
Auto Books Aero Books – The Holy Grail for Gearheads
Address: 2900 W. Magnolia Blvd., Burbank, California
www.autobooks-aerobooks.com
No list of automotive or travel books would be complete without a stop at Auto Books Aero Books, my favorite bookstore in the entire country. Tucked into a friendly corner of Burbank this store that originally opened in 1951, and relocated to the current location a few blocks up the street a couple years ago, this legendary shop is ground zero for car culture, aviation history, and road trip inspiration.
You’ll find an unmatched inventory of automotive and aviation titles, model car kits, DVDs, rare out-of-print books, and an infectious sense of community. Whether you’re looking for a Haynes manual, an original 1903 automobile repair manual, a history of the Bonneville Salt Flats, or a magazine about the latest electric vehicle trends, they’ve got it—and then some.
What makes this place even more magical? Their Saturday morning car meets bring enthusiasts from all walks of life. Authors, hot-rodders, restorers, and road trippers gather to talk shop, swap stories, and soak in that old-school bookstore atmosphere.
They also host frequent book signings, lectures, and club events, so keep an eye on their Even Page for updates. If you’re traveling through Southern California, this place deserves a detour.
And there is a great cafe that opened in the 1950s just a few blocks away. But that is a story for another day.
Final Thoughts: Reading the Road, One Page at a Time
Books and magazines like these don’t just entertain. They educate, inspire, and connect us with a rich legacy of American travel and ingenuity. At Jim Hinckley’s America, we believe that honoring the past is the first step in charting the future—and these titles prove it.
So grab a book, plan a trip, and let the road (and a good story) carry you somewhere new.
And don’t forget to tune into Coffee With Jim for interviews, road trip tales, and more ways to discover America’s story—one mile and one memory at a time.
Until next time, I’ll see you on the road—and in the footnotes of history.
— Jim Hinckley
Thank you. Shared adventures are the best adventures.