It's been a good ride, now I'll rest awhile.

Some of you may have heard that I'm hangin' it up, leaving my day job and my house near the sea. It's true. The end of December is the end of my "career" with the State of California, and sometime in January 2011, I'll be moving to Las Vegas (yes Vegas).

The question that remains is, will this be the end of automotive writing for me? The future is unknown. I've left automotive writing before and somehow I returned.

I started writing car reviews years ago, around 1981, for the Canadian Automobile Association (CAA), the Canadian partner of the AAA. After leaving the CAA, I went freelance for a bit, never making any real money but it was fun. In 1987, I went to work for American Motors (Canada) and the writing stopped.

In 1998, by chance I started writing for the Pacifica Tribune, a small town weekly in Pacifica, California. I've been at it since then. Along the way I've had articles published in other places including my friend Tony's "Autowire.net" and this prestigious site (let's hear it for www.brucehotchkiss.com).

Once we are settled in Vegas I'll see if I can get a gig out there, more so I can keep my hand in than anything else. I've met some wonderful people along the way, made some friends, and I would like to stay in the game so that I see them all now and then. I also want to stay part of the Western Automotive Journalists; attending their media days has been a treat since my first in 1999. (Hey guys, how about an associate or retiree membership?)

I will try to keep this site updated. I'm sure the articles will be more personal, along the lines of my "Ranchero" articles. Or maybe I'll write about the ones that got away or never were.

Throughout my life the automotive world has been on a roller coaster ride. It's coming out of the trough now and it looks like an exciting time. I wish all my friends in the industry all the best. If you're still here, you are stronger.

For those of you who have my phone number, it will not change. Neither will my email. If anyone hears of an opportunity in Vegas, no matter how small, let me know.

Thanks for the ride(s).

Bruce Hotchkiss