ROCKIN' props to Mike Ness and Christine Marie this Thanksgiving day

Gotta do a shout-out to Mike Ness and his wife, since today's all about givin' thanks.

Mike and I didn't know each other before we got together at his Black Cat car-customizing shop in SoCal. We kinda circled around the cars and bikes, then settled in for a long interview. He spoke frankly and with much insight. At the time I didn't know his thoughts would become the book's foreword, but as time went on it just seemed entirely appropriate.

When we needed an evocative photo, Mike's wife Christine Marie stepped in. Everyone who first sees the book remarks on how her photo so well accentuates the tone that his words set.

Gotta also thank Shane Trulin at Rebel Waltz, Mike's management company, for facilitating the meeting and continuing to work closely with me and the publisher's staff. Here's what Shane later told me: "Mike loved the book, and he thinks it's really cool. He wanted me to thank you." Big smiles!

Thanks also to David Glossner for getting the ball rollin', and snapping the photo of me and Ness. And, thanks as well to photog Steve Melidossian for the photo of Ness on one of his fine machines.

Keep tuned to this blog, because it looks like there'll be a major event at the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles, where we hope to honor Mike--rocker and gearhead--and help celebrate ROCKIN'in grand style.