A Motor Sport Index
#1
Posted 17 September 2002 - 20:51
I will act as collator and will post the results on a website linked from this thread. All we need is volunteers to undertake a "year".
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#2
Posted 17 September 2002 - 21:15
Un abrazo
Felix
#3
Posted 17 September 2002 - 21:20
Originally posted by Roger Clark
While we await The Word on the indexing of TNF, I wonder whether anybody would care to join me on another project which could prove useful; the creation of an index to Motor Sport magazine? I have indexes for some years in the 1950s but they are not particularly useful; they include such gems as items filed under "t" for "the". I have in mind something that would identify race reports, but not all the competitors as we can get the list of competitors from Sheldon and other reference books. The index would include all the references to cars and drivers in shourt articles and in such things as Continental Notes. We can discuss the level of detail if there is any interest.
I will act as collator and will post the results on a website linked from this thread. All we need is volunteers to undertake a "year".
Yes, this interests me. I believe it would be a worthwhile enterprise- unless an index already exists.
I have nearly all MotorSports from 55 ish housed in box files with very crude indexes on the box labels indicating what is within...but generally only the things that interest me. I once E Mailed MotorSport asking if an index was available. I got a reply from Gordon Cruickshank to the effect that there wasn't and that an enthusiast such as myself might like to undertake the task.
Obviously the task could be undertaken far more efficiently by a group such as the TNFers ...I would love to help. One thing though. What is the best format for the index? I would have thought data base software such as Microsoft Access would be best to make the index searchable, but this isn't something I understand how to set up properly.
#4
Posted 17 September 2002 - 21:41
DCN
#5
Posted 17 September 2002 - 21:44
As most of you probably know, I recently acquired a full run of Motor Sport from 1950-91. Some of those are bound volumes from the late 60s and early 70s, which include a basic index, but two pages to cover a whole year is underdoing it just a bit.
Count me in Roger ....
#6
Posted 18 September 2002 - 18:20
Felix's offer of the use of 8W webspace is very generous. I had intended to use my Atlas user space, but it would be far better to use 8W. I would, however, like to post work in progress from time to time. Felix, would you be happy with that?
I don't think we need anything as complex as an Access database. A simple Word table will suffice: one column for the item being referenced, one for the article title and if necessary a short description and one for the year and page. This can be created in page number order, and then sorted by item reference. Easy!
As an example, here is an index I created last night for January and February of 1963. I only chose those years because I happend to have the volume on my desk; you can start anywhere.
http://www.jumbani.d...Sport Index.doc
There are a number of decisions to make:
[list=1]
[*]Do we include non-racing items? I have.
[*]Do we index pictures? I haven't done so but I think it would be a good idea.
[*]Do we include short news items? I haven't
[*]Do we include readers letter? I haven't but again it would be a good idea.
[/list=1]
#7
Posted 18 September 2002 - 19:49
A Word table would be easier for me, certainly. But can it be searched?Originally posted by Roger Clark
I don't think we need anything as complex as an Access database. A simple Word table will suffice: one column for the item being referenced, one for the article title and if necessary a short description and one for the year and page. This can be created in page number order, and then sorted by item reference. Easy!
As an example, here is an index I created last night for January and February of 1963. I only chose those years because I happend to have the volume on my desk; you can start anywhere.
http://www.jumbani.d...Sport Index.doc
There are a number of decisions to make:
[list=1]
[*]Do we include non-racing items? I have.
[*]Do we index pictures? I haven't done so but I think it would be a good idea.
[*]Do we include short news items? I haven't
[*]Do we include readers letter? I haven't but again it would be a good idea.
[/list=1]
I would agree that non racing items should be included..many might find the road tests etc of interest.
Pictures..definitely.
Short news..could cover anything, so I think yes.
Letters. Perhaps not. I wouldn't want anyone to look at the readers' letters in the April 63 issue!
(Particularly one headed "Numbers Count")
On the other hand, letters of special interest used to crop up occasionally. I recall one from JYS reacting to a Jenks anti armco tirade. I wouldn't know where to find it now.
#8
Posted 18 September 2002 - 20:21
Originally posted by David Beard
Letters. Perhaps not. I wouldn't want anyone to look at the readers' letters in the April 63 issue!
(Particularly one headed "Numbers Count")
Of course you have just achieved the opposite effect
#9
Posted 18 September 2002 - 21:54
From my own experience I'd say that if you're using tables, a spreadsheet program like Excel is more convenient than a text editor.Originally posted by Roger Clark
I don't think we need anything as complex as an Access database. A simple Word table will suffice.
Good luck with the project!
#10
Posted 19 September 2002 - 15:52
Go on, it must be done for posterity, all that paper is bound to rot away in a hundred years:)
- Michael
#11
Posted 19 September 2002 - 16:00
Originally posted by MichaelJP
Seeing as people are making this index, surely it's only a bit more work to scan the lot in and put the entire Motorsport set on the web!
Go on, it must be done for posterity, all that paper is bound to rot away in a hundred years:)
- Michael
Wouldn't be too massive either - I bought the Complete National Geographic recently and that's only 30 CDs. Motor Sport's only been going about half as long...
pete
#12
Posted 19 September 2002 - 16:08
I don't think we need anything as complex as an Access database. A simple Word table will suffice.
I have never thought of Access as being very complex and I detest using a spreadsheet (Excel) program for holding a database.
However, if I were doing it, I would use the same database I have already established to index my serials and other holdings: Access. Whenever I get the time, I just plug in the data to build more entries. When I need something, I can just plug in my query and get it. Being both overtaxed and being notoriously seized by massive inertia at times, I have set up the dbase and twiddled with it to the point where I am happy with it and ready to commit all my magazines into the dbase -- if I ever get around to it.....
#13
Posted 19 September 2002 - 17:21
#14
Posted 19 September 2002 - 22:01
Originally posted by Roger Clark
Maybe complex was te wrong word, but Access contains a lot of facilities that we don't need for this application. I also don't like holding text in a spreadsheet. Can anybody suggest anything we might want to do with this that we can't do in Word?
I'm quite happy with either Word or Excel. I have only a glimmering of a notion on how to use Access, but it thought it was designed for this sort of job.
Any sort of data base is useless until it is filled with info, which takes time. I have done a fair bit of Family History research in the past. I looked at a number of software packages before I convinced myself it was worth the effort of feeding in the fruits of my research.
So..is it possible to set up a search system on a Word or Excel file? I don't know of a way.
I still think it's important to consider this before deciding which way to go. We wouldn't want to do lots of work and put it in the wrong sort of container, unless we are sure it can be decanted into another one later if need be.
The main thing is to do it, though. I fit readily into the "A Little Knowledge is Dangerous" pigeon hole. I now bow to better judgement.
Can I do 58, 59, 60, 61 for starters?
#15
Posted 19 September 2002 - 22:24
DCN
#16
Posted 12 October 2002 - 00:08
http://www.jumbani.d...Sport Index.htm
1974 is complete and there is work in progress on 1950, 1958, 1960 and 1963. Any comments, criticisms or, best of all, contributions, will be gratefully received.
#17
Posted 12 October 2002 - 06:01
for Roger and Dave!Originally posted by Roger Clark
Here is the progress to date by David Beard and me.
http://www.jumbani.d...Sport Index.htm
1974 is complete and there is work in progress on 1950, 1958, 1960 and 1963. Any comments, criticisms or, best of all, contributions, will be gratefully received.
I am definitely interested in such an index. So, please keep on trucking. I have done and still have to do similar work for my magazine copies and Automobile Quarterly collection.
#18
Posted 24 October 2002 - 21:08
Originally posted by Roger Clark
Here is the progress to date by David Beard and me.
http://www.jumbani.d...Sport Index.htm
1974 is complete and there is work in progress on 1950, 1958, 1960 and 1963. Any comments, criticisms or, best of all, contributions, will be gratefully received.
It's quite a slow task...one tends to be distracted by finding things to read on the way. Which makes it not really a chore at all.
But we do need some helpers. I'm sure that myself and Roger are not the only TNFers with a MotorSport Mountain waiting to justify its existence. :
#19
Posted 24 October 2002 - 21:21
What you might what to think about doing later is dividing this info into categories like Drivers, Cars, Teams, Races, Motorsports series, etc. I have an Automotive Literature Index that indexes articles for Car and Driver, Road & Track, Motor Trend. It is very useful but I think it has a bit too many sub-categories.
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#20
Posted 16 April 2005 - 11:45
Where did this project get to? I notice the page has now disappeared. Is it somewhere else?
Allen
#21
Posted 16 April 2005 - 13:45
A good question. The work in progress is all on my hard disk, but I removed it from my web space to make room for other things.Originally posted by Allen Brown
Hi guys
Where did this project get to? I notice the page has now disappeared. Is it somewhere else?
Allen
As noted above, David Beard and I did some work on 1950, 1958, 1960, 1963 and 1974. I also obtained a publisher's index for approximately 1950 -2000, which is very high level but at least a start. I started to scan it and convert it to a usable format; even after you pass it through an OCR program it needs a lot of work. I reached 1954 when pressure of work intervened and I put it to one side.
#22
Posted 16 April 2005 - 16:39
If web space is an issue, I'd be happy to host the progress so far on OldRacingCars.com.Originally posted by Roger Clark
A good question. The work in progress is all on my hard disk, but I removed it from my web space to make room for other things.
Perhaps if we make the 1950-2000 index available as images, we may find some volunteers willing to transcribe it into a more searchable format?
Allen
#23
Posted 16 April 2005 - 19:31
http://members.atlas...dex General.doc
#24
Posted 16 April 2005 - 20:22
Originally posted by Roger Clark
Note that it's a 1GB word file, so don't download it unless you really want to.
You really frightened me
1MB!! ....
An interesting start...
Rob
#26
Posted 09 January 2007 - 22:06
Autocar
Autosport
Auto Italia
Cars & Car Conversions
Chequered Flag
Classic & Sports Car
Classic Toy
F1 Racing
Jaguar World
MG Enthusiast
MG World
Mini World
Model Auto Review
Model Collector
Off Road and 4wd
Performance Car
Porsche World
Practical Classics
Purely Porsche
Prix Editions
Road Back
Racecar Engineering
Race Tech
Rally XS
Sports Car International
The Automobile
The Golf
Triumph World
Volks World
Searchable in a number of different ways. Looks like a very useful resource!
http://ewa1.com/magin.html