...and this week's tinsel-free "Christmas" edition has round-ups of 2019 racing series from over the world. They really are, in racing parlance, "having a go."
'Autosport' magazine
#651
Posted 22 December 2019 - 10:15
Advertisement
#652
Posted 22 December 2019 - 16:59
Pushing...
As 'tis said.
Suddenly I am quite keen on collecting back copies again.
DCN
#653
Posted 22 December 2019 - 18:17
Have you developed a sudden interest in articles which devote 1000 words to 'The real reason why Lewis must win at Yas Marina ' ? Which are object lessons in the bleedin' obvious and are peppered with Americanisms ( 'he will likely win' , 'will he parlay this success to become GOAT ?' ) ? .Incidentally , I love American usage - but written by Americans, not a youthful journalist from down Basingstoke way .
That said. I bought it too and it isn't bad at all - good to see it no longer seems to think that all we are interested in is F1 , and that motor racing history goes back to as far as ...err.. the week before last
ETA inside of , met with , get go (start) , ahead of ( for 'before' ) , co-worker (for colleague ) and that perennial horror , pass - is 'die' now too insensitive ?
Edited by john aston, 27 December 2019 - 07:18.
#654
Posted 17 January 2020 - 20:48
He is an old school reporter whose contributions were always worth reading.
Doubtless to be replaced by another internet yogi.
Progress they call it.
#655
Posted 17 January 2020 - 21:07
https://mobile.twitt...023672193617921
https://mobile.twitt...om/wearetherace
http://the-race.com/
Several other Autosport staffers have also left in recent days, destinations so far unrevealed. As noted above, Nigel Roebuck also left at the end of 2018. Doesn’t bode well ...
#656
Posted 18 January 2020 - 07:48
Interesting . I note that Autocar is reviving its long tradition of motorsport coverage (Eoin Young , Innes Ireland et al ) and has a weekly slot from Damien Smith (formerly of Motor Sport ) ,and, during the latter part of last year, it had a regular 6 pages or so on the sport - and not just F1 - by Mr Arron of this parish .
I assume the thinking was that . because Autosport had shot itself in the foot by pricing itself out of the market and everyone thinks MN/Motorsport News is either dead or stupidly overpriced , there was a gap in the market. I hope Autocar carries on with the coverage
#657
Posted 18 January 2020 - 14:29
Fingers-crossed Autosport will continue to recuperate, to paraphrase Mark Twain I hope that "reports of my resuscitation are greatly exaggerated" do not ring true.
This week's cover screams out "Hamilton - now for Schuey", surely this is enough to keep the £3.99 in your trouser pocket. Regrettably this headline is then accompanied by an editorial which is similarly cringeworthy.
On a more positive note the National News section seems to be flourishing and there is an article on Kazuyoshi Hoshino, so all is not lost.
#658
Posted 18 January 2020 - 17:37
I saw a twitter feed earlier today that said MotorSport News now had a new publisher having just been sold by it's American owners. Probably to do with the intention to kill off the magazine but an outcry saw a reprieve. Wonder if the same will happen to Autosport.
#659
Posted 19 January 2020 - 09:20
I heard there have been attempts by loyal staff to find partners for a new enterprise in an attempt to save MN.
Advertisement
#660
Posted 19 January 2020 - 11:04
Confirmed.
KELSEY MEDIA ACQUIRES MOTORSPORT NEWS
17.01.20
Kelsey Media has acquired the popular weekly newspaper, Motorsport News, from Motorsport Network, owners of Autosport, F1 Racing magazine and Motorsport.com, the world’s largest online racing portal.
Kelsey Media has offices in Peterborough and Kent and produces over 70 regular frequency publications – including four weekly products – plus bookazines, supplements, websites and live action events.
With its strong links to motoring, both classic and performance, plus its own live action events at iconic venues such as Silverstone, Donington and Mallory Park, Kelsey Media is the perfect home for Motorsport News.
Kelsey Media’s Chief Operating Officer, Phil Weeden, commented: “We’re thrilled to have acquired Motorsport News. This is a fabulous product, representing the very heart of grass roots motorsport. With our strong connections to the world of motoring and a passion for all forms of motorsport, we’re looking forward to injecting fresh energy and enthusiasm into Motorsport News.”
James Allen, Motorsport Network President added: “Kelsey Media is the right home for this long standing enthusiast’s title that will see it surviving into a new decade. Our focus is very clear; digital first with a slimmed down portfolio of print titles, to reflect our customer’s needs.”
#661
Posted 19 January 2020 - 11:57
So, what will this mean regarding editorial staff, as up until now so many have been serving both MN and Autosport?
#662
Posted 20 January 2020 - 11:27
I fear this does not bode well. Kelsey par costs down to a minimum, they farm out their publications to be editorially produced by independents and paying minimal cost for the service.
Look out for the quality of paper to also drop to be on par with Izal toilet paper. As for the content, in other of their many magazines they rely on contributors and enthusiasts to submit copy paying minimal rates for the privilege.
Finally, they are not good followers of copyright law as I know from personal experience. So DCN be on the lookout!
#663
Posted 21 January 2020 - 07:30
Confirmed.
KELSEY MEDIA ACQUIRES MOTORSPORT NEWS
17.01.20
Kelsey Media has acquired the popular weekly newspaper, Motorsport News, from Motorsport Network, owners of Autosport, F1 Racing magazine and Motorsport.com, the world’s largest online racing portal.
Kelsey Media has offices in Peterborough and Kent and produces over 70 regular frequency publications – including four weekly products – plus bookazines, supplements, websites and live action events.
With its strong links to motoring, both classic and performance, plus its own live action events at iconic venues such as Silverstone, Donington and Mallory Park, Kelsey Media is the perfect home for Motorsport News.
Kelsey Media’s Chief Operating Officer, Phil Weeden, commented: “We’re thrilled to have acquired Motorsport News. This is a fabulous product, representing the very heart of grass roots motorsport. With our strong connections to the world of motoring and a passion for all forms of motorsport, we’re looking forward to injecting fresh energy and enthusiasm into Motorsport News.”
James Allen, Motorsport Network President added: “Kelsey Media is the right home for this long standing enthusiast’s title that will see it surviving into a new decade. Our focus is very clear; digital first with a slimmed down portfolio of print titles, to reflect our customer’s needs.”
James Allen's final comment doesn't bode well for the print version of MN.
#664
Posted 21 January 2020 - 08:34
Suddenly I am quite keen on collecting back copies again.
Are they collectible today?
A couple of years ago I had to get rid of a lot of Autosport magazines from the 80ies and 90ies due to a removal. No one would want them, not even for free. Evenually they ended up in the trash.
#665
Posted 21 January 2020 - 09:57
It's the stuff that everyone dumps that becomes valuable 20 years later...
Problem in an overcrowded country like the UK is storage. I haven't seen my carpet in months.
#666
Posted 21 January 2020 - 10:07
I haven't seen my carpet in months.
I'm relieved to find that I'm not the only one...
#667
Posted 21 January 2020 - 10:08
Is it the thing hidden under lots of dust?
#668
Posted 21 January 2020 - 10:57
The thing between the canyon walls which keeps one's feet warm.
#669
Posted 21 January 2020 - 18:26
James Allen's final comment doesn't bode well for the print version of MN.
He is the seller of the title, not the new owner.
#670
Posted 16 February 2020 - 16:46
I fear this does not bode well. Kelsey par costs down to a minimum, they farm out their publications to be editorially produced by independents and paying minimal cost for the service.
Look out for the quality of paper to also drop to be on par with Izal toilet paper.
I looked at a copy of Motorsport News today. Contrary to your fears, the paper quality is far better than it has ever been and far whiter, and the print quality is hugely better. The paper is also folded accurately. It now looks like a proper quality product.
I bought MN from the late 1960s onwards and it was production failures under previous ownership that finished me off as a regular buyer, that and the increasing difficulty in finding a copy even at London train termini. Quality became so poor, with colours out of register in the pictures, text printed over the fold line and all using the aforementioned toilet paper.
Whether the CONTENT will match the production quality remains to be seen, but Kelsey seem to have made an excellent start.
#671
Posted 16 February 2020 - 17:39
...and I found Thursday's edition interesting enough to read it pretty much cover to cover. Nothing, perhaps, that contains essential information you can't find anywhere else, but it was enjoyable, which is why I like motor racing anyway.
#672
Posted 16 February 2020 - 18:11
Are they collectible today?
A couple of years ago I had to get rid of a lot of Autosport magazines from the 80ies and 90ies due to a removal. No one would want them, not even for free. Evenually they ended up in the trash.
You have to go back to pre-1980s, or even pre-70s, to find anyone interested in them, and even then their worth is fairly limited. I recently bought a bound complete set from 1967 for just under £40.