106 replies to this topic

[cooper997]

Thanks Mark, I wasn't expecting a response from Bruce. But good to see there are some plans.

 

My post 99 was simply a result of me not finding a new issue in 2 or 3 newsagents. So I finally went online to find out what was happening. Hence the link I added.

 

As you're aware I still support car magazine publishers and the newsagents the best I can. But I know I'm in a minority as us dinosaurs get passed by in the new age where everything has to be done with a bloody phone.

 

Of the 5 or 6 Aussie car related mags out there, I've been supporting just 2 on an every issue basis. AA and AMC. Occasionally I'll get a Unique Cars, but usually only if something grabs my attention.

 

The rest I buy are from publishers based in that other hemisphere,

 

Happy to buy a new format AA even without changing the current formula too much ( new size will make storage easier ). But that Historics editor chappie needs a chance to strut his stuff and maybe get a bit more than a few giggles in the office. But there's that age old problem of production cost versus incoming revenue and the pecking order.

 

And for it all to work a significant number of others will need to contribute as a point of sale purchaser or subscriber.

 

 

Stephen

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[cooper997]

I've just purchased the new monthly 'Auto Action Premium' and although I'm yet to read much, I can say it's great to have a hardcopy available to read at my leisure.

 

'Premium' has been added to the title and indeed the quality of the publication too. Bruce, Andrew, Betty and the AAP team can be rightfully proud. It's not their first rodeo, but it is a major step forward in the many life cycles of the Auto Action publication's 54 year existence.

 

Yes it's a bit dearer per copy. Big deal, buy 3 less coffees over a month. However works out cheaper over the year as it's monthly rather than fortnightly. Pages are up and it has a nice feel to the paper quality used. Caroline has done a great job laying out the pages in a neat and logical fashion. There's no great wastage of white (or coloured) space that some titles I buy prefer to have in their 'arty' ways.

 

Plus it's all motor sport / motoring related covering current and historic features. Mark has 20 something pages of the 132. Greedy bugger that he is! Alas many of those pages relate to a huge photo spread to cover Jim Clark's 1965 season. The choice derived from his 1965 Tasman, Indy and F1 GP racing that year.

 

Another piece Mark has contributed is Toyota's competition history in Australia. As I've told him "Toyota better buy 500 copies and send out to their dealers to learn their own motor racing history. "  As they will soon embark on their Supercar journey.

 

 

 

 

 

Now it's up to us to support their efforts, resist the often used addage that "I haven't bought a car mag in years"

 

 

Stephen

Edited by cooper997, 15 March 2025 - 01:24.

[MarkBisset]

Thanks Stevo,

 

It's coupe of weeks later than planned but better late than never.

 

The small AA crew are working their nuts off, there is still the usual fortnightly Auto Action to produce as well as 'Premium', It's grown in size too. Free, as you know, online.

 

I hope people will buy it, read it, give it a go. Bruce Williams is keen to know folks view of The Good, The Bad and The Ugly to evolve the format. 

 

The Jim Clark 1965 one was fun to write, Bruce' idea, whereas the Toyota one was stimulated by Trevor Montgomery giving me a hard-copy of the 1957 Mobilgas Round Australia Rally results and me having a WTF moment at the sight of a Toyopet Crown crewed by a couple of Japs and Oz sidekick in the results; Toyota's first motorsport entry globally.

 

Busy with the next issue now, thanks for your help in relation thereto!

 

m

[cooper997]

The new April 'Auto Action Premium' should be in newsagents across Australia by now. Or visit https://autoactionma...myshopify.com/  for subscriptions

 

Plenty of reading for all our tastes from club level & historic race coverage through to modern day F1, Supercars, WRC.etc

 

Wayne Webster tells us what it was like being the 'dumb bastard' in the navigator seat for the first Targa Tasmania back in 1992. Sharing the ride (and crash) with Brad Jones in the road-going Holden VN GpA homologation special. My recall from the day was Brad vowed never to do a rally again.

 

Mark Bisset's kept busy with the Brock BMW story as shown on the cover and continues the Ford GT40 story with a huge array of Ford Archive photos to adorn the piece.

 

 

 

Stephen

[ellrosso]

I bought this latest issue and thoroughly enjoyed it - must be the first AA I've bought for nearly a year maybe (can't do online - I like a hard copy magazine or book). Well done to all concerned. I've been a reader since No 1 so good to see it going strong.

[MarkBisset]

Thanks chaps, just flicked thru it, content is a diverse mix.

 

Maxi-Taxis 17 pages, Moto GP 2, World Sportscars 3, NASCAR 2, News 12, Indycar/F2/F3 2, Columns 3, Road Test 4, F1 25, Features other 8, History: Eddie Jordan 4, GT40 12 and Brock BMW 8, Rally 12, National/State 12

 

Grumbles

The cover is too much like the old but Bruce is migrating existing readers across and hopefully it will soon reflect the mag it is rather than what it isn't. Some of the subbing is sh!t. 7 ad pages in 132 isn't a recipe for longevity. I would phuck the national and state stuff into the free online publication in its entirety.

 

Brucie Williams is giving it a Red Hot Go, hopefully a few folks buy the thing!

 

m

Edited by MarkBisset, 14 April 2025 - 22:35.

[MarkBisset]

​photo hosting

 

Stirling Moss in John Dawson-Damer’s ex-Clark 1966 Tasman Cup Lotus 39 FPF 2.5 at the Oran Park Historic Meeting in the 1984 summer (I think). 
Found this looking for something else at AA last week.

 

The one below is one of John Shingleton’s shots

 

free image sharing

Edited by MarkBisset, Today, 00:39.