CCC = Dead :( Track & Race Cars = Born :)

[Keefyboy]

All,

Unity Media Plc are producing a magazine to not only replace CCC but to completley revitilise the race car magazine market!

Say hello to Track & Race Cars Magazine. Featuring track tested race cars, timed track stars and in-depth technical insights on the motorsport industry. We've got massive plans to cover the UKs National Motorsport Championships heavily, too.

Anything you'd like to see in the magazine? Then post it here along with comments and questions.

Keith Wood
Track & Race Cars Magazine
Editor

[TimD]

Sounds good to me - how about features on club racers and their cars, details of what they went through in the build, how they've done with the car, what their career path has been....

Perhaps in the manner of some of the rebuild/restoration features in some of the classic car magazines, there would be interest in how people go about choosing the spec of their race equipment, the hassles in fitting it, that sort of thing. Was the car fast out of the box, or is it proving to be a real Debora, no matter what they do to it?

Also, after chatting with a friend embarking on single-seat racing for the first time, how about a series of features on first principles of set-up?

Most of all, best of luck with the venture - if it's half as good as C&CC used to be, say in the golden era of the late seventies and early eighties, then you'll find me as a regular buyer, even though I personally haven't got a machine I'll be taking to a track any time soon.

[Keefyboy]

TimD,

"Most of all, best of luck with the venture - if it's half as good as C&CC used to be, say in the golden era of the late seventies and early eighties"

You've hit the nail on the head. In the past features were all about race cars and the last few years has shown very little of this.

Most of what you said I'd like to cover. Hopefully, with a few more replies, I'll have a post that I can print off, go through with a higlighter pen and work out what most of you guys on here want to see.

You never know, we could always build a race car, do a giveaway competition and fix it so you win! lol

Keith

[verglas]

Good luck on the venture - a mag that covers true grass roots club motorsport that is both educational to a degree and informative is desperately needed. The majority of club racers are not silver spooned daddies boys but hard working enthusiasts with a bit of an idea about what is going on, and some technical expertise would never go amiss! Also, following the progress of a given championship, focussing on both saloon and single seat machinery would be well received I am sure....

[Maisie]

What Tim said! Motorsport - proper grassroots motorsport - is woefully misunderstood by those who actually know it exists, and desperately under-publicised.
There is a hole in the market, currently only partially filled by In Gear magazine, and they have more of an emphasis on race reports, which isn't a bad thing.

I would like to see a magazine that focuses on the "lower" end of motorsport. CCC used to have, IMO, too much of the Radical/Caterham/Ariel Atom type thing, and only one main feature on a club racing car.

I'd like to see proper, full event reports - with words AND pictures, and plenty of them! I'd like to see a bright, colourful and attractive magazine that stands out on the shelves. I'd like to see a wide spectrum of cars covered - single seaters, saloons, everything! I'd like to see circuit guides, event listings, interviews with club racers of all standards and disciplines, tech tips, in-depth examinations of racing cars and perhaps dyno/tech day reports. I'd like to see cars tested and compared - and not just the excellently presented and expensive ones, which are usually not the ones in need of setup help!

Basically, I'd like to see a mag that satisfies the current club racing fraternity in terms of writing up their events and publicising it, and that appeals to the unconverted - that might make them pick the mag up from the shelf, read it, and decide to come along to spectate or participate.

What we need is a magazine that goes some way towards making motorsport something other than the closely-guarded secret it seems to be at the moment!

Don't ask for much, do I?

[greenamex2]

Good luck, and I suspect you'll need it.

In order to appeal to the 'grown ups' you are not going to appeal to carbon fibre gear knob brigade.

From a totally selfish point of view I would like to see reviews of race series and their cars. CCC did a review of our series that included the cars being 'driven' (aka abused for the magazine staffs own entertainment) round a circuit and impressions given.

If you are interested in something on the Toyo Modified Production Saloons then email me.

I would also like to see some real technical articles like CCC used to do. Things like this is how easy it actually is to tune modern cars and still pass an MOT, this is how easy it is to make REAL carbon fibre parts that will actually help you go faster, real dyno tests/comparisons between engines.

And above all, please remain unbiased and open. I stopped buying CCC when they tested a bunch of engines together, a Japanese engine beat all the Ford ones by a significant margin but the writer still shouted about how much he would rather have the Ford for no apparent reason.

When will the first issue hit the shelfs?

[jonathanc]

They all sound like good ideas to me. Especially including more reports on club racing in the UK. As Im biased some coverage on the renamed Formula Honda (next year could be called F600 & F1000, will have to wait and see) as it is one of the few single seater series that now has regular grids between 20-25 cars. Jedi Racing Cars (01933440774) can provide as much info as required.

Also, how about any of the following:

1. HOW TO: Data logging and analysis
2. Basics of racing car setup
3. Driver Diary (take an up and coming driver and publish weekly/monthly reports)
4. Intro pon how motorsport works in UK (how the MSA and clubs work in order to arrange race meetings etc)

Many of the above could be done as a series of articles.
If you need contributors, where better than people from this forum, as Im sure there are loads of people who are actively involved in Motorsport who would be willing to put pen to paper.

Anyway, just a thought.

[Maisie]

Yeah, we have a driver membership from a wide variety of formulae and I'm sure most of them would be happy to write a resume of themselves and their cars. Then there's the pit crews, the marshals, the spectators....

[Keefyboy]

Maisie,

"Basically, I'd like to see a mag that satisfies the current club racing fraternity in terms of writing up their events and publicising it"

This is my view totally. I've been racing since I was very young (bikes, karts, F/Ford) and totally understand how difficult it is to get publicity to attract sponsorship. Which is why I feel I'm in a really good position to help any 'up&coming' driver.

We've got our own GPS timing gear so no-bull reports will dominate the magazine. This also means product tests or a feature on setups can be accurately logged and reproduced in a feature making it far easier for the reader to relate to and understand.

Denis,

Very interested in Toyo Modified Production Saloons. If we get something planned and we drive some of the cars it wouldn't be for a giggle (and that includes every car/championship). I'll make sure the owner would actually get something form not only the day but also the feature.

The great thing about the timing gear is that no matter how biased a journo might come across the results will speak for themselves. No-bull, just straight talking, hard hitting, facts.

All,

You can email me too at:

kwood@unity-media.com

Keith

[Keefyboy]

First issue will hit the shelves in January.

jonathanc,

Formula Honda would be an ideal championship to cover. I'll contact you about it as soon as possible.

Keith

[jonathanc]

Keith,
Look forward to it
Give me a bell any time on 07771 637 237 for a chat.
Best Rgds
Jonathan

[BertMk2]

Anything that increases the coverage of club level motorsport has to be a good thing, the level (and quality) of reporting at the moment varies randomly week to week. As for what to put in the mag - everything already mentioned and maybe circuit guides (layout, facilities, best lines etc.). Not forgetting of course an article or two about SEMSEC!

[carrera]

Sounds good, will it be a weekly or monthly?

Full colour? Cover price?

Where will it be stocked?

Gary
Classic Thunder

[Keefyboy]

Gary,

Monthly, full colour, £3.75, every issue will be available from all the top newsagents including WH Smiths etc etc etc

Classic Thunder? You race, organise?

Keith

[Suzy]

Keefyboy: can you ensure that WH Smith in Witney is covered by your circulation? Only we miss out on just about everything there (I have to travel 30 miles - to either Silverstone or Banbury - each time I want a copy of In Gear!) and I would like to see it.

[Suzy]

And, sorry for the double-post but, in addition to those above, this is what I also like to see:

Give us reports from several angles - one from a journalist, one from a driver, one from a spectator even. I find that 3 people can watch the same race - and you will get 3 differing viewpoints!

Let's have lots of photographs - and not all taken from the Russell chicane at Snetterton. There are loads of great photographs that go to waste because of the lack of space. Also don't crop all the pictures to the size of thumbnails so that the detail isn't clear.

Maybe have a "spectator snaps" page. Let the spectators show off their pictures. Don't worry everybody - this is not going to be classed as muscling in on professional photographers.

Let's have some information for the spectators too - publish a calendar of forthcoming events with prices, timetable etc. I admit that these are not often available until very close to the event, but it's really helpful. AS a hypothetical example: a family who is considering paying a visit to a track (for the first time) will probably be grateful to know how much they're going to fork out when they get there, where they can watch from, what they can visit to keep the kids occupied, is there somewhere to eat.

This magazine is the PERFECT opportunity to get the ultimate racing magazine which suits everybody.

[LandOfSnow]

Reports on tested racecars, from the very grassroot bottom to world championship level, but only if you're allowed to measure/datalog/compare directly or include technical details on the WC level cars, no promo features telling just how awesome the cars are.

Personally I don't find it that intresting to read articles on the cars for the very low key champioships as the cars are usually very tightly regulated to keep the costs down, don't get this wrong, I'm quite happy to read about home built mk2 escorts but not necessarely the ones built to some of the "one make"/every-car-the-same type of classes. I understand these examples of the cheapest ways in to the motorsport are intresting and important to some people but as I don't live in the UK most of the classes don't exist here. Examples on the type of cars we race in Finland and I would like to see: http://www.historicrace.fi , particularely the Roadsport class. Ofcourse variety is always a good thing.

I'd really like to see features on the lines of what CCC's clinic & walker's column were like and in the spirit of the late John Robinson of the Performance bikes, things are measured and explained with physics, not like the manufacturer/most-people-on-paddock/the-guy-at-the-bar thinks it's.

If your measurements don't come out as expected find a reason for it and even if you don't, publish the article and measurements. The unexpected results may inspire someone else or that someone can tell you why. If you fail at something, tell about it. It's often amusing to read and gives you something in return for the wasted budget.

Good luck, and please make sure it will be shipped to Finland in January.

[carrera]

Keith

Classic Thunder organised by CTCRC check out

www.csccgb.co.uk

They also organise Group One saloons, Post Historics etc

Gary
Classic Thunder no.30

[Steve Wood]

Sounds like the magazine we've all been waiting for.

Best of luck from the EERC.

[JohnD]

You may want to avoid all resemblance to the original, but if you can recruit Dave Walker, I'll buy your mag. That man's writing about cars and engines is better by far than any journalist's.

I trust that you will eschew any resemblance to the Top Revs/Fast Car rat pack? Please emphasize the engineering and sport aspects, NOT the 'lifestyle'. Some Which? style best buys would be good too, and some debagging of inflated, hyperbolic salesmanship such as the Ecotek ripoff.
John

[darcym]

Have you considered either marketing the new magazine on the web with a autosport style website with news etc etc.

Even better with a bit of time / effort / money (I do appriciate all are not easy) you could actually make an exact copy of the magazine in say html format or PDF format and charge a small subscritpion fee to get the magazine via email / download. This would save on publishing costs and make it available in E format and available to a wider audience. You could even go nuts (over the top) and make an e-book version of the magazine for palm tops.

Just a thought.

Matt.

[Keefyboy]

ss_collins,

Thanks for letting this thread stay alive! The posts have kept coming and there is some very interesting views/ideas.

All,

Lets not get too far off what the mag is all about. This won't go head-to-head with the likes of M/News, A/Sport or even In-gear.

This is an in-depth magazine that will get up-close and personal with some of the best motorsport machinery in the business. There currently isn't a magazine that does this.

That will mean advanced GPS timing of the cars to show the reader where and why it makes that paticular car so good with facts rather than opinion.

However, getting stuck into the race scene is where I want to be. Myself and the guys working on the mag race/have raced and we want to spend a season competing and reporting back on our ups and downs.

I personally would like to help out as many race champonships/events as possible. I haven't quite worked out how I'm going to fit them all into the mag yet but the more coverage a race series gets, the more people want to get involved and the cheaper it is for everybody (sponsors get attracted more if a magazine is covering the whole year, blah blah blah).

Thanks again for all the views and keep them coming, I really appreciate it!

Keith

[superbird]

Are you gonna put any kart technical stuff in it? I'll still buy it if you don't but I'm just wondering

Also what sort of tone is it going to be written in? I'm reasonably intelligent but not an engineer by any stretch so I'm hoping it won't go over my head

[TimD]

I would say that "Racecar Engineering" covers the cutting edge pretty well, but there is a real need and appetite for race engineering and tech knowhow for the layman. As I mentioned earlier, I would be interested in seeing a basic presentation of the principles of race set-up for example.

[Keefyboy]

Superbird,

Sounds interesting. Karting is the stepping stone to race cars so maybe there's scope for a feature?

TimD,

Racecar Engineering is highly technical and almost an industry mag for the engineers of big race teams. Technical features written for the 'layman' not only makes it easier to understand (for those that are getting to grips with car setup, engine tuning etc) but also creates a far more entertaining read (for those that already have strong technical knowledge) in my opinon.

One of the first features in the magazine has already been confirmed, setup explanations/guide on coilover suspension. It'll be at one track using our GPS timing gear where we'll dial in some totally different settings for each run. Using our software it will (hopefully!) explain what changes affected the car at what point on the circuit (good or bad) with speed/G readings etc. Obviously there's lots more to the feature but I can't give it all away!

Keith