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?

[Denis Bassom]

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.