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Post by Jamie on Feb 10, 2019 9:36:39 GMT
Gents,
Has anyone had a chance to glance at the latest Motorsport mag after what feels like yet another revamp?
I must say I think the magazine is visually much improved and is laid out in a far more readable and logical style than of late. Also far less road car and auction stuff which is most welcome.....could this be a turning point?
I’d still like to see the mag biased a touch more to the historical side of the sport but this is a step in the right direction I feel. Some of the journalism feel a touch lightweight in this issue but maybe that’s just the blend of writers in this month’s offerring, hopefully this will improve a bit.
All in all, a good update I think. Be interested in others opinions if you’ve read it, though I understand not so many of us read the mag these days.
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Post by charleselan on Feb 10, 2019 12:33:43 GMT
Gents, Has anyone had a chance to glance at the latest Motorsport mag after what feels like yet another revamp? I must say I think the magazine is visually much improved and is laid out in a far more readable and logical style than of late. Also far less road car and auction stuff which is most welcome.....could this be a turning point? I’d still like to see the mag biased a touch more to the historical side of the sport but this is a step in the right direction I feel. Some of the journalism feel a touch lightweight in this issue but maybe that’s just the blend of writers in this month’s offerring, hopefully this will improve a bit. All in all, a good update I think. Be interested in others opinions if you’ve read it, though I understand not so many of us read the mag these days. Good and interesting summary Jamie. I have read about the changes and from what i can see those that bother to comment on the MS Forum these days have not been too glowing in their praise. However yours is fair and even handed, and at least is positive. I do not envy any editor or staff working for a magazine in the UK these days, it must be mind numbing trying to keep the readership up with so much going against them. Strangely here in France there is a plethora of monthly magazines,. motor sport; cars; bike racing; bikes; many historical editions of all types. However having said that France does tend to be several years behind with many things. I am over in the UK at the end of the month for a quick trip, but doubt that i will be picking up a copy, light weight is of no interest to me sadly. |
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Post by Jamie on Feb 10, 2019 14:41:50 GMT
I’m hoping the leightweight part is more of a temporary state as I didn’t find the written word particularly in depth this month but this is very much issue dependant....which writers are featured etc etc. I don’t rate this new chap (Kamul is it?) very highly, he’s far more suited to Autosport.....
I hope the prose is better next month but overall I liked the changes.
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Post by chrisb on Feb 10, 2019 18:45:20 GMT
Hi Jamie, I have read this month's magazine as well - I do like the layout and think Joe Dunn is a good editor, the lunch with I found really good, Stephanie Ratel is an interesting guy, but the little box where he is summoned to the "Godfather' is actually quite unpleasant tale and explains so much that went wrong with motor sport when the PD inflicted his greed and control over motor racing, a bit of a relief he didn't get his claws into motor bike racing, he was scary!
Generally it is ok, I did like the Alan Henry [another great journalist lost to us] tapes with Jenks and Senna and I have grown to like Dickie Meaden, the others are ok and a few new names, Jenny Gow wasn't enthralling but early days, we will see where it goes, the biggest story was about Lewis and it was an interesting idea and you can see it would reduce the bias against Lewis, the adverts are better and the Duncan Hamilton one is always breathtaking,
however in saying that it still misses something, what I am not totally clear about, I like Mark's writing and maybe more of his musing's may be the answer, but I still miss Roebuck and his style, so maybe Mark will continue to evolve and Nigel will be a distant memory -
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Post by Jamie on Feb 10, 2019 19:09:58 GMT
I think I’d agree Chris, it still needs something but I do feel this new style and layout is much better, the magazine was all over the place in the recent past whereas this issue flowed quite well.
I do miss Nigel’s contribution, I know he was / is a marmite character but I always used to turn straight to his column first which says it all really.
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Post by charleselan on Feb 15, 2019 15:23:13 GMT
I noticed the other day that the editor was pushing two new journo's that are now working for MS. Jenny Gow is an OK presenter on TV and radio, but way too shallow in the written word in my opinion. One always looks to a writer on MS as someone who has abundant knowledge about the sport, and not just access to all areas, as it has been put regarding Jenny.
The other new person, isn't new at all, and that is Andrew Frankel. He can write some good features but can be quite divisive when it comes to certain topics, and usually manages to get some folk going on the forum.
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Post by Jamie on Feb 17, 2019 7:47:32 GMT
The jury is very much out on Jennie Gow for me at the moment, if her piece is going to give genuine paddock insight on important topics, then great and I really hope that’s what it is but the first column was a bit ‘mainstream’. Let’s see how it develops.
AF being hailed as shiny and new is a bit weird of course. His column is new but he’s been a big part of the magazine for years.
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Post by charleselan on Feb 17, 2019 18:20:08 GMT
The jury is very much out on Jennie Gow for me at the moment, if her piece is going to give genuine paddock insight on important topics, then great and I really hope that’s what it is but the first column was a bit ‘mainstream’. Let’s see how it develops. AF being hailed as shiny and new is a bit weird of course. His column is new but he’s been a big part of the magazine for years. I will always associate Jenny Gow with being a TV anchor person. A few years ago she was thrown in at the deep end to anchor the MotoGP coverage but she really did not ignite the situation, although I felt that she was far better in more recent times doing the Formula E studio role. For me though she just isn't the right material for such a publication as Motorsport, just as could be said for Lee McKenzie when she did features for MS Forum. Lee is excellent on TV but as a writer for something like Motorsport she came up short. For me it is all about knowledge and being able to enthuse and engage the reader; Motorsport Magazine is not a mainstream tabloid and its readership reflects that which thereby means much greater expectations of a writer. |
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Post by Jamie on Feb 17, 2019 20:05:48 GMT
Wise words John. We’ll see how it goes but I wouldn’t say she was a perfect fit for MS.......I’ll be very happy to be proved wrong however.
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Post by chrisb on Feb 18, 2019 5:50:47 GMT
Lee McKenzie is one of my favourite TV presenters, interviewers and personalities, I love it when she does the rugby her demeanour is just right and so unbiased, unlike some other presenters I could mention, but her spell at MS was just sort of 'phoned in' and not, I suspect how she can write but I felt with Lee, unlike Mark, there was a conflict as to what she was capable of and the fear of consequences of her writings.
With regards to Jenny, she does the F1 pit stuff on BBC radio, enthusiastic I think is a polite description initially, but she seems to have calmed down and is ok, I think she is capable of writing some good stuff that would suit MS but it is not clear if she will write it, or 'phone it in' aka Lee, but at least MS are trying and that I am grateful for
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Post by chrisb on Mar 5, 2019 5:50:51 GMT
have just received this months Motor Sport and what a jolly good read it is, Joe Dunn really does seem to be getting better and better, there are many things in this month's that I liked reading and even Jenny Gow's is a much better article than last month, am forever hopeful this continues.
Although I would like to have a bigger book/ DVD review section in MS, which included past books as well as newly released, I can't see that happening. As I revere everyone else's opinions on this wonderful forum perhaps that is something we might consider? I ask as I am working my way through 4 such books, one of which I have read, Archie and the Listers, which is a marvellous read and just showed you that in the 50's you really could overcome barriers and challenges to be accepted at the highest levels, one I am currently reading is Senna, a massive book, but surprisingly good so far and I am up to his joining Toleman. so far it is a pretty good read, as it shows Ayrton in perspective and talks of his darker side as well as his fun and dedication sides. perhaps when finished I will do a 'review'
the other two books being Rosemary Smith and Perry McCarthy -incidentally Jamie there is a brilliant picture of Rosemary and Jimmy together at the 1966 RAC and she is spoon feeding Jimmy, I wonder....
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Post by Jamie on Mar 5, 2019 20:31:34 GMT
That’s good to hear Chris, I received my copy today but haven’t had a chance to flick through yet. I definitely feel that Joe Dunn is a safe pair of hands compared to the previous incumbent.
And I like the book review idea, always nice to hear others opinions of racing books.
Regarding Jim and Rosemary....well, I do wonder......she was a looker and Jim certainly had an eye for a pretty lady 😁
I’ve just treated myself to Leslie Thurston’s book on the Jaguar XJR prototype cars, can’t wait to get into that one but I’m currently reading Jo Ramirez’s autobiography.
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Post by charleselan on Jun 28, 2019 12:19:12 GMT
I looked in on the MS Forum yesterday and there is quite a good article written by Paul Fearnley on the 1959 French GP at Reims, very fitting as the weather currently is extraordinarily hot at present just as it was for that race. For me I am not the biggest fan of Paul's writing, far too flowery for my taste, but this is definitely one of his better compositions.
That race has a particular resonance for me as it was the feature race report on the very first monthly motor spot magazine that i pestered my mum to guy for me at the tender age of eight years. The magazine was the excellent "Motor Racing' edited by John Blunsden, the cover having a monochrome picture of the cars as they left the grid.
The race was won by the brilliant Tony Brooks in the truly beautiful 1959 Ferrari Dino 246, the last great front engined F1 car. Run in temperatures that were truly unbearable around the super fact and open Reims circuit, so hot that the tar melted and chipping's blasted cars and drivers alike.
A good read and one that really puts into perspective how arduous racing in those times could be.
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Post by Jamie on Jun 29, 2019 6:58:54 GMT
Great article, thanks John for the heads up.
Received the latest mag this week and I must say it’s very much heading back to its previous standards......it’s not yet as good as it was in the glory years but it’s definitely improving.
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Post by René on Jun 29, 2019 11:45:50 GMT
Great article, thanks John for the heads up. Received the latest mag this week and I must say it’s very much heading back to its previous standards......it’s not yet as good as it was in the glory years but it’s definitely improving. The interview with Mauro Forgieri is very nice, what an interesting life that man had and still going strong at 84! Also the Mark Hughes interview with Seb is a good read. He's a really nice guy with a genuine Ferrari passion. Only for that I still wish he can accomplish his dream of winning a title with the reds. |
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