It’s all over

I’m cancelling my subscription. The magazine no longer seems relevant or worth buying. After over 30 years of continued subscription I’m just not enjoying the read anymore. I’m talking of course of my long-term relationship with the British magazine Classic Motorcycle. As a young classic and vintage motorcycle enthusiast I could hardly wait to get to the newsagent every two months in the early ‘80s to pick up the latest edition of Classic Motorcycle and see if there was an article on either a bike like the one I was restoring at the time, or on some pertinent restoration technique I wanted to master. This worked fine while I was interested in only one make, Norton, as there was always plenty of information on this very British icon. As my interests broadened over time however there was less relevance to find, especially on classic Italian, Japanese and vintage American iron. So I bought Classic Bike, Classic Mechanics, Classic Racer, anything that I thought would offer some variation. Then in the late ‘80s came an Australian magazine which seemed far more interesting than the overseas mags. I would occasionally see someone I knew pictured, or find an article on an Australian make, or even find out about an upcoming event… before it happened! Steve Hazelton’s Classic Motorcycling seemed to fill the hole in my motorcycle reading needs. Steve’s magazine started off pretty basic, completely in black and white, but soon progressed to quite a nicely presented magazine and on a par with Classic Motorcycle (of that period at least). But then it just disappeared, gone without a trace, I was thoroughly disappointed. After only a couple of years it was back to the UK for reading material. Another 20 years in the desert passed, and Old Bike Australasia came to my rescue – a local publication covering a wide range of motorcycle eras, countries of origin, makes and associated histories, plus people and places I know – all in one magazine! OBA not only has the local content, but equals (maybe surpasses) the best of the British mags now in the quality of the journalism and printing itself. I’m particularly impressed with the quality of both the period and contemporary photos. Well done, you’ve created a magazine without compromise! I have to confess though that I’m not an Edgar Jessop fan. I find it downright frustrating to see an interesting period photo but am not able to find out what the real origin of the photo is! It may be, however, that I’m just turning into a Grumpy Old Man as, when talking to a friend the other week about OBA, he said that the Edgar Jessop section was the first thing he turned to each edition! Have you considered going monthly, introducing a “for sale” section or a regular “how to” feature? But then, maybe that would be trying to be too much like the very same British magazine I’ve become tired of? Well, things have come full circle, once again I can hardly wait to get to the newsagent every two months to pick up my favourite bike magazine. Thanks for a very professionally put together magazine – just don’t disappear on me any time soon please! Rob Elliott South Australia