Editor’s welcome
Welcome to the issue, one in which we’re celebrating 40 years of the publication being in existence. We’ve not gone over the top, instead we’ve taken a look back at some of the issues in the intervening four decades, acknowledging the changes which have occurred, as well as reprinting an article published in the wake of founding editor Bob Currie’s passing, originally appearing in 1988 and which tells the story of the man who created the magazine.
In 1981 I celebrated my third birthday, while in 1988 it was my 10th year – though by then I was a regular reader of this magazine, while my poor mother had to endure my childhood choice of ‘read a book with mum’ being Jeff Clew’s The Scott Motorcycle. As a magazine, the publication (always my favourite) left some indelible marks on my young mind – the Douglas I went on to later own was on the cover in 1988, while the Rex-Acme I still possess (having acquired it in 2009) featured in 1990, incidentally co-starring with a Norton incredibly similar to the one on this issue. About then, my birthday present would be a subscription to the magazine.
My affection for the title is longstanding and I find it scarcely believable that I’ve now been in this position for 18 years, during which time we’ve seen all manner of revisions and changes, with the last year and a bit seeing the biggest upheaval in all that time. Working practices have changed irretrievably, though the fact we’ve kept going is, to me, the biggest achievement in all those years. Now we’re all looking ahead to The International Classic MotorCycle Show, I’ll be at Stafford over July 3/4, spending most of my time on our stand there. Do come and say hello.
Also, an apology – last month I seemed to inadvertently relocate both the AJS and Sunbeam works to Birmingham, from their Wolverhampton homes. Apologies to all, and thank you to those who pointed out my error (Ivan Rhodes was the first), I don’t know how I did it – and it’s made doubly ironic as I’ve been thinking and reading quite a bit of late about Wolverhampton and the industry there (the fact AJS employed 3000 people when they shut in 1931 staggers me) while the fact the majority of motorcycles made there (HRDs were another) seems to be black and gold is also interesting.
I can’t think it’s a coincidence that the city’s football team, Wolverhampton Wanderers, plays in those colours too. It’s the curiosity, details and intrigue like that which has sustained the enthusiasm at The Classic MotorCycle for all these years. And though we have always made mistakes (there’s one on the cover of issue two, for example) we have always sought to produce the best magazine we can, for our fellow enthusiast.