Group C Celebration

[rich07]

Originally Posted by Buildtech

These will be the first copies purchased in a long time

You and me both.

[davyboy]

For our Antipodean friends, if you take out a subscription, not only is it cheaper than buying off the shelf, you also get free access to the mag in digital form, so you can read it on line or as a PDF on the day of issue. Worth thinking about.

[trickyd]

If Autosport go too retrospective they'll end up in 'Motorsport Magazine' territory, who pretty much have that nailed with guest editors and the like.

I subscribed to Autosport (or rather my parents did) from about 1997 to 2002 or so, encompassing my last few years in high school and college. I was more into the rally reports then, which were as extensive as the F1 ones then, and there was always a big report on Le Mans, Daytona and maybe Sebring too, plus the FIA GT1 races, F3000 and British F3, and Toruing Cars. Plus there was Nigel Roebuck, who is usually worth a read. It then got a bit F1 centric in that it appeared to be a bit heavy on the technical side of F1, which I found dull. But to be fair to them, by the time I stopped subscribing the WRC was well in into its long slow death, FIA GT1 had long since carked it, F3000 was part of F1 and Touring Cars was in a dry patch. That the quality and variety of motorsport itself reduced wasn't their fault I suppose.

[davyboy]

Originally Posted by trickyd

If Autosport go too retrospective they'll end up in 'Motorsport Magazine' territory, who pretty much have that nailed with guest editors and the like.

I subscribed to Autosport (or rather my parents did) from about 1997 to 2002 or so, encompassing my last few years in high school and college. I was more into the rally reports then, which were as extensive as the F1 ones then, and there was always a big report on Le Mans, Daytona and maybe Sebring too, plus the FIA GT1 races, F3000 and British F3, and Toruing Cars. Plus there was Nigel Roebuck, who is usually worth a read. It then got a bit F1 centric in that it appeared to be a bit heavy on the technical side of F1, which I found dull. But to be fair to them, by the time I stopped subscribing the WRC was well in into its long slow death, FIA GT1 had long since carked it, F3000 was part of F1 and Touring Cars was in a dry patch. That the quality and variety of motorsport itself reduced wasn't their fault I suppose.

A few years ago, they acknowledged that the format had gone stale and the mag had a major overhaul in terms of focus and design. It's a lot better now than it was in the late 1990s, early 2000s. OK, the last two weeks have had an overindulgence on nostalgia, but in general I think they have the balance right between the old and the new in a normal issue.

[Adam43]

Originally Posted by davyboy

We ought to support the mag, I've been a continuous subscriber since the the early 1980s, as if we don't it will perish as has been the case with many other motoring publications in recent years.

That was what pained me when I cancelled it. I really struggled with this, but in the end I had to cancel. It had been building for years, but I bet there was 12 months of knowing I hated it but still subscribed. I see your point, but equally I could not continue to support it in that guise. The day I cancelled was both a liberating and a sad day. Seriously, it felt that important at the time! Madness.

[Deleted]

I wish they had features as lengthy and comprehensive as this about the modern-day sportscar racing (or any other non-F1 related sport), reliving the past is all good and so on but there is so much to dig about the present too. Also, if do wanna go into historics, post - Group C era would've been interesting too...

That being said, it was still a very good read and I appreciate the effort. But the mag will turn into normality as soon as the F1 break is over again, unfortunately.

[JimW]

Originally Posted by rich07

How much actual coverage of Group C is in there in the edition? We get the mag about a week later then you guys in UK so tossing up whether its worth keeping an eye out for.

It's good. I've been sitting at Silverstone watching the cars and reading AS and enjoying both.

Regards

Jim

[Accident]

Dunno if we even get Autosport on the shelves in the US, but if I see this I'll pick it up.

[Simmi]

Originally Posted by porman

Just noticed your user name krt917. Sounds like your heart is in the right place.

It certainly is with Kevin. I did a work placement a Autosport a couple of years ago and I seem to remember a model 917 on his desk. Or a picture on the desktop. Can't remember which.

Was a really nice surprise to see those machines on the front cover. Can't wait to read the section.

[isynge]

Originally Posted by Simmi

It certainly is with Kevin. I did a work placement a Autosport a couple of years ago and I seem to remember a model 917 on his desk. Or a picture on the desktop. Can't remember which.

Was a really nice surprise to see those machines on the front cover. Can't wait to read the section.

It's worth the wait - genuinely good issue.

Autosport comes in for a lot of stick, but it's come on a lot in the last couple of years and paradoxically in the off season bits really comes into its own. It's easy to forget that there's a huge amount of knowledge and a really valuable archive that they seem to be judiciously exploiting contained in the organisation. Supporting this creative side that they clearly have is, for me, well worth the subscription, even if there are some weeks when it gets little more than a quick flick through.

[Aysedasi]

Originally Posted by Adam43

That was what pained me when I cancelled it. I really struggled with this, but in the end I had to cancel. It had been building for years, but I bet there was 12 months of knowing I hated it but still subscribed. I see your point, but equally I could not continue to support it in that guise. The day I cancelled was both a liberating and a sad day. Seriously, it felt that important at the time! Madness.

My sentiments exactly Adam - 100%.

[porman]

I have looked all over NYC for the past two days but to no avail. I did manage to find one place that might get a whopping 2 copies come Tuesday. I could always get the digital edition but my analog ways get the better of me.

Enjoy ladies and gents!

[CUT 7]

good on the editor kevin to sort it.
and he admits he was too young to c gp c at the time ....
makes me feel ancient.
mag was gd and it did get me into the mood for the wec 6 hrs which was its desired result i guess.
but hey group c historics on period rubber wld be top ten on the grid , after 25 years...
so in the end no comparrison in the excitement stakes for me.
is that cos i AM ancient?
the moderns are gd but either they sound like mosqitoes or like quiet jet engines. all v odd....

[Aysedasi]

I have my copy, I bought it on Sunday morning. Just waiting to sit down and have a good read this afternoon.

[porman]

Originally Posted by Aysedasi

I have my copy, I bought it on Sunday morning. Just waiting to sit down and have a good read this afternoon.

Lucky dog!

I couldn't even find it at JFK airport.

[krt917]

Just wanted to say thank you for all the feedback. Hopefully that - and hopefully the sales figures (don't have them yet) - will help us do similar things in future.

Originally Posted by trickyd

If Autosport go too retrospective they'll end up in 'Motorsport Magazine' territory, who pretty much have that nailed with guest editors and the like.

Fair point. The trick will be getting the right balance between cool retro stuff while also keeping everyone updated on current events.

Originally Posted by trickyd

That the quality and variety of motorsport itself reduced wasn't their fault I suppose.

I do think that in some categories that has been a problem. F1's position has had all sorts of influences, such as helping kill of Group C in the first place!

Originally Posted by Simmi

It certainly is with Kevin. I did a work placement a Autosport a couple of years ago and I seem to remember a model 917 on his desk. Or a picture on the desktop. Can't remember which.

Thanks Simmi - it's still my desktop. Pedro at Monza in 1971.

My current model is a 1981 Rondeau M379B, but at the moment I'm put to shame by our DTM reporter, who has about eight Le Mans models from various periods (including a 917) on his desk!

Thanks again all,
Kevin

[Adam43]

Originally Posted by porman

Lucky dog!

I couldn't even find it at JFK airport.

Don't forget you can get an iPad version or PDF version from the website.

[deggis]

Is annual subscription the only way to get access to these "Autosport+" articles?

e.g. http://plus.autosport.com/premium/fe...th-of-group-c/

I'd pay per article if that was possible.

[Adam43]

You can buy individual copies of the magazine, but I don't know if you can get access to individual articles on Autosport+.

[porman]

Originally Posted by Adam43

Don't forget you can get an iPad version or PDF version from the website.

I was getting close to doing so but it seems I have found a place that will hold one of their two copies for me. I'm old-school when it comes to stuff like this. I prefer to have the actual magazine in my hands.

One would think that living in the NYC area I wouldn't have had a hard time finding it. I can't believe that there is no demand.

[John Turner]

Originally Posted by CUT 7

good on the editor kevin to sort it.
and he admits he was too young to c gp c at the time ....
makes me feel ancient.

He didn't miss it all - I took him to the Silverstone 1000ks a couple of times in late 80s early 90's and as a result, for example, he has seen the Kouros Sauber Merc with Thackwell aboard and a hard charging Brundle in XJR14. And at the latter event I was holding his younger brother, Brian's hand (he was about 5 at the time) when Keke floored the 905 emerging from the pitlane exit and the little lad jumped about a foot in the air! He never caught the bug in the same way his elder brother did!

I hope that I am allowed, as a proud Dad, to say that I have found the last two issues particularly absorbing. And Davyboy and others are right - faults or not, Autosport is our only weekly mag covering motorsport and once its gone, its gone!

[The Badger]

I dont care for Autosport , its become a F1 oriented load of crap . It used to be good on sportscars , but thats long gone .

When was the last time they had anything but an F1 car on the cover ?

[Aysedasi]

Been there, done that a thousand times already Mr. B, let's not rake over that all over again.....

I still haven't finished reading The Group C issue, but what I have read, I've greatly enjoyed. OK, so it's remeniscing, I haven't actually learned much, but it's been a good piece of remeniscing, for which I'm certainly grateful.

[Simmi]

Originally Posted by The Badger

When was the last time they had anything but an F1 car on the cover ?

Literally one week ago - hence the thread.

[porman]

You must have enjoyed the article on the Sauber/Merc.