fryske:
CVC has really declined recently - which is a pity as they have finally improved the print quality.
The recent cover story of the AEC Mercury is a case in point - as far as I could see it was just an extended sales advert!
No restoration or anything to add to the info. which has been stuck to the front of that lorry at many shows for several years…
The editor sees it as his personal nostalgia magazine - hence the reluctance to feature lorries post-1980 (except when he feels like it…)
I thought that AEC looked familiar-they don’t give much info on the featured lorrys’ life (just repeated bumf about how AEC was shut down etc) and I skipped most of the article although I thought it cheaky to add at the end that despite it being “cherished” the owner was willing to sell it. If that’s the case then it should be in the classifieds.
The no 1980+ gets on my ■■■■; As I’ve posted somewhere before, old to me goes upto mid '90s (when I left school), and although I like to see vintage lorries, the resto stories don’t hold alot of my interest to me as I can’t relate to them. I think anything before a certain age (say 1955) should be in old glory.
Not quite on thread but we are trying to persuade our local County Show (Kent) that a mint condition mid 80’s SK tractor is worthy of a place as an exhibit in the “classic” section.
The young lady in charge said it is a bit too new, completely oblivious to that fact that a huge number of 40’ somethings relate to the 80’s and early 90’s as nostalgia as that was what was happening in their formative years.
If the magazines are also reflecting this attitude then they will die out as as when their readers do!
Just got a copy of this months CVC magazine. It has a picture on the cover of Gowlers Leyland Comet, the exact same motor as was on the front cover of Heritage Commercials that came out two weeks ago. I think we now know where the old duffer Ted Connolly goes to get his stories!
I’m not too pleased with CVC or HC as I’ve had articles published in both and neither of them sent the photos back. I contacted them both and got a curt reply off HC saying they were looking into it and not a word from CVC. This is months ago so I might as well give up hope now. They say they want people like me ( or should I say “us” as I’m sure there are several on this site who contribute ) to write in with memories of days gone by, also sending photos. And I have plenty of both. I’m in a good mind to stop buying these two mags. and just stick to T&D at least they sent a photo back to me promptly a few years ago. I reckon they will send my photos “when Nelson gets his eye back” quoting an old Yarmouth saying. Regards to all Haddy ,Gt. Yarmouth.
I must declare a past involvement in C & VC for many years. When it was first launched Peter Love invited me to contribute to the first edition and I became a regular contributor until 5 years ago when I decided to pack it in. Peter Love was a wonderfully enthusiastic editor to write for and he built up a very successful specialist magazine in no time at all. As well as editing
C &VC he was also editing the Tractor magazine which at one time had a monthly circulation of almost 30,000 copies. C &VC at its peak was half that figure. Despite the popularity of these mags. Peter’s relationship with the Kelsey heirarchy was often difficult. When Peter Love was replaced by Nick Larkin he was very upset about it, and it was just one of many internal arguments he got involved with. Nick was and is a very knowledgeable bus enthusiast, but with little knowledge of lorries. In the main he was ok to write for and he would often ring up in a panic to either Peter Davies or myself asking for a bit of information and guidance. However It became obvious over time that production budgets were being reduced and quality suffered, also contributors’ fees were reduced. When my fees were halved without any prior consultation I walked away. Alright I might have been writing rubbish in some peoples’ opinion but a well researched article does take time and effort. Now, the only thing I read in C & VC are the features by Peter Davies. Personally I always had photos returned by Kelsey, but it could take a long time, and often I did get other contributors’ pictures, which I always tried to return to their rightful owner. I would recommend to anyone submitting photos to any magazine that they are sent on disc or by Email, and not as hard copy.
It’s been said before – but they really need to lose the A to Z section - it’s a really lazy feature that seems to have been dragging on for an eternity!
I think it’s shame that the mag’s idea of rally or road run coverage is a huge selection of tiny, tightly-cropped shots.
fryske:
I think it’s shame that the mag’s idea of rally or road run coverage is a huge selection of tiny, tightly-cropped shots.
…of normally the same vehicles seen the previous month Surely CVC would’ve been going around with their notebook and camera at Gaydon looking for something new to feature?
Apparently, Ted disappeared off site (home?) about two hours before the show closed, and before he had told anybody at the show what he had selected for the Kelseys editors best in show award and light commercial award !!
I dont buy any magazine regularly but if I do it will be one of the older interest ones like C&VC or Heritage rather than the modern blinged up stuff.
I understand it is of limited interest but some of the best transport days were mentioned in many that I read.
Even the modern magazines could take a leaf out of their books and tell how the large companies started out, owner driver to fleet or something similar we were talking about at Gaydon.
Kays of Mackworth (Mackworth Trucks) LEX now Imperial. Frank Kay started out life as a cycle dealer and his brother bought some ex army lorries and built his own vehicle bodies to sell on.
Hello all, Wheel Nut, I agree, the history is the fascinating thing, but it seems to me that there is more knowledge, and real history associated with the contributors to T.N., in its various threads, than you are ever likely to see in a Kelsey or Mortons Media publication! The problem with the magazines would appear to be a distinct lack of Editorial background, or any experience in our industry, (though that seems to afflict the mainstream Reed publications as well)!! What do others think?? gingerfold, I never received back from Kelsey priceless (to me) photographs from the 60s, that I sent at Nick Larkins request early 2000s, despite frequent chasing, it really is so arrogant of them, but as I remarked in my earlier post they are awash with free material, so why should they bother!
fryske:
CVC has really declined recently - which is a pity as they have finally improved the print quality.
The recent cover story of the AEC Mercury is a case in point - as far as I could see it was just an extended sales advert!
No restoration or anything to add to the info. which has been stuck to the front of that lorry at many shows for several years…
The editor sees it as his personal nostalgia magazine - hence the reluctance to feature lorries post-1980 (except when he feels like it…)
I thought that AEC looked familiar-they don’t give much info on the featured lorrys’ life (just repeated bumf about how AEC was shut down etc) and I skipped most of the article although I thought it cheaky to add at the end that despite it being “cherished” the owner was willing to sell it. If that’s the case then it should be in the classifieds.
The no 1980+ gets on my ■■■■; As I’ve posted somewhere before, old to me goes upto mid '90s (when I left school), and although I like to see vintage lorries, the resto stories don’t hold alot of my interest to me as I can’t relate to them. I think anything before a certain age (say 1955) should be in old glory.
Not quite on thread but we are trying to persuade our local County Show (Kent) that a mint condition mid 80’s SK tractor is worthy of a place as an exhibit in the “classic” section.
The young lady in charge said it is a bit too new, completely oblivious to that fact that a huge number of 40’ somethings relate to the 80’s and early 90’s as nostalgia as that was what was happening in their formative years.
If the magazines are also reflecting this attitude then they will die out as as when their readers do!
It’s a very good point, our wagons are 1988, 1989 and we often take a friends 1993 E series too. Because of fuel we have only ever tried Gaydon once (we try to stick to within a hour of South Lincolnshire) but find there are still a few shows that won’t accept us. We just work on the the ‘its their loss’ theory, thats 3 exhibits they don’t have and support our local shows instead.
Many people in the haulage industry now were bought up on 80’s and early 90’s wagons (me included so ok I’m biased a little).
The amount of people who came up to me at Truckfest and said " I had one of these first after I passed, could I have a look around?" was high, so people are nostalgic for these ‘modern classics’. Maybe CVC has a target audience demographic and decided that it would not be viable to feature newer wagons for lack of interest, so its a good job Classic Truck does!
Saviem:
Hello all, Wheel Nut, I agree, the history is the fascinating thing, but it seems to me that there is more knowledge, and real history associated with the contributors to T.N., in its various threads, than you are ever likely to see in a Kelsey or Mortons Media publication! The problem with the magazines would appear to be a distinct lack of Editorial background, or any experience in our industry, (though that seems to afflict the mainstream Reed publications as well)!! What do others think?? gingerfold, I never received back from Kelsey priceless (to me) photographs from the 60s, that I sent at Nick Larkins request early 2000s, despite frequent chasing, it really is so arrogant of them, but as I remarked in my earlier post they are awash with free material, so why should they bother!
Yes, spot on Saviem. There is a distinct lack of experience of our industry of editorial staff at all the mainstream trade magazines, whether it be for the current or nostalgia market. Commercial Motor is a joke and is nothing more than a mouthpiece for the thoughts and ideas of “Britain’s Favourite Haulier”. Lazy journalism because rather than going out and talking to firms that are the backbone of our industry, CM’s editor is willing to be fed with the thoughts of said company in its endless quest for publicity. All these publications employ professional journalists rather than specialists in a particular field of expertise.
Muckaway:
COME ON, ADMIT IT; Who bought a CVC goody bag at Gaydon? (No I 'king didn’t)
I didn’t but I did laugh when a call went out for it’s editor to return to their stand-some wag shouted out that he was off loooking for something interesting to write about
The editor, Ted, was looking for something. He had to make the selection of ‘editors choice of best in show’ for the Kelsey Publishing award. I learnt today, as he left early without telling the show organisers, that his choice was a Commer recovery vehicle HSU 159 A. I believe its dark blue/cream. foden01 has a pic of it in the Gaydon thread.
Saviem:
Hello all, Wheel Nut, I agree, the history is the fascinating thing, but it seems to me that there is more knowledge, and real history associated with the contributors to T.N., in its various threads, than you are ever likely to see in a Kelsey or Mortons Media publication! The problem with the magazines would appear to be a distinct lack of Editorial background, or any experience in our industry, (though that seems to afflict the mainstream Reed publications as well)!! What do others think?? gingerfold, I never received back from Kelsey priceless (to me) photographs from the 60s, that I sent at Nick Larkins request early 2000s, despite frequent chasing, it really is so arrogant of them, but as I remarked in my earlier post they are awash with free material, so why should they bother!
Yes, spot on Saviem. There is a distinct lack of experience of our industry of editorial staff at all the mainstream trade magazines, whether it be for the current or nostalgia market. Commercial Motor is a joke and is nothing more than a mouthpiece for the thoughts and ideas of “Britain’s Favourite Haulier”. Lazy journalism because rather than going out and talking to firms that are the backbone of our industry, CM’s editor is willing to be fed with the thoughts of said company in its endless quest for publicity. All these publications employ professional journalists rather than specialists in a particular field of expertise.
Agreed again, until you get more journalists like Pat Kennet and yourselves who know the industry inside out and have some qualifications to back it up. I remember the old days of road transport magazines and it always signed off with the authors name and his certificates in letters. T.Eng., M.I.M.I, M.Inst.A.E.A., M.F.I.E.A
Agreed again, until you get more journalists like Pat Kennet and yourselves who know the industry inside out and have some qualifications to back it up. I remember the old days of road transport magazines and it always signed off with the authors name and his certificates in letters. T.Eng., M.I.M.I, M.Inst.A.E.A., M.F.I.E.A
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Yes, the late Pat Kennet was a great bloke and very interesting to talk to. It was his World Trucks series of titles that inspired me to start writing.
Hello all, I am lucky to be able to say that the late Pat Kennet was my friend, over many years we exchanged much good natured banter about our “favourite” vehicles. One thing that will remain as his legacy was the utterly analytical way in which he compared, and road tested vehicles. The reader really was presented with a (literally) even match, in terms of performance and testing criteria and was thus able to compare products on a true like for like basis. That a manufacturer did not want “his” product to come under such detailed scruitiny was no barrier to obtaining a suitable example!! Anyone who has not seen Pats early Group Tests really needs to search out copies, they are a real delight, and make a mockery of the current crop of PR fed examples. Can any of these modern journalists drive a lorry that has a proper load on it, not a set of test weights?? I must be getting old!! Cheerio now.
Surely CVC would’ve been going around with their notebook and camera at Gaydon looking for something new to feature?
(No I 'king didn’t)