AFTER months of searching and trying to negotiate a takeover of our two magazines, sadly issue 111 of Backtrack and issue 57 of Classic Speedway are the final editions.
As most of you already know, since the summer we’ve been scouring the land for someone suitable to take over the running of either or, ideally, both titles.
But despite lengthy communications with at least six individuals or organisations who expressed interest, we have failed in our mission. We thank you for your patience and understanding in waiting for this long-delayed final issue.
In our search we targeted the most obvious candidates, people with an established reputation in speedway and, in most cases, with editorial and/or publishing experience. For various reasons, mainly the falling subscription numbers but also rising paper, print and postage costs, none will bite the bullet and become the new publisher.
It’s not as if our asking price was too high – we’ve only sought to hand over both titles to a new incumbent, not sell them. But even glorified hobbies can be expensive.
The fact that there are no takers is hardly surprising, though, given the current uncertain economic climate. These are obviously tough times for everyday working people and gambling on the future of two magazines, covering a sport that is struggling to keep its head above water, is not appealing.
For these reasons we quickly abandoned thoughts of possible compromise options, such as reduced frequency and pagination, cheaper, inferior paper, and even continuing as an online download instead of print editions. But we don’t believe many would support those moves – and we don’t blame you.
All good things must come to an end.
But yes, it’s a shame that after more than 18 years of producing Backtrack and 14 years in the case of Classic, we’re now very reluctantly pulling the plug. We are both in our early sixties and, to be honest, won’t miss the regular 10 press deadlines imposed by two magazines. It will give us the freedom to pursue other interests and spend more time with our expanding family, including two young grandchildren. Life goes on.
We must thank our readers, especially loyal subscribers. Many of you have been with us throughout the entire journey since we launched Backtrack at the Stoneleigh speedway show way back in March 2004. Classic followed around four years later, although our quarterly was in essence a seamless continuation of Vintage Speedway Magazine but with greater emphasis on the post-war era. We will miss you all.
It would be terribly remiss of us not to also thank our editorial contributors who have consistently delivered the goods and stoked those nostalgic fires that burn within all of us. Some are no longer with us, including John Berry, Malcolm Simmons, John Chaplin and Bob Radford. Credit for evoking many warm memories over the years must also go to our most regular scribes: Martin Rogers, Bruce Penhall, Doug Nicolson, Rob Peasley, Phil Chard, Martin Neal, Andrew Skeels, Vitek Formanek, Roman Chyla and Steve Magro.
And from the Classic and VSM eras: Tony Hurren, Ian Hoskins, Eric Linden, Dave Lanning, John Hyam, Philip Dalling, Glynn Shailes, Cyril Hart and Vic White.
Not forgetting all the many photographers whose skills have illuminated the words they accompany, forming a large part of the unrivalled John Somerville Collection. John has never failed to answer photo requests with speed and at all hours of the day and night. Special thanks to Ken Carpenter and the late Alf Weedon.
Appreciation also goes to our regular page lay-out men, Richard Talbot and Jack McDonald.
And there wouldn’t have been any magazines without the help and co-operation of all the countless ex-riders, promoters and other personalities who gave up their time for interviews.
We are definitely not turning our backs on speedway, though. The Peter Collins book is the biggest project Retro Speedway has ever undertaken in terms of financial investment and there’s more to come from us. We already have another autobiography from a prominent speedway figure in the pipeline for next year and we’ll announce more on that in due course through our Round The Bend online newsletter and via our website.
The idea of a Backtrack Annual, packed with new material from the 70s and 80s, is also under consideration. There are more retro DVDs on our ‘to do’ list, too. We have just released details of our next double-disc DVD, Defunct British Speedway Tracks 2, which will be out in mid-November.
It only remains to say ‘many thanks’, from the bottom of our hearts, to everyone who has emailed or phoned in recent weeks to offer support and best wishes. It’s very much appreciated. We wish you all a happy and healthy future . . .
All the best.
Tony & Susie Mac Retro Speedway
MAGAZINES
BACKTRACK Final Issue 111 out now! For fans who loved speedway in the 1970s & 80s
CLASSIC SPEEDWAY Final Issue 57 out now! Launched in May 2008, the glossy quarterly specialising in the 50s and 60s eras
BLOGS
THE best, most thought-provoking, pieces written by our knowledgeable team of writers that have appeared in Backtrack and Classic Speedway magazine since Retro Speedway was formed in 2004.
