FYI, MG Magazine is soliciting subscriptions in the latest Octagon from
the AMGBA. It lists phone numbers as ***-870-4993 and 616-375-2070.
Steve
On Thu, 27 Jul 2000 11:41:21 -0500 David Littlefield <dmeadow@juno.com>
writes:
> Got this off the MG Enthusiasts website. No wonder I haven't
> received an
> issue in over six months.
>
> David Littlefield
> Houston, TX
> '62 MGA MkII
> '51 MGTD
> '88 Jaguar XJ-S
>
>
> MG Magazine to cease publication after 22 years
>
> After 22 years, MG's long, protracted withdrawal from North America
> is
> now complete. MG Magazine, the last remaining vestige of MG's
> presence in
> North America, has ceased publication.
> Ironically, it was not for a lack of readers. In fact, MG Magazine
> had
> more subscribers than it could comfortably maintain, said editor and
> publisher Gregory J. Perigo. "Sadly, no publication can survive for
> long
> on single issue and subscription sales," he noted. "Advertising is
> needed
> to offset the cost of production, and with MG having been gone from
> the
> US marketplace for over 20 years now, that is becoming harder to
> hold on
> to."
>
> Compounding the problem, Perigo noted, is that unlike many other
> marques,
> MG is unique in that there are several distinct clubs, or
> "registers,"
> serving the MG market. To those who support the MG hobby, that is an
> issue, he said. "Candidly, many of our advertisers are fighting for
> their
> own survival, too," he noted.
>
> "Most marques are served by one or two distinct clubs that cover the
> entire spectrum of ownership," Perigo noted. "Here in North America
> we
> have far more than that, and all are competing against each other
> for
> dwindling shares of advertising dollars. In the end, we are
> cannibalizing
> each other."
>
> Perigo hopes to secure an arrangement with another publishing group
> to
> honor all outstanding subscriptions.
>
> Enthusiastically supported by Cecil Kimber, the legendary general
> manager
> of MG Cars, the title originally appeared in 1933 as the MG
> MaGazine, and
> was underwritten in part by MG Cars, Ltd. It debuted on a bi-monthly
> basis in 1933, and was the first magazine to be solely devoted to
> the
> marque. Publication ceased in 1935 with the advent of Safety Fast!,
> the
> official publication of the MG Car Club.
>
> In the spring of 1979, the title was revived by British Leyland USA
> as MG
> Magazine, the Official Publication for MG Owners, and this new
> magazine
> quickly became a success, establishing a firm foundation among MG
> lovers.
> But in October, 1980, production of MG cars ceased at
> Abingdon-on-Thames,
> England, which meant that no more new MGs were being shipped to the
> US.
> As a result, publication of the magazine stopped.
>
> Such was the outcry that British Leyland decided to revive the title
> yet
> again as MG Magazine, the Official Publication for MG Enthusiasts,
> an
> independent, advertising supported publication devoted wholly to
> "…the
> Preservation of the MG Marque." This meant not only to help the
> thousands
> of MG owners maintain, preserve and restore their cars but also to
> advocate for the return of MG to the United States.
>
> In the Spring of 1981 MG Magazine received British Motor Heritage
> Industry Trust approval for the use of the MG logo (ironically, that
> honor was renewed earlier this summer) and the new, expanded
> independent
> "Premier" issue was launched by the founder and editor, John
> Dugdale. In
> time, many of the most prominent automotive journalists would make
> contributions to its content. Included among them were David Ash;
> Anders
> Ditlev Clausager; Malcolm Green; David Knowles; Dick Knudson; John
> Dugdale; Phil Hill; Stirling Moss; Mike Allison; John Thornley; F.
> Wilson
> McComb; and F. Rivers Fletcher, among others.
>
> "It is a testament to the enthusiasm of MG owners that MG Magazine
> was
> able to endure for 22 years without any corporate support
> whatsoever,"
> Perigo noted. "This is a devastating blow to the momentum of the MG
> movement in North America."
>
> For more information, please contact: PRN Communications, LLC., at
> (219)
> 420-5415 (219) 420-5624 (fax)
> ________________________________________________________________
> http://dl.www.juno.com/get/tagj.
|