Kit Car magazine out of business?

[Youngster]

Someone alerted me to this thread just this morning (a non-Cobra guy BTW) and while we’ve known about Source-Interlink’s action for a few weeks, it’s probably not yet common knowledge. Without trying to sound self-serving, I just thought it deserved some official comment from Kit Car Builder magazine.

First of all, Brian, we’re so sorry that you had to lose your job at the hands of an uncaring corporation. As you may recall I found myself in the same situation back in 2002 when Primedia folded Kit Car Illustrated into Kit Car. It’s not the end of the world, but an opportunity.

Secondly, both Steve Temple and myself are personally saddened that such a venerable title would be killed so unceremoniously. Steve and I combined sat in Kit Car’s Editor chair for 10 years under the Petersen regime and guided that magazine to be, at one time, the leading publication in the field.

Thanks are due John Chestnut for his post here about Kit Car Builder magazine. We appreciate that kind of support and kind words about our efforts. John is correct, the kit and specialty car business is a passion with us and the only thing we do. I’ll leave it at that. Thanks John.

I also have to agree with many of the comments here about Run ‘N Gun, as it applies to it becoming a more important event. You’ll see our first-ever coverage of the 2008 event in our February 2009 issue currently at the printer. And we promise to continue to cover the event and do what we can to help it grow.

There was also some comment here about television coverage. You’ll be happy to know that we have partnered with Peter Borne, producer of a new TV show, “Kit…An Autobody Experience,” that is set to debut on Speed TV in February, on Saturday mornings. At my suggestion, Peter plans to cover the 2009 Run ‘N Gun as well as the London Cobra Show and several other important events. I think this TV show is going to be a real boost for the business and the individual events that we enjoy.

I may be speaking out of turn here, because corporations move so sluggishly, but my experience in similar situations; when a big publishing company folds a title, is that they offer subscribers another of their titles to fulfill the balance of their subscription (and then hope you renew it). Hopefully that’ll be what Source does, and they still have some good car mags left in their arsenal from which to draw. As a subscriber to KC myself, I’m anxious about the remainder of my sub.

Thanks for listening,

Jim Youngs, Editor
Kit Car Builder magazine