With postage costs, etc, we will actually make about the same, per mag, selling by subscription as we do selling through newsagents. The main advantage for me with subs is that we get the money earlier and because you pay for four issues at a time, it gives us the capital to continue the magazine more effectively. The advantage with newsagent's distribution is that we reach a much wider audience. So, I don't really have a preference for subscriptions over newsagent's sales. My main aim obviously is to sell as many mags as possible. If we can do that, and get the advertsing dollar in, then we will have a successful mag. The main advantage for you, the reader, with subscriptions, is that you get the mag directly, you save a couple of bucks, enough for one or two litres of fuel over the course of the year, and you have the chance of winning prizes. We just want to encourage everyone to buy the mag, from wherever they get it.
As for Clubmans (Clubmen?) yes they are Minis too. As tze pointed out most magazines tend to ignore them too much. Having said that, and yes I do drive a Clubman Van, it must be remembered that ALL the Mini's great and famous achievements were done with round-nose Minis, so it is only natural that they would hold the greater portion of any magazine. In the UK the Clubby was only built for about 1/4 of the Mini's total production life, and here it was only built, in ever dwindling numbers, from 1971 to 1978.
Our first issue, in fact, does not have a featured Clubman either. But, we will not ignore the Clubman. We will feature good cars as they come up. Our priority is that the car has an interesting story. It could be historically significant or be very rare, it could be modified, restored or original. It doesn't really matter.
I have always tried to balance the calendars with at least one Clubby, but it was pointed out to me recently, that this year there is no Clubman - for the first time in seven years.
In our fourth issue we will be featuring Minis that have raced at Bathurst, from 1963 to 1976 (?) and there will no doubt be Clubmans there. At a later date we will be doing a feature on historic sports sedans. Our main feature car will be a Clubman that has only ever been a race car and was first log-booked in about 1975.
Other major features planned are on Australian special models, so look out for Clubman GT, S, SS, LS, 1275LS and Sunshine Minis in that one.
Don't forget, we will be having a letters page and a readers' cars page, so feel free to write in your comments, put forward your views or send in pics and details of your car.
We want the magazine to be the voice of the readers as well, so get your comments and sugestions to us (positive or negative) and we'll put them in.
Cheers, Watto.
(I like this guy!)
