The only problem with the Bev Abbot era was that if you were not in her fan club your contribution never saw print.

My advice Sam is balance. The magazine has to appeal to a broad age range and a broad interest range. I am personally sick of the "my long trip to France in Olly" articles but some people do like them and perhaps its the only contributions the current editor receives.

Don't expect to get it all correct in your issue one, it will take time to develop to the way you want it.

Good luck, I hope that once again we might fight over who gets to read it first in our house as opposed to it sitting on the coffee table for a week unopened as it does now.

Maybe you could ask Sean if he'd do an occasional (metaphorical) kitten stomping article?

Kind of like a confessions type thing, people beg forgiveness and Sean either forgives or stomps on their (once again, metaphorical) kittens. That idea probably needs some work!

Like Jono says, a bit more "fun" would be good but I realise that the soppy shit will probably outweigh the fun contributions as they rock up in your inbox/letterbox etc.

I wonder though, and I'm not trying to cast any aspersions on current or past editors, I wonder how much stuff gets sent that isn't soppy or sentimental shite but doesn't get published for fear that it *may* not appeal? I quite like some of the technical contributions but, they seem to always be overly patronising the way they're written.

Sam, wait for your letterbox/inbox to be full to bursting-good times ahead!

Do what pleases you and be prepared to ignore the nay sayers. That's pretty much what we do on i2f and we're always right.

You got it spot on there I'd say Paul.

Congratulations Sam, when does your 1st issue go out?
I like it in the classic car mags (yes I know this is not a classic car mag) when they test drive cars that are up for sale. You could borrow something from the classifieds and give it a write up.

Since I don't understand the English language, I would be well chuffed if you could send me a copy every time in Dutch

There's a challenge Sam.

Thank you for all the input - basically I need to produce a magazine with big pictures, nudity, fewer "on my French holiday" anecdotes and technical articles by a Dutch lesbian. Awesome.

My first issue will be november - I've started some of my own copy for it and hopefully after the AGM I'll get the editors email address so I'll start receiving stuff.

You all got proxy voting forms in your mag by the way - use them! Or join up and come along to vote!

So you'd like a report on Spa then? I promise I won't call my car by it's name nor mention how surprised I am by it's ability to cover a few hundred miles without fault.

Can I write an article about why the name D*lly pisses me off so much? I did submit one a couple of years ago about why Amis are way better than Dyanes but that never made it into print.

Spa will feature yes. As will Belgian race cars. Fairly prominently.



Either of those would be fantastic. You have my email address.