Blog: October 6. Back to basics.

ADBMags03CropI found a job lot of Australasian Dirt Bike magazines on a website and they’ve just arrived.

These issues range from 1980 to 1983, and as I approach my 22nd year in publishing, I still firmly believe it was these magazines, from this era, that began my love of magazines. Since then I’ve moved into a more focussed fascination for the business of magazines, but it was these mags that first made me realise the power of publishing. And by that I mean the power to bring into my home a huge and unavailable world outside my home town.

On top of that was the insane devotion to dirt bikes at the time. That’s a whole, big story on its own.

Anyhoo, I managed to get hold of these and when I get time I’ll sit and enjoy a little reminsicing, but more importantly, see if I can recapture what it was about those magazines at that time that was so hugely influential. It obviously wasn’t just me with a weird obsession, because riders of my age will sit around discuss ADB between 1980 and 1983 until the beer runs out. Names like Geoff Eldridge, Geoff Udy, Warren Jack and Murray Watt are still favourite topics, and the ADB of today is a continuation, over 30 years later, of the foundation built during those years.

So that will give me something to do if I get a few spare minutes over the next few weeks – which doesn’t look likely.

Work’s KLR is waiting for a Safari tank and a prototype tank bag Andy Strapz has designed and dared me to try and destroy. Once they’re on, the bike’s off to the Melbourne Bike Expo, so I’ll have a small space in the shed again. Hooray…although part of that space is because the little Kawasaki road racer has gone. Boo.

Marty H has settled on a cover for his next disk and it looks awesome. He’s once again done a brilliant job of putting a disk together without a great deal of help on the publishing side. I haven’t ridden any of the routes yet – that I know of – but as soon a copy hits my desk I’ll be desperate to find a weekend to go and sample the riding. I’m hoping that’ll be on the Dominator, but I’ll be happy just to get a sample of the routes.

Template for DVD coverThis blog is going up early because this next week or so is a write-off for me with work, so it’s a little short on pics and info. I’m having a coffee with Alec Whitelaw at lunchtime today. If I can get a pic of us slurping into a Gloria Jean’s I’ll post it later.

Gotta go.

TF

4 Comments

  1. ‘Not Mean’Dean is planning a social Killktmay Not Mean? ride soon so start putting on your new tyres and hope it stays dry.
    Dave seeing the DR is yours now we don’t even have to keep the ride a secret. Treat em mean I say, it adds to the bikes character, you wouldn’t want the DR to grow up pampered and a mummy’s boy.

  2. I’m in, where an when ? Just got back from the Horizons Unlimited meet at Beaudesert. World travel on a bike’s not so daunting after spending the weekend with some encouraging folk with great stories to share. Will post some photo’s etc to Tom later this week.

  3. The DR is NOT Dave’s!!!! Neither is it pampered. As for it being a Mummy’s boy… you all know I leave my kids at home alone to fend for themselves.

  4. Just trying to get Dave in trouble

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