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)
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