Kit Car magazine out of business?

[Ron61]

Well, I just renewed my subscription for 3 years and am paid until July 2012. And I used a Money Order. I hate to see the magazine go away as I enjoyed it and also seeing pictures of some of the cars that people on here have had in it. I guess there is no way to get my money back now as it has already been processed. And I talked to them on the phone about a week ago and nothing at all was said about this.

Ron

[powerslide]

The loss of Kit Car Magazine is unfortunate, but its just one of many dominos that will fall. I'll bet their advertising dollars have just evaporated. How many of their advertisers have gone out of business? Why buy a subscription when the internet web site was free! The subscriber base has eroded over time with the onset of the internet. Most of our replica manufacturers are "small businesses," and don't enjoy the financial resources to withstand the current economic stresses. The picture of our hobby this time next year will be much different than it is now. All the automotive magazines are suffering; Autoweek is down to 48 pages, Road & Track is down to 120 pages. 2009 is going to be ugly for all of us...a big mess that's going to hurt a lot of people!

[N2VENOM]

Has anyone confirmed that Kit Car Mag will not refund their money or transfer the balance to another magazine? It's too bad that everyone lost a few bucks. How about the 100+ people that lost their jobs 2 weeks before the holidays. As for my 2+ years left on my subscription, they can give it to one of those employees who needs it more then I do.

[Ron61]

I am afraid that you are right and that is why I only renewed my subscription to two of the 7 magazines that I took. One of them was Kit Car and the other PC World. I remember when there were two Kit Car magazines and then they merged. One of them used to publish a once a year special edition called Cobras and I still have a couple of those.

I think not only are we going to see a major change in our hobby, but in many other aspects of life also. I do go to the web sites of some of the other magazines and read their stuff, but I wonder how long they will be there.

Ron

[jmillington]

+1.
I feel bad for those who have lost their jobs, particularly at this time of year.

Originally Posted by N2VENOM

Has anyone confirmed that Kit Car Mag will not refund their money or transfer the balance to another magazine? It's too bad that everyone lost a few bucks. How about the 100+ people that lost their jobs 2 weeks before the holidays. As for my 2+ years left on my subscription, they can give it to one of those employees who needs it more then I do.

[decooney]

Hmmmm.

I wonder if KitCar / Peterson would consider expanding into an ONLINE subscription type of business?

If it were say $3.95/mo (small fee), no distrution hassles, they reach all corners of the world instead of just a few newstands here and there.

If anyone here is still in contact with Brian or Eric, I wonder if you could ask and see if this was ever discussed as an alternative and viable option vs. just going out of business.

[WildBill3]

Kitcarmag.com is still up and running.

[decooney]

Originally Posted by WildBill3

Kitcarmag.com is still up and running.

It would be nice if they could expand on it more and make it exactly like the magazine, but online.

I would subscribe. Give me a three year subscrption right now. Make it online registration and payment. Maybe they are reading this!

[427 S/O]

'advertising dollars have just evaporated', I agree Powerslide. And so goes the manufactures as well. 2009 is gonna bring a lot of head shaking.....

[thudmaster]

Surely thetre will be some bailout money from the government on this.......

[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

[Madmiles442]

Thanks for posting, Jim, best wishes to all.

[leehunt1919]

Hey Jim, off the subject but I have been trying to find your annual Kit Car Manufacturers issue, which was supposed to be at news stands on November 28th. Is it available yet? I'm in N. Cal. Tried Borders, Barnes & Noble, etc. Thanks, Lee

[Anthony]

Originally Posted by N2VENOM

Has anyone confirmed that Kit Car Mag will not refund their money or transfer the balance to another magazine? It's too bad that everyone lost a few bucks. How about the 100+ people that lost their jobs 2 weeks before the holidays. As for my 2+ years left on my subscription, they can give it to one of those employees who needs it more then I do.

Somehow, I don't think either you or the ex-employees will get the extra money, if there is any left over. Besides , it's only a few bucks, -- from about 20,000 people.

Well, each of us can hire a lawyer for $1000 or more to get back $50 (kind of like my personal business problem but only on a grander scale) , or we can band together and spend $20,000 worth of lawyer fees to get back our money.

Someone famous once quoted

"the laws are what they are"

[Ron61]

The site is still open and you can post in the forums, but I couldn't get into the Customer Service section at all. No information has been posted in the forums as of now about what is going to happen.

Ron

[Bill Bess]

Sorry to hear all this about losing KIt Car mag., I'll really miss my monthly issue.
Most importantly is that many folks are losing a job and that is the toughest part these days. Hopefully all will land on their respective feet in the near future and will be able to provide us with more stories and information in other formats.

Who knows...maybe the Mag. will raise up like the Pheonix and fly again.

Bill

[john chesnut]

Jim, It's great news that you are covering Run n Gun. It is a great event and has the potential to be THEE event of the year. It's also great news that it may get some coverage on Speed Channel. I'll have to make my car extra pretty for the next event!! Maybe have to get some one that can really drive to make it look good ont the track!
Lee, Kit Car Builder was going to publish a seperate "Cobra Buyers" guide but ended up including it in a regular issue. I believe that it is included in the upcoming issue. Look for my ad!!
John

[Bill Wells]

I renewed last June , paid $25 and that extended my expiration til Mar 2010 .......guess it expires early now .

The money isn't a loss issue, a couple of drinks perhaps- but missing my magazines will be an issue . Guess it is time to move on, to Kit Car Builder perhaps.

Hopefully the employees out of work find something that is rewarding and long lasting . Enough folks are out of work , sad to see these folks go. Bill

[leehunt1919]

Originally Posted by john chesnut

Jim, It's great news that you are covering Run n Gun. It is a great event and has the potential to be THEE event of the year. It's also great news that it may get some coverage on Speed Channel. I'll have to make my car extra pretty for the next event!! Maybe have to get some one that can really drive to make it look good ont the track!
Lee, Kit Car Builder was going to publish a seperate "Cobra Buyers" guide but ended up including it in a regular issue. I believe that it is included in the upcoming issue. Look for my ad!!
John

Thanks, John. Much appreciated.

[Ron61]

Would you believe that I got an e-mail from Kit Car just now. When I read it, they want me to subscribe to two other magazines, Street Rodder and something else.And this just a few weeks after they took my 3 year subscription for Kit Car. I just answered and told them that if they wanted me as a subscriber they could take the money I sent for Kit Car and apply it to this subscription.

Ron