Contributors and Staff For New Magazine

[Buzz K]

As we continue to gear up for a possible launch of a new magazine focused on classic American bikes, we are looking for people who want to be involved in it.

We are looking for writers, photographers, contributors, editors, fact checkers, proof readers, etc. While we prefer to work with people near our Stamford, CT baes, we can also work on line with people farther away.

Please contact me if you are interested in being a part of the launch team.

I am a long term AMCA member and supporter, so this new publication will be supportive of the AMCA magazine, NOT competing with it.

[AdminGuy]

Thanks for stateing that Buzz as some folks ruffle their feathers very easily.

[portagepan]

proofreading

Is that really one word, Buzz? I can't stand bad English, and I hate the incorrect spelling of words. Sign me up for proofreader!
Mike

[RSmith]

Help for the AMCA magazine?

We owned and operated Publishing Excellence Group, for 16 years, in Michigan, before selling the company and retiring. It included digital desktop publishing of three magazines. "FlashPoint," the Union publication serving members of the Michigan Assn. of Firefighters, was one of the three magazines.

We can't help but wonder, how much better, or how many more issues a year, we would be able to receive, if AMCA members simply put the same effort and monies into it, as we would a new magazine? Our current Editor is always open for new articles and photographs about our motorcycle activities.

While new magazines do not INTEND on taking away stories, from the limited pool of available material, it happens. After all, how MANY events like Davenport, or Eustis/Daytona, are there to be "covered?"

Maybe three dozen a year? And we already have five, or more magazines covering Vintage motorcycle activities, (some from Great Britain and some from the US). What happens is the same story gets coverage from multiple publications.

And what about the very limited number of VINTAGE motorcycle parts and service ADVERTISERS that cannot afford to advertise in more than ONE magazine? Many of them are "Mom and Pop" creative efforts, (as many of us witnessed at Davenport last weekend), who, every year, have to make the difficult decision on WHERE they will spend their limited advertising dollars?

A new magazine covering similar/or the same stories as our AMCA magazine sounds interesting .... but for years, AMCA members have asked our board, "Why can't we get OUR magazine six times a year?" It sure would be great to put the same monies, energy and talent into our OWN, already existing terrific magazine .... and perhaps start receiving it SIX times a year?

It could be done, if we invested only half, of what we will pay for a new magazine. Plus, send in some extra articles to help expand a known comodity .... our already established .... AMCA magazine.

[Buzz K]

I think the AMCA magazine is a great read and terrific resource. However I also feel there is demand - from readers and advertisers alike - for a high quality classic motorcycle magazine similar to what I have planned.

Having launched and published several motorcycle magazines, including Old Bike Journal, Indian Motorcycle Illustrataed, Thunder Alley, American Iron Magazine, RoadBike and others, I have a decent understanding of what it takes.

Sure, all advertisers must decide which magazine(s) work best for them, but that's just basic business.

We are moving forward with the launch of Classic American Iron in 2008 and will be sharing more details when appropriate.

I can assure you this will be a very high quality publication that all enthusiasts will want to read.

Thanks for the support.

[23JDCA 808]

What if someone is already using the name? ...bill
http://classicamericaniron.com/home

[Buzz K]

Originally posted by 23JDCA 808
What if someone is already using the name? ...bill
http://classicamericaniron.com/home

Well it just goes to show it's a good name I guess.

We own the federal trademark on "American Iron" for all motorcycles, so I don't see a problem if we use the name Classic American Iron as part or all of the name for our magazine. But we can't use the domain they are using.

By the way, do you have a '23 JDCA? I am fortunate enough to own an original paint '24 JDCA - cool old bikes.

[23JDCA 808]

Originally posted by Buzz K

By the way, do you have a '23 JDCA? I am fortunate enough to own an original paint '24 JDCA - cool old bikes.

Yes, this will be an assembled machine ...from parts.
http://www.97330.com/Bills_1923_Harley/index.html

A good source of info on the J's and JD's is
http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/harleyjd/
...bill

[RSmith]

Wow!

Having launched and published several motorcycle magazines, including Old Bike Journal, Indian Motorcycle Illustrataed, Thunder Alley, American Iron Magazine, RoadBike and others, I have a decent understanding of what it takes - Buzz

*****************

WOW! How many of those
magazines are still in business?

[exeric]

Buzz, I like what you want to do and I will support any magazine you launch that is devoted to American motorcycles. I will always remain a member of the AMCA but I have seen a persistant trend in "The Antique Motorcycle" and apparently the "elected" officials of the AMCA to take the rank and file to a more "international" destination. My first and foremost interest is in AMERICAN motorcycles. I like foreign bikes too, but the AMCA is not where I go, or would think of going to persue that interest. Enough said about that, because that issue is far from resolved.

I only agree with one thing RSmith said. Our club magazine should be published bi-monthly. The AMCA is a wealthy club and the member's money should be spent on the most tangible and frequently accessed icon of this club which of coarse is "The Antique Motorcycle".

[Paquette]

I have read the posts here with a graet deal of interest. Please do not get me wrong because I love our club magizine and look forward to getting every issue, but I do have problems with it. I would like to see more articles on/by the guys that actually restore the bikes rather than the same pics of the same folks at the same meets and who got what award. More technical articles, more how to do hands on, more about who does what type of restoration work well. Yes we are an international club and I saw more Japanese bikes and parts than ever before at Davenport, but the old rigid frame American stuff is what hits my trigger, to each his own. If our club mag can provide that ,so much the better, but from the standpoint of someone with the skills to report and write, I welcome the competition, it can only make the club mag better-( Yes been there , tried that)---PAQ

[Hrdly-Dangrs]

As to the AMCA showing more foreign motorcycles....well of course they should because the AMCA is the Antique Motorcycle 'of' America...Not the 'American' Motorcycle Club of America.

Nothing wrong with some International links/advertisments in our Club magazine or seeing them come onto our swap meet grounds. A great mix of marques is why I joined in the AMCA in the first place. I've enjoyed having owned and ridden several American, English and Japanese brand motorcycles of the years.

Just remember, if you bring your American bikes and American parts to the AMCA meets...get your vending space early or re-new it every year, they'll always be plenty of American stuff there....Who gives a rats ass if the guy next to you has foreign stuff so long as it meets the current 35 year rule.

Of course my main interest is vintage American motorcycles. So a magazine dedicated to just Vintage American marque bikes would definitely be a part of my monthly magazine purchase...well 'IF' it actually remains American motorcycles only.

Does our magazine show the same faces every month?? Not sure about that one. Possibly...one things for sure....PLEASE NO PEOPLE ON THE AMCA MEMBER CARDS...JUST AN ANTIQUE MC, who ever the hell owns it.

I kind of like the four issues a month...one per season. Makes our clubs rag kind of special.....BUT for sure....MORE in depth Tech Articles....More local guys in their garage type rebuilds...and definitely more Photographs and info on ALL our AMCA Meets big and small. I would think we could get at least 5 pages per Meet of photos alone.

By the way...If any AMCA members seriously wanted to start an Antigue American Motorcycle Club of America 'AAMCA' ?? liken to our AMCA I'd become a Dues paying member of that too. And yes I would still be an AMCA member....as well as the other couple MC clubs I support.

Did I mention that I buy approx 10 Magazines a month...including Vintage Truck, Car Kulture Deluxe, Classic Motorcycle, Girls with Big Jugs, Hot Girls Love Old Bikes(ers).... Hrdly

[hogluvr]

Hrdly,

Where do I get a subscription of that "Girls with Big Boobs"?? (Guess motorcycles ARE still a second interest)

[Hrdly-Dangrs]

OOps...sorry Hogluvr, I meant to say... 'Girls with Big Jugs'....

I better go back and edit that one....got to keep it clean and motorcycle related. Hrdly

[RSmith]

1973's coming

Who gives a rats ass if the guy next to you has foreign stuff so long as it meets the current 35 year rule. By Hrdly-Dangrs

**************

And in a little over 4 months, the entire 1973 crop of European, Canadian, (CanAm), and Japanese bikes are going to be elegible for AMCA Membership/Activities.

The shear numbers, of their 1973 monthly production runs, (i.e.- 32,000 Honda 360s - a single Honda model - produced per month), is staggering. Especially, when you multiply ALL the models produced ..... by ALL the 1973 overseas manufacturers combined.