Magazine content

[lowebird]

Chaps,

First, may I wish you all a very Happy New Year and a good driving season. Now, we all know that replicas, re-imagined cars or what ever you like are not featured very often in the magazine.
At the end of nearly every other article in the magazine, there is a call for owner of the car to write in about the vehicle. This is every model from Push Rod SS through to the latest XJ etc, and yet it took months for my article on the SS100 to be published ( to the extent that I had sold the car before it appeared)
I have now written and sent in an article about my "C" type which after 4 months still hasn't appeared. I know that it is difficult to balance the content with all the different models but I do feel we are totally un represented and I feel so aggrieved by this that:-
(a) I will not bother to write any further articles
(b) I am going to change my membership to the JDC who do have an active Replicas section.

[Tintin]

I'm afraid this is one of the disadvantages of a large (and still growing) club; it is difficult to adequately cover all models and interests. IMHO "biggest" is not "best" but unfortunately, it is a numbers game for the JEC nowadays and inevitably that means modern mainstream models get the greatest coverage.

I find that I can get the best of several worlds by membership of and engagement with several clubs and forums. Why not stick with the JEC and join the JDC as well? I have (and suspect many other enthusiasts hold) membership of both.

If you decide to leave the JEC I shall miss your posts, Lowebird and will be sorry to see you go.

Robbie

[steve_m]

Why not skip the magazine completely and post the articles on here?
There is probably a wider readership given that non members have access to the site.
We'll all miss your posts if you go.

[J44EAG]

These things can be sorted. There is no reason for anyone to consider leaving. Rest assured, I have the matter in hand. Sit tight.

Mike K

[NATONEIL]

Reg
I too, am disappointed that your magazine article has not appeared yet, but I am not surprised. The club has to fill a thick magazine and to do that it has to keep all its readers and contributors happy. Many of the members I know only look at "their" section and I do not know of anybody who reads the racing reports. However, the racers always produce copy, as does the principle forum coordinators and so I am not surprised when the editor chooses an article by a regular contributor ahead of a one-off article by an author who might not contribute for another couple of years. Without a dedicated replica forum there is not a empty slot waiting in the magazine and, as you and I have discovered, the few replica owners/enthusiasts in the JEC are not active contributors to the forum, magazine or indeed the club. Good luck with the JDC, a Suffolk SS100 owning friend of the now defunct JDC South Lincs had many of the same grumbles but admitted that he only joined the JDC to get insurance discounts.
Bask in your exclusivity

[Tintin]

There have been a number of forum posts on different subjects but with a common thread - a tension between the style, direction and objectives of the club and a body of the "traditional" membership. It was well before I joined, but I understand the last time this happened the result was the formation of the JEC by a breakaway group within the JDC. Will we see the wheel come full circle, I wonder.....................?

Robbie

[lowebird]

Chaps,
Thanks for the replies. Mike K's reply is especially intriguing the more so as in this months mag, under the photo of the SS100 on the Pyrenees tour, the caption reads " We now want to run regular features on Jaguar based replicas" ( extract )
I have a great deal of respect for Mike and always read his articles as he seems to know what he is talking about so perhaps I will wait awhile to see what occurs.
I am well aware that I am not the greatest writer in the world and my spelling is not good however, I would like to think that my occasional ramblings are of some interest, perhaps Steve_M's idea is a better one i.e. bypass the mag completely?
What do you think?

[poprivet]

Geting rid of those awful sections on toys and female views would give more room for proper Jaguar car related copy

This still a car enthusiast club?

[EightMan]

Chaps,

First, may I wish you all a very Happy New Year and a good driving season. Now, we all know that replicas, re-imagined cars or what ever you like are not featured very often in the magazine.
At the end of nearly every other article in the magazine, there is a call for owner of the car to write in about the vehicle. This is every model from Push Rod SS through to the latest XJ etc, and yet it took months for my article on the SS100 to be published ( to the extent that I had sold the car before it appeared)
I have now written and sent in an article about my "C" type which after 4 months still hasn't appeared. I know that it is difficult to balance the content with all the different models but I do feel we are totally un represented and I feel so aggrieved by this that:-
(a) I will not bother to write any further articles
(b) I am going to change my membership to the JDC who do have an active Replicas section.

Thanks to Mr Lowe for his comments. As Editor I am always glad to get feedback of whatever nature. It is only from this that one can assess situations and make necessary changes to ensure the magazine is always meeting the demands of the Club's membership.
Firstly, we have regularly asked for someone to take on the mantle of looking after the Replica cars, much as we have Forums for other Jaguar models. So far no-one has come forward to help, and perhaps this is because there are so many replicas and specials around of different types, that no-one feels confident on taking on the role. This is not necessarily the correct approach as the single thing that all these cars have in common, is a degree of Jaguar technology behind them, via the engine and other drive train aspects, not to mention trim, etc.
So, therefore Replicas are still a vital part of the Club, and it would be lovely to have someone take up the challenge to co-ordinate material and create more interest through the magazine and the Club's website. Is anyone up to it?
'Now on to Mr Lowe's comments about coverage in the magazine. Firstly we are very fortunate in this club of never being without material to publish and even though we have the largest number of pages in our monthly magazine than any other club, it is always a difficult decision to make over what gets published when. There is also the aspect of timing. For example if someone sent me an article this week (1st week of January), it wouldn't get used until the March magazine at the very earliest (due to our preparation and printing deadlines), and then that depends on what else needs coverage in the magazine. So, it is not unusual to find it can take several months to get an article printed.
Regarding Mr Lowe's article on the SS100, yes it did get published, as everything does eventually and I can say that I had already ear-marked his C-type article to follow it in the February magazine.
Therefore the situation isn't as bad as it sounds. If anyone supplies articles and wants more information on what it will be published, or wants to just discuss it with me, I am always at the end of a telephone line or an email. Please don't hesitate to make contact.
Thanks, in the hope of understanding over this matter and if anyone would like to take up the mantle of co-ordinating our replica/specials ownership through the magazine, then please get in touch.

Nigel Thorley - Editor - Jaguar Enthusiast magazine

[lowebird]

Nigel,
Thank you taking the time to reply. I fully understand the situation however, I'm sure you will understand my frustration when "minority" groups such as ours seem to get overlooked.
I also understand your frustration re the role of a Replicas co-ordinator as we have spoken about this in the past. It would seem that members only get involved when there is something to "moan" about ( now that will get some response !! )
I have considered doing my bit for the club as the replicas co-ord but had little response from owners and I'm sure you and members don't want a month by month diatribe of my outings. I look forward to the Feb. magazine and, if you deem it worthwhile, when I do something a little out of the ordinary ( such as being invited to the Warren Classic & Supercar Concours ) I will do another article.
In the meantime, feathers smoothed out, a Happy New Year to you.

[RoyC]

Reg,

It's nice to finally be able to read your article in the Feb '18 issue of the magazine!

Roy

[J44EAG]

Nice article, Reg.

Thanks for sharing.

Mike K