In praise of WB

SIR,

I was encouraged to read the editorial in the last issue of MOTOR SPORT. I have felt for many years that the greatest drivers, cars and races have been and gone, to be replaced by vegetarian, teetotal robots driving mobile computers and think it is high time someone produced a decent looking historic magazine which acknowledges that life exists beyond the Morris Minor.

However, I really do feel I must seek your further assurances that the presence of the redoubtable Bill Boddy continue to be felt throughout the pages of the magazine. For long-time readers of the magazine, WB simply is MOTOR SPORT and it would be unthinkable for him to leave the magazine that he and DSJ turned into the greatest title of all.

I am aware that when any organ comes under new management there is a knee-jerk reaction to install young bloods who think they know it all. I am not in the least opposed to the proper promotion of young talent but, in this case, it is hard to imagine any with the smallest fraction of the knowledge and experience of your ‘Founder Editor’.

Finally, and on that note, I know that WB was effectively editing the magazine in 1939 but, as the journal was first published in 1924, surely the founder editor was the late Mr Hutchins?

I AM, YOURS, ETC,

MORTIMER BINNEY, CHELSEA, LONDON.

(Happily, Mr Binney, we couldn’t agree more. WB is as integral a part of this magazine as its green cover and, while I remain editor, that is the way I intend it to stay. He is called Founder Editor’ as he was the originator of all those MOTOR SPORT values you and I hold so dear AF)