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Hi Gang! Dan Banks here, ZCCA Historian. With Carl’s permission, just thought I would offer some insight regarding Sport Z Magazine and its importance to our community. Sport Z is in that classic trap where if their present subscription base remains inadequate to attract significant advertising they don’t get the income needed to make the magazine viable (not profitable, but paying the bills). We don't get the Z-related advertising we all enjoy and the magazine becomes less attractive. The cost of a subscription cannot then come down, nor can more expensive promotions or travel by Sport Z editors or publishers in an effort to gain subscription base be pursued. The precedence for survival of such narrowly focused enthusiast magazines, and specifically a magazine for our national Z car enthusiast community, is not encouraging. This despite the high level of quality, both in the physical product and the articles therein, that Sport Z has achieved. There is some, probably significant, number of individuals who are attracted to Z cars, particularly the new 350Z, but who don't otherwise join clubs. Some of these find Sport Z and do subscribe. However, although the close estimate of total Z car production since 1970 approaches 1.5 million and many tens of thousands are still out there driving around, we have only about 3000 enthusiasts so devoted to the car, and the enjoyment one can have associating in an enthusiast group around it, that they join organized clubs. According to Sport Z Associate Publisher Art Singer, who detailed new programs to enhance subscription at this October's 16th Annual International Z Car Convention in Nashua, Sport Z has barely 25% penetration into the total membership roster of dedicated Z clubs. Sport Z needs that other 75%. I spent some time this past Z show season talking with Z car people about why they have or haven't subscribed. A few people one would think should be strong adherents don't subscribe for reasons very important to them. ONLY because this seems part of our group dynamic, I will share it here. In a very few cases, the magazine either doesn't represent what they believe should be the paramount idea of the "Z" (i.e.: absolute devotion to preserving the originals and profound aversion to modifications... aftermarket advertising be damned), or because their own involvement has been so intense, (and important over many years in promotion of local and national community), that First Amendment aside, published editorial page/Last Writes criticism does more damage than they will tolerate. Positions such as these seem relatively rare but individually valid and serious to those who shared their views. But in reality, almost all individuals joining clubs enjoy the Z's and the camaraderie without placing so much of their own persona, emotional energy, and personal investment into it. In all clubs there are those few who tend to do all the heavy lifting organizing events and running the club (about 25%, and surprise, they subscribe) and those who make up the reliable majority of membership who participate to enjoy the result (about 75%, and surprise, they don't subscribe). What we need is to get our majority 75% to subscribe to Sport Z and here's why. Sport Z represents a permanent historical record of what the national Z car movement has been all about. This is important because a written history lasts forever. Many years into the future there will be people who research enthusiast auto clubs. Others who are starting or running their own clubs will look for insight in ways of encouraging group enthusiasm. As Carl mentioned, possessing your own complete set of these magazines is a wonderful personal resource. My main contribution so far as ZCCA Historian has been the 2002 and 2003 Convention Historian's Compendiums. We published 1000 copies of each which were handed out to ZCCA Club Representatives during the ZCCA business meetings for members, or made available at the registration tables in San Antonio and Nashua. This year's effort was a biography of Mr. K, well received according to feedback. The point here is that in researching for these Compendiums I have learned how valuable materials written years and decades ago are. What we do today as it gets published in Sport Z, other Z car magazines such as the British Z Car Club magazine or England's The Classic Register, club newsletters, and past Z publications, becomes that permanent record. Sport Z, as the only national community record we have, is currently in my opinion among the most valuable legacy to our passion for the Z. I strongly urge all on this zdigest, who almost certainly already subscribe to Sport Z, to get your buddies to do so too. Those clubs who had representatives at the first ZCCA Business Meeting in Nashua can ask about the Sport Z Magazine Discount Programs. Art Singer is running the programs, gives his business card out to everyone, and can be reached at associatepublisher@sportzmagazine.com. In answer to Peter Robson's query, international distribution of Sport Z is available at the cost somewhat higher cost of mailing issues abroad. At this time you can get a subscription from the UK! Finally, for those who would like to read the 2003 Historian's Compendium biography of Mr. K, send me your name and address and as long as it doesn't get too overwhelming I will put a CD with it in the mail for you to print out. Reach me at twinturbo90zya@cox.net. Respectfully, Dan Banks
Vienna, Virginia
ZCCNV
1971 240Z
1990 300ZXTT
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