Blog : Happy New Year from AROnline

Keith Adams

Happy New Year

Better late than never, I say. But in between the business of adding stories to the The Best of AROnline section, I thought it might be a nice thing to wish all of our readers a very, happy New Year for 2016, and hope that it’s going to be a very good one for you. I’ve been a bit busy during the past 12 months, so being able to spend some quality time here over the past few days has been very nice indeed.

I should say that, although 2015 was a challenging, interesting and fulfilling year professionally for me, it was also a great deal of fun. I had a full year editing Classic Car Weekly, and enjoying the challenge of maintaining its excellent sales. The team responded magnificently, and I reckon because of their efforts, it looks and feels better than ever.

During all that, I launched the new magazine Modern Classics, which appears to be selling well, and winning lots of fans – that was a hell of a challenge, and took much of my life during the latter half of the year. Without the help of many very talented people, as well as the support of my management, it would still remain my unrealised dream.

Most importantly here, I regained control of AROnline, which added a genuine feeling of achievement to the year. Mike Humble especially made it all possible, and I’m sure his work and effort on it will be properly rewarded. In the middle of all that I bought and sold a number of interesting cars, while ending up with one – finally – that I want to keep for as long as I can, the Citroën C6 (sorry it’s not British, but it is a car I’ve always wanted).

As for AROnline, it continues as it has done for the past 15 years. I’m still developing it where I can – so you’ll see new splash pages for ‘The Cars’ in the Austin/Morris and Jaguar sections, and I’ll do more, as and when I can. I’ll also try my hardest to keep adding new stories where I can, and track down more people to interview with first hand accounts of working for the company. Re-publishing my Spen King and Alex Moulton interviews reminded me of the fact that life is but fleeting, and we really need to capture as much now, while we can.

Other things to look forward to in 2016 are the anniversaries. It’ll be the 30th of the Rover 800, Jaguar XJ40, the 40th of the Rover SD1 and Ford Fiesta MkI, and the 50th of the Ford Cortina MkII and the Vauxhall Viva HB. There are many, many more, but that gives you a flavour of the many and varied things we’ll be able to write about during the coming year.

Once again, from the bottom of my heart, thank you for your continued support, and Happy New Year, one and all. Let’s make the next one count!

Keith Adams – Editor and Creator, AROnline

rover_800_1

Keith Adams

6 Comments

  1. 30 years (less a few months) since the Rover 800 was launched – life did feel short when I read that !!

    Happy New Year folks !

  2. Happy new year to all. Thanks to all the team for a really enjoyable year of facts, figures, nostalga and of course news!. I’d like to thank Craig for all his contributions earlier in the year and Mike for his ongoing involvement. Great to see Keith back too!

  3. All the best for 2016. Keith, Mike and all other ARO’s After reading the Viva HB is 50 this year gowd… I feel old,… I learn’t to drive in one in 76 and owned an estate version, complete with hand made centre console with combined 8 track / cassette player and “stick on” fablon dashboard in 77!!!!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.


*


This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.