Favourite EVO Mag article last quarter century?

[Paul Thorpe evo]

To kick off (and I'm bit biased), but I especially enjoyed the GT3 in Targa / Sicily that I did with my yellow lhd car along with Dickie Meaden, John Hayman and Gus Gregory in 2000.

[belleair302]

Any Russell Bulgin article.

[samoht]

Off the top of my head, Henry Catchpole's rallying exploits in ISTR a Renault Twingo 133. Just the storytelling and emotion of them, really engaging.

I reserve the right to change my mind later though

Edit - it was a Swift, see https://www.evo.co.uk/features/features/232734/hen...

Edited by samoht on Wednesday 25th September 17:40

[carlo996]

A few stand out.

The FWD test was epic, especially as the DC2 won

There was a review including the Tamara, they gave away a CD with it and I recall listening to that TVR saying ‘one day’

The Aston Vanquish. The artwork was so utterly brilliant.

Rover SVR, Mr Bean savaged it and left it somewhere, maybe in the moors?

And lastly the projects. Harrys fwd Hyundai coupe V6 which he spent loads on, it was always rubbish. However, the project ‘fast’ was fun, think the Soarer won it?

[samoht]

carlo996 said:

A few stand out.
...
The Aston Vanquish. The artwork was so utterly brilliant.
...

HC did a drive piece in a Vanquish, possibly an end of production piece, in I think Scotland. I always remember the part when he sees a young boy sitting on a wall staring at the Aston, and Henry revving the engine and writing "It's what I would have wanted me to do".

[David87]

There was a Ferrari one - must have been in about 2004 or so - where they got together the four top dog cars from over the years and it was great. I’m not really into Ferraris, but even that didn’t stop it from being wonderfully enjoyable to read.

I believe - and I may be remembering incorrectly here - that I wrote into the letters page and got star letter in issue 100 for saying basically exactly that. I think I got sent a speed camera detector. Very 2000s.

Either that or the big front wheel drive test they did in 2006 as I was lucky enough to come along as the owner of one of the cars they used (Mk1 Focus RS). Was a great day - got to go out with the guys in most of the cars and finished with a go on the track. Great stuff from the good old days.

[samoht]

David87 said:

There was a Ferrari one - must have been in about 2004 or so - where they got together the four top dog cars from over the years and it was great. I’m not really into Ferraris, but even that didn’t stop it from being wonderfully enjoyable to read.

Possibly this one? 288 GTO, F40, F50 and Enzo. It was the first time I became aware of the legend that is the 288 GTO.

https://www.evo.co.uk/ferrari/204743/ferraris-hype...

[Paul Thorpe evo]

Paul Thorpe evo said:

To kick off (and I'm bit biased), I especially enjoyed our GT3 in Targa / Sicily adventure that I did, with my first one in the UK yellow lhd GT3 (V 295 HGS), along with top blokes Dickie Meaden, John Hayman and Gus Gregory in late 2000.

[slopes]

I think of the articles i read, my fave was one of the eCOTY when they had the Black RS500 and were in North Yorkshire, some very funny bits in that article, the one that immediately springs to mind is i think Dickie and John barker discussing firing up something quiet early in the morning and someone else fired up a Gallardo that sounded like a Class 1 offshore powerboat.

Made me at the time and still does make me

[L100NYY]

carlo996 said:

There was a review including the Tamora, they gave away a CD with it and I recall listening to that TVR saying ‘one day’

That was ECOTY

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=sJrP8Pg2xTQ&pp=y...

[David87]

samoht said:

Possibly this one? 288 GTO, F40, F50 and Enzo. It was the first time I became aware of the legend that is the 288 GTO.

https://www.evo.co.uk/ferrari/204743/ferraris-hype...

Yes that’s the one! Thank you - I’ll read that later on. Maybe it was earlier than 2004, I’m not sure now. Wish I still had some copies of those old Evos from back then. Would love to flick through now, but know I’d just end up sad that things don’t seem as good any more.

[Olivera]

Any ECOTY, but I particularly remember the 2015 one where they luckily got some glorious weather in the Highlands. Think one or both Franchittis also contributed.

[carlo996]

L100NYY said:

That was ECOTY

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=sJrP8Pg2xTQ&pp=y...

Brilliant, thank you!

[L100NYY]

carlo996 said:

L100NYY said:

That was ECOTY

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=sJrP8Pg2xTQ&pp=y...

Brilliant, thank you!

I listened/watched that far too many times, not knowing that a few years later I would be working for TVR.

[Terminator X]

Anything by Bulgin.

TX.

[carlo996]

L100NYY said:

I listened/watched that far too many times, not knowing that a few years later I would be working for TVR.

sounds like a story there

I bought that mag in the airport, my first visit as a wet wipe engineer on a visit to Tokyo. I remember being really bored in the production hall and watching this exact clip...it broke down a few barriers and we ended up visiting Honda HQ etc as they then got the impression I was into cars

Evo was a great thing back in the day.

[K50 DEL]

David87 said:

samoht said:

Possibly this one? 288 GTO, F40, F50 and Enzo. It was the first time I became aware of the legend that is the 288 GTO.

https://www.evo.co.uk/ferrari/204743/ferraris-hype...

Yes that’s the one! Thank you - I’ll read that later on. Maybe it was earlier than 2004, I’m not sure now. Wish I still had some copies of those old Evos from back then. Would love to flick through now, but know I’d just end up sad that things don’t seem as good any more.

I have every copy from issue 1 onwards on my shelves and yes, reading some of the older articles does make you feel that way.

I think the lack of variety in the marketplace, together with the creep of electricals and the increase in the anti-car attitude of many has made it harder to write such evocative pieces.... combine that with the undoubted reduction in budget since HM left and the big statement articles have been much less frequent over the last few years