I know a lot of things.
I know the man who visits our neighbour on his superbike has a small man part. I know this because every time he arrives at the neighbour’s gate, he revs his motorbike – which apparently has no exhaust – with the engine bouncing off the rev limiter, to alert the entire neighbourhood that he has arrived.
I know that taxi drivers have become a power unto themselves in the main centres, and that more and more Joe Publics of all shapes and sizes are following suite. If you can’t beat them, join them, right? The lawless situation on our roads has spiralled out of control.
I know that, if you fly to Australia in economy class and a six-foot-five person occupies the small seat next to you, there may be some awkward space sharing times ahead. And that paying R850 for two plates of fish ’n chips and two beers in Perth is just not right.
I know that English cricketer Stuart Broad needs his fringe trimmed. And his attitude, too.
I know that Land Rover Defenders are woefully unreliable and that they mark their territory wherever they go, but I also know that they are so, so cool.
I know that our country is in dire need of change… at this very moment our future, and the futures of our children, looks pretty bleak. Still, we shall not give up, and we shall not give in.
I know that I definitely do not understand the world’s absolute fascination with a big-bottomed American lady called Kim Kardashian and her temperamental other half with his spoiled-brat attitude, Kanye East.
And that’s about all I know.
Oh wait, there’s one more: I also know that I’m not Jannie Herbst, the man who created Leisure Wheels magazine in 1998, and with whom I’ve been working on-and-off for the past 18 years.
Jannie, who is now setting off to explore the world, has been running this ship, doing things his way for almost two decades, and clearly he has done a brilliant job. The man’s experience and knowledge is irreplaceable, and he is a true legend and pioneer of the motoring magazine establishment in South Africa.
Thankfully, I’ve spent the last 18 years learning from the man himself, and my passion for the adventure motoring lifestyle is pretty much on the same level as Donald Trump’s passion for his hair.
I will, inevitably, do things differently to Jannie. That’s just the way it is. This may not sit well with some readers who prefer the traditional look and treatment, but others may enjoy the new stuff more.
However, this magazine is about so much more than just one person – it’s about a dedicated team of journalists, photographers, layout, subbing and production staff, contributors, the sales team, the Cape Town-based management crew, the car companies and the places we visit. It’s a package deal, really.
But most importantly this magazine is about you, the reader.
Everything our team does will be geared to provide you with the best possible product. We understand media times have changed, so the magazine will form the platform for a new focus on social media. We’ll be Facebooking, twitting, instant-gramming and casting some pods in 2016.
There are many other exciting projects in the pipeline too, but more about those over the next few months.
Finally, the magazine you hold in your hands will be the last of the current genre of Leisure Wheels magazines.
From the April edition, the magazine will feature a complete overhaul, both in content and in design. Please have a look when it appears on the shelves, and let us know what you think.
Although we do realise that we’ll never be able to please everyone, we’ll certainly do our best to try and accommodate as many readers and whims and ideas as possible.
Send your comments to [email protected].
Thanks for reading!