Haymarket’s PistonHeads.com has released its first annual, The Best Bits 2009. It is selling for £5.99 and is available online, in WHSmiths newsagents and, from the new year, in selected Tesco stores.
“It’s humorous in its approach, adult in tone and unapologetic in its design,” says brand manager Paul Garlick. He adds that with the site’s readership pushing three million, he expects that the annual’s limited edition of 15,000 copies will soon be in short supply.
The site’s community of self-confessed ‘petrolheads’ – the PHers – come together at the annual PistonHeads performance car show, on European driving holidays and at their own events, which they regularly organise independently of Haymarket.
The Best Bits annual, too, takes the PHers as its focus. At its core is the best of the forums and reader events, as well as the best and worst ‘Sheds’ (members’ beloved cars, regretfully for sale).
However, some of the book’s content will be new even to PistonHeads’ most dedicated online readers, including a feature that takes a look into PHers’ garages.
Publishing director Stuart Forrest said: “A print product derived largely from user-generated content is a first for Haymarket, and unusual in the wider publishing sector. I’d also venture that this is the first Haymarket magazine to offer useful advice on buying everything from the latest supercars to a domesticated Indian elephant.
“We’re very excited about seeing this on the newsstand but, judging by the reaction on our forums, not quite as excited about this as our own members. Congratulations to the team involved, who’ve worked hard to produce a great looking and commercially successful new print product.”
