In 1994, our Premier issue of Parts Magazine covered both Parts Unlimited and Drag Specialties. The following year Drag Specialties Magazine broke off into its own publication. ack in 1993 I was struggling to launch a consumer publication called Motorcycle Collector Magazine. It was a fun magazine to put together and had an enthusiastic following. The trouble was I wasn’t making any money with it and couldn’t just keep going forever with it as my prime means of income.      But aside from the vintage and collector segment, I had spent my entire life in motorcycling and fortunately had some other publishing ideas. I believed that there was a need for a different type of publication for the industry that would provide people working in the retail stores with some more detailed information about the specific aftermarket products they sell. I had known Fred Fox for some time and ran an idea by him to publish a custom magazine for Parts Unlimited and Drag Specialties using this concept. Fred liked the idea and following his acceptance of my plan, we created Parts Magazine and Drag Specialties Magazine in 1994. In a nutshell, each title could be compared to an airline magazine with important news, reports and information focused around a single organization.      As we begin our 15th year of publication, let me say thanks to Fred and everyone in his LeMans Corporation for their trust and support through the years. We couldn’t imagine a better organization anywhere in the motorcycle industry to work with. Let me also say thanks to the many aftermarket manufacturers that we have had participate in the publication.      They’ve had some great product and business stories to tell and we look forward to all they still have in store for us to report. And thanks to everyone in the motorcycle and related powersports retail stories who use the magazines to learn about products. A magazine can have lots of support, but it needs readers like you to keep it going. In this first issue of 2008, we appropriately see on the cover the bike that also adorns the front cover of this year’s Drag Specialties FatBook. It was built by Tank Ewsichek of Tuff Cycle in Ohio and you can see what all went into it starting on page 40.      As you are reading this, the 2008 V-Twin Expo by Easyriders in Cincinnati is just around the corner. That show is the kickoff event of every business year in the V-Twin market and this year is no exception. Check out our preview story of the show beginning on page 20. You’ll find the event schedule, floor plans and a quick overview of what Drag Specialties and some of its top vendors will be doing at the show. We’ll see you there! We also have a look back at the Biketoberfest held in Daytona Beach last October. It is now one of the established “biggies” on the list of motorcycle events and rallies. And speaking of events, be sure to read our preview on the upcoming Drag Specialties “Runnin’ the Ozarks” dealer ride scheduled for the first week of June. These are really great motorcycling experiences and we hope you can join us this year. But talk to your Drag sales rep “ASAP” as the event is limited in size and will fill up very quickly.

Parts Magazine
Volume 15 #1

Parts Magazine Index