Racer (stylized RACER), is an American motorsports magazine based in Irvine, California. Owned by Racer Media & Marketing, it is published six times a year. and has a news and commentary website, Racer.com along with The RACER Channel on YouTube.

Racer
Cover of issue #330 (September–October 2024), featuring March 881
Editor-in-ChiefLaurence Foster
Former editorsJohn Zimmerman
CategoriesMotor sport
Frequency8 time per year
FounderPaul F. Pfanner
Founded1992
First issueMay 1992; 32 years ago (1992-05)
CompanyRacer Media & Marketing Inc.
CountryUS
Based inIrvine, California
LanguageEnglish
Websitewww.racer.com
ISSN1066-6060

Overview

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The magazine has feature articles relating to most of the world's major auto racing series, including NASCAR, Formula One, the IndyCar Series, the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, NHRA Drag Racing, and the World Rally Championship, as well as local racing categories and feeder series.[1] The magazine includes extensive photography of race vehicles.[2] In addition to the magazine, Racer also has a custom publishing division, that has produced SportsCar magazine for the Sports Car Club of America.[3]

In June 2019, Racer Media & Marketing has acquired Vintage Motorsport magazine.[4]

History

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The magazine debuted with the May 1992, issue with the cover story about the "engine war" in the CART, and the cover photo was a head-on shot of Emerson Fittipaldi’s Penske-Chevrolet Indycar by Michael C. Brown.[5] The magazine was launched by Paul F. Pfanner, and originally published by Racer Communications, Inc. which was a sister company of Pfanner Communications, Inc. that published SportsCar magazine for the Sports Car Club of America and Champ Car magazine. Racer's founding Publisher was Bill Sparks and the founding Editor was John Zimmermann.[6][7] Jeff Zwart was also a co-founder.[3] It was listed as one of the "12 best magazines in America" by M.I.N. Magazine in 1999.[8] The company and the title was later purchased by London-based Haymarket Publishing (now Haymarket Media Group) in early 2001.[9] The magazine was sold back to its founders in 2012[10] and is now run by Racer Media & Marketing Inc. Laurence Foster remained in the position of Editor-in-Chief.[3] Sparks serves as the Publisher and company COO.[11] The main investors of the magazine also returned to the publication, including Chris Dyson and Rob Dyson.[2]

Publishers

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References

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  1. ^ prnewswire.co.uk (2007). "Racer Communications Launches New Magazine, Champs Car in May". PR Newswire. Archived from the original on February 7, 2012. Retrieved October 22, 2007.
  2. ^ a b "Publication Changes In The Motorsports Realm". Motor Authority. MH Sub I, LLC. Archived from the original on December 10, 2018. Retrieved December 10, 2018.
  3. ^ a b c columnist, Jan Norman, small-business (April 9, 2012). "O.C. racing magazine is sold". The Orange Country Register. Archived from the original on December 10, 2018. Retrieved December 10, 2018. {{cite web}}: |first= has generic name (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  4. ^ "Racer Media & Marketing, Inc. acquires Vintage Motorsport". RACER. June 27, 2019. Retrieved June 29, 2019.
  5. ^ "About Racer". Racer. Archived from the original on December 10, 2018. Retrieved January 27, 2016.
  6. ^ "Publication Founders Re-acquire RACER Magazine and Racer.com on Eve of 20th Anniversary". Journal of Transportation. NewsRX. April 14, 2012. Archived from the original on September 11, 2016.
  7. ^ Kirby, Gordon (2012). "Gordon Kirby - Auto Racing - The Way It Is". Archived from the original on December 10, 2018. Retrieved December 10, 2018.
  8. ^ Inc., Phillips Business Information. "min magazine Names Industry's Best; Commemorative Publication Becomes Quarterly Magazine-about-Magazines". PR Newswire. Archived from the original on August 19, 2016. Retrieved December 10, 2018. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  9. ^ "Industry Insights: Paul Pfanner". PRI. Archived from the original on August 25, 2016. Retrieved December 10, 2018.
  10. ^ "Haymarket Sells Majority Stake in Racer Magazine - Folio". Folio. March 27, 2012. Archived from the original on December 10, 2018. Retrieved December 10, 2018.
  11. ^ "Car Guy Nation Signs Racer Magazine As Marketing Partner - Digital Dealer". February 13, 2013. Archived from the original on December 10, 2018. Retrieved December 10, 2018.
  12. ^ "RACER@25: Issue No. 0, Jan. 1992 – The prototype". RACER. March 10, 2017. Archived from the original on December 4, 2018. Retrieved November 14, 2018.
  13. ^ "RACER@25: Issue No. 1, May 1992". RACER. March 13, 2017. Archived from the original on December 4, 2018. Retrieved November 14, 2018.
  14. ^ "RACER@25: Issue No. 109, May 2001 - A new era begins". RACER. April 7, 2017. Archived from the original on December 10, 2018. Retrieved November 14, 2018.
  15. ^ "RACER@25: Issue No. 241, May 2012 - Game Changer - the RACER 3.0 era begins". RACER. April 28, 2017. Archived from the original on December 10, 2018. Retrieved November 14, 2018.
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