Harry Leaves Evo

Author
Discussion

Mastodon2

13,826 posts

166 months

Monday 30th September 2013
quotequote all
Apart from the odd highlight like the F1 20th anniversary issue, the content has been dire these last few years, I'm not surprised he left.

Muzzer79

10,075 posts

188 months

Monday 30th September 2013
quotequote all
WeirdNeville said:
It all went down hill when they got Trott in as editor. I cancelled my subscription years ago when I just got bored of the same old articles being recycled. The photos alone were no longer worth the cover price.
+1

He's made it too contrived

Perhaps it's a case of all good things coming to an end.

There's only so much Porsche 911 variant/Nissan GTR variant/Gallardo variant/F car variant hacking around the 'Evo triangle' before it gets boring.

Last month's GT3 test summed it up for me. They spent about half the main features - 3 separate articles - on one car.
It's not focusing on an important car; it's laziness.

Phil Dicky

7,162 posts

264 months

Monday 30th September 2013
quotequote all
Vixpy1 said:
Who remembers his Ghibli Cup in Performance Car Magazine(RIP) ?
Me....red and gorgeous

GTIR

24,741 posts

267 months

Monday 30th September 2013
quotequote all
Is he as amazeballs as Sir Chris of Harris?

TobyLaRohne

5,713 posts

207 months

Monday 30th September 2013
quotequote all
I actually am gutted! I will miss his contributions to evo. I always go to read his bits first! He could have given us a bit of notice or something, I feel lost!

...had today being bovingtons last day however.. (evil cackle!!)

Harry, if you are reading this, please PLEASE do something else, don't do something stupid like ....retire!

toppstuff

13,698 posts

248 months

Monday 30th September 2013
quotequote all
GTIR said:
Is he as amazeballs as Sir Chris of Harris?
Totes.

GusB

272 posts

160 months

Monday 30th September 2013
quotequote all
Mezzanine said:
He has a very large farming business which is where he makes his real money.

He also sold Evo to Dennis many years back but they retained his services.

Will be interesting to see his next move in the journalism field (if he makes one), he has been postulating about making money from online content/video for a few years so maybe a Drive style thing?

Big loss to Evo I would say, he seemed to be one of the few carrying the original 'enthusiasts' flame in terms of the magazines direction.
I agree Mezzanine, a big loss.

isaldiri

18,627 posts

169 months

Monday 30th September 2013
quotequote all
Mastodon2 said:
Apart from the odd highlight like the F1 20th anniversary issue, the content has been dire these last few years, I'm not surprised he left.
That's a bit harsh.. I thought the analogue supercars issue earlier this year was bloody brilliant...

Mezzanine

9,232 posts

220 months

Monday 30th September 2013
quotequote all
jon- said:
monthefish said:
On paper (no pun intended) it looked like the future, but whatever reason it bombed.
I was never a fan, and I never really worked out why (as I like all three writers)
About 12 months too soon, and no youtube backing.

Drive seems to be doing a little better and they're starting to make good numbers across the board, not just Harris.
Think the collapse of Drivers Republic was more to do with some financial and moral skulduggery on one of the parties part rather than the concept itself failing.

That was what I gleaned from the online fallout anyway...

(legal land mines hopefully avoided!)

vikingaero

10,410 posts

170 months

Monday 30th September 2013
quotequote all
I'm not a fan of car magazines at present.

Evo was slightly different. It employed people with an interest in cars. Harry was different - a petrolhead. The reason I don't like mags are their current format. They seem to be creating personalities from the writers. That's OK for one or two mags to do but when they all do it there is no differentiation. One mag I particularly dislike at present is Auto Express. As a petrolhead I used to still buy it but was really put off with that Richard Head, Graham Hope, using it as a personal photo gallery for his kids. I want to know about cars, not your kids.

Davey S2

13,097 posts

255 months

Monday 30th September 2013
quotequote all
Schermerhorn said:
I hope has has thought this through and that he has a Plan B and a Plan C if it doesn't work out.
Why would he need to? As stated he is a farmer first and foremost and the cars seem to have been a bit of an enjoyable sideline. Obviously not short of a few £ either

Anyway given how long he has been at Evo and the contacts he has I doubt he would have any trouble in obtaining press cars for online reviews as he does now for Evo.

I hope he does as he seems like a top bloke and I'd far rather see him testing cars online than talking about cows on Countryfile hehe

Mezzanine

9,232 posts

220 months

Monday 30th September 2013
quotequote all
vikingaero said:
I'm not a fan of car magazines at present.

Evo was slightly different. It employed people with an interest in cars. Harry was different - a petrolhead. The reason I don't like mags are their current format. They seem to be creating personalities from the writers. That's OK for one or two mags to do but when they all do it there is no differentiation. One mag I particularly dislike at present is Auto Express. As a petrolhead I used to still buy it but was really put off with that Richard Head, Graham Hope, using it as a personal photo gallery for his kids. I want to know about cars, not your kids.
To be fair, if you buy Auto Express, you deserve everything you get wink


Vladimir

6,917 posts

159 months

Monday 30th September 2013
quotequote all
A real shame.

I've never warmed to Nick Trotted and I can't quite understand why he is Editor of Evo (I'm sure someone will fill me in)? Harry is one of the originals; I think only Richard M and Henry C catch my attention now.

I will give it a chance though before cancelling my sub.

monthefish

20,443 posts

232 months

Monday 30th September 2013
quotequote all
Mezzanine said:
To be fair, if you buy Auto Express, you deserve everything you get wink
yes

A bizzare publication (only ever read it in the Dentist waiting room)
It's like a magazine for car enthusiasts who aren't really enthusiasts.

monthefish

20,443 posts

232 months

Monday 30th September 2013
quotequote all
Vladimir said:
I've never warmed to Nick Trotted and I can't quite understand why he is Editor of Evo (I'm sure someone will fill me in)?
I know what you mean. I wasn't that taken with him when he was at CAR either, and was very surprised he got the job at Evo.

He's not bad, and I think he does an OK job as Editor, but can't help but think there's definitely room for improvement on that front.

Mezzanine

9,232 posts

220 months

Monday 30th September 2013
quotequote all
monthefish said:
Vladimir said:
I've never warmed to Nick Trotted and I can't quite understand why he is Editor of Evo (I'm sure someone will fill me in)?
I know what you mean. I wasn't that taken with him when he was at CAR either, and was very surprised he got the job at Evo.

He's not bad, and I think he does an OK job as Editor, but can't help but think there's definitely room for improvement on that front.
Watch the latest Evo Diary of Trott's long term 12C and then watch Harry's Clio Trophy video...sums everything up IMO.

TheGnome

24 posts

128 months

Monday 30th September 2013
quotequote all
All the best for the future Mr Metcalfe. Fantastic writer who clearly had a great vision when he first set up EVO all those years ago.

The magazine itself always appealed as it focused more on the fun aspect of car driving and ownership, with a clean and appealing layout which set itself apart from the other mags. The website is the total opposite, and feels cluttered with invasive advertising.

As more and more of the world goes digital, EVO could do well to sort their online presence to reflect the magazine's quality, or more of their readership will move to Drive, Xcar and such like.

Vladimir

6,917 posts

159 months

Monday 30th September 2013
quotequote all
They also need to cull most of the members of their freakshow forum. Reflects very badly on the brand.

TheGnome

24 posts

128 months

Monday 30th September 2013
quotequote all
Mezzanine said:
Watch the latest Evo Diary of Trott's long term 12C and then watch Harry's Clio Trophy video...sums everything up IMO.
Agreed.

I felt that Trott came across as defensive to the point of aggressive throughout. It's great to get an insight into these things, and he was responding to direct questions from YT'ers which is a nice idea but XCar did a far better, and more humble job. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KocRjRI7zMM

Harry comes across as someone you'd actually want to talk to about cars over a pint. Make that several pints.

carinaman

21,333 posts

173 months

Monday 30th September 2013
quotequote all
I've not bought many issues of Evo. The ones I have seen reminded me of CAR Magazine when I was at school. I wonder how much CAR Magazine made me such a car bore. I have taken heed of Evo reviews online.

I really like the videos Harry has posted, even the Clio Trophy one. He even tickered under the bonnet on the Lamborghini Espada one.

I can't help but notice that Harry Metcalfe is considerably richer than me, but that never comes across in the videos. He just comes across as a really nice bloke that likes his cars, but has the wherewithal to make it real. He comes across like someone that may have won the PH/Adrian Flux win £10K to spend in the classifieds but with about 6 noughts added to the end.

Is he a bit like James May would be if he wasn't hamming it up for the cameras, following a TV programme storyboard.

Harry is a top bloke, and reminds me of that Rob Wilson F1 driver coach that was asked to assess Kimi when he was in Formula Renault and does the technical driving bits on the Peter Windsor F1 videocasts.