Today in motorcycle history, August 3, 1967

  

  "The Blue "un" merges with "The Green "un".

  'The Motor Cycle' was one of the first British magazines strictly about motorcycles. Launched by Iliffe and Sons Ltd in 1903, its blue cover led to it being called "The Blue 'un" to help distinguish it from its rival publication 'Motor Cycling', which, using a green cover, was known as "The Green 'un". Clever.



  Like everything else, the 1960's brought big changes; 'The' was dropped from the title, being then simply known as 'Motor Cycle', a readers' write-in 'Help Club', technical articles, tear-downs and repair how-to's, new model reviews, practical road riding, accessories, clubs and rally's.

  The biggest change came in 1967 with the merger of 'Motor Cycle' and 'Motor Cycling'. With the merger came the opportunity to change into newspaper format, 'Motor Cycling' had already changed to a broadsheet newspaper format five years earlier. Editor Harry Louis stated in the last magazine format dated August 3, 1967:

  "You'll get it a day earlier, on Wednesdays. The printing will be by the latest process, web-offset, which gives much brighter reproduction of pictures than has been possible in the past. With about twice as much space as in this issue, the new 'Motor Cycle' brings you all the features you expect plus much more extensive coverage of sport and news!"

  The two continued as one in the newspaper format, under the new name 'Motor Cycle Incorporating Motor Cycling'. They eventually realized how silly the name was and changed it to 'Motor Cycle Weekly'.

  'Motor Cycle Weekly' would remain in newspaper-format until 1983 when it reverted to magazine-format. After less than a year it folded.

  Today in motorcycle history proudly supports the National Association for Bikers with a Disability (NABD). www.nabd.org.uk