How it Came about?

 

I have always had an avid interest in all things automotive. From the age of 12, I collected car magazines, indexing the collection with an old exercise book as magazines spilled out of my room into the attic.

 

However as increasingly difficult enquiries emerged, (my school nickname was ‘the car encyclopaedia’), frustrating library visits quickly became essential. Only few magazines had indexes which were generally inaccurate or inadequate at best. Those that indexed annually sometimes simply omitted certain years. Others would produce one every 10-15 years.

 

After redundancy mid 1992, an opportunity arose to work on the Database almost full time. Consequently, I undertook a detailed research study to determine the information required by interviewing librarians and the public nationwide. As a result the (continuously evolving and it is still evolving!) Database was redesigned and further material was added. Never had I guessed this would be so all consuming!

My Database represents a comprehensive review 32 years in the making. It is a complete cover-to-cover examination (in contrast to simple reference to the contents page) with cross links to further help your search. Although the older (published years 1947-2005) database is not yet live  this in time I hope to make available. We hope to have a very small part live for demonstration purposes using Active Server. The plan will be to gradually add to the Database.

 

In the mean time under the Search page email me for your requests and I am happy to advise on references for free

 

A database is all very well but it will only serve to attract a few of you.

 

How do I attract a larger proportion of people?

 

Clearly we have to offer something else. How much would the average person who is not a car enthusiast be concerned about a car magazine database?

 

Would they find it useful?

 

Yes....... But...clearly I needed to provide more information and functionality. The most obvious feature pointed out by patient friend Andrew Gibson to blinkered database author was the provision of current information not just past material. The result: Current Magazine Reviews and Profiles.

 

Additionally, as people like to receive information instantly would it not it be wonderful for them to receive this information instantly via their email or phone  (This I hope to offer in Stage 2 of this web site development).

 

This is the start.

I was brought up in Wellington in 1960s-1970s living in the middle class suburb of Karori with my parents and I older brother 
Robert and younger sister Rosamond. My father was a successful Economist, Accountant and International merchant banker. My mother's earlier career prior to marrying my father was in advertising and both parents were extensively traveled overseas and well read. Both parents regarded education as a high priority.

 

My School days
During School I struggled with my learning as I have dyslexia. (My spelling is not the best to this day- so there might  be a few typos so bear with me. on this site. )

 

I originally attended Karori Normal school the biggest primary & Intermediate School in Wellington but as I and my brother  were in tail end of baby boom generation the classes were still very large and not ideal for learning - particularly for  someone like me whom needed special needs - It was decided that I was best served to be sent to a private boarding  school in Wanganui where classes were far smaller and more focus on the individual learning of the student.

 

However despite  been very lucky to attend such a school I could not shake off the inevitable that I would struggle to learn and 
understand!

 

Things came to head when I failed School Certificate in 1977 (Similar to British O levels) receiving zero subjects out of 6 sat. Something Had to change if I was make it past the 5th form and my ultimate goal to attend University like my parents.

 

I would not accept the fact that with this handicap I would never go past the 5th form year and go to University (my parents were told years earlier by Doctors not to expect me to excell academically but there was always hope and there were always plenty of support, love and encouragement in any of my endeavours this was also true of my late grandmother who was always most encouraging and had a equal love of cars!

 

I knew as I had a gift for learning facts &  figures quickly on any car I decided to apply that to learning plus I consulted my best mate at School Andy Cook on devising a study plan.  I knew if I was to succeed I would have to repeat the ordinary 5th form year at my school at Wanganui Collegiate rather then been placed in slower or 'cabbage class' of 6G where there was little encouragement to excel in those days . I had to fight like hell to be placed in ordinary 5th form class  and prior to entering it I rote learned the entire school years subjects  in the preceeding  Christmas Holiday from cover to cover. (Not an easy task to do!)

 

Part of my personality to this day is I will not accept the fact that someone says its not possible to do something and that you would never make it! ..

 

This can be seen with this  database as many people have commented over the years in dis-belief that it would not be possible for someone to document a magazine from  cover to cover and do so many of them over so many years  - I stand before you to shatter those beliefs!! 

At the end of that fateful 5th form class I got to the top of the class but I had to work 10 times harder than anyone else. 
In the 6th form came greater success, the result of long hours of study, and so, despite my handicap, I succeeded. Onward and Upward!! 

 

In the 1970s there was very little knowledge about dyslexia and lot ignorance and disbelief like there is to today with new Youth 
affliction 'ADD' and other dis-orders.

 

I did make it to University and Wellington Polytechnic achieving a Business Degree and a Science Degree prior to entering a  marketing career and years later a  post Graduate degree  in Secondary Teaching with emphasis on teaching subjects Science,

Economics and Computing.

 

After a Career in Marketing I Now Teach for a living, I began my teaching career as a Marketing and Management Tutor for the BCA Degree At Victoria University before retraining as a teacher in Secondary teaching and finding positions in Wairarapa , Lower Hutt and Upper Hutt of Wellington with particular interest on those kids with learning disabilities like myself (I believe it takes one to know and understand one!)

 

Currently I am a Relief Teacher in Secondary and Intermediate schools teaching Science, Business & IT here in the Hutt Valley.

 

I Live in the Hutt Valley in sprawling 4 bedroom house in quiet leafy suburb  with my Long term girlfriend Leonie - and our new  daughter Victoria with 1 cat 'Xena' surrounded by 100s of car magazines yet to be added to my database , Car books, car models and 2 old Opel cars one of which  has not turned a wheel for 9 months (described by my girl friend as large paper weight in the garage!)  lack of $$$ is always a problem with owing cars! 

 

I hope you find this site useful and I have enjoyed producing it!

Kind Regards

 

 

Julian Walls BCA, BSc, Dip Tchg

 

I welcome any positive constructive feedback

 

 

References

 

What have I  Used?

 

Well obviously apart from the magazines which probably number well over 50000!

 

I referred to several main books particularly those by GN Geogano

 

They are:

The Complete Encyclopedia of Motorcars 1885-Present -Edited by GN Georgano 1968 Edition and 1983 Edition

published by Ebury Press London

 

The Worlds Automobiles 1862-1962 a Record of 100 years of car building by GR Doyle & GN Georgano

published by Temple Press Books London 1963

 

( The Best $1.00 I spent at the annual Wellington Library Sale in 1996)

 

The Observers Books of Automobiles issues from 1955 through to 1992

 

Daily Mail Show Guides issues 1967 -1998

 

Historic Racing Cars of New Zealand by Graham Verco, Published by ReedBooks 1991

 

On Four Wheels 1973-1975 Edition (first Series -personal Collection) published by Orbis Publications

 

Automobile Quarterly - various from 1962 to todate

 

The Vintage Motor Car Pocketbook - compiled by Cecil Clutton , Paul Bird, Anthony Harding  published by B.T Batsford LTD London 1959

 

Etc

 

Unpublished Work

 

MG & Morgan

Peugeot for Peugeot Car Club NZ

 

 

People to Thank -Credits

My Family - for their encouragement, love & Support

 

John Marchal & his wife Elizabeth for 'straightening me out those years ago'.

 

Leonie - my long suffering girl friend who's put up with all my car mags and books scattered around our various flats and our house.

 

Andrew Gibson for giving me the idea to profile current issues and our various attempts to produce a web site ourselves but never ready to go live - prior to this professional one been built:)

 

Andrew Ball for help in  development of the older database

 

Darren Flynn for the Cartoon of me!

 

Robert Walls (my brother) and Rosamond Walls (my sister) for proof reading the Intoduction and many of the magazine profiles 

 

The Librarians in Various libraries particularly

The National Library of NZ  -Molesworth Street Wellington with special mention Roger Swanson -Senior Librarian

The Central Public Library -Victoria Street Wellington

 

The car enthusists and club members over the years whom were most encouraging telling me to go for it

 

Spiral Web design team of Audrey, Micelle and Cain

 

 

Dedicated to

 

Mr Matthew (Hew) Young Walls - My late father

 

Mrs Rosamond D (Dorthey) Kincaid - my late Grandmother