Empire Building...

the march of Morton's Media

John Newman

• motorcycles
• Mortons
• Magazines

August is known in the media as 'the silly season'. Though an eye cast across the headlines of many newspapers all year round might convince any reader that all twelve months fall into this category.
Last month didn't conform to the stereotypical poor news month with disasters unrolling day by day across the Middle East, the Ebola crisis in West Africa, and closer to home the unfolding story of the Scottish independence vote.
In the motorcycle world, one of the major publishers of motorcycle magazines, and promoter/organiser of classic shows, Morton's Media, had a busy August adding more shows and a magazine title to its considerable portfolio.
Fast Bikes, the magazine that caters for sports bikes riders, has been purchased by Mortons from Future Publishing, of which this was the lone motorcycle title.


Morton's are known mainly for their two wheel magazine titles prefixed by the word 'Classic': Classic Motorcycle Mechanics, Classic Racer, Classic Bike Guide etc etc. They do publish 'Motorcycle Monthly' the tabloid freebie and Motorcycle Sport and Leisure aimed squarely at the more 'mature' rider. So are Morton's now set to capture a slice of the Motor Cycle News market and challenge Bauer for two wheel supremacy?
For the past two years a couple of us at Wemoto have shaken off the winter blues by attending the 'Telford Twin Shock and Classic Road Racing Show' held at the International Centre in February. For years this event was organised and promoted by Alan Wright, but it has now been added to the list of classic shows run under the Morton's banner – Alan Wright is a columnist for their Classic Dirt Bike magazine and he will be part of the 2015 show organisation.


Mortons have also acquired a 'family' of three classic car shows that take place at the Bath and West Showground at Shepton Mallet through the year. Adding to the already popular bike show at the same venue; the Stafford classic shows, Newark Auto Jumbles and the Netley Marsh Auto Jumble.
Certainly the motorcycle industry does need a shot in the arm in the UK, so hopefully this will be a healthy development which maintains activity and continuity and doesn't discourage independent competition. Only time will tell.