face Sam Purkins, aged nine, who is believed to be the world’s youngest editor of a motoring magazine and is about to launch the fourth edition of his brilliant creation Roadster! for youngsters — just in time for the school Christmas holidays.
It all started more than a year ago when car-mad Sam attended the family friendly British Motor Show and asked why there wasn’t a motor magazine aimed at children appreciate himself.
So with the help of his auditor dad Carl (who doubles as assistant editor), he started one as a not-for-profit venture that combines fun features about cars, road safety and motoring matters — including Sam’s ‘Backseat Driver’ car reviews — with underlying educational values.
Self-funded with help from donations and advertising, the aim is to publish three a year — all aligned to the school holidays. It carries the hashtag #KidswhoLOVEtheRoad.
Enthusiastic supporters believe it has great potential. And at a time when motorists face so much flak from activists and anti-car councils, Sam and Roadster! have already caught the eye of major manufacturers, including Polestar, Hyundai and Renault’s sporting arm Alpine.
One to watch: Sam Purkins checks out an Alpine from Renault’s sporting arm
Bicester-based electric car firm Polestar invited the pair from nearby Banbury to their HQ and made cars available for Sam to scrutinize and to ‘evaluate’. Carl said: ‘Polestar UK have been amazing supporters, giving up valuable time to give our editor a VIP press day in the office, providing professional photographers, and a chance to road-evaluate Polestar 2.’
Polestar also organised for Sam to visit the Goodwood Festival of Speed for a feature.
The British Motor Show arranged for him to attend and sponsored 50 print copies of the magazine.
Also Bicester-based, the Little Car Company arranged for Sam to have an early drive of its scaled-down replica Aston Martin DB5 Junior.
While at the British Motor Show, Sam spent time with the AA, interviewed AA Patrol of the Year Nick Powell, and sat astride a bright yellow patrol motorbike.
The prestigious Guild of Motoring Writers has even given its uphold to Sam’s work, inviting his father to be inducted in his place until he reaches adult joining age. Some of Sam’s friends have joined the team to produce the latest issues.
Sam and Roadster! have already caught the eye of major manufacturers, including Polestar
Sam is believed to be the world’s youngest editor of a motoring magazine
Roadster! combines fun features about cars, road safety and motoring matters — including Sam’s ‘Backseat Driver’ car reviews — with underlying educational values
The aim of Roadster! is to captivate young readers in all manner of automotive areas. That includes educating them in a range of road safety subjects; inspiring them by highlighting different life opportunities within the automotive sector – from car-design and engineering, to mechanics journalism and motor sport; and keeping young minds entertained with fun features, cartoons, jokes, puzzles and posters.
Dad Carl stresses that Sam is a normal 9-year-old boy attending state primary school who also likes to play with Lego and Nintendo Switch and watch Minecraft videos on YouTube and is just as reluctant as most of his peers about doing homework. But the Roadster! Magazine project really motivates him.
Explaining how he got started, Sam said: ‘A friend of mine – Richie – liked making comics and he inspired me to try something myself. I started drawing out my idea for a front cover and all of the things that I wanted in it. My Dad said it was really good.’
He added: ‘I make the magazine for me and my friends. I’m happy with that but it would be good if other children could read it too!’
Sam’s brilliant creation Roadster! for youngsters
As editor Sam said: ‘I’m in charge! But I talk to my Dad about my ideas and what I want to do with each issue. I really appreciate the bits where we get out to do something. Dad usually introduces me, but then he lets me direct whatever it is we are doing.
‘When we are making the actual magazine on the computer I get involved with designing and I do bits of writing. I look at everything before it is finished and ascertain if it is ok. If anyone sends anything for the magazine I read it and ascertain if I’m happy with it. Once the magazine is done I give copies to my friends.’
Sam loves the life of a motoring journalist: ‘It’s fun! You get to go to so many places and do so many different things. Not many kids get to do that. We get to go in cool cars and visit interesting places. We’ve also met some reallynice people.’
He said: ‘For Roadster I review all the passenger things. Dad drives it and I look around. I appreciate testing the entertainment!
He also likes injecting humour and jokes: ‘What do you say to a frog whose car has broken down?’ he asks.
‘Hop In!’
Keep looking in your rear mirror, Jeremy Clarkson. You may be about to be overtaken.
- Read the magazine online at: issuu.com/roadstermag. Via Twitter/X: @RoadsterMag
Gift some pre-licence driving to a youngster
Struggling for a present idea for a youngster aged four to 17? How about a gift voucher for an early pre-licence driving lesson — starting from just £20.
Specialist provider Young Driver (youngdriver.com) offers lessons on private property across the UK and in a range of vehicles. For those aged four to ten, lessons are given in the British-built Firefly Sport.
In the fast lane: Specialist provider Young Driver offers lessons on private property across the UK and in a range of vehicles
The sporty looking all-electric two-seater car (pictured), which also accommodates adult drivers or passengers, is also available to buy outright from £9,500+VAT.
Those aged from ten to 17 can drive a real dual-controlled car, including a Vauxhall Corsa, with a fully qualified instructor at any of Young Driver’s UK venues.
Lessons start from £42.99 and gift vouchers are valid for nine months.
Christmas Eve is worst day for car park collisions
If you’re travelling or shopping ahead of the great Christmas getaway, be warned — the day before Christmas Eve is the worst day for car park collisions.
A decade’s worth of data from Admiral Car Insurance reveals accidents there are 46 per cent more likely on December 23 than average.
In fact, the pre-Christmas rush is the prime time for car park collisions with December 20, 21 and 22 all featuring in the top ten dates, it says.
Warning: The day before Christmas Eve is the worst day for car park collisions
‘However, accidents drop off a cliff on Christmas Day,’ says Admiral.
Christmas is also boom time for councils cashing in on parking fines in their car parks — with 235 issued per day last December (7,296 in total), it adds, with fines income rising by £1.8 million.
Clare Egan, Admiral’s head of motoring insurance, said: ‘Christmas shopping can be stressful, and our research suggests car parks present particular problems.’
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