Please don’t read this unless you want the facts behind DT's distrust of and early problems with Mr Peter John Filby, editor of Which Kit Car? magazine. Please go back to the home page if you’re not interested.

The following account is designed to help readers understand the background to, and pertinence of, certain facts referred to in the Filby Fact File. There are further pages dealing with DT's First Claim against PF and The Howell issue which became subject of DT's second Claim. Monty Python Sketch is the story of PF's dodgy involvement with the Python confidence trick.After the legal battles records what followed the legal wrangling and how Pinocchio Fibly was finally forced to retire.

Fib’s (as I call him in forums) has always been 'dodgy'. He's run numerous companies of limited liability and has frequently changed the one used to market his magazine. On the occasion of each change, suppliers were unpaid. The process is known as 'Phoenixing'.

However, in 1983, on one such transition Fib's came unstuck and 'lost' Kit Car magazine. Fib's attempted re-launching Kit Car magazine after the 'demise' of its publishing company. Ordinarily, Fib's would have got away with it, except on this particular occasion the major financial looser, John Blackburn Print, decided to purchase (from the receivers) the 'Kit Car' magazine title in lue of the debt it was owed.

There followed a legal battle, the result of which was that Fib's was prevented from 'passing-off' any new magazine as 'Kit Car'. In April 1984; Fibs reported this legal dispute to explain the complex titles that were appearing on his magazines. Fibs was restrained by Court Order from publishing any magazine upon which both the words 'Kit' and 'Car' appeared together on the cover. (That's why, after other long names were tried, his rag was initially called 'Component Car', then later 'Which Kit?').

At this time (amid the confusion) publishers 'Link House' launched 'Kitcars and Specials'. Their then young new advertising salesman was Steve Hole. Its editors were Martin Foster and Peter Coxhead. It's interesting that all these three gentlemen ended up working for KC. Peter Coxhead as editor from 1995 till 1999 and Martin Foster from 1999 to 2001 (at which time he and Steve Hole left to start 'Sports Car' magazine).

Going back to 1984; whilst the above was happening, DT was working on his first product (the Bulldog). In 1985 DT started trading as Pilgrim Cars. DT knew something of Fibs reputation (from Blackburns, Link House and 'the word on the street'; also, by coincidence, DT's wife worked for PF's accountant). In his first week of trading as Pilgrim, DT quickly discovered first-hand, that PF lacks integrity. The specific problem was trivial, but illuminating.

Over the following years DT learned how PF used his two 'assets' (ignorance and arrogance) to maximum advantage. PF openly admits that he doesn't understand how or why cars work, or what makes one better than another. He explains that he publishs his feelings. No manufacturer would disagree that when technical things are discussed, Fibs eyes would glaze over and his attention would drift!

Fibs specialist subject is 'marketing'. He openly admits that the 'feelings' he publishes about products are influenced by the manufacturers attitude to 'marketing'. His unmistakable message was that his reports are influenced by the product's 'marketing' budget. Those products with lavish advertising budgets get his top 'feel good' factor and were well spoken of - often. Those with small advertising budgets are OK but not as well spoken of - and not as frequently either; whilst those with no advertising spend are iffy indeed. Any reader of WK's older issues would notice this (now it's been pointed out).

Fibs demanded 'respect' for his 'marketing' philosophy , and to be sure he got it, every now and again he picked on certain manufacturers (Cheetah, Dutton, JPR, Jago, Pilgrim and finally, just before he went bust, Robin Hood). He'd print his bad 'feelings' about those products until either the company fell into line or went bust. And it didn't much matter to Fib's which way they went. The policy worked well for Fib's. Few manufacturers neglected to 'market' their products in WKC. That ensured a solid stream of income which gave WKC the financial boost that procured WKC the leading position in the eyes of readers too.

The magazine situation as it was in 1991 was that Ian Hyne (who'd left Kit Car in 1998 to form KCi) went bust. DT therefore decided to rescue KCi and with it the only decent, honest and technically competent editor in the industry. DT kept Fibs sweet by giving him a Family Tourer on a long term loan and by giving him a complete Sumo kit (worth about £6,000), not to mention tons of advertising. DT made overtures that he was interested in buying KC. Come 1995 ; Blackburn's sold. DT therefore had 2 out of the 3 kit car magazines. PF was very cross that DT had acquired what he still saw as 'his baby' and published a report saying DT is like Rupert Merdoch and Adolf Hitler rolled into one. In truth, all DT wanted at the time was a means to honestly promote the kit car industry, and with it, DT's own Pilgrim range of products.

After three years of publishing both titles in tandem, DT realised that it's impossible to publish two similar magazines whilst making them both unique. Another problem was that there's twice as much to do: there's half the time to spend on each: whilst advertisers won't pay the same publisher twice each month. So, in 1998 DT sold KCi to PF to give him all those headaches.

Shortly after the sale, PF warned that he had 70% of the market and would soon squeeze KC (and DT) out of business. What Fibs didn't know was that DT had resolved to continue spending as much money on the production of KC as he had formerly spent on both titles. So, from Jan 1998 onwards the size of KC was steadily increased and its quality improved. By mid 1998 the typical size of KC was 164 pages, compared to both WKC and KCi's 100 pages each. KC therefore adopted a new strap-line "Biggest and Best" and throughout 1998 its sales increased by 300 copies every month. One of the techniques was to sell advertising at competitive rates. Steve Hole (who at this stage was KC's advertising manager) was very effective! Whilst KC's fortunes were turning, Fibs was concentrating most of his efforts into promoting his new baby, KCi. Sales of WKC were falling whilst those of KC were increasing.

PF was very cross and set about applying his promised squeeze 'by other means'. DT's First Claim against PF page explains how those 'other means' instigated a 5 year legal battle in the High Court.

DT

Early History involving Fibly's dodgy business dealings and lack of knowledge and how it led to legal conflict with DT

DT's First Writ of Summons against Fibly - presented as a story.

The Howell issue presented as a story and how it became subject of a second Writ.

After the legal battles records what happened after PF finally admitted that he'd lied.

Monty Python Sketch the story of PF's involvement with the Python confidence trick.

Please contact me with questions and/or requests as to where clarification or additional detail is most needed.

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