So this is the last Editorial column. Well, the last one I’ll be writing anyway. Yep, it’s time for me to do a little less reading about other folks’ adventures and start heading out on a few more of my own.
Don’t get me wrong, being a part of Unsealed 4X4 over the last couple of dozen or so issues has been an absolute blast. I’ve been on some unforgettable trips, met some of the best people in the world and haven’t had a single day at work without at least one instance of full-blown belly laughter. It’s been a hell of a ride.
However, having the best job on the planet is not without sacrifice. I haven’t spun a spanner on my Project 45 for months and I’m itching to give it the time it needs; and I’m pretty sure my family have put me on the missing persons list. So after a Board meeting with the entire team (we went to the pub) I handed over the keys to the executive washroom to the guy who has been doing the lion’s share of the hard work for the past couple years: Evan Spence.
You guys already know Ev from his huge product comparisons and travel yarns, but he’s also the fella behind most of the smaller columns in the mag such as Gear News and Adventure Cinema, as well as doing a bunch of the sub-editing, commissioning and content generation – so to say he’s the right man for the job is as big an understatement as calling Kanye West ‘a bit of a tool’.
But seriously, Ev is one of this industry’s (few) true creatives… and in a sea of people who are happy to put out the same old boring sh*t, that’s not something I say lightly. I can’t wait to see where he takes this mag and how he’ll continue to not only push boundaries, but annihilate them completely.
As for me, I’ll still be hanging around, only I’ll be doing more writing and making things as difficult as I can for Ev and the rest of management… which (let’s be honest) suits me way better. Plus I’ll be getting back to welding, realising I’ve mucked it up, grinding it back and starting over on my LandCruiser… and I should probably reintroduce myself to the fam at some point too.
Oh, one last (but not least) thing: I also wanted to say thanks to YOU. The feedback, constructive criticism, story pitches and just general goodwill I’ve received from our readers – both in email form and when I have run into you out on the tracks – has been nothing short of awesome. So from the bottom of my heart, thanks for keeping me employed.
Catch you over the next hill.
Cheers,
Dex
PS: Don’t tell Ev I said anything nice about him… in fact, tell him I said he’s a jerk.
