1949-2023
Former Motor Cycle News (MCN) editor Bob Berry who steered the weekly paper through its biggest selling years (1978-1983), died from throat cancer on 13 April aged 73.
Under his editorship, MCN broke the 200,000 sales barrier and was all-powerful in those pre-internet days when the motorcycle world couldn’t wait to get MCN for its news and bikes-for-sale content.
All leading dealers and importers advertised in MCN (est 1955), the golden egg instrumental in its owners, East Midland Allied Press (Emap), becoming a FTSE Top 100 company.
Born in Banbury, Oxfordshire, Bob joined the Banbury Advertiser aged 16. He was mentored by Bruce Cox, who moved into motorcycle journalism and set up Motor Cycle Weekly in California, with former MCN reporter Gavin Trippe. Bob joined the paper for a year, aged 19, getting to know top American riders and riding in the desert at weekends.
“He was a good kid and a great help on the paper. And he loved riding in the Mojave desert,” said Cox.
Though excited by America, Bob became homesick and returned to the UK, joining the Rugby Advertiser as motoring correspondent.
Cox put Berry’s name forward when MCN editor Robin Miller was looking for a new recruit to join the sub-editors desk in 1972.
Bob found that he had become a member of the “Banbury Mafia”, a group of Banbury-based motorcycle players including Cox, 1970 world 250 road race champion Rod Gould, race commentator Fred Clarke, works Yamaha mechanic Vince French, and staff at leading motorcycle dealer Eddie Dow.
At MCN, then based in Kettering, Northamptonshire, Berry showed a flair for page design and continued to develop his interest in motorcycle sport.
Keen on squash and with an outgoing personality, he was singled out for promotion to MCN’s top job in 1978. Then aged 28, he was MCN’s youngest editor.
His key strengths were his ability to delegate, to handle the pressure as the industry’s top media player, and to enjoy the limelight mixing with sporting and leading industry figures.
He established a strong working relationship with 1976 and 1977 world 500cc road race champion Barry Sheene (Suzuki). At the time, the UK motorcycle industry was riding the crest of a wave. Sheene was a household name and had elevated motorcycling to a popularity that has never since been equalled.
The 1970s was a golden period. More than two million new bikes and scooters were registered, the best-selling decade in the nation’s motorcycling history. Bob was, in effect, the top man in UK motorcycle publishing and had the confidence to edit MCN with a certain bravado.
In 1983 he commissioned the first-ever magazine devoted to classic Japanese motorcycles. This one-off MCN special, Japanese Classics: 20 Golden Greats from the Land of the Rising Sun 1960-1972, proved to be a prescient decision, anticipating today’s massive interest in classic Japanese two-wheelers.
After leaving MCN, Bob maintained links with EMAP, setting up his own publishing company and overseeing the publication of various titles, including Classic Racer, What Bike?, a trade magazine, Classic Mechanics, and later, working with Neil Webster on a magazine for Hinckley Triumph owners.
On EMAP’s behalf, Berry published and edited Classic Mechanics (est 1983), initially from offices in Corby, Northamptonshire, from 1987 to 2004.
Though not technically minded, he built up a network of experts to produce a monthly valued by hands-on enthusiasts. Machines he owned during this period included a Honda CBX and Honda NS400 two-stroke triple.
In 1993, with Stafford Classic Bike Show creator and organiser Alan Whitehead, he launched the first Classic Mechanics Show at Stafford. This show celebrates its 30th year in October and now enjoys equal status with the April Stafford Classic show. Both are world-leading classic bike events, now run by Mortons Media Group.
In 2004 Emap sold Classic Mechanics to Mortons, who also bought Classic Racer, which Bob owned.
After 39 years in journalism, Bob decided to try something new. He went into the pub trade with his second wife, Tammy, running the White Lion at Geddington, Northamptonshire, and briefly the Daniel Lambert in Stamford, Lincolnshire, before returning to the White Lion.
In 2006 he and Tammy moved to Portugal, where they ran an inland guest house.
Bob died on 13 April in Portugal. Since then, tributes have flooded in from the international racing and publishing fraternities.
He leaves a son Richard and daughter Elizabeth from his first marriage to Pam, and granddaughter Rose.
An outgoing personality, Bob enjoyed a drink and a party. He loved the big-time race scene, mixing with world champions with almost cavalier flair and a big smile. He was equally at home with grassroots motorcycle enthusiasts.