The first magazine to print my work was Practical Performance Car (PPC) which ran my words and pictures of a trip to the Stelvio Pass in Italy. I then became a regular feature writer for them. I have very fond memories of that magazine. Will and Kev (Publisher and Editor, respectively) rented a factory unit in a run-down corner of run-down Corby from where to run the mag. Once, we opened a drawer in the photocopier and found a large rat inside, eating the A4. Another time, the security doors were replaced, slightly narrower than before, which entombed Will’s portly Rolls-Royce. The magazine has since wound up, but I’ll bet the Rolls’ is still stuck in that factory…
I wrote a semi-autobiographical book called Confessions from Quality Control, retelling stories of bodges that I came across in car factories in the 1990s. Funny stuff. Struggling to find a publisher, I self-published it on Amazon, and was fortunate that it was picked up by quite a few semi-famous media types who kindly helped turn it into a very popular book.
From those early days, my confidence in telling uniquely funny stories, in a memorable fashion, grew. Here’s an overly-long sentence to namecheck other publications who have printed my words and/or photography; Evo, Banzai, Modern Mini, Car and Classic, Complete Kit Car, Alternative Cars, MogMag, Chicane, Complete Car Builder, and others.
Today I regularly write for Classic.Retro.Modern., which feels like home, Absolute Lotus (I am an Elise owner), and have a column in Copacetic. I am a fan of industrial history, particularly the social element, and am proud to have written for The Modernist recently. This takes me onto my books.
I am particularly pleased to have researched, written and successfully published a book on the life of Communist Trade Unionist, Derek ‘Red Robbo’ Robinson. You’ll find that on Amazon. I have also published similar books. Another is about Roy ‘The Weasel’ James, known for his role in the great train robbery, a man with a long and colourful life. Neither of these stories had been told before and I enjoy the research, interviewing and legwork needed to create such books. I am also about to release a third book, this one on Porsche mechanic, Rolf Wütherich – a fascinating and troubled man, who deserved a better reputation than just being in a car crash with James Dean. Again, these books are on Amazon, listed under Rich Duisberg.
For one glorious year, me, Darryl, and our friends Steve and Simon, with the kind backing of Adam at Performance Publishing, ran a magazine called MotorPunk. This was an eclectic mix of roadtrips, tall stories about rotten old machinery, and the general enjoyment of shonk. You can still buy back copies from the publisher and they crop up on eBay for time to time.
I have also published a series of photo books called SUPER, about forgotten filling stations, with help from my friend Dicky Cutler. I also self-published a book called Killer Drinks, about some of the world’s most deadly (and disgusting) alcoholic drinks, and a surreal paperback about the later lives of the puppets of the TV shows of the 1980s. That one is called Hands Up.
Writing and photography is not my day job. I am fortunate to work for a smallish company doing great things with wind farms. Writing is my outlet and I’m always pleased to get happy feedback from readers.
