Meet The Team

Joe Clifford - Editor

How long have you been with the magazine?
Since the beginning back in December 1999

What does your job involve?
Ensuring all 164 pages are filled with the finest Japanese cars from all four corners of the globe. This means finding the feature cars, organising photoshoots (photographers and locations), interviewing owners, writing articles so they're interesting, informative and technically correct, and assisting the design department in laying out the feature.

I also like to liaise with companies, tuners and clubs to keep my finger on the pulse of the scene. During the summer months it also means practically every weekend is taken up with a show of some sort.

What's the best bit about your job?
I get to travel quite a lot, though generally it's SAS style quick in and quick out, leaving no time for sight-seeing. I also love the feedback from owners who are really appreciative of the way the features on their cars come out.

What's the worst bit about your job?
Can I have more than one thing again? Early mornings, long days, constant deadlines and not taking enough holidays.

What did you do before working on Banzai?
I wrote for a number of other specialist car titles. But before then I had my own signwriting business, specialising in car graphics.

What car do you drive?
Currently an NC18 Mazda MX-5 Roadster Coupe 2.0 Sport Tech, which will be getting 'the works' in the Our Cars pages, while the family runabout is a GGD Impreza Wagon.

Favourite film and favourite drink?
I love the Bourne trilogy (the books too) and Daniel Craig's take on James Bond, but in my more tender moments I've been mesmerised by Atonement, Whale Rider and Juno.

As for my favourite drink, I'm a pilsner man. So it has to be Tuborg Gold, though it's difficult to get in the UK.

Email : jclifford@unity-media.com

Andrew Biddle - Staff Writer

How long have you been with the magazine?
I started on Banzai on 1st April 2008 (rather ominously!)

What does your job involve?
The bulk of my work is preparing the regular sections of the magazine - News, Hardware, Street Life - which involves doing a lot of sifting through press releases to find the most relevant information for the readers. I also write several features for the magazine every month.

What's the best bit about your job?
Learning. I get to meet and to talk to some truly inventive and interesting people, whether they be owners of feature cars, engine builders or tuners. It's fascinating to see what they have done, and I hope that comes through on the page!

What's the worst bit about your job?
My editor. Only kidding, he's not bad. Probably the deadlines are the worst part - when the month is getting on and you are struggling to think of the best way to write a feature, the deadline lurks in the background menacingly.

What did you do before working on Banzai?
I worked in a small business for a number of years, and held the role of Office Manager at the time I left.

What car do you drive?
My current fun/weekend car is a Mazda Eunos Roadster (which is great), but my daily driver (not that I drive it that much!) is a very frugal and totally uncool Renault Megane turbodiesel.

Favourite film and favourite drink?
Now that is a difficult question. Can't really choose one favourite film as it just depends what kind of mood I'm in! As for my favourite drink, a pint of Guinness (Extra Cold in the summer) always goes down well. Milk's great too!

Email : abiddle@unity-media.com

James Harrison- Advertising Manager

How long have you been with the magazine?
I've been working on Banzai since January 2010 although I've been at Unity Media since April 2008 working on another one of our motoring titles.

What does your job involve?
The key part if my role is helping all Banzai's advertisers promote their business in front of our ever-loyal and ever-growing readership. I travel all over the country meeting with our advertisers to discuss their marketing plans and how Banzai can provide a great opportunity for them to reach their target market.

What's the best bit about your job?
Getting to talk about cars all day! Being the petrolhead that I am, it's great to be in a position where I'm dealing with fellow car nuts on a daily basis.

What's the worst bit about your job?
I see a trend developing here. Like the other guys, the worst part of my job is the dreaded deadline.

What did you do before working on Banzai?
As I mentioned earlier, I worked on another motoring title before moving across to Banzai. Before this I worked for Vauxhall as a car salesman (not your typical Arthur Daley or Boyce type character, though!)

What car do you drive?
I currently drive an FN2 Civic Type R, which is a whole lot of fun - a great all-round hot hatch with a simply superb soundtrack thanks to the VTEC. I also have a much more sedate Nissan X-Trail, which is the family wagon.

Favourite film and favourite drink?
I do like a good Steve McQueen flick, especially Le Mans and Bullitt. Bullitt, however, will eventually get me into trouble with the misses as every time I watch it I get the irrepressible urge to buy a Highland green 1968 Mustang Fastback.

Now for my favourite drink, I'm going to agree with Mr Biddle on this one. A nice Guinness Extra Cold on a hot summer's day... bliss.

Email : jharrison@unity-media.com