Skunk racer
Skunk Racer was a digest zine produced by Heather Marie and Celeste Liesenfeld collectively known as “Stella 57.” The duo made 4 issues (starting with issue zero and ending with issue three). It was published from 1997 to 1998. It was a digest “perzine” filled with poetry, prose, fiction, music and film reviews, and the occasional comic. One of the issues was listed in the final issue of Factsheet 5.
Origin
Heather and Celeste (cousins) decided to make a zine to get a discount “press pass” at a music festival in Bushnell Illinois. They quickly threw together issue zero of Skunk Racer, and accomplished their mission. But the zine bug had hit them, and they continued to produce more issues of Skunk Racer after that first one.
Style
Skunk Racer was a saddle stitched zine printed on xerox machines. Issue zero was handwritten and collaged together by hand. Subsequent issues were typed using a desktop publishing tool, but the text was still cut and pasted for layout. The contents of all issues were black and white, but the cover of the final issue was printed on cardstock and was in color. Many of the covers were designed using a desktop publishing tool as well.
Issues
Issue 0: Subtitled “El piece o’ crap” with the tagline “featuring skunks, stars, and stogies,” this first issue was produced June of 1997 and is 8 pages long. It features an editorial, a call for submissions, a zine maker’s statement of purpose, a thank you page, and a zine promotional page listing other zines. This issue was produced entirely by Celeste, as stated by the statement of purpose (which is also a sort of apologetic). It reveals that the zine was created just days before heading off to the music festival and that the printer intended for use to make the zine had run out of ink.
Issue 1: This issue is 20 pages long and was produced in 1997. It begins with a “jam session” written story by both Heather and Celeste called “Grease Monkey.” A concert that they attended is reviewed. Then there’s a violent “Kids’ Korner” story written by Celeste. A comic called “Skunk Racer” by Celeste's brother and Heather's cousin, Micah Liesenfeld, comes next, followed by poetry submissions. Heather writes a prose piece followed by quotes from favorite pieces of literature and more poetry from Heather. The last 2 pages contain some drawings and poetry by Micah.
Issue 2: is also 20 pages and was made in 1997. Celeste and Heather update their mission statement a bit by answering their question “What are you hoping to accomplish with this zine?” which they can only imagine people are asking. They answer that the zine is a “compilation of our memories and craziness … as a desperate effort to keep our insanity in a sane world. There are no rules or regulations we are trying to follow. We don’t care. We just want to have fun and be stupid and be creative. So that’s how that works.” The issue appears to be written at year’s end since the “Reflections on 1997” sections appear next containing lists of Celeste and Heather’s favorite media and thoughts on their experiences. There is a part 1 of a short story called “Finale” written by Heather followed by more of her poetry. Celeste then writes about an overheard conversation in a movie theater bathroom. Then there is a lifted piece by C.S. Lewis followed by a turkey poem written by John Somebody.
Issue 3: is the most ambitious issue clocking at 28 pages plus a full color cover (with nothing printed on the cover insides). Like issue zero, this one was also produced for the purpose of getting into that same annual music festival at a reduced rate with press passes. It was made in 1998. Celeste and Heather “jam” the opening editorial together as if they were sharing the keyboard back-and-forth, and it reads like radio dj’s talking. Nothing reveals this will be their last issue, and perhaps they didn’t know it yet themselves. The editorial ends with the threat that “we better not find any issues of Skunk Racer crumpled on the ground [at the music festival] or we’ll grab our BBguns and shoot you in the butt! (_y_).” Following that is an “Ode to ‘Fros” and then an album review. There is an interview with Celeste and Heather by Celeste and Heather. Following that is a section of small bits of poetry, pros, and thoughts, including a novel way to get a high (by dehydrating yourself). There is a piece of pros submitted by a reader, and following that are some short stories, pros, and poetry by Heather. The issue ends with favorite movie quotes, a word search puzzle, and some zine promotions.
