News

Car Clubs and Manufacturers – the two-way street that needs signposting

Car Clubs and Manufacturers – the two-way street that needs signposting

Cars and the car hobby are peculiarly unique in many respects, but especially when it comes to the club scene. People love coffee, cycling, fashion, and a multitude of other pursuits that enrich their lives, but rarely do they form clubs around the manufacturers of those products. And even more rarely do they devote large portions of their lives to pursuing them with almost religious zeal.

A visit to Caffeine and Machine

A visit to Caffeine and Machine

In an unassuming area of rolling countryside, just outside of Stratford upon Avon lives the new motoring hotspot – Caffeine and Machine. Much furore has been seen on social media about this new destination for petrol heads, and it could just be the next best events spot for your Midlands and Oxfordshire regions.

From the October 2018 Club Leaders Forum

From the October 2018 Club Leaders Forum

The Car Club Leaders Forum was established to promote knowledge sharing and best practice for car clubs in a changing environment. With digital technology advancing at a faster rate than ever, it is important for clubs and membership organisations to be on the leading edge of this change to provide the best member experience possible.

Seven weeks as Chairman: Martin Curtis, MX-5 Owners Club

Seven weeks as Chairman: Martin Curtis, MX-5 Owners Club

The world of Car Clubs is a varied one, from staffed clubs to volunteer-run clubs no two clubs are the same. We aim to highlight the stories of those running the clubs. Today we hear from Martin Curtis, new Chairman of the MX-5 Owners Club, on his first seven weeks (at the time of writing) running the club.

Next Step Heritage at the London Motor Show

Next Step Heritage at the London Motor Show

Everyone loves a motor show, and that is something that has never changed since the glory days of the London Earl’s Court Motor Show in the 60s and 70s. We always feel a little guilty going to dealerships just to kick tyres, as appealing as it is, but that’s effectively what’s expected at a motor show. It allows you to inspect and discover the latest cars on your own terms – what better way to spend an afternoon.

Club Membership Management has changed as much as the cars themselves

Club Membership Management has changed as much as the cars themselves

We all remember the heady days of running car clubs several decades ago. Each committee meeting was a social affair, with club business taking a back seat to discussions of the cars themselves. A manila folder full of renewal forms and bank cheques would be pulled from someone’s bag, the President would run the meeting from a rough agenda scrawled on pad paper and the Secretary would take brief minutes to be filed away somewhere indefinitely.

We buy a Scottish MX-5 and drive it straight to Goodwood

We buy a Scottish MX-5 and drive it straight to Goodwood

Having decided our Fiat Coupe company car wasn’t going to cut it for the coming summer, we began to look around. Although it was running well we couldn’t shake the fear of Italian gremlins making themselves known, and we were dreaming of top-down motoring. We therefore found it a loving new home and set out for something a little more apt for summer events coverage.

Hunting down classic cars on a visit to Portugal

Hunting down classic cars on a visit to Portugal

By the time late January has rolled around, winter has well and truly entrenched itself into the heart of London. Stiff breezes howl down cold streets, grey skies threaten with rain and even snow, and just the thought of those warm and bright evenings seem but a distant memory. True, I make it seem a lot worse than it is, and I’m actually enjoying my first Northern winter. Nonetheless, the chance to escape to Portugal for a week of (slightly) warmer weather and sunshine was a welcome one.

Our time at Autosport International

Our time at Autosport International

For three days in January, the NEC at Birmingham becomes the epicentre of world motorsport where Teams, drivers, suppliers, event organisers and car manufacturers come together.

Bringing a car club and the LEGO community together

Bringing a car club and the LEGO community together

This month we were excited to help a club member display their car at a national event. BRICK LIVE is a national LEGO weekend at the Birmingham NEC where fans get together to build and admire various projects, a firm favourite for the children and parents alike.