This week I was back at Ashby Folville, for the first car meet of 2011.
This is my favourite car event, mainly because of the laid-back atmosphere and the incredible mix of cars and people that go along. It’s an informal gathering of local car owners showing off their pride and joy… and car enthusiasts who wander along to take a look. And pretty much anything goes. From a Ferrari with private number plate F1 RRR, to a beaten up old Volkswagen Golf… and everything in between.
When the weather is good, the event is packed with car enthusiasts… travelling up to 100 miles to attend.
It’s not just exclusively for car enthusiasts either. It’s popular with 100’s of bikers too.
I’ve been attending this event for around 4 years now, and I never tire of it. I do see some of the same cars and people, which is great because I usually stop and have a quick chat with the owners. This week, though, there were a number of cars I hadn’t seen before… like this Morgan Aero 8 with private registration number AR08 NUT (Aero 8 nut!)… it shows a little imagination! And this kit car Marcos Mantula V8 with its Q number plate.
With the excuse of interviewing car owners, the Compare Number Plates team set off to the Classic Motor Show 2010 at the NEC.
While there we met Peter, a member of the Mazda MX5 Owners Club. He showed us his Mazda MX5 Mk1, and talked to us about the modifications he’s made to the car. Some of the changes are aesthetic, such as chrome accessories and roll bars. The 17inche BBS split rims are impressive, which Peter admits actually hinder the performance of the car but he simply likes the way they look. He’s also ‘de-catted’ the car, and added an induction kit to name just a couple of the modifications to the standard car.
Peter has devoted so much time and effort into his car that he now only drives it on special occasions such as exhibitions and track days.
Peter also told us the sad story of losing his beloved private number plate as a result of being rushed into the sale of his car – and just not having time to retain the registration number first.
Watch this video of our chat with Peter to find out more about the modifications he’s made to his Mk1 Mazda MX5…
This year the comparenumberplates.co.uk team decided to take a day out to see some of the cars on exhibition at the Classic Motor Show. Well… we do love cars (as well as private number plates), so any excuse will do to soak up the atmosphere and chat to car enthusiasts. And, of course, be on the lookout for quirky personalised number plates.
We met the owner of a Ferrari F40, Steve Ottavianelli. Steve described himself as a huge fan of Ferraris, and a true ‘petrol head’. His collection of cars includes two Ferrari’s and Michael Schumacher’s 1993 Beneton Formula 1 car which Steve exhibits at various events in the UK and around Europe – including the infamous Goodwood Festival of Speed.
Steve’s cars have private number plates with his initials SAO. And registration number F40 SAO is perfect for his Ferrari F40.
Steve’s passion for Ferraris was unmissable. As a boy he always dreamed of having a Ferrari and still can’t believe it when he sits in one of his very own. He told us the noise the F40 makes still makes the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end every time he starts it up.
Take a look at this interview with Steve, as he shares his passion for the Ferrari F40.
Comparenumberplates.co.uk had the privilege of spending a day at the Classic Car Show at the NEC in Birmingham this year.
We wanted to interview as many car owners as we could, about the passion they have for their cars.
This Lancia caught our eye, along with what we thought was a private number plate. Lancia Montecarlo S2 Coupe owner, Eric, proudly talked to us about the modifications he had made to the car in the time he has owned it. The changes he’s made have boosted the power and the handling of the car – it’s clear, a lot of time, cash, and passion has gone into the project.
“I could quite easily have bought a Ferrari with the amount I have spent making this Lancia what it is today”
When Eric bought the car, the body was in good condition… but mechanically poor. Which gave him the opportunity to spend the time rebuilding the engine himself. With his background in engineering, Eric was able to completely redesign the braking system and has created a link from the engine to his laptop meaning that he can tune his engine from the passenger seat. We were wow’d by what Eric has done to the car!
The car number plate reads ‘BOY 534Y’, which lead us to believe that it was a personalised number plate – But it turns out that this was actually the original number plate on the car. Eric tells us he’s been asked several times if he would sell the registration number… but the offers have been declined as it’s very much part of the character of the car.
See the full interview below to find out more about the modifications Eric has made to the car.
The CompareNumberPlates.co.uk team had a day out at the Classic Motor Show this year and although we WERE there to work, it certainly didn’t feel that way!
The aim of our visit was to meet and chat to as many car owners as we could. We wanted to hear their stories about why they were so passionate about their cars. Everyone was keen to talk to us, and share the history of their cars. We were quite taken aback by how knowledgeable they all were.
While we were there we had the pleasure of meeting Chris, the owner of three much-loved Lotus cars, and a member of the Lotus Owners Club.
He was certainly very passionate about Lotus and had the knowledge to match. Chris very kindly found the time to tell us about the Lotus Exige Series 1 and put forward a strong argument that “you have to go round a bend in a Lotus before you die!”
Chris claims that anyone who does try it will surely be “hooked”.
Now many of us have heard that LOTUS is an acronym for “Lots of Trouble, Usually Serious”. Chris freely admitted they’re not the most reliable car. So what’s Chris’ response…..?
“If you want reliability, buy a Volkswagen…!”
See what else Chris has to say about the Exige, and his love of Lotus cars in general:
This year visited the Classic Motor show at the NEC Birmingham. Although the trip was more enjoyable than anything, we were there for work purposes – we wanted to meet and talk with the exhibiters and traders about their particular passion in the motor industry.
While we were there we met John, a trader who was making and selling vintage style black and silver number plates. He makes number plates from his mobile trailer, and his customers can walk away with them at the Show.
The CompareNumberPlates.co.uk team decided to get out of the office, and spend the day talking to some car owners. So we headed off to the Classic Motor Show at the NEC. Officially, it was work… but we enjoyed it far too much.
One of the owners we met was Andrew.
Andrew, a member of the Reliant Owners Club, told us how he had restored the mechanics of a lovely yellow Reliant Regal, which he then sold to another member when he decided that he would prefer a Reliant Regal van.
Andrew chose the van because he describes it as being “more of a workhorse” and better for when he is moving large, heavy items from one place to another. Andrew also breeds Dutch rabbits that he regularly exhibits at shows. He’s looking forward to turning up to the shows in his vintage Reliant Regal van with his Dutch rabbits in the back… and guage the reaction from ‘the lads’.
Andrew’s Reliant Regal van is an immaculate and elegant relic of the UK’s automobile industry’s history. He reveals why he loves the Reliant, with stories of his childhood trips to ’sunny Brid’.
CompareNumberPlates.co.uk spent the day at the Classic Motor Show again this year. Though we were there to ‘work’, it certainly didn’t feel like work!
We set out to meet lots of car owners, to talk to them about their cars and what it is about them that they love. And we uncovered some real gems.
Adam and Melvin are members of the Reliant Owners Club and were keen to tell us about their love for the British classics that they have spent many years restoring. The father and son team have rather amazingly managed to restore 10 Reliants between them! Including one Reliant Kitten, which had been left sitting in someone’s garden for 6 years for they rescued it and began to bring it back to life.
Adam is now the proud owner of a restored Reliant Kitten as his own and is the vehicle’s second registered keeper since 1975.
Adam and Melvyn shared their experiences of when they took part in a film shoot with the BBC Top Gear team, as well as the local news programme Look North. They showed off their bright yellow Reliant Regal, complete with its original suffix number plate, and 8-track casette player…!
It was a pleasure meeting Adam and Melvin – they clearly share a love of Reliants in every shape and form. The interview is well worth a watch…
