by Admin

To celebrate a very successful 3 days at the Practical Classics Classic Car & Restoration Show at the NEC last weekend, we have a small gift for you - yes, it's completely free.

Click on 'Buy Now' below to receive FREE three video clips to download featuring the club stand at the NEC. There is no charge - enjoy them with our compliments!

Most of all we all owe a debt of gratitude to Gar Cole, without whom none of it would have happened. Gar is our very own Energiser Bunny and deserves a huge pat on the back for organising our part in a very successful show.

Well the guys thoroughly enjoyed their evening even though we didn't win an award - we were shortlisted for Car Club of the Year (won by the TR Register) and Outstanding Online Presence (won by the Lotus Drivers Club) but weren't in luck on this occasion. Nevertheless we are pretty pleased that we - as a non-subscription Facebook Group rather than a traditional car club - were shortlisted in two categories. That's an achievement we should not and do not take for granted.

Our founder and all-round good chap John Simpson was also shortlisted personally for the Lifetime Achievement Award; he wasn't lucky either but don't worry John - you're our winner regardless!

Our sincere congratulations go to all of tonight's winners - we will just have to take a look at what they do better than us and try even harder next time!

The full list of winners can be seen here: https://www.facebook.com/nationalcarclubawards/

In one week's time, we will stop taking orders for our very popular grille badges and the order will go to the manufacturer. This may very well be the final batch, so we suggest everyone treats this as the last chance to get one of these high quality badges - once the order's gone in, we cannot add more.

​Not only do we have our own club stand, but our members are making a mark elsewhere, too! Group member Paul Clappison is displaying his awesome white MGB GT on the Lancaster Insurance Pride of Ownership stand at this weekend's Practical Classics Classic Car & Restoration Show at the NEC, Birmingham.

​We wish Paul good luck for a successful weekend - that MG looks just stunning! 

by Paul Sweeney

Gar and the guys have worked hard and the Club stand is ready! Member and proud exhibitor Mark Smith said excitedly:

Here is a short video clip filmed by the guys when they were done preparing the stand.

As always, all the best photos posted in the group throughout the show weekend will be collected together on the official Photo Gallery so keep coming back to see more.

by Paul Sweeney

Here is a reminder of the products currently available in our official club shop:

Two representatives from each of the winning club stands will be invited to attend the awards dinner & ceremony from 6.15pm - 11pm in The Concourse Suite at the NEC.  Winners will be informed by show open on Saturday.  Good luck!
 
If you would like to find out about the other award categories being presented on the night or which clubs have been shortlisted for them this year, visit the NCCA website: https://www.necrestorationshow.com/awards/awards-shortlist

Here are the latest statistics for our Facebook group covering the 28 days to 18 March, 2018.

Regular readers will already know we recently adopted a new club logo as well as the change of club sponsors, so we needed to make some alterations to our 8 foot-wide show banner that was kindly provided for us by Phil Allin of club sponsors Alvaston Press.

With design input from the talented Dominic Coleman, we can now reveal our brand new banner and we think it looks pretty amazing! It will be seen for real at its first-ever public outing on our stand at the Practical Classics Classic Car & Restoration Show at the NEC, Birmingham this weekend March 23-25.

Our sincere thanks go to Phil and Dominic for their time and effort providing this for the group - it's much appreciated, guys!

It is a fact that around 30% of our membership lives outside the UK and for most of them, attending the major shows on the UK Classic Car calendar is unlikely - and making their cars available to exhibit on our club stand would be even less likely.

​So, we asked ourselves - what could we do help non UK-based members get involved and also demonstrate to the show-going public that we are in fact a global group? The answer? An International Members' "Brits Abroad" Cool Wall on our stand at the NEC this month, displaying photos of overseas classic Brits! (with thanks to Top Gear for inspiration).
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The call went out and numbers of you responded. We are now very proud to unveil the gallery here for those unable to attend the show at the NEC in person. Thanks to all the members who submitted their vehicles for display - I'm sure everyone will agree they did us proud.

Special thanks to Dominic Coleman for preparing the photographs so professionally. The original prints will be displayed on the club stand at the Practical Classics Classic Car & Restoration Show at the NEC Birmingham March 23-25, 2018.

Call 0844 858 6758 or book online at www.necrestorationshow.com
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Club Members benefit from discounted tickets on Saturday 24th or Sunday 25th March if booked in advance – see the show advert for promotion codes and T&Cs on our Facebook page here: www.facebook.com/events/108847486491129

For a taste of what to expect on our club stand in Hall 5, just click here: www.britishmotorvehicles.com/events-archive/practical-classics-classic-car-restoration-show-with-discovery-march-2018

We are delighted to announce we have not one, but two brand new sponsors on board for the next 12 months. We are very excited about the opportunities that this will open up as we look to continue driving the group forward, offering you more and enhancing the overall membership experience.

MG Insurance Services Ltd was formed as the insurance division for the MG Owners Club in 1984 and specialised in providing MG Insurance for members of the MG Owners Club. As the popularity and demand for classic car insurance grew, it was decided in 1989 to arrange insurance for a wider variety of classic cars. This resulted in the MG insurance division becoming Lancaster Insurance Services Ltd.

In addition to being an insurance broker, Lancaster are perhaps best known in our group as headline sponsors of LANCASTER INSURANCE CLASSIC MOTOR SHOW, WITH DISCOVERY, billed as 'the biggest and best classic motor show in the UK'. Watch this space for some very special club offers and competitions with great prizes from the team at Lancaster coming soon.

Services offered include insurance cover for:

• Classic Cars
• 4x4 vehicles
• Motor Homes
• Campervans
• Vans
• Kit cars
• Modified cars

Company website: 
www.lancasterinsurance.co.uk

As established auctioneers in the world of vintage and classic cars and motorcycles, Richard Edmonds offers the complete auction service with an impossible-to-beat seller’s commission of 0%.

​In addition they are Europe’s leading specialists in selling automobilia and petroliana.  The auction business grew out of a lifetime’s passion and the team takes tremendous pride in offering both buyers and sellers as enjoyable an experience as possible. If you would like to discuss buying or selling a classic vehicle or a treasure from the corner of your garage, then please don’t hesitate to make contact. In the first instance you can discuss your requirements with Admin team member Andrew Tanner, who is a Consultant to the company.

The Richard Edmonds team has wide experience in dealing with deceased estates and is well qualified to handle large collections. They have been selected by several significant motoring museums of late in selling their contents but also are very proud to have been regularly selling on to existing and new museums opening across the United Kingdom.

We are taking orders now for the 2nd (and possibly final) batch of our high quality grille badges. An order will be placed at the end of this month and there may well be no more after that, so if you want one - get your order in now before it's too late!

With typical and admirable British humility and reserve, the single line above was all that appeared on his social media feed about this remarkable recognition.

​Yes - our very own Paul Berman has been honoured in the utterly British way by making him a "Member of the Order of the British Empire" and we think that's brilliant news for a thoroughly good chap.

by Paul Sweeney

Just in - new club pens with Gar's design for our grille badges. Order yours now - we ship worldwide.

by Paul Sweeney

If not, that's because you haven't signed up to receive it yet! Let me share with you why we decided to set up a club mailing list. Take a look at the infographic below - does it sound like you? If it does - you're not alone. ​

Huge congrats to our founder and Admin bloke John Simpson - he's only shortlisted for a Lifetime Achievement gong at the National Car Club Awards! Quite right too - richly deserved.

​Please join us in wishing John the best of luck - fingers crossed for a win!

by Paul Sweeney and Gar Cole

Please remember:

Grille badges are NOT held in stock - they are manufactured to order, which takes time. We anticipate approx 8-12 weeks from the date a batch order is placed with the manufacturer which will be on or after 2 April 2018.