We just hit another Milestone with our YouTube channel - 140 subscribers! ​

Thanks to all who have subscribed - and if you haven't yet, please do - it will help us produce more great stuff for you to enjoy. Just click this link to subscribe (it's 100% free of charge):​https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCyJ158q2hAcRNwLSr_ak8jA?sub_confirmation=1

At Lancaster, the insurance policies we can arrange for Buildings and Contents mean you can be safe in the knowledge that your home and belongings are covered.

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​*Policy benefits, features and discounts offered may vary between insurance schemes or cover selected and are subject to underwriting criteria. An additional charge may be payable.

We hope this short video will put a smile on a few faces and give us the opportunity to share our best wishes with all our members for a very happy Christmas and - hopefully - a 'returning to normality' Happy New Year.

Thank you to everyone who has contributed in any way to another strong year for the group - plans for 2022 are already in hand and there's much to look forward to.

By Paul Sweeney and Emily-Fleur Peake.

Our group started as purely a Facebook group way back in early 2014 - since then it has grown massively and our online presence has spread across several different platforms. This article summarises where we currently are with them all and shows that each platform appeals to some extent to a different audience.

The early days of rapid exponential growth are behind us and we are now in a period of organic growth which we expect to continue with no dramatic rises or falls in membership numbers.

Our membership is loyal and mature with very few issues arising - the troublesome 'Wild West Days' are well behind us and the group has become 'low maintenance', allowing Admin to increasingly focus energies on the emerging platforms mentioned below as well as the group's real-world activities - driving tours, major shows and the like.

Our group Instagram account was launched last year and under Emily-Fleur's management it has flourished and is bringing us to the attention of a whole new audience - much as we hope YouTube will do in time. As well as reaching new audiences, Instagram is a great way to engage with other car clubs and some bigger names and companies in the classic car world that wouldn't necessarily interact with the Facebook group.

​It's interesting to see the high response levels on Instagram - probably reflecting a younger, more computer-savvy demographic who tend to favour Instagram over the longer-established Facebook platform that appeals more to an older demographic.

YouTube is our newest online platform. Although the channel was created in May 2021, the first video made specifically for YouTube was filmed during the Fat Lamb tour and published late in October. We are still on a learning curve in terms of video topics, photography/setup and editing & production but feel we are on the right track and hope to make major strides forward during 2022.

Our official website is several years old now and continues to function well as the home for news, blogs, photo galleries and our online shop (which is now also available on the Facebook and Instagram platforms). The design and content continues to evolve but as with Facebook our audience is mature and relatively stable.

The shop continues to provide a revenue stream which is fully reinvested in the group's activities, allowing us to fund - without any member subscriptions - ever-better large show stands and the purchase of more professional display equipment and other items such as a Go Pro camera to support our YouTube development plans.

Good members of this fine parish, one of our fine members David Burke asked if we could promote a worthy cause. Its not something we usually do but after reading up its history its a charity close to many classic vehicle lovers hearts and the entire Admin team immediately wanted to support this one.

Here's a quick overview of the 'Ben' charitable organisation 
Ben was founded in 1905 by A J Wilson while he was working for Dunlop tyres, and was originally called the Cycle Trades Benevolent Fund. At the time there were only a few hundred cars on the road and the automotive industry had yet to be born but by 1908, recognising the unstoppable rise of the car, ‘Motor’ was added to the fund’s name and in 1924 it became The Motor and Cycle Trades Benevolent Fund. The fund’s original aims were to provide help to people who fell on hard times (there was no welfare system until after WWII) by handing out grants via a network of local offices.

Over the years various other benevolent funds were amalgamated into Ben, including coachbuilders and agricultural engineering, and the charity ​now supports people from right across automotive and its allied trades. In 1947 Ben bought the Lynwood site for £16,000 and opened a care home there in 1948. The fund moved from its London W1 HQ to Lynwood in 1972 and they’ve been there ever since. Ben now runs three residential care centres and a day centre and their support services deliver far more than just grants, but the central aim – to help those in need – remains true.

So here's the pitch bit! Click on the button just below and choose from a range of classic car Christmas cards - send them off to the classic car lovers in your life and feel the festive felicitations sprinkle stardust on thy soul (yes we know it's only September but it will be almost November by the time you have read this)!

We just went past the 40 subscriber milestone on our new channel, which is great - but we need your help to reach at least 1,000 which will unlock more YouTube features and will make our channel easier to find as well as more enjoyable.

So if you haven't already done so please subscribe. It's 100% free and just means you will receive a notification whenever we upload new content.

Here's the link to our YouTube channel - please click this link then hit the 'Subscribe' button you will see there  https://bit.ly/3G0JqsY

And in case you're wondering what you will find on our channel, here's our latest video. It was filmed during the group's successful driving tour in Cumbria earlier this month and represents the kind of content we are looking to produce more often in the future.

Phew it's a scorcher so check out our Enthusiasts Duo Car Window Shades, priced at £10.99 + shipping per pair.

Perfect for keeping the interior cool on hot Summer days or just to fly the flag when you're out and about - and what better way to show your support for the Group at classic car events?

Offer is for a pair (2 shades). Please check sizes and details before ordering.

A bear is not just for Christmas - Barney, our gorgeous and slightly grumpy Enthusiasts Teddy Bear is dressed in a white t shirt with the group logo printed in full colour.

​Barney sits 20cm tall and is silky-soft - just made for cuddling! He can sit as comfortably at home as in the office or car, and is priced at a very reasonable £6.25 + shipping.

Important

• Because Barney is hand-made, his appearance and colour can vary slightly.
• This long pile (haired) soft toy is recommended for children of 12 months and over with parental discretion advised, is CE marked and conforms to the European Regulations EN71.
• We accept PayPal and most major debit/credit cards
• Shipping rates will be displayed after you enter your delivery address and before you commit to buy.

We have some fantastic quality branded items to tempt you including headwear, car sun shades, badges and even an ever-so-slightly-grumpy teddy bear for that someone special in your life. All are quality items as you'd expect from your favourite car group.

​Check out the online store now (click on the image) - everything is available for immediate despatch from stock.

Please give a warm welcome to Peter Iddon - the latest club member to join our Group Experts team.  Like all our Group Experts, Peter has kindly agreed to help other members by sharing his accumulated knowledge and expertise of British classics, so please don't be afraid to ask for his help if you need it. 

We're looking for more members with expert skills or knowledge that's relevant to our group to join our new team of Group Experts. The aim is to help increase general levels of knowledge within the group and also to help facilitate more quality discussions.

We will contact applicants within 48 hours of receiving submissions.

Another selfless member has kindly agreed to be identified as a Group Expert - i.e. a member who is willing to share his accumulated knowledge and expertise in relation to British classics with others.

Welcome Leonard Edwards and don't be afraid to ask for his help if you need it. As you can see from the photo, Len has a keen interest in motorcycles as well as car and commercials.

Congratulations to all the owners whose cars were featured on our 2021 calendar for the month of August:

• Mark McClelland - 1984 Vauxhall Astra GTE
• Nick Arthur - 1963 Ford Consul Capri
• Martin Piggin - 1978 Ford Escort RS2000
• Terry Price - 1965 Morris Minor 1098

We are delighted to announce that Toby Bruce has agreed to join our Group Experts team. As many of you will know, Toby has more knowledge and experience than most in an area many of us are not so clued-up about - pre-war British motors.

Please welcome and congratulate Toby and utilise his knowledge when you need it - he'll be happy to help wherever he can.

If you're unsure what a Group Expert is, here's an explanation from those nice people at Facebook:

by Admin

We are pleased to announce the launch of a brand-new group YouTube video channel. The idea is to share video of our activities at various events both as a record for members and also to encourage new members to join us.

Currently there are fifteen videos live filmed over the last few years, including a new one from the 2021 Staffs Oatcake Tour and another from way back in 2017 at the Bubble Car Museum in Lincs.

We will add more as they become available.

Making it over the 28k members line is surely worth a moment's pause to reflect.

It was a little over 7 years ago on 1 February 2014 that John Simpson decided to set up a Facebook group exclusively for lovers of classic British motors. John didn't know how it would work out, but accepted my offer to help run things quite early on in 2014 after the original Admin team members had departed for various reasons. 

​As a result John soon found himself very stretched; with multiple other Facebook groups and also the much longer established Boston Classic Car Club all requiring his precious time, I took on the challenge of running the group with John's blessing and set about gradually building today's Admin team from very carefully selected members.

​The Admin team has grown in experience and capability, maturing as the group itself grew over the years, remaining strong and constant throughout some pretty turbulent times of very rapid growth. Back then we used to jokingly refer to the group as "The Wild West" which gives you an idea of how things once were.

Huge gratitude and appreciation goes to my friends and colleagues who continue to make up the Admin team (in no particular order);

• Zebidee Habib
• Mike Peake
• Gar Cole
• Steve Favill
• John Simpson
• Edwin Feenstra

The group has over the years matured into a calm oasis of fun yet civilised enjoyment and mutual respect despite our relatively large numbers - these peaceful waters are rarely troubled by the irksome antics that plague other online communities and when trouble does strike it is invariably dealt with swiftly and effectively by the experienced team.
​
Not only has the Facebook group grown in size beyond all of our wildest expectations, but our online presence has over the years spread onto various different platforms including our own website www.britishmotorvehicles.com which is designed, built and run by yours truly and also our own Instagram page www.instagram.com/enthusiasts_of_british_motors/ which is looked after brilliantly by Emily Fleur-Peake.

In addition to these online activities, we have also developed a vibrant 'real world' side to the club driven tirelessly by Gar and ably assisted by Mike. Their achievements include running several official club stands at the Practical Classics Resto Show and the Lancaster Classic Motor Show, both held annually at Birmingham's NEC as well as numerous static shows and driving tours. Oh, and did we mention we won a Judges Choice Award for our stand at the NEC in November 2019? Do join us at a future event - new folk are always welcome! The current list of planned official events can be seen here

I'd like to thank my fellow Admins for all their time and effort and also all the members who make the group worth visiting again and again with so many interesting, informative and enjoyable contributions.

​Hopefully we will continue to grow and develop in the years ahead.

Available now in our online shop, this traditional but trendy unisex headgear is a stylish and comfortable way to keep your bonce warm in winter and also protected from unexpected seagull attack in Summer. 

Designed and embroidered in the UK by Beechfield Original Headwear, this is a quality unisex item made of Herringbone weave fabric (100% washed cotton). The vintage styling features a stitched-down peak and elasticated crown and is available in two sizes. Our Group logo is embroidered in very high quality (10,000 stitches) on the rear panel.

The Enthusiasts Vintage Flat Cap is now available from stock for immediate despatch.

One of our all-time best-sellers, the Enthusiasts Grille Badge is now held in stock & available for immediate despatch. 

​New for 2021
For the first time, we can now include on request a stainless steel badge bar clip with fixing screws.

Our Grille badges are a bit special, being manufactured by a West Midlands-based company with 35 years’ experience. Each badge is handmade and finished, the body is steel. After being cut out they are stamped with the logo designed by our own Gar Cole in 2017. The red, blue and white enamel paint is added by hand, then after heat treatment in the furnace they are plated with rose gold. Each badge is then polished using a finishing wheel.

Official Press Release from Beaulieu, National Motor Museum.

We are pleased to announce that we will be reopening our grounds and gardens to local visitors from Monday 29th March. This will include access to the grounds, gardens and wider parkland including Little Beaulieu, our adventure play space. Visitors will be able to purchase takeaway food and drinks from the Brabazon Restaurant & Café.

​For further information including details of our full reopening or our event calendar please visit our website: http://bit.ly/3q2QuMr
We can’t wait to welcome you back to Beaulieu for a great day out together.

It's great to have the encouraging news we wanted! Following the Government announcement in February, we are hoping to open again from Monday 17 May when restrictions allow. We are finalising our reopening plans to share them with you soon. Your support is greatly appreciated.

After an extensive consultation process, the Department for Transport has announced that they will legislate to introduce E10 petrol as the standard 95-octane petrol grade by 1 September 2021. They will also require the higher-octane 97+ ‘Super’ grades to remain E5 to provide protection for owners of older vehicles. This product will be designated as the ‘Protection’ grade.

The introduction of the 95-octane E10 grade and the maintenance of the Super E5 protection grade will be reviewed by the Government after 5 years to ensure they remain appropriate to the needs of the market. In relation to the E5 protection grade, such a review will examine market developments over the period. HM Government have sought to reassure FBHVC members and historic vehicle owners that, without a suitable alternative becoming available, it is highly likely the Super E5 protection grade would continue to be available.

Filling stations that stock 2 grades of petrol and supply at least one million litres of fuel in total each year, will need to ensure one product is the Super E5 protection grade. While not all filling stations meet these criteria, almost all towns across the UK will have a filling station that supplies the ‘Super’ grade and currently one major retailer, a national supermarket group, has committed to offer the product. The main exception to this is in certain parts of the Highlands, north and west coast of Scotland, which will be covered by an exemption process and allowed to continue to market the 95-octane E5 grade.

The Federation therefore recommends that all vehicles produced before 2000 and some vehicles from the early 2000s that are considered non-compatible with E10 - should use the Super E5 Protection grade where the Ethanol content is limited to a maximum of 5%. To check compatibility of vehicles produced since 2000, we recommend using the new online E10 compatibility checker: https://www.gov.uk/check-vehicle-e10-petrol 
​
It should be noted that some Super E5 Protection grade products do not contain Ethanol as the E5 designation is for fuels containing up to 5% Ethanol. Product availability varies by manufacturer and geographical location and enthusiasts should check the situation in their location.