The Legends of Brands Hatch Superprix was a busy weekend as I raced solo in the Classic F3 Championship and with Ben in the Historic Formula Ford Championship and Guards Trophy. We’ll be recapping the jam packed meet in the next few blogs!
#TEAMMIKE – Mike Brewer
“June was a bit manic as we are in the midst of an intense Wheeler Dealer schedule and finding time in-between grinding, rubbing, buying and selling to do anything is difficult.
However, both Ant and I were back in the UK to host the brilliant MGLive at Silverstone. This event gets bigger and better every time and this year’s show was made even more special by the constant sunshine that plonked itself right over the country for those few days.
Whilst back in the UK, we both also had busy schedules. I was up and down the country to my dealerships in Sheffield and Leeds while Ant was presenting a big live show for BBC2, Britain’s Greatest Invention, all good stuff.
However, there was no way I was heading back home without paying a visit to Cross Street Garage in Swindon to catch up with Blokie and the #ClassicRumble Escort XR3i.
Walking into the garage was like stepping into a parts store, Burton Power have kindly donated all the engine rebuild bits we need, so Blokie has already started to strip down the big ends and decided to re-sleeve the block so the little 1.6 lump will ultimately be new when its back in the car. One of the nice touches added were the wonderful wheel centre caps that are embossed with #TEAMMIKE made by Steve Bonner... love that detail.
I then scooted over to Northampton to check on the progress of the body and without revealing too much, lets just say I’m a very proud man of the work that Cosmetic Autocare have done.
I’m still looking for a roof so if anyone out there has a new one laying around, please get in touch.
I’m back in LA now filming Wheeler Dealers flat out with Ant but we are back to the UK at the end of July for the Silverstone Classic when once again I’ll have another progress report of the Charity Build.
Thanks again to Lancaster Insurance for allowing us to do this…and remember #TEAMMIKE”
#TEAMANT Ant Anstead
“It’s been a very busy time on the set of Wheeler Dealers, meaning I have had to rely on the volunteers back in the UK to keep the #TeamAnt bespoke build going, and they absolutely have! We have been Face Timing and calling on a daily basis, and the Project Manager from Channel 4's The Love Of Cars (and also my business partner) Stewart Imber has been cracking on full steam ahead!
I came back to the UK for a few days and we spent the first half of the day around the car tidying up a few loose ends and making some key critical decisions. The engine went off to Steve Guglielmi (Guglielmi Motorsport Daventry), a fine chap who was recommended to me by my opponent Mike Brewer! We’ve had numerous discussions about whether to upgrade or not, but for now we are resting on standard specification (with Webbers) as those little MX-5 engines are excellent! I’ve seen numerous pictures of the stripped down engine and I’m excited to receive the finished article back!
The five speed gearbox has gone to Chris Hughes of Kenilworth based firm 2Spec Transmission and they too have taken the bull by the horns and jumped straight into the rebuild! We’ve even shared numerous emails on whether to upgrade to a LSD. Watch this space....
Back at my workshop the build is now running in tandem. The body is making slow progress, slower than I hoped, but volunteer Matt Lawson has taken ownership alongside my other business partner Chris Hacket. I have every faith that the bodyworker chaps have got this but we do have a deadline. We need to get the buck finished by end of July to stand any chance of moulding her in time to make the actual shell. I feel its going to be a manic end of July.
The rolling chassis has really taken shape and aside from sorting some loose ends with the fitting of brake lines and fuel lines etc, she sits patiently waiting for the return of the engine and gearbox! Once those are fitted I think we would be a couple of days away from a naked car driving around the yard!
I’m back in the UK at the end of July and racing an Austin A35 at the Silverstone Classic. Our car is inspired by the first ever winning F1 car which won that race at Silverstone. Inspiring!
I am still after some help.... I need some more help with the bodywork. If you are ‘world class’ at filler and shaping and are happy being paid in cake and cookies then please contact me!
Till the next time....... COME ON #TEAMANT!”
Mike and Ant’s projects will be auctioned at this year’s Lancaster Insurance Classic Motor Show in November, through Silverstone Auctions, with all proceeds going to charity.
The money raised from the sale of Mike’s XR3i will benefit the Marie Crawford Boyd Foundation and Ant’s 1950s inspired Grand Prix racer will be raising funds for Harrison’s Fund.
For more information or tickets please visit https://www.necclassicmotorshow.com/.
There is a rare breed of car that is a seamless blend of form, aesthetics and function and the Aston Martin V8 Volante certainly falls into this elite category. It was once famously described as having the ‘brutish good looks of an aristocratic rugby player and the interior refinement of a gentleman's club’.
50 years after the release of the iconic ‘Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band’ album, Lancaster Insurance Classic & Supercars - Sherborne Castle is thrilled to have secured George Harrison’s Mercedes-Benz for this year’s show.
In the 1980s the Morris Ital was an essential aspect of everyday life. British Telecom Vans would attend to vandalised telephone boxes and no car park would have been complete without at least one Snapdragon Yellow 1.3 HL or an Applejack Green Estate.
To many people, including myself, Sherborne Castle is one of the most stunning buildings in England, and that is without considering the display of rare, desirable and downright magnificent cars that will be taking part in Classics & Supercars Show on the 15th and 16th July.
The months of June - September are when classics and Sunday motoring are as natural a combination as Tony Hancock and Sidney James. Some will take part in shows such as Hatfield House on 9th July, while others will take a deserved break from the working week and gently motor towards the nearest tea room. This magnificent seven list was selected of cars that I regard as being perfect for a summer weekend - even when stuck in a traffic jam on the A46.
Nearly every fan of all fine motor cars, television and superheroes, in general, know that there is only one real Batmobile. Just as the only Batman for me will forever be the late Adam West who died aged 88 on 9th June, the definitive transport for the caped crusader must be accompanied by Neal Hefti’s score, have tail fins and flames emitting from the exhaust pipe.
Cadwell Park is one of the most picturesque race tracks in the world, in my opinion. Originally built with two wheel racing in mind, it soon also built a reputation for four wheel racing and with the track being narrow with great undulation, it creates a great circuit for close formula ford racing.
It was a car that became a by-word for failure, one jokingly referenced in films as diverse as Peggy Sue Got Married and The Love Bug. It is, of course, the Edsel, which celebrates its 60th birthday this year.
Quite simply, these are ten of my favourite adverts, in alphabetical order, for one of Britain’s most famous car marques. After all, ‘Triumph put in what the others leave out’
The Lancaster Insurance Hyundai Coupe headed down to Thruxton for the big weekend, big because we were supporting the British Racing Trucks and big because everyone wants to win on the fastest track in the U.K.
After announcing our sponsorship of Historic Sports Car Club drivers Max Bartell and partner Ben Mitchell, we caught up with Max to find out how he got into racing and his aspirations for the season and his career ahead!
As summer is upon us, the classic car show season is in full swing and next month the annual Classics at the Castle event at Sherborne Castle is back and set to be bigger than ever! With Lancaster Insurance becoming headline sponsor and the event extending to two days (15th -16th July), the show will once again be raising money for a range of national and local charities including Cancer Research UK.
Classic car insurance intermediary Lancaster Insurance, has announced that it has widened its convertible offering to now include an additional 300 models as we hit the summer months. Updated schemes are specifically designed for two and four seat convertibles including Alfa Romeo Spider, Toyota MR2, Audi TT and Mercedes SLK.
We understand it's important to spread awareness of the classic car industry and pass on information to the future classic car generation! Working with renowned classic car enthusiast Andy Roberts, we've selected our top five blogs of the month from May.
June’s club of the month award goes to The Volkswagen Type 2 Owners Club. A fitting club and marque for the summer months as the camping season is in full swing and campers/enthusiasts begin to take part in road trips across the country!
For June’s Car of the Month we’ll take a look at the Saab 99 Turbo. Unveiled at the 1977 Frankfurt Motor Show, this was arguably the world's first successful turbocharged production car.
Classic car insurance intermediary, Lancaster Insurance is extending its keen association with classic racing by supporting Max Bartell in the 2017 Historic Sports Car Championship (HSCC).
Every car brochure and advertisement is a window to the motoring of a past world, and some people (all right, me) have a fascination with charting the advertising of long-running models.
