Special Events

Special Events include visits to unusual and often fantastic locations – In the past few years these have included:

  • McLaren Technology Centre – Woking
  • BAe Systems Heritage Centre – Farnborough
  • The Mike Hawthorne Collection – Godalming
  • European Drag Racing – Santa Pod

as well as a few more obscure events at breweries, race simulation centres and even the odd game of International rugby.

In 2025 plans are in hand to visit the CSCC meeting at Brands Hatch on 30 August.

In 2024 members of the club supported the racing of funds for former Gloucester and Leicester Tigers rugby player Ed Slater.

Click Here for Details

We have also used Zoom meetings to access special guests. In 2023 Ben Cussons, historic racer of ill-repute and former Chairman of the Royal Automobile Club, joined us.

 Known by many as the current Chairman of The Royal Automobile Club, organisers of the iconic RM Sotheby’s London to Brighton Veteran Car Run each November. Ben however, also has enormous experience in the world of historic motorsport, taking part in all genres from the aforesaid 100+ year old veterans through to Sports Racing Cars at Donnington and Goodwood.  As Chairman of the RAC, Ben was instrumental in a number of major motoring / motorsport awards and incentives, far to many to list here but worthy of discussion ‘on screen’.

In 2012, Ben headed the team behind the Future Car Challenge, a kind of ‘reverse’ London to Brighton which saw electric vehicles travel the route from Madeira Drive, Brighton to Regent Street, London during the days before the main event.

Ben has the honour of sitting on the The Senate of the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA), as well as holding positions within the hierarchy of both the FIA and Motorsport UK.

Ben is also known to have an alternative hobby in sailing as an active trustee in the UK Sailing Academy amongst other indulgences!

On the Night…

Ben proved to be an enthralling and fascinating guest, regaling us with stories of competing around the world, often in some remarkable machinery. As Chairman (now former Chairman) of the UK’s prestigious Royal Automobile Club, Ben outlined some of the work to achieve behind the scenes with local government authorities as well as with The FIA and Motorsport UK.

Obviously a theme of the evening was the London to Brighton Veteran Car Run during which Ben shared the drive with Prince Michael of Kent who he described as probably the most ‘Motorised Royal’ in history.

As expected it was a truly enlightening interview and the club extends its sincere thanks to Ben for giving up some of his valuable leisure time.