Plus my vids from the 2nd Annual Drivers Union Supercar & Classic Concours
This weekend, I was honoured to be invited once again to be a judge at The Drivers Union’s second annual Supercar and Classic Concours, held once more at Worth School in Crawley. Sy – the single-handed powerhouse who founded and runs The Drivers Union – had upped the game: more cars, more categories… potentially more work for us! So, in his infinite wisdom, he’d press-ganged a larger motley junta of judges and demarcated the brands.
With clipboards and pens allocated to Ferrari, Lamborghini, Aston Martin and Porsche categories, myself and Ash of Powertech Automotives (in Chigwell) teamed up to take on “All Marques” – in other words, everything else.
Photos courtesy Syeed Ali
Frankly, this was my preference over a sea of red, yellow, silver or the squashed VW Beetles. It meant we got to drool over the likes of BMW, Jaguar, Lotus et al., as well as oddities like a Noble M600 and an Ariel Atom, which I’ve previously described as something that weighs less than your monthly groceries.
Judging the ‘All Marques’ Category
Ash and I agreed on the most basic of car-guy parameters to pinpoint our potential winners. If a car instantly grabbed our attention, made us stop in our tracks and want to know more – it was in contention. Presentation, condition and uniqueness were all paramount, of course, but if learning more about the car brought it into anthropomorphic being, if it came alive in our eyes with personality and charisma, then it definitely became a major contender.
Photos courtesy of Yusef Mamoojee
A two-hour trudge around the jaw-dropping line-up of epic machinery satiated our petrolhead fervour. While an honourable mention had to go to one of my personal favourites and a previous winner – an exquisite classic Ford Mustang convertible – our top three emerged relatively easily.
In third and second places…
A vintage Lagonda, prepped to go racing in this year’s historic Le Mans, living with the same family for 55 years and sporting the undeniable scars and bruises of battle, was instantly legendary. A story well-told, a stance most sturdy, and a magnificent engine of purpose would make this supercar of its day a standout in any company.
But it was keeping tough company today and hence came an honourable third to nobility. Well, a Noble M600 in fact – a full exposed carbon-bodied Noble, with tasteful green accents and a “1 of only 2 in existence” badge of honour. We were later universally vindicated for elevating this car to our middle podium step as it also won the popular People’s Choice award on the day!
But the Winner? A Doctor’s Daily Driver from 1939…
Here’s a core truth: a compelling story can win competitions. And the unassuming, patinated, humdrum-in-its-day 1939 Frazer Nash BMW 321 saloon – quietly nurturing its imposter syndrome as it sat surrounded by some of the sexiest and speediest supercars in existence – pulled at our heartstrings like no other car.
Rare? Certainly. Probably the only surviving right-hand-drive version. But this vintage pre-war Bimmer looked more like it belonged on a period film set than on a concours lawn brimming with carbon wings and active aero. And yet… it wasn’t trailered in. It was driven in. And it’s driven regularly – by a Hampshire-based doctor who even uses it to do home visits. Imagine your GP showing up in this! (Actually, these days, just imagine physically seeing a GP…)
That alone endeared us to the owner. And the fact that the car had added yet more patina en route – one of its front fender sidelight covers had shattered thanks to a stone on the motorway – made it all the more real.
GP Owner is Grandson of Frazer Nash Founder!
But the pièce de résistance? The owner, Jamie Coutts Donald, is the grandson of Donald Aldington – one of the original founders of Frazer Nash, and the very man who began importing BMWs to Britain and slapping on the now-legendary “Frazer Nash BMW” propeller roundel badges.
The car remains completely original, from its six-volt electrical system to its two-litre straight-six engine. It’s not fast. It has “no brakes, really,” as the good doctor laughs. But it has something that matters more: charisma, charm and a connection – not just to motoring history, but to meaningful family legacy.
To our minds, it’s everything a true concours celebrant should be: unique, storied, authentic – and cherished.
FULL LIST OF WINNERS:
All Marques
1) Frazer Nash BMW 321 – Jaime Coutts Donald
2) Noble M600 – Andy Black
3) 1937 Lagonda – Martin Bugler
Porsche
1) Porsche 930 turbo – Jarrod Ellis
2) Porsche 991 GT3 – Mark dale
3) Porsche 356 – Dominic Strickland
Aston Martin
1) Vanquish S Volante – Mitchell Orchant
2) Vanquish Zagato Volante – Steve Mellow
3) Super Cygnet – Dave Cooling
Ferrari
1) Ferrari 360CS = David Emburey
2) Ferrari 360 Spider – Chris Higenbottam
3) Ferrari 458 Spider – Julie Jones
McLaren
1) McLaren 765LT MSO – Jas Hayre
2) McLaren 620R – Lewis Hill
3) Mclaren 12C – Jon Barnard
Lamborghini
1) Lamborghini Islero – Marc Yana
2) Lamborghini Silhouette – Ivor Davies
3) Lamborghini Countach – Paul Dennis
Best in Show
Selected from the above winners:
1) Islero – Marc Yana
2) Ferrari 360CS = David Emburey
3) Porsche 930 turbo – Jarrod Ellis
Public Choice
Noble M600 – Andy Black
Last year:
If you found this useful, interesting or fun, consider supporting me via Patreon, Ko-Fi, or even grabbing a copy of one of my books on Amazon. Every bit helps me keep creating independent automotive content that actually helps people.
Support independent car journalism 🙏🏽☺️ grab my books on Amazon, take up membership to BrownCarGuy on YouTube, or join me on Ko-Fi or Patreon.
👉🏽 Channel membership: https://www.youtube.com/browncarguy/join
👉🏽 Buy me a Coffee! https://ko-fi.com/browncarguy
👉🏽 Patreon – https://www.patreon.com/BrownCarGuy
MY BOOKS ON AMAZON!
📖 Want to become an automotive journalist, content creator, or car influencer? Check out my book: How to be an Automotive Content Creator 👉🏽 https://amzn.eu/d/7VTs0ii
📖 Quantum Races – A collection of my best automotive sci-fi short stories! 👉🏽 https://amzn.eu/d/0Y93s9g
📖 The ULEZ Files – My all-action thriller set in a dystopian ULEZ future! 👉🏽 https://amzn.eu/d/jhADkOt
Big Thanks to my Supporters!
Stratigency – Book your FREE 15-minute strategy call now: 👉 https://meeting.calendarhero.com/BCG15#DriveToScale
Design5IT
Tom Conway-Gordon (https://www.instagram.com/anycoloursolongasits_black/)
And others! 🙏🏽☺️
Discover more from Brown Car Guy
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
Leave a comment