#BrownCarGuy – News, Views & Reviews!
Picture it: rows of gleaming chrome, that nostalgic smell of petrol and leather, and the unmistakable chatter of classic car fans, congregating around an open bonnet outdoing each other with facts and trivia. It’s the NEC Classic Motor Show, a slice of paradise for any petrolhead. But as Ralph Hosier and I walked the halls this year, an unsettling thought crept in – could we be witnessing the last breaths of classic car culture as we know it?
The 2024 Volkswagen Golf R Estate – yes, estate. Why not? It’s like the ultimate Q-car Golf. Seemingly a practical family load-lugger. But oh boy, are you in for a treat if you floor that throttle!
The NEC Classic Motor Show has returned to Birmingham, marking its 40th anniversary as the UK’s biggest classic car event. This year’s show brings together over 3,000 iconic cars and motorcycles, with a record 330+ clubs on display, showcasing the best of the UK’s motoring heritage.
This is exciting – getting behind the wheel of the 2024 Volkswagen Golf GTI Clubsport. Now, I know what you’re thinking: “Didn’t he already review the Golf GTI?” True (link below), but this isn’t the regular GTI; this is the Clubsport – a souped-up version with a bit more oomph, aimed squarely at those of us who want a little more spice from our hot hatches. The previous edition was the pick of the pack – let’s see if this Clubsport lives up to the hype.
When we talk about the future of motoring, sustainable fuels spark some serious debate. Are they genuinely viable alternatives, or just a faux “green-washed” stepping stone? Recently, I had the chance to catch up with David Richardson of Coryton and Sustain at the St James Motoring Spectacle. We tackled the key questions and concerns that both EV fans and petrolheads have raised, looking into the feasibility, practicality, and cost of sustainable fuels for everyday use and classic car preservation. Let’s break down the conversation and see where sustainable fuels stand in today’s petrol-versus-EV-versus-biofuel world.
London’s Pall Mall transformed into a motoring paradise with the brand-new St James Motoring Spectacle, right in the heart of the city, just outside the iconic Royal Automobile Club.
The other day I popped up to Burntwood near Birmingham to visit the E30Centre. This isn’t just any garage; it’s a sanctuary for classic BMWs, where Simon Williams, master mechanic and E30 wizard, revives and restoring these iconic cars. So, if you’re a BMW fan, particularly if you have an example of the legendary E30 series (as I do) – this could be quite useful!
Yesterday brought us the 2024 Autumn Budget – the first budget from a Labour government in 14 years, and, excitingly, the first ever from a female Chancellor. While I’m no economist, as a motoring journalist, my job is to sift through the details and let you know what this budget means for us drivers. And here’s the big surprise: it’s actually not as bad for motorists as many of us feared! Yes, a collective sigh of relief was heard across the motoring world.
Are you ready to brave the world’s most haunted highways this Halloween? Well tighten your seatbelt and take your bravery pills, because we’re about to take you down roads so terrifying that even the biggest supernatural cynics would think twice before taking these journeys – particularly at night, and especially on Halloween night! From ghostly hitchhikers to devilish apparitions, here are 13 haunted highways where eerie encounters are as common as road signs.
Some of you are going to hate this post. I get it – you’re petrolheads, purists, the warriors of the rev counter, who scoff at the idea of “silent but speedy.” But here you are. You clicked, didn’t you? And I see you… thanks for hanging about.
