#BrownCarGuy – News, Views & Reviews!
Sometimes you just need to talk it out – rant, rave, reminisce, and reflect. That’s what BrownCarGuy Therapy Sessionsare all about: putting the car reviews and news aside, sitting down with fellow enthusiasts, and just having honest conversations about where we’re at as car lovers in a world that’s rapidly changing.
So there I was – sitting in a Morrisons car park in Queensbury, Polestar 4 plugged in, charging away and with time to kill. Time to go live on Instagram. The impromtu session turned into a fun and controversial chat with a sudden surprise guest giving us a sneak peak into some sensational classic cars. A full-blown BrownCarGuy Therapy Session for Petrolheads. I was joined by long-time friend Reza Adil, and later by David from Huxley Automotive, who casually walked us around a garage full of jaw-dropping classics.
There I was, taking a break from b-rolling footage of the car-nucopia that is the Enfield Pageant of Motoring, strolling amongst stalls of tibits, car parts and tempting dinkies, while cradling a hot cup of coffee, when I nearly choked on my cheese toastie! Smack bang between sellers of Capri instrument panels and post-war grille badges, was a bloke with a book. His modest table and roll-up banner advertised a new novel, “It Can’t See You in the Dark” by Feroze Engineer. There was a car on the cover. And not just any car!
Car S.O.S. (Car Sausage) is back for a brand-new Series 13, and once again, I had the absolute pleasure of catching up with the legends themselves – Tim Shaw and Fuzz Townshend in an exclusive interview, in which we covered everything from the cars on the show, the celebs involved (including the one that said ‘no’!) and Tim’s mid-life crisis and hair dye fiasco!
Some people dream of driving exotic cars. Others dream of writing about them. And then there’s Shafiq Abidin, who’s managed to land one of the coolest jobs, In The World – Top Gear staff writer. But the journey from a student interviewing me during Covid to being a year-in to one of the most coveted car jobs out there, has not been without challenges and disappointments. It almost never happened, but this young talent fought for his goals, pushing past cultural expectations, imposter syndrome, and countless rejections to make it happen. His story? It’s as inspiring as it is relatable.
This year marked a monumental occasion for West London Classics as the club made its debut at the NEC Classic Motor Show 2024. I had the chance to catch up with club founder Kirpal Singh Randhawa and long-time member Dave – two passionate petrolheads who brought with them not only stunning classic cars but also a true enthusiasm for sharing the classic car lifestyle.
At the 2024 NEC Classic Motor Show, I had the pleasure of chatting with Ben Marshall, the man behind DadCars, a YouTube channel with a mission to show that family life doesn’t have to mean giving up on exciting cars. With four kids in tow, Ben’s out to prove that petrolhead parents don’t have to trade passion for practicality.
If you’re a muscle car enthusiast or a Mustang aficionado, you’re going to love this one! I recently caught up with Peter Cavallo, the man behind Classic American Car Sales in Essex. He is well-known for importing and selling beautifully restored 1965-1968 Mustangs and other iconic American classics. His experience and insight into the classic car market, particularly the Mustang, are second to none.
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 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!
