The Veteran Car Club of Great Britain

The Veteran Car Club
of Great Britain

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What is The Veteran Car Club of Great Britain?

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History

The Club was founded in 1930 after the London to Brighton Run of that year. Three participants, S.C.H. (Sammy) Davis, J.A.(Jackie) Masters and Capt. J.H. Wylie gathered in the Courties Bar, Old Ship Hotel, Brighton and decided to form a Club for veteran cars, The Veteran Car Club of Great Britain.

A Club office was set up in London and finally settling in Fitzhardinge Street, W1. During the mid '70s, the Club purchased its own building, Jessamine House, in Ashwell, Hertfordshire close to the Cambridgeshire borders.

From 1976 the Club was run from Jessamine House but the growth of the archive information made the premises very cramped.

In the grounds and to the rear of Jessamine House there was a large tithe barn; in 1991 this was converted into the modern Headquarters that we have to-day. From the time of move to the new building, Jessamine House was least to a local College. They left in 2006 and the building sold.

The Club up to the '50s accepted only veteran cars, up to the end of 1904. Some time in the 50s the closing date moved to 1916. In the 60s or 70s the dates were again changed to those we have now. No national motoring Club, like the The Veteran Car Club of Great Britain, covered cars built before 1919. During those early times cars that were built from our closing dates to 1919 were being broken up for spares for models that continued after the First World War (i.e. Rolls Royce's Silver Ghosts and Ford's Model T's to name only two) or being scrapped.
Now we are pleased to accept all cars manufactured before 1919 into the Club (conditions apply).

The Plaque from the
Old Ship Hotel

The lounge at the
Old Ship Hotel
circa-1912

The Headquarters we have to day

The Club

The Club's Wolseley and our Patron HRH Prince Michael of Kent on the 1984 Run

Click on the map for the Diary Page

The Current Issue

Patron
The position of Patron is the highest honor the Club can bestow; it is held today by HRH Prince Michael of Kent.

For further information on Prince Michael's other interest please click here

The Club's Car
The Club Car is a 1902 Wolseley with twin cylinders, rated at 10hp and fitted with a Tonneau type body.
It is driven by members on many events throughout the year including the London to Brighton Veteran Car Run. After a major overhaul it was entered and completed the 2007 London to Brighton Veteran car Run driven by our President.

Sections - Events
The Club is divided into geographical areas in the UK and are as follows: - Scotland Section, North West Section, North East Section, Midland Section, Mid East Section, South West Section and South East Section. See map to the left.

Each Section has one Main and a number of Minor Events each year.
A Main Event normally covers a weekend (Friday to Sunday, Saturday being a full event day), and each year there is at least one event that covers a week. The Main Events usually have a competitive element attached to them.

The range of rallies, being either main or minor are too vast to record here, they range from visits to Motoring Museums, Historical Buildings or just a social ride in the country to a lunch stop through some of the prettiest countryside to be seen, like the motoring days of the past.

An Headquarter's event is run about every two years. JOGLE (John O'Groats to Land's End), 1000mile Trial, The Red Flag Rally and The 75th Event in Wales were all 5 or more days events run by HQ.

Veteran Car
The Club gazette "VETERAN CAR" is a pocket size, bimonthly gazette that is well published. Each excellent issue has approximately seventy pages and in full colour.
For more information click on the 'Current Issue'.

Membership
The Club has four types of Membership: Junior (under 17), Young Associate (17 to 35inc.), Associate (36 and plus), and Full (any age).
Only Full Members can enter a car in a Club event, but they can be driven by a Associate Members.
You do not have to own a Veteran and Edwardian car to become a Member; almost half our Members are Associates and have a vital part to play in the smooth running of any event.
At present the membership is running around 1600. Membership is world wide in the Club.

For Subscription Rates and Application Form: - click here

Jessamine Court
The Headquarters houses the Office, Meeting room, Library, the Club's Car and items for sale to members at The Shop. (For more information on each item click on the name)

Exhibition and Shows
The Club has an exhibition stand that can be seen at many of the Veteran/Vintage Car Auctions, the larger car shows and at the Autumn Beaulieu Autojumble.

For more information contact Headquarters