Why You Should Join a Car Club

We recently had the pleasure of attending a Jaguar XK event at Bicester Heritage hosted by the wonderful people at the International XK Club and it got us thinking about car clubs and owner’s clubs in general and how belonging to such a group can elevate the already life-affirming classic car experience to the higher echelons of both enjoyment and engagement, bolstered along the way by a wonderful sense of belonging and camaraderie that is sadly missing from modern motoring.

The convivial atmosphere (something that is not unique to the XK Club but rather shared by all of the car clubs I have had the pleasure of being involved with) was immediately apparent upon stepping through the door of the Hagerty Clubhouse at Bicester’s heritage site having been ferried there rather courteously from my car at the paddock by Martin Reynolds in his beautiful XK150, a car that Martin had driven, complete with roof down, all the way from Chelmsford literal moments before, exemplifying the XK club’s emphasis on actually driving its cars, with everyone involved firmly believing that the XK, in whatever form, was designed to be driven. Hear, hear!

And with such a huge assortment of Jaguars in attendance, all proudly lined up track side having made their way to the event under their own steam, this ethos was evidently more than mere lip service. It’s a mentality that would be further evinced throughout the day by all drivers, without exception, as everyone was more than happy to take anyone willing for a blast around the track.

From wonderfully honest examples dripping with patina to freshly restored show queens glimmering in the all too brief swathes of sunlight that would momentarily break through the overcast sky, there was a distinct and very welcome lack of pretence. Fancy a blast in a competition weathered C-Type? Step this way. Want a few laps in a beautiful and original XK120 drophead coupé? No problemo. A particularly well-used example was a stunning XK120 that has been successfully toured all across the globe, from Cheshire to Tibet and seemingly everywhere in between, testament to the sheer usability of these big old cats.

This wasn’t just about celebrating and promoting retro Jags and the XK Club though. Yes, of course there was an element of that but it was also about looking to the future and sharing thoughts and opinions on the simple act of owning and running a classic car in today’s world, with sustainability being heavily discussed. The Historic and Classic Vehicle Alliance, along with Coryton sustainable fuels, were on hand to offer advice (as well as a healthy dose of its ‘Sustain’ fuel for classic vehicles) and to inform and educate and it was wonderful to see some of the cars utilising this fuel before heading out on track.

One such car that was running Coryton’s Sustain classic fuel on the day was a particularly lovely XK150 fitted with Classic Motor Cars‘ bespoke fuel injection system which provides modern levels of drive-ability, ignition and fuel control while keeping the sound and feel of the classic XK engine. Developed in house by CMC the kit will soon be available as a fit-at-home system so watch this space. This stunning XK150 was filled up with Sustain fuel ahead of a whole bunch of spirited runs on the track and the car performed flawlessly lap after lap, proving without a doubt to any sceptics on the day that sustainable fuel is very much a viable alternative to electrification.

The collaborations didn’t end there, however. With marque specialists like Winspeed and William Heynes in attendance to offer advice, technical expertise and support, the club sentimentality and feeling of inclusion really did shine through. And that collaborative, all in it together attitude is just one of the benefits of belonging to a car club. Along with that shared knowledge and experience there’s also the social aspect, too. We, as humans, are tribal animals and coming together as a community with a shared passion is incredibly important, especially in today’s disconnected world. Whether it be a day at the track, a meet up at the pub or an epic, cross country road trip, car clubs provide a level of social interaction that many of us crave.

Then there’s access to discounts, parts and specialists like those mentioned above, where everyone is welcome regardless of whether your car is in pieces in the shed or a concours winner. But perhaps most importantly of all, being in a car club is fun, and frankly we could all do with a bit more of that.

So hopefully then this will serve as your inspiration to join your very own car or owner’s club. Whether you drive a classic or perhaps just want to be involved with a brand or marque that you have an unyielding love and passion for, there is no doubt a group out there that can facilitate you, welcoming you with open arms and open minds, characteristics that are the norm when it comes to this wonderful hobby of ours.

And should you be lucky enough to own and drive an XK then give the XK Club a shout and get involved. With plenty of events like this one to enjoy, amongst a whole host of other benefits, we guarantee you won’t regret it. Or perhaps these ramblings have inspired you to pick up an old Jag? Or any classic for that matter! If so then you’re definitely in the right place so go and have a browse, we’re sure we have something that will catch your eye here on Car & Classic, whether it be an XK120, an old school Bentley or anything in between.