Messages

Hi All,  I wonder where we got to on this topic. I know there is a requirement for 2 or 3 428 Frua nose badges, and I am sure the Club would invest if the price was right and they were not commercially available elsewhere. Sorry for being so late! Andy

The AC Cars letterhead is "interesting". I looked up the postcode from the address line at the foot of the page and it is not recognised. Rather strange as the houses built on the factory site would normally inherit the old post code. Does anyone recognise the author's name M G Wright? It doesn't ring a bell with me. All rather strange. Andy.

Thanks Thomas, I am so glad you enjoyed our ACOC hospitality.
The problem with Classic Car racing is the value of the cars! They are now investments which are often (but not always) owned by rich people who lack the passion to risk them on the track. The FIA decided many years ago that the original identity of a Classic Car was less important than the correctness of its manufacture. If you can build a race winning car with modern materials which out performs the original for £150,000 why would the owner risk their £5,000,000 investment which is slower anyway? This has led to a whole industry where new cars appear at every meeting, and even some of the famous originals are stored away whilst their cloned replicas continue to race all over the world.
We are planning another visit to Le Mans next year for the Centenary of the ACO and would love for you to join us again.
Kindest regards, Andy.

Hi Martin, I remember it well and I always try to take a spare helmet just in case the scrutineers don't accept another competitor's one! We are all AC enthusiasts and try to help each other whenever possible. I have been privileged to be the Chairman of the AC Owners Club for the last 10 years, and have enjoyed so many Club events and gatherings. The whole world has changed so much over that period, and I am simply a racer with a passion for ACs and a love for like minded people. That used to be enough to be the Chairman. Sadly with the increasing regulations , litigation and the incredible rise in the value of our cars which leads to misrepresentation, I think the time has come for this old dinosaur to retire and let someone younger and more legal minded to take up the reigns. I hope to continue to help organise Club events and make sure members are able to enjoy their lovely cars. Thank you for your kind words and I hope to see you in the near future.
Kindest regards, Andy.

Due to cancellations the ACOC has 4 spare ferry tickets for the 2022 Le Mans Trip.

Each ticket covers a car and 2 passengers leaving Portsmouth on Thursday 30th June at 22.45 with twin cabin to sleep on the outbound journey, returning on Monday 4th July at 16.30 from Caen to Portsmouth and costs £450 return.

Anyone interested please send me a message as we need to complete the paperwork in the next week. We also have accommodation available 25 minutes from the circuit.

Andy Shepherd.

Agreed Robin, It is an honour to be Chairman of the ACOC, but that doesn't make it any easier! As I said above, anyone who would like to take the minutes of our monthly meetings would be welcomed with open arms! Andy.

I must own up for the lack of published minutes in ACtion. The reason being that I spend one evening a month chairing the Council Meeting. I also have to take the minutes, as no one else is prepared to do it for me. During the following month I write up the minutes and circulate them to members of the Council who have the opportunity to approve them before the next meeting. Since I retired from business, I do not have the luxury of a secretary to help with this and other tasks, so by the time the minutes are distributed it is often too late for the publishing deadline. Anyone who would like to attend 11 Council Meetings each year, take the minutes, write them up and distribute them, all for free, will be welcomed with open arms. Andy Shepherd Chairman ACOC.

Hi Guys, Sorry I just read your posts. We had the Colani 428 in our workshop at Uniclip Automotive in England about 25 years ago. It sported a very futuristic body which was certainly designed by Professor Colani in France. Since then I have heard or seen nothing of it, so I assume it resides with the Colani family in France.

I have heard through the grapevine that CF1 is coming up for sale in the USA. It is unlikely to go to auction so any interested parties need to make contact. CF1 was the original prototype convertible with an aluminium body rather than the production steel panels. It featured as Tara King's car in the UK TV series The Avengers and I believe has been unmolested except for a re-trim to original spec and repaint. As the rarest of all 428 Fruas it commands a premium price so will not be cheap. Any interested parties can send me a Private Message, and I can put you in contact.

Hi Gary, in previous years we have welcomed all kinds of nice cars on our trip, Morgans, E Types, Astons etc. Nice is something which looks OK with our ACs.

Thanks Clive, I have you on the list to go out on Friday night, which makes 6 cars and 16 people so far as a couple will be in France already. I have provisionally booked 20 spaces on the ferries each way with Cabins on the way out. It will be a night sailing on Thursday 2nd July 2020 from Portsmouth to Caen, and the return Caen to Portsmouth on Monday 6th July 2020 at 16.30. Anyone interested in joining the group, please let me know, and nice cars are acceptable if your AC is not available!

Hello All,

David Skittles has organised several visits to the Silverstone Classic for the ACOC. Next year 2020, the Silverstone Event is between the ACOC visit to the Le Mans Classic and the ACOC International Meeting. It doesn't necessarily follow that the Silverstone fans will go on either of the other Rallies, so I am inviting some feedback from the AC Owners who would like to go to Silverstone.

Needless to say, if there is insufficient interest from members our stand there will be cancelled so please say if you would like to go.

*
From David's previous notice, the details are as follows:


The dates are 31 July - 2 Aug.
   
The registration has only just opened today and therefore I will register then be able to advise ticket pricing, etc.
   
So update you diaries and look forward to seeing you at Silverstone

David

Hi Gary,

Lovely to hear from you again. If you read my post above, you will see that members can vary the booking, provided they do it soon, before I book ferry tickets. That said, I organised the 1999 ACOC 60th Anniversary International. Many people wanted to dip in and out of the event, and go to one part but not another. I devised a form of "menu pricing" where members could pick and choose. It was a nightmare! The administration was bad enough, but there was a constant flow of amendments as people changed their minds, and several people turned up to parts they had not booked or paid for. I said at the time, never again, so I am trying to get a package together which suits the majority, but is manageable for the organiser. As you do not require the main elements ie ferry and chateau I suggest you book separately and we can meet up at the circuit.

All the best,

Andy.

Le Mans Classic  2,3,4,5,6 July 2020.

I am booking ferries for next year's ACOC trip to the Lemans Classic from Thursday 2nd to Monday 6th July 2020, and would like to see how much interest there is within the Club.

The standard package normally includes the following:

1,  Overnight ferry from Portsmouth to Caen, on the Thursday night with a twin cabin,
2, Accommodation 3 nights at either of our 2 exclusive ACOC Chateaux, La Vagotiere and Le Grand Gaigne which are about 25 minutes drive from the circuit,
3, Entry tickets to Le Mans circuit with a Car Pass and designated ACOC Parking inside the circuit close to the Dunlop Bridge.
4, Grandstand tickets with allocated seats, again close to the Dunlop Bridge.
5, Return ferry ticket from Caen to Portsmouth on Monday afternoon.

As in previous years Accommodation bills are settled direct with the Chateaux. The ferries and circuit tickets need to be paid for one month before departure. To confirm bookings the ACOC will require a £120 per head deposit. At this stage it will be possible to alter ferry tickets to suit anyone who wishes to travel earlier or return later. However once I have made the booking, it will be difficult and costly to alter the standard package above.

Prices currently unconfirmed but likely to be circa,

            Ferries with twin cabin on the outward journey with standard return, have previously been around £450 per couple with car.
            The Chateaux are block booked, and average out between £400 and £500 per head.
            Circuit tickets have previously been around the £120 per head.

Please email or message me if you would like to be on the list.

Kindest regards,

Andy.

To all members, as a postscript to the above, there will be an ACOC trip to Classic Le Mans 2020, and several members have already shown interest. Although it is 12 months away, we will be placing an advert in the ACtion Magazine in the next month or so. The trip will include ferries, accommodation and entry to our own AC area inside the circuit. Anyone can contact me directly, or apply via the ACtion advert as soon as it is published. This Forum is not always read by members and is therefore not the most reliable organ of communication within the Club. Regards, Andy Shepherd, Chairman AC Owners' Club.