The Future of the Car, is the past

Silverstone, is a wonderful race track. Truly world class, add in three days of Classic Motorsports, tens of thousands of passionate enthusiasts – and that makes for just about the best event on the summer car scene

As ever I’ve come away with many new friends, lots of great stories and most of all – I’ve solidified my theory of the future of the Car….

So, the Future of the Car is… the Horse?!

Technology came, and it made the poor old horse redundant. No longer would it have to do the school run, shopping trips to Ikea and be left out in all weather with only the bare minimum of service. Now, the autonomous all electric ‘internet of things’ enabled blob will do all of that for you. Whilst you clear out all the crap you don’t need from your garage, build a workbench, blow the dust off your Bently and Heyne’s workshop manuals, roll your sleeves up and man the fuck up – restore that wonderful old 1980’s BMW that still has the ability to move your soul in ways you’re yet to believe in. It will change your life, it will make you a better person. Once  you get out there, you will find others like you, They will support you, encourage you, even spend late nights working with you – all for the love of ‘Cars’

“Anyone can buy a new car, takes a real man to keep one going…..”

In that case, owning, maintaining and campaigning a classic race car – well that’s just truly fucking heroic – and you Sir are a true friend of The Midnight Workshop. We salute you and your endeavour – Well done

Throughout the weekend we were constantly amazed by the friendliness of just about everyone, drivers, owners, mechanics, team principals, wives, girlfriends and bits on the side. All welcomed, with equal measure – race, win or loose – enter as Gentlemen, and remain so. I find myself totally at home among my fellow bredrin. I can only see this grow and grow, as the new world of autonomous blobs take to the roads – good, I’m off to Silverstone, Spa or LeMans thanks

It’s the people, the crews and their drivers – that really make it worthwhile

I was so heartened by the banter of the crews working away in the paddocks, they had come from all over the world, Norway, France, Germany, California, Dubai even Hong Kong. This scene is global, the community is connected by the past and yet the irony is that it’s also nurtured by the future itself. The future of the Car, is assured. They really have become ‘the faster horse that doesn’t shit everywhere’ the fascination, passion and community built up around the sport just keeps building in its momentum. There’s a hell of a lot of life left in the ‘old car’ only not as a way of getting to the supermarket. No, it’s now the preserve of the truly wonderful. Your in good company, welcome – pull up a folding deck chair and let’s chat about ‘our motors’ let’s talk about breaking crank shafts, over heating, timing advance, getting dialed in, our place on the grid, what could have been and of sex being the breakfast of champions