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Old cars, new cars, borrowed cars & blue cars. If it steers it's here!

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Motoring for FUN!

It’s all about having fun out on the road

motoring-for-funAs many of us already appreciate, ‘essential’ motoring in the 21st Century – when we really do need a car to get somewhere (such as when commuting and/or for business purposes and carrying items too bulky or heavy for public transport) is not always fun. Often it involves frustrations such as queueing in traffic jams, also keeping out of the way of, and/or ignoring rude and aggressive drivers, and generally making slow, painful progress on packed urban roads. In truth the word ‘enjoyment’ doesn’t usually apply to such driving; it’s more of a necessity.

Nevertheless, these days, and in fact just as it always has done, the motor car can still give individuals, couples, families and groups of friends a happy means of ‘escaping’ for a while from humdrum everyday life. Indeed it can represent a passport to pastures new, for a breath of fresh air and a little rest, relaxation and exploration.

Some ‘Wheels-Alive’ viewers/readers may have discovered, or may even recall, that many motoring magazines of the past regularly used to feature touring with cars, covering visits to different localities in Britain, and even trips abroad. These fascinating articles provided information about the ‘feel’ of places visited, as well as illustrating, by way of photographs and/or line drawings, the new horizons which the car could open up.

Of course, in the 1920s and 30s (and even during the 1950s), owning a car was a relatively new phenomenon, and the thirst for ‘adventure’ in motoring for pleasure was evident in the way that the features were written.

I was very keen for my ‘Wheels-Alive’ online motoring magazine to re-create some of the atmosphere and magic of these day trips and longer tours of the past, so stay with us (and check back often!) as we bring to you motoring-related visits to some amazing places, starting with a few in the U.K.

In our new ‘Motoring For Fun’ series, always written from a personal perspective, we shall be using a variety of vehicles, from new models to more elderly classic cars. In each case, if you are a motoring enthusiast, the ‘getting there’ really is almost as important as the destination itself…

We hope that our series of features – which we hope will serve as ‘appetisers’, but of course cannot hope to include ALL the attractions within a particular area – acts as encouragement for our viewers/readers to visit and explore further for themselves. We have chosen a wide variety of areas, each with its own unique character and history. Please just enjoy!

Austin Counties Car Club 50th Anniversary Rally June 2025

25th June 2025

  Kim Henson reports on a fabulous Austins Counties Car Club celebratory get-togther for owners and enthusiasts of Austins produced between 1939 and the mid-1950s… (All words and photographs © Kim Henson and Wheels-Alive). It was in 1975 that Ian Wheater set up an organisation to support the preservation and enjoyment of Austin models built between 1939 and 1954 (and Austin A40 … [Read more...]

Standards Galore… at the Standard Motor Club’s 2025 International Rally at Daventry

17th June 2025

'Standard procedure'… The Standard Motor Club’s annual International Rally took place over the long weekend of 13th to 15th June, and was based at Daventry. Kim Henson was there and reports on a delightful and varied event, with warm sunny weather to make it even better... (All words and photographs© Kim Henson and Wheels-Alive). Standard Motor Company vehicles were built over six decades from … [Read more...]

Ain’t no volcano high enough for Falken

13th February 2025

Classic Mini Adventure, with maximum durability from Falken Tyres... They tell us: (All words and photographs from Falken Tyres). 4,000-mile journey in 1974 Mini to attempt to summit the world’s tallest volcano sees zero punctures using Falken road tyres. Crossing the driest region on the planet, Ben Coombs’ 4,000-mile road trip through Uruguay, Argentina and Chile saw Falken’s … [Read more...]

Guild of Motoring Writers’ ‘Bring Your Own Vehicle Day’ – Cardiff to Pendine Sands (via Welsh hills and valleys)

7th November 2024

Kim Henson was keen to join in with this ‘adventure’ to south Wales in October… (All words and photographs by, and copyright, Kim Henson). I have always enjoyed driving events organised by The Guild of Motoring Writers, but sadly have been obliged to miss a few such excursions in the last few years. However, when the Guild announced their ‘Bring Your Own Vehicle Day’ for members, held early in … [Read more...]

Classic Car Loan Project Reaches 100 Drivers!

23rd July 2024

100 Not Out! The Classic Car Loan Project (CCLP), which gives younger enthusiasts a classic car for a whole year, has just reached the 100 driver mark. Kim writes, "This is a magnificent achievement for the Classic Car Loan Project, set up to encourage young people into the world of classic cars and thus helping to preserve interest for the future". They tell us: (All words and photographs … [Read more...]

Jeremy Walton’s Audi TT quattro Sport – giving great service after five years (so far) of fun!

19th July 2024

Five years and counting... Jeremy Walton reports on his Audi TT quattro Sport, which seems to be a 'keeper'! In the eighth part of his series on owning and living with his TT quattro Sport, Jeremy confirms that the car is still going strong... and is still very much fun to own and use. (All words and images by, and copyright, Jeremy Walton). Closing in on 100,000 miles, our 5-years … [Read more...]

‘Enjoying Your Austin’ – A30/A35 book, still available for Christmas

15th December 2023

Kim Henson writes... My A30/A35 book 'Accessible Classics' (Enjoying Your Austin) is still available direct from me and if you would like a copy in time for Christmas, please let me know as soon as possible! Again this year several people have asked me whether my book on Austin A30s/A35s is still available… Yes it is (I wrote and published the book), and it can be purchased direct from me if you … [Read more...]

Motoring For Fun – A festive wintertime west country tour in a Suzuki Swace.

9th December 2023

Kim Henson tells a true winter's tale. (All words and photographs by, and copyright, Kim Henson). Cornwall beckoned, but our trip had to take in Swindon and Montacute as well… After a busy year during which my wife and I had been obliged to postpone two separate breaks in Wales, the idea of a few pre-Christmastime days away in Cornwall to unwind was very appealing. In fact, our planned … [Read more...]

Audi TT quattro Sport – Jeremy’s still loving his modern classic!

8th December 2023

Enjoying his Audi to the full... An affordable 2023 pleasure! Driven often, with more miles under its wheels and fewer bills in 2023, this modern classic TT makes sense, and delivers a 'content grumpy old man' (says Jeremy Walton)! In this seventh instalment of his series on his TT quattro Sport, Jeremy tells his story of the driving pleasure he has enjoyed this year in his cost-effective … [Read more...]

An adventure in Scotland with a Genesis ‘Electrified G80’ saloon

3rd March 2023

Genesis Electrified G80 saloon tackles the High Road, with Guy Loveridge at the wheel... I live in a village of 1,500 odd people in West Yorkshire. We are 8 miles from Huddersfield and within 30 miles of Leeds, Manchester, Sheffield and Bradford. We do not have a single EV charging point in the place. Late in 2022 I had the opportunity of borrowing a Genesis Electrified G80 for a week. Having … [Read more...]

For Your (Christmas and New Year) Bookshelf – Seven Years With Samantha (Around the World in a Vintage Austin Seven)

23rd December 2022

For Your (Christmas and New Year!) Bookshelf – Seven Years With Samantha (Around the World in a Vintage Austin Seven) Reviewed by: Kim Henson Author: Clive Ball (with black and white photographs by the author, plus drawings by Cedric Baxter) Published by: Patrick Stephens Ltd. (First edition September 1974) 248 pages (hardback) UK Price: Varies (no longer in print but used copies are … [Read more...]

Classic Car Loan Project – ‘A’ Success Story

26th July 2022

'From loaning to owning'... A heartening story, thanks to the Classic Car Loan Project. The excellent, highly respected Classic Car Loan Project (CCLP) exists to introduce young newcomers to the world of classic car motoring, and to encourage them in this by loaning a vehicle to them for a year, as an extended driving experience. Here’s the happy true story of how the scheme has changed the … [Read more...]

Kia Stinger GT Sport Line – ‘Motoring For Fun’ Road Test in Scotland

16th July 2022

Guy Loveridge describes a whistle-stop tour of the north of Scotland in Kia's Stinger GT Sport Line... (Words copyright Guy Loveridge. Photographs, as individually credited, by and copyright Guy Loveridge and George Loveridge). That Kia introduced a big engined “GT” car attracted my attention instantly. That they allowed it to reach a second generation and to maintain its place in their model … [Read more...]

Motoring For Fun – MSV’s ‘Drive!’ at Donington Park in Three British Classics.

20th January 2022

George Loveridge describes an enjoyable 'classic' day out to Donington Park... Giles Dive, Jim, Guy, and George Loveridge take their classic British cars to Donington Park for trackside action at one of Motorsport Vision’s ‘Drive!’ events. All words and photos ©George Loveridge At the close of 2020, I was checking my emails when a notification from MSV (Motorsport Vision) popped up, … [Read more...]

A ‘Basic’ Ford Anglia called Mary – here’s her story

23rd December 2021

A fascinating true tale of a much-loved 1960 Ford Anglia 105E – ‘Two hundred pounds well spent'... Auboné Braddon describes how ‘Mary’ the Basic Anglia 105E came into his life and has stayed for 33 years so far! (All words and photographs in the story by, and copyright, Auboné Braddon). Kim says, “Before Auboné tells the story of his Anglia ‘Mary’, a little background information may be … [Read more...]

Blackpool here we come… Motoring For Fun Road Test

4th September 2021

George Loveridge took the new MG HS PHEV (very distant relative to BMC’s B-Series!) to the Irish Sea Coast. Here’s his story of the trip… (All words and photographs copyright George Loveridge and, where individually credited, to Adam Carpenter). Myself, my girlfriend, my best friend, and his girlfriend, all booked a holiday to Lytham St. Annes back in February 2021, with extreme optimism I … [Read more...]

Motoring For Fun – A tour in south-west Wales in a Rover Maestro

10th February 2021

An idyllic autumnal trip to the far south-west of Wales… Kim Henson drove westwards in a Maestro that has been family-owned since new. (Kim adds: DO NOT GO THERE NOW!! Of course I realise that as I write this – during the 'Covid-19 lock down' – in February 2021, at the moment long-distance ‘motoring for fun’ and touring on holiday in Britain is not possible, nor even permitted. However, I feel … [Read more...]

Motoring for Fun – A classic adventure in Normandy with a 1954 Austin A40 Somerset and a 1939 Amilcar Compound

29th April 2020

Kim Henson describes a happy week in Normandy in his 1954 Austin A40 Somerset Coupé… together with friends in a 1939 Amilcar Compound. Note: This trip took place in September/October 2016; this article about the holiday is intended to cheer readers while the current lockdown applies, and to help everyone look forward to the time when we can once again undertake pleasure motoring. However, for … [Read more...]

Motoring For Fun – A dawdle in south Devon in an Austin A35

10th April 2020

‘Lazing on a Sunny Afternoon (in Summertime)’… Kim Henson describes a relaxing meander on a hot day through a west country landscape where time has (almost) stood still. (Kim adds: Of course I realise that as I write this (April 2020), sadly for the time being ‘motoring for fun’ in the real world is not possible. INDEED THE ADVICE TO "STAY AT HOME AND SAVE LIVES AND HELP THE N.H.S." IS VITAL. … [Read more...]

Motoring and Travelling For Fun – David Miles writes about a recent adventure trip to India

3rd April 2020

MILES ON THE ROAD IN INDIA JUST BEFORE THE CORONAVIRUS LOCKDOWN… …By David Miles (Miles Better News Agency), who describes the motoring scene in India, as well as his own trip there. (All words and photographs by David).  When my wife and I left the UK for our recent two week tour in India just over a month ago, there was hardly a global mention of coronavirus, just the odd mention of a … [Read more...]

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Our well-respected contributors live and breathe motor cars; aren’t we lucky?

Contributors to the site include talented, highly-respected people (so they tell me) on the hallowed membership list of the Guild of Motoring Writers, and from the similarly well thought-of Western Group of Motoring Writers. In addition there are valued contributions from other knowledgeable and capable motoring writers who have something useful to say about all aspects of driving and running vehicles in the 21st Century. All of our team are passionate about motor cars!


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