The Crash Box and Classic Car Club of Devon is a well-established enthusiasts’ club dedicated to the preservation, restoration, and enjoyment of classic and historic vehicles, an organisation that is clearly ‘hand-in-glove’ with StarterMotor’s aims and priorities. The Club is known not only for its passionate membership but also for organising one of the UK’s most popular and significant classic motoring events, the ‘Historic Vehicle Gathering’. This year heralded its 50^th year, so provided extra cause for celebration. 

With StarterMotor having been awarded the privilege of being a headline charity of the event, it was an honour and a pleasure to attend, a venue set in the beautiful grounds of Powderham Castle in Devon. This long-running event attracts thousands of visitors and exhibitors from across the country, this year featuring around 1,800 vehicles on display. The Gathering showcases an impressive range of historic cars, motorcycles, tractors, military vehicles, and classic commercial machines, as well as trade stands, autojumble stalls, club displays, parades, and family-friendly attractions.   

I drove down to Devon the day before the event in the Charity’s 2000MY Jaguar S-Type, a car bequeathed to StarterMotor in 2021 by its only owner. The 3.0L six-cylinder engine purred as it has done from new, and my light right foot ensured I achieved over 30mpg, impressive for a 25-year-old car with 163,000 miles on the clock. What wasn’t so luxurious was having to deal with the 30^oC heat and no air conditioning! Oh, for those ‘modern day’ creature comforts! Still, with windows cracked open and a pleasant breeze swirling around the cabin, I successfully navigated to Powderham from Oxford in a mere 5 hours – the M5 resembled a car park in places, but I wasn’t in a hurry. I arrived in good time to pitch the gazebo and set up my stand, a job made easy by the willing and very helpful Club members on hand.  Things were running like clockwork – this was clearly a very well-run event.  

The following morning I drove back to Powderham Castle, sun shining and roads surprisingly clear. Once parked up and installed under the StarterMotor gazebo, thankful for the shade, I looked out across 150 acres packed with classic and historic gems of all shapes and sizes. Wow, what an eclectic and interesting array of automotive history! However, there was little time before my first ‘customer’ approached me and asked “So, what’s StarterMotor all about….?”. I was happy to be asked this question many times over the weekend. While confirming that we have a marketing job to do to build from a relatively low level of awareness, to a position of knowledgeable familiarity with what the Charity is about, I was mostly struck by the huge support for what we’re doing and aiming to achieve. I spoke to several ‘Gen-Z-ers’ who clearly had petrol running through their veins and were looking for a steer on how to fulfil their ambitions, whether that was to active in the Community, or where to find training and job opportunities.  

Rejuvenating the demographic profile of the ‘old’ car community, and most importantly, attracting and assisting the next generation to fill a host of vital jobs in the sector, is a cause close to many peoples’ hearts. I was reassured and warmed (not just by the weather!) by the whole experience, and headed back towards a slightly less busy M5 on Sunday afternoon feeling as though there’s a mountain of encouragement and empathy behind what the Charity, and a host of other organisations in the sector, are doing to preserve and grow active support for our automotive heritage.