Young apprentice helps veteran cars on famous run
An apprentice from Classic Motor Cars helped out at the London to Brighton Veteran Car
Run supplying Total oil and advice to participants
Ben Taylor, a 21-year-old apprentice at leading car restoration company Classic Motor Cars (CMC) of
Bridgnorth, was on hand on Sunday 1st November at the prestigious London to Brighton Veteran Car
Run to provide help and support to the vehicles involved, working with Total, one of the world’s
largest integrated oil and gas companies.
Appreciating that older cars – the youngest on the Run is 110 years old – are not built to quite the
same fine tolerances as modern cars, Ben, who is from Astley Abbots in Shropshire, was present at
both the halfway Harrods Stop at Crawley and Madeira Drive in Brighton supporting the vehicles.
Whilst at the half-way stop in Crawley, Ben was called upon by a large number of people requiring
oil and water top-ups, as well as general servicing advice to keep their veteran cars running.
Ben said: “It was a brilliant day out, up until now I’ve only worked on classic sports cars, but to assist
the veterans was a real experience. They made the vehicles we have in our workshops look like
modern day cars.”
A driver of a veteran steam car had accidentally released all the pressure out of their tank, so Ben
was required to refill the air using a compressor.
He said: “Providing assistance to the steam cars was fascinating, as I have never come across them
before. We would refill them with as much as 10 litres of water and re-pressurise the tanks.”
Ben, is currently undertaking an apprenticeship at CMC in engine building, where he works on the
technical side and engineering of classic cars. His work involves building full engines and cylinder
heads, as well as the refurbishing of classic parts.
Ben said: “I find the technical side of classic cars interesting because they’re so different to the
modern specifications of everyday vehicles. During my time at CMC, I’ve learnt to build classic
engines with tighter tolerances, which reduce oil leaks, piston slaps and generally improve their
efficiency”.
After Ben had aided the participants at Crawley, he drove down to Madeira Drive in Brighton
accompanied by CMC's Quality Control Manager Wayne Smallman from Bridgnorth, where they
greeted veteran cars crossing the finish line. Here, they offered any additional post-run services to
the vehicles and helped the owners push them onto the trailers.
Ben concluded: “It was a great sense of achievement to represent CMC at such a prestigious event,
to see how many participants came to us for help made us feel like an integral part of the run.”
ENDS
Picture captions:
- Ben topping up oil and working on veteran cars at the half-way stop in Crawley (photo credit Dick
Barnatt)
For further information, please contact:
David Barzilay – T: 0207 544 8831 | M: 07838 547531 | E: david@barzilay.co.uk
Julian Menendez – T: 0207 544 8831 | M: 07838 547531 | E: julian@barzilay.co.uk
About Classic Motor Cars Ltd | One of the world’s premier restoration companies
Classic Motor Cars was founded in 1993 and has over the ensuing years built an international
reputation for car restoration world-class standards. Staffed by a highly experienced team of
engineers and technicians, they operate from modern 40,000 sq. ft. premises and, with minimal
exceptions, every aspect of a car’s restoration, servicing and even bespoke car design is carried out
in-house.
CMC is also the only major restoration company providing 24,000 sq. ft. of specialised storage space
for classic and sports cars, right next to its prominent facilities. Some 50 to 60 cars can be found in
the workshops every month including Aston Martin, Squire and Lancia, amongst others.
The company also provides a Car Concierge Service, allowing owners with little time to call on a
variety of coordinated services, ranging from transportation to and from UK and international events
to servicing and detailing.
CMC is especially proud of its apprenticeship schemes with young people learning their trades in
trimming, auto electrics, bodywork, paintwork and general mechanical skills.
W: www.classic-motor-cars.co.uk | Twitter: @CMCclassiccars