Worth joining the club for
1955 JAGUAR XK140
Back in 1976 sports car racer Ray Bellm was ‘done’ for speeding, when his Ferrari was clocked at 96mph on the motorway. Ray was then flummoxed as how to properly enjoy his fast cars without risking the wrath of the law. His friend Michael ‘Scottie’ Scott – never short of good notions – came up with the idea of a ‘track club’ for circuit driving, the very first of its kind. It was named after Ray’s speeding infringement…
The 96 Club was an exclusive but un-snobby ‘word of mouth’ outfit that offered real excitement. Rock stars, actors, racing drivers and enthusiasts all wanted to become members and Sir Stirling Moss and Derek Bell are patrons.
Now trackdays are ubiquitous but this was the first real motoring adrenaline rush – escaping speed-restricted public highways for racing circuits where you could enjoy your car flat out! Members were allowed to mount small red ‘96 Club’ stickers on their windscreens – a ‘must have’ for those who lacked a BRDC badge!
Scottie suffered a heart attack in 1993, so the club was put on ice. But in 2005 he revived it as the Classic Rendezvous Club, which meets on the second Sunday of every month in central London. I took the Jaguar out for an early-morning warm-up and gatecrashed the 96 at Chesham Place in Belgravia. Everyone was relaxed and I was welcomed with a bacon butties and hot coffee.
Though it wasn’t a huge gathering the turn-out of cars was fascinating, ranging from Nigel and Gabriella Wills’ Talbot 90 to Anthony and Launa Hussey’s Bidet Blue Lancia Aurelia Spider. Scottie brought along his Steady Special – created and raced by the late journalist Steady Barker. It’s a Lancia Astura that Steady shortened by four feet, fitting special coachwork and calling it the ‘Short Arsetura’!
These meetings are usually followed by a drive then lunch for Club members but, as I’m not one, I had to duck out. Maybe its time for me to sign up, if they will have me.