C&SC Club Awards 2020
BLACKPOOLTHUNDER.COM BLACKPOOL THUNDER CAR CLUB
Highly commended FIGARO OWNERS’ CLUB
www.figaroownersclub.com HONDA S800 SPORTS CAR CLUB
www.hondas800sportscarclub.co.uk
As is traditional, we kick off with the award for Best Club Website. The shortlist included two well-established sites that continue to impress and offer a thriving online community for members, as well as a welcoming introduction to their chosen models for newcomers.
Webmaster Kevin Fagan’s efforts to support the Figaro Owners’ Club’s 1200 members around the world are encapsulated in the lively website he has created himself, whose colourful and cheerful approach reflects the neo-classic Nissan that forms its focus.
The Honda S800 Sports Car Club’s offering is less modern in appearance, but as a resource for its users it is constantly improving – particularly in this exceptional year when its newsletters, technical articles and online events united the club’s users during lockdown.
In contrast, our winner comes from a new club that was launched in July 2020 after three years in the planning. Calling itself ‘a TVR club fit for the 21st century’, the Blackpool Thunder Car Club lives up to that tag with an online offering that was the standout entry in the category. Stylish, easy to navigate and optimised for mobile and tablet use, the regularly updated site is packed with news, events, and detailed model histories and galleries. All of the club’s content is published online rather than in a magazine.
Highly commended TRACY NABBS & MAGGY HAYNES
Jaguar Daimler Heritage Trust MARK WELLS
Gay Classic Car Group
We are living in exceptional times, but that has also highlighted how many exceptional people there are in our world. The first of our three individual awards celebrates the person who has done the most for fellow enthusiasts during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The first shortlisted nomination comes from not a traditional car club but a charitable trust. Tracy Nabbs and Maggy Haynes were put forward by JDHT managing director Matthew Davis for their unstinting efforts to continue production of Heritage Certificates to keep up with the constant stream of online enquiries from enthusiasts during lockdown.
GCCG stalwart Mark Wells’ infectious enthusiasm and constant flow of new ideas have proved invaluable throughout lockdown. Our Best Virtual Club Event winner was Wells’ brainchild, and he cajoled members into taking part before coordinating and promoting the results. He also came up with a ‘Scrubbers Weekend’ of classic detailing, along with various other fun digital events and regularly contacting vulnerable club members.
After being made redundant during lockdown, Chris Wickers, editor of the Volvo Owners’ Club magazine The Driver, could have been forgiven for concentrating his efforts elsewhere. Instead, he used his unexpected free time to give fellow members the best possible experience, project managing a new rolling section for the magazine, organising a virtual car show, launching a photographic competition and turning the spotlight on people working behind the scenes to keep the country moving. He even found time to volunteer for two local charities. A very worthy winner.