The North East Restoration Club
Possibly the best shed in the whole world
We’re a bunch of mates in a shed, helping each other restore our cars. What could be better than that?’ John Carrahar has been a member of the North East Restoration Club since 1992. ‘I come down here twice a week, turning up at half eight and often it’s five o’clock before I go home!’
The club was formed in 1971 by a group of enthusiasts who acquired a derelict workshop. The building was repaired, the rubble cleared and the hunt for anything from ramps to metal benders and drills ended with a fully kitted out facility. They’ve even built themselves a cafeteria and club room. It’s a social club with car restoration at the heart of it.
On the morning PC turned up, John and pals Michael and Kevin were working on a 1965 ‘Fiesta Yellow’ Mini Traveller. The car looks almost ready for the road. ‘A year ago it was just a bodyshell,’ says Kevin. ‘We’ve been restoring it between work on my Riley 1.5 and Michael’s Messerschmitt and Trojan.’ There is an increasing number of younger members too. ‘We’re having a show featuring more modern classics.’ Says Norman Rose, working on his Singer Nine Sport Coupé nearby.
Among many classics being restored, there’s an Alvis, a TR6, Pontiac Trans Am and Harry Harker’s recently purchased Austin Seven Chummy, which is being transformed from wreck-status. ‘I’m getting there!’ he sighs. Simon Huntington’s 1973 Reliant Regal Supervan had been dumped in a field 30 years ago. ‘Without the club, I wouldn’t be able to restore it. Being here, with all these great people, gave me a purpose and a reason to live again.’
There are two show days per year, giving the public a chance to see what members get up to in the workshop. Pausing work on his 1972 Volkswagen 411, John Maw says it’s everything you could want out of a car club. ‘They’re a great bunch of lads and lasses who all help each other.’ John works on his car three days a week. ‘I retired five years ago, so this is much better than the armchair and the telly!’