Well – goodbye to 2009! (posted March 8th, 2010)
It was in some respects quite a good year – only an average summer but the reduced value of the pound meant that many of us holidayed at home with an increase in the use of campers and caravans. The values of classic cars held up quite well and the weather did not disrupt too many of the car shows.
2009 was a successful year for Glynwood with an increase in the numbers of our clients for whom we arrange the insurance of their special motor vehicles.
We had decided we wanted to develop and strengthen our relationships with the Type II Club, and to really get out and spread the word about the benefits of having a specialist insurance policy for these vehicles. It had become apparent to us that so many people were insuring their beloved vehicles and not being covered properly, that we really needed to get out and make people aware.
We have attended various shows over the years, since our involvement began back in 1999 with the Type II Club, and February saw Steve Rawlings, Paul Bussey & Paul Edwards arrived early at Stafford Showground for `Dubfreeze’. We saw lots of new faces who came to see us for quotes, and lots of our friends and clients we have met over the years who stopped to say hello and have a friendly chat.
April saw us attend `Bus Types’ in Oswestry. The `A Team’ – Steve Rawlings and Paul Bussey - who drove up on Friday afternoon to set up for our first outdoor show. The trip rom Redditch was very grey and overcast, and we were not looking forward to getting wet! We arrived mid afternoon, found our pitch, got out the car, just as the clouds cleared and the sun came out! The trade area was very busy on the Friday evening, and again we caught up with a few friends and clients who came over to see us, working till around nine o'clock when we called it a day. Saturday came, as did the sunshine, and a very productive days was had by all. We departed late afternoon, and the `B Team’ – Rob Hamblett, Craig Robinson and Paul Edwards arrived on Sunday morning to carry on spreading the word.
`BVF’ was our next outing in June. This time the `A Team’ shared the Type II stand up in the halls. Having worked hard helping with the set-up on the Friday, Paul Bussey wasn't able to attend on the Saturday, so Steve Rawlings roped in his step-son Nat to help. It was a long day - 14 hours - and not one of our best as we were out of the way a bit. We did help with the marshalling on the Saturday evening (Steve was the one who helped push the white stretched Beetle out of the way on the first bend when he broke down!), but it was fun and good to catch up with our friends from the club. Tony Marlow and Paul Edwards came over on Sunday, and Steve bought along my 3 years old Zac this time, who thought it was brilliant handing out our leaflets and having had his face painted as Spiderman - see `Transporter Talk’.
Sean Powell (Valuations Officer from the Type II Club) invited Steve Rawlings to the Valuation Rally at Banbury for the weekend in July, to meet with the club members who were having their vans valued. He was keen to go, as it's always good to see what they do when they do a valuation, and to see some of the vehicles we have already provided the insurance cover for. The weather was a bit overcast, but a very good weekend and my thanks goes to Sean, Diane & Keith Miller & Heather & Dave Bacon-Campbell for making him so welcome. Unfortunately, one of our clients had a fire in his van, but luckily people were prepared with fire extinguishers, and not too much damage was caused. It did bring home to Steve though, how important it is to carry at least two of them in your Camper, even if it’s at the expense of the kids and the dog!
September arrived and it's `Vanfest’! We decided to get our own trade stand as we wanted to be outside. What a great decision this was - summer had finally arrived! The organisers definitely had the crystal ball out when they arranged those dates, as the weather was perfect. Steve Rawlings and Paul Bussey arrived on Friday to set up and were back early on Saturday, pens ready for action, with Rob Hamblett joining them for the afternoon. One of our scheme underwriters had agreed for us to raffle a free 12 month policy, so everyone who came to see us for a quotation were entered. Congratulations to Mr James Neilson from Chester who won.
The final venue for 2009 was again at Stafford for the new `Busfreeze’ show. Rob Hamblett and Paul Bussey were in attendance and it was good to see our friends before we all `hibernated’ for the winter.
We are losing a member of our team for 2010 as Paul Edwards has decided to move to a new challenge. We wish him all the best in his new role. At Burntwood – 01543 675163 -where Paul worked, clients can still rely upon Tony Marlow and Tina Heath, who bring you over 65 years of experience between them to look after you. Tony, having built a Spartan back in 1976 has been involved in arranging insurance for kit cars ever since.
Paul had an enthusiasm for VW vehicles but had obtained his specialist insurance expertise under the experienced guidance of Steve Rawlings, Paul Bussey and Rob Hamblett who are remaining at our Redditch Office – 01527 591057 – and who were able to pass on their specialist knowledge of VW vehicles to Paul. Clients can be assured that their needs will continue to be met by our experienced enthusiastic staff. Our head office at Dudley – 01384 214544 - also has staff with over 50 years of experience – contacts here being Craig Robinson, Jayne Hendley, Marie Hill, Laura Lewis and Ian Worthington.
Plenty of shows are planned for 2010 and Glynwood will be at many of those, having started with an early in the season visit to Stafford and Dubfreeze which enabled us to see some of our clients and friends from the club for the first time in a while.
We continue to build relationships with those insurers who have the suitably experienced staff to offer the quality of service that our clients demand for their special vehicles. Our staff are looking forward to doing their utmost to meet all of our clients special vehicle insurance this season.
Whilst Glynwood has specialist expertise in the insurance needs of special vehicle owners it also has many years of experience in meeting the general insurance needs of personal and commercial clients. Please have a look at the website of Glynwood – our services may be of help to you with any other type of insurance requirement. We use our expertise to secure the most suitable policy commensurate with good quality service standards at a competitive premium.
The summer moving inexorably into Autumn (posted October 16th, 2009)
Not a bad year for us vehicle enthusiasts.
The economy still seems to be holding back kit car production but there are an amazing number of campers on the road.
The Glynwood team have attended several camper shows and enjoyed meeting their customers, new and old, from across the country.
One of our broker consultants have recently returned from holiday in central France where he took the opportunity to visit Angouleme where each September they close the town and hold street races for vintage and classic cars together with a rally through the surrounding beautiful quiet country lanes. Do have a look at the web site for the Circuit-des-Ramparts at Angouleme. It is an annual event and well worth a visit. The weather was unkind this year with a very heavy shower causing the final event to be abandoned but the next 13 days were dry and sunny – typical!
That area of France, Northern Dourdoigne, Charente and the Limousin are very quiet and historic with plenty of camp sites to entice you to a late summer vacation. The European campers seem to prefer motor homes of the larger variety kitted out with every mod con - noticed one site full of campers at Brantome, very close to the river and the old abbey – not bad to be able to site your camper almost in the centre of a very attractive town.
The weather is very similar back in the UK and we can look forward to the winter with some competition and lots of time to prepare our vehicles for next season
The Sun Comes Out Just In Time For The Stafford Kit Car Experience (posted January 15th, 2009)
Although some think of Stafford Kit Car Exhibition as ‘unproven’ event, I thought that the show was excellent and fortunate to experience some decent weather. The good weather was welcome news for the owners clubs parked outside, especially after a very wet summer for most.
Also enjoying the dry conditions was the Westfield Drift Experience, which appeared to do a roaring trade. I was tempted to splash out a tenner for some action, but then again I’d not long had my Weetabix.
Inside Bingley Hall, I was pleased to see so many Kit Car manufacturers there, with the Quantum stand sticking to my mine. I seemed to spend a lot time at Tifosi Parts, chatting to Kevin Moore. I really like the Tifosi Rana and there was nice one for sale at the stand, which I liked the look of.
I was rather impressed by the Italian Replica Club, in particular a Lamborghini, who’s owners name, I have forgot.
I was surprised that no Insurer’s were Exhibiting, although we ourselves decided to go and check out the show first, although after my visit, we may well been exhibiting next year.
I just hope the weather is as good.
Back at work, the guy who brought the Tifosi Rana at the weekend, called and I did the Insurance.
2009 Preview (posted January 12th, 2009)
What a year 2009 is forecast to be for the motor industry!!!!
However, in times of financial hardship the prices of classic cars do tend to hold up well.
There seem to be the usual vehicle enthusiastic shows planned for 2009 and it may be that with more of us staying in the UK for holidays the values of Campers may improve!
Glynwood will be at the DubFreez at Bingley Hall, Staffordshire Showground Weston Road Strafford in February and look forward to meeting any of their clients attending the event.
We will be at other events through the year to introduce our specialist team to their customers.
At least the price of fuel is falling and maybe we will have a decent summer this year.
What a Year! (posted January 5th, 2009)
Whilst looking forward to 2009 during my Christmas and New Year break I did take time to look back over 2008.
What a year of financial crisis! – Although, classic car values do seem to be holding up well for the unusual and rare cars.
2008 was the wettest for some time and August 2008 was the August with the least sun for many years but our friends with their campers were not deterred. The Kit and American shows were again well supported and possibly, in these financially troubled times low cost kit replicas may receive more support.
Interest in all historic forms of transport, both personal and commercial, shows no sign of abatement with many our clients using their vehicles for potentially exciting trips.
One client who really is old enough to know better set out on a 5500 round trip to southern Morocco and the Atlas Mountains in his 25 year old Citroen 2CV! He chose the shortest ferry crossings to maximise his driving pleasure and had no mechanical problem other than a bent wheel in a pothole, which could have been driver error! He did encounter some less than 5 star accommodation - but it was cheap. He did have a bit of a do with an irate local in a large van in what is known to be a drug dealer’s stronghold. He was advised to avoid the area but he thought that the main roads would be ok – they were not.
It was a great trip and just shows what these cars are capable of. The same 2CV ended the year in North Yorkshire on a club rally which went over the Buttertubs pass and Tan Hill and which attracted at least one car from France.
The same client also owns a classic MGB and historic pedal cycles – his wife is very understanding.
Several insurers are now offering family fleet type polices where all of a family’s cars can be covered by the one policy - we are assessing these and we will recommend them to our customers where appropriate.
New years greeting to everyone.
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