Classics at the Clubhouse

On any given Sunday, as you pass through countryside and village, the local pub garden will probably be thriving with the sound of enthusiastic banter and the smell of ale (just a half, I’m driving of course). Equally, the adjacent pub car park is likely alive with the sound of passionate chatter and the smell of fuel, old metal and aged leather. Such is the time-proven format for a meeting of machines.

Through the eras the groups have evolved from bushy beards leaning in under the bonnets of Rileys, Rovers and the club chairman’s prize-winning MG, to that of hipster beards leaning in under smartphones, to socialise the obligatory supercar-selfie lifestyle statement (+ timepiece of choice).

To be clear, I’m neither adverse to, or an advocate of either faction (as slightly embellished and mildly ridiculed above), but what is captivating about all enthusiast groups or clubs, is the underlying shared passion for the vehicles, the journeys and the stories.

Beyond a few like-minded mates gathering in the garage for a tinker with their current project, the next-level forum is a staged meeting. As you’ll no doubt know, these typically comprise of a single marque gathering under the pretext of a club. Personally, I’ve always found these gatherings to be – dare I say it – a little dull after the first couple of hours, even if you’re an owner of the particular brand on show. To my mind, there’s only so many variations on the same theme, that can retain the interest of any mere mortal for a day or in some cases a full weekend. Forgive me, but I’m only capable of performing a finite number of enthused looks and noises, when hearing how the 1971 edition varies from the 1972, by the route of wiring to the fog light. It will come as no surprise that I find greater interest in the mixed marque events, and as a snapper, a complementary backdrop certainly adds to the appeal.

It was during one such event that I first met PJ Gibbons – air-cooled aficionado, event director with an enviable car CV and an all-round thoroughly lovely guy. We did the usual top-trumps of our chequered car history and after sharing thoughts on the event we found ourselves at, we soon moved onto discussing events in general. We threw around our collective experience of automotive meetings, what the essential ingredients were, and which spices you might add, to make a stand-out signature dish.

With a strong automotive family history, it’s little wonder that PJ’s aspirations for a stylish and tasteful event soon moved from scribbled ideas to a distinctive gathering of enthusiasts, cars and clubs.

Enter annual event: Classics at the Clubhouse (CATCH). The clubhouse refers to the Sandford Springs Hotel and Golf Club, nestled among the trees and natural springs of some of Hampshire’s most captivating countryside.

While CATCH 2020 is set for further development due to demand, this year PJ introduced a monthly meeting at the same venue, dubbed the ‘Roll Up’. The last Thursday of each month plays host to a relaxed evening, where classic car and bike enthusiasts can rock up and join the chat and mutual admiration.

Heading out to my first Roll Up on a warm summer’s evening, it seemed only right to take a soft-top roadster, so I grabbed the MX5 keys and took the scenic route from South to North Hampshire. As promised, a laidback get-together was underway, with varied makes and marques showing up throughout the evening. From enviable air-cooled Germans and British motoring icons, to French and Italian elegance and quirky custom classics. Given that any Roll Up is at the hands of last-minute decisions by potential revellers, the quality, volume and mix of machines is an exciting lottery. On arrival, PJ was perfectly executing his role as the welcoming host, showing guests to the parking area and refreshments truck. Having noted on arrival at least three air-cooled beauties and a line-up of Minis, I quickly elected to position the MX5 in a section away from the real classics (the mk2 MX5 still arguably teetering on the edge of modern classic).

After an admiring roam through the Roll Up, I spent some time with PJ as he gave me the full whistle-top tour of the Golf Club – literally whistling at pace in a golf buggy, through the trees and past tees, fairways and greens. Reviewing the revised show area of the ‘Woods Course’, it was evident that time, planning and personal passion is being poured into the well-established foundations of this annual gathering, to fulfil the aspirations of a concours d’elegance, akin to the likes of Pebble Beach.

Bold as such a comparison may sound, what has been achieved to date is impressive and if the 28th June isn’t marked in your calendar, take it as a tip off, to drop in a reminder for CATCH2020. In the meantime, you can get a casual fix of classics at a regular Roll Up and with August’s meeting around the corner, it’ll be intriguing to see this month’s turn-out. Maybe catch you there?