December 2025

Here we are at the end of another great year of Austin Healey motoring, What a great hot summer we had. I must say that in the garage it was melting. I must turn it around away from the sun!

We have all fitted various favourite accessories to our cars and mine this year was a set of telescopic rear shock absorbers. The rear end ride was getting increasingly ‘crashy’! so a modification was called for. The instructions laid out how to fit the mounting brackets but on my car (a BJ7) the shock absorbers would then have touched some new wiring, which I had installed just under the seat pan, so I reversed the bracket's position. The fuel pump bracket was discarded as my pump had been relocated to the boot. On the road there was a marked improvement in the ride,an improvement probably too costly to value back in 1963 when this model was introduced but good news now for my back; a much improved, compliant ride!

It is good to see that all the old familiar club events have been supported again this year from the Daffodil and Drive it Day, through to the Classic Car show at the NEC and our own International Healey Meeting, organised by the various geographical Centres of our Club. Our IHM this year at Crewe was a great event. Anything with driving Healeys and Historic train rides always gets my vote! I hope our new members agree.

Don't forget our Club Insurance scheme when you join the Club, it has many benefits over other schemes.

I think all the Centres have WhatsApp groups now so it is simple to get in touch with your local secretary to get put onto the local link and be made welcome to our happy Healey family! Talking of which you may have read or know that Tony Curran has now taken on the National Membership Secretary’s post and we are very pleased to welcome him after the sad demise of Caroline earlier this year.

You will read in Robin's report from the FBHVC that from the survey conducted earlier this year and your input, our hobby now contributes £7.3Bn yearly to the UK economy and we still only travel 0.2% of the total miles of all cars on our roads but of course a much more enjoyable way to travel if you avoid the potholes!

The Federation now represents over 500 clubs and museums so I think you will agree our membership is good value in the face of increasing pressure to keep historic vehicles, such as ours, on todays roads.

Finally, I have now come to the end of my 25 year tenure as Chairman (apart from a brief interlude with Tony Curran in the chair) and must say how enjoyable it has been meeting and working with you all. I hand over to my successor, whom I hope will enjoy the same support as I have.

As always - - Keep Overtaking! - - - - Safely!