May 2025
Welcome to the new Fuel the Passion blog. This blog is in progress, so more will be added to this section, in days to come. Please bear with me whilst I get the blog up and running. My aim is to do a brief written summary of what happened each month, which includes some thoughts and insights you probably won’t get from just the YouTube Channel. This blog is for those of you that want to get to know me, Dan and the Fuel the Passion brand a little bit more!
And we’re off!
Introduction
As the caption indicates, this was a busy month, which saw me driving all over the place (which is no bad thing!) May is when the motoring calendar really does start to take off! May was a really enjoyable month, so much was going on and it seemed like I never stopped filming. I was busy nearly every weekend with a car function, not to mention a few during the week days as well. This all means some great content to share with you, the Fuel the Passion community, on here and via the films I end up producing which gets aired on the Fuel the Passion YouTube Channel. If you haven’t subscribed, please consider doing so, as there’s some great content already there, with loads more to come. Subscribing really does help the channel out and believe it or not, results in me being able to do more, as does watch time, thumbs up and leaving comments, no matter how short.
We start of this month, at the first meeting I attended, which was ‘Sports Cars in the Park’ at Newby Hall. It’s the first time I’ve attended this event, which did not disappoint. I then went on SC:UK organised drives, attended some stunning venues with HLS, Aston Martin Owners Club and others, resulting in some amazing memoires and films, some of which I am yet to edit and upload onto YouTube. That’s the only issue with being so busy - I end up filming so much, I don’t always get time to edit the nmerous clips of film to resemble a meaningful story to then share with you. However, this will be done and all the events and drives mentioned below will end up on YouTube, some are already there!
Thanks very much for all your support. Happy reading and watching of the Fuel the Passion YouTube Channel, and we’ll pick this up again in June!
We start May with Sports Cars in the Park
So things kicked off in early May with a ticket to Sports Cars in the Park, which is held each year at Newby Hall, Skelton-on-Ure, North Yorkshire. Like so many events, it was my first time to this one. I did look at a few pictures, articles and even the odd YouTube Video about this event before I attended to get a rough idea of what to expect.
The event was great, there were a few hundred cars that attended this. In some cases, car clubs and car makes were parked together, but it was largely mixed up. I decided to purchase some secure parking for an extra £10. It just meant I didn’t feel the need to cart all my camera gear everywhere I went, like I normally do! The secure parking is limited, so if you do want this option it’s probably best to book a space early. For an extra £10, I thought it was worth it. The picture below shows where secure parking was situated this year, which was in front of the stables.
If you haven’t seen the video on this event, it’s live now on YouTube, click here to view.
I start the video in a petrol station filling the car up for the trip ahead. You will see I got approached by a man who was very complimentary about the FTP Vantage. I captured the conversation and included some of what was said. I didn’t include all of what he said, as we talked about how the ‘public’ view Aston Martin. We agreed that they were positively received by the British public, which is not necessarily the experience of other sports and super car owners. I shared a story of someone I know, who drives a Porsche GT3 RS with a huge wing on the back. He tells me, he gets quite a bit of stick (two fingers, not let out at junctions etc). I was telling this man at the petrol station, that I’ve experienced none of that. There are two negative experiences that spring to mind, one involving a white van (man), which on a quiet morning, I’m doing the national speed limit on a nice road, when the van races up behind me and flashes its lights repeatedly, right on my bumper. I think they wanted me to put my foot down. The road was straight and the vision good, and I gave enough space for the white van man to overtake. They didn’t and just proceeded to hug my bumper and flash their lights occasionally. When I reached my end destination, I did look around the car to make sure I had nothing hanging off, in case that’s why they were flashing me, but alas not. I know not all white van drivers do this - but this is exactly what gives them a bad name! Another negative occasion was a similar situation, this time with a BMW 3 series, which had a mirrored windscreen (illegal) and green headlights. It had a matt black wrap and the suspension had been altered to allow it to hug the ground. Again a quiet morning, came right up behind me and hug my bumper for about 2 miles before we turned off on our separate journeys. Thank god I wasn’t going where they were going! I remember thinking at the time - that BMW is trying so hard to look and drive ‘cool’ what with all the modifications. The driver probably thought they were driving brilliantly - ‘look at me’ or ‘don’t mess with me as my car is faster than yours’ type of attitude. Then there’s me in the FTP Vantage, which doesn’t even have to try!
Anyhow, that’s made me feel better about those two situations. Apart from those negative experiences, every other interaction with other people concerning the FTP Vantage has been so so positive. Why is this? I have my own thoughts; British Brand, great looks, great noise to name just a few.
Back to all these cars in the park - it was a great day and attracted thousands of visitors. It’s a very big footprint, so the grounds could take a lot of cars and people. Although it was busy, it never felt too crowded. You’ll be able to get a better impression from the YouTube video, but people who brought their cars were more than happy to talk about them, if you ask. I had a close look at a classic Lotus Esprit which reminded me of James Bond, and the interior was very stylish! I also filmed a ‘Mad Max’ in appearance Porsche which had machine guns protruding from the bonnet, which apparently featured in the Live Shows of Top Gear. It was actually listed for sale, so if you see it on the video and it’s still available - the phone number to call is on the front of the Porsche (on the video!). If anyone reading this purchases it, please get in touch, I would love to come and see it, especially if you get those flame throwing machine guns to work!
Would I recommend people to visit Sports Cars in the Park - if you’re passionate or have a keen interest in cars - absolutely, it was a great turn out with a wide variety of cars from all eras and manufacturers on show.
FTP Vantage parked up in front of the stables at Newby Hall for Sports Cars in the Park Event
A 1977 Aston Martin V8 entering Newby Hall Park, North Yorkshire
An evening drive to the highest Pub in the UK
The week following Sports Cars in the Park, saw me and the FTP Vantage meeting up with numerous others from the Sports/Super Car Club, SC:UK, as we hit the roads through the Yorkshire Dales, which ended up at the Tan Hill Inn, the highest Pub in the land!
I had never been to Tan Hill Inn before, so it was a great experience. I did film this evening drive and I will produce a relatively short video about it in the future. It was a great way to spend an early summers evening - or late spring evening. The picture below was taken on that evening, shortly after we arrived. It was quite overcast, pretty much all day, but the sun started peaking out from the cloud cover as it went down.
The roads, little quaint villages and views during this drive, were pretty stunning. It’s a drive I would be keen to do again, may be a bit slower paced, so I can stop off at the odd village and take a stroll around, as many looked lovely.
The drive home from Tan Hill was … …interesting! It was fine, but the windy, narrow, rabbit and sheep filled roads, in the dark, made for some slow progress being made, as I didn’t want to hit anything!
Anyhow, a video will end up being posted in the weeks ahead.
A Spring Evening Drive, with SC:UK, which ended up at the highest Pub in the UK, where we just about caught the sunset!
A Spring Coffee & Cars morning hosted by HLS - High Luxury Supercars
When I purchased my Vantage in August 2024, from Aston Martin Sevenoaks, which was part of the Stratstone Group, I automatically became a member of HLS. I remember signing a form at the time. A few weeks after I collected the car, a small credit sized box arrived in the post, in a padded envelope. In that box was a credit card with HLS on the front. That was my membership card to this exclusive club, which also came with a welcoming letter.
I thought nothing else about it or the membership. It wasn’t until early 2025 that I received an email from HLS inviting me to attend this event, which took place at Gawsworth Hall, Macclesfield. I was so pleased I accepted this invitation, as the venue (as you can see in the photo below) was stunning. Luckily this coffee & cars meet up was in that stretch of fine weather, so the sky ended up being mostly blue, the temperature warm and the cars and venue beautiful. An Aston Martin always looks good in the setting of a stately home!
If you haven’t seen the video covering this event, you can click here to view.
There were some great cars there - including some of the latest models from Aston Martin, Ferrari and Porsche. I off course, made my way to examine the Aston Martins they had brought and were on show. As you’ll see on the video, I had a good look round a new Vantage, Vanquish and DBX. Although the Vanquish wasn’t in my preferred specification, it was still lovely. It’s my favorite modern Aston from the latest range. The shape and styling are just lovely. I still think the front grilles are very large, but with a number plate D1FTP in the middle, I think it could look ok! Who knows what the future holds! It’ll be great to get one on the channel!
If you’re interested in finding out more about Club HLS click here to be taken to their website.
Club HLS Spring Cars & Coffee Morning at Gawsworth Hall, Gawsworth, Macclesfield
Time to hit the runway!
I attended this amazing event, where the variety, volume and caliber of cars was simply amazing. As you can see from the couple of photographs below, this gives just a hint as to what was on display - and more to the point, the majority of these special cars were driven along the runway very fast! What a spectacle. I haven’t yet had chance to edit the video for this yet, but I will do. It will eventually air, so I’ll leave it there for now, until the video goes live, after the Concours series, which is what I’m currently working on now. I’m sure the pictures below manages to wet your appetite though!
The amazing McMurty Speirling all electric fan car at ‘The Runway’ Supercar event at Sywell Aerodrome
A couple of amazing Aston Martin Valour supercars at Sywell Aerodrome at ‘The Runway’ Supercar Event
Say ‘Cheese!’
As you may know, I’m a member of a Super/Sports Car Club called SC:UK. As a member of the club, you can book onto various drives and events which occur throughout the year. Most have limited spaces available, so sometimes you have to be quick off the mark to get a place. I managed to book a place on a ‘Photography Day’ organised by the club. The day involved meeting up, then we all headed out to various locations across Yorkshire and Derbyshire and with the aide of a couple of professional photographers, we took shots of the cars - like the one below, which is absolutely stunning!
I did film that day and I will be creating a film for the Fuel the Passion YouTube Channel, so I won’t say too much on here yet! However, the weather was fab, the cars were amazing and the locations and resulting photo’s were stunning! I’ll be using the photo below as my YouTube Banner, once the video has gone live and I credit the photographer.
FTP Vantage D7FTP posing at a fantastic location in Yorkshire
When an email arrives…
…well, when one does arrive from a dealership asking if you would like to ‘book a slot’ to come into the showroom to take a look around a new car, how can you refuse!? I certainly couldn’t especially considering it was to look around the new 2025 Vanquish Volante! If you watch my video’s you will know that I love the design of this new Vanquish. In fact in the YouTube Video called ‘Time Well Spent’ I use the Aston Martin configurator to design and spec my dream Vanquish. If you haven’t seen that video, click here.
I have to say, I was mighty impressed with this new Vanquish and the roof motion as it disappeared to the rear as it came down, was just lovely to see, as well as when it goes back up again! (all filmed and included on the video)
What colour would you spec the new Vanquish in? Well I show you what my preferred option would look like on the video. You never know, one day!?
Dan from Fuel the Passion, attending Aston Martin Leeds to film and review the new Vanquish Volante
Finding out more about Aston Martins History
The Aston Martin Heritage Trust, do an absolutely amazing job in collecting, preserving, cataloging and displaying thousands of exhibits, which includes a number of very special cars. It’s only open certain times and days, non of which seemed to coincide on the days I was in that general part of the country. I definitely didn’t want a year to tick on by without paying this stunning barn a visit. So I booked a slot via the Trusts website and travelled a good few hours, to make the visit. All I can say, is that it was well worth a visit. It was an immensely enjoyable day. I may come back and write some more on this blog about this visit, but I haven’t edited the video yet, and yes there will be a video coming soonish (after the Concours series). So I don’t want to reveal too much until then.
All I will say right now, is that if you’re an Aston Martin fan or owner or both, this barn is well worth a visit. I definitely recommend. If you want to book a slot to visit yourself, or you just want to find out more, visit the Aston Martin Heritage Trust webiste via the link below;
https://amht.org.uk/
I attend the Aston Martin Heritage Trust (AMHT) Museum, which is in a stunningly beautiful barn in the beautiful Oxfordshire Countryside
Dan from Fuel the Passion, taking a good look around the AMHT Museum
A number of various Aston Martins from a range of era’s formed up for the Aston Martin Owners Club (Yorkshire) Anniversary drive out
Celebrating the 90th Anniversary of the Aston Martin Owners Club (AMOC)
On the 25th May 1935 the Aston Martin Owners Club was formed. I’ll probably write a separate article about that and how it came about another time (I feel it’’s something I want to do). To celebrate this momentous occasion, the Yorkshire members of AMOC arranged to meet at a Golf Club, called the Manor in Yorkshire, for tea and coffee and a possible bacon or sausage sandwich, before we all left for a scenic two hour drive on lovely scenic roads through some Yorkshire Countryside, prior to arriving at Wentworth Woodhouse in South Yorkshire. Around 25 Aston Martins with their respective lovely owners, turned up. If you haven’t seen the film called ‘Marking 90 Years’ on the Fuel the Passion YouTube Channel covering this event, click here.
The day was going great and as I was out with the cars filming a few scenes for the YouTube Video, I and a couple of other owners heard a smash… …we located the cause of the noise. It wasn’t a great find! (see photo below).
Aston Martin DB6 victim of a misplaced golf ball during Yorkshire’s 90th Aston Martin Owners Club drive out day to Wentworth Woodhouse
The embarrassed amateur golfer, slowly walked over to the cars, hand over mouth and talking to his golfer colleague. Clutching the offending club in his hand, he approached and asked if he was responsible for the smashed window. “Er, Yes, I’m afraid so!” was the reply! He struck a golf ball, which cleared all golf areas and holes, flew over the access road and landed squarely on the windscreen of the DB6. I couldn’t believe the bad luck. Although I obviously wouldn’t want that for any owner and their car, that golf ball chose the oldest and probably the most expensive Aston Martin car that was in attendance. It was also parked directly next to my Vantage. In the picture above, the car to the left is my car.
The owner of the DB6 and the golfer exchanged details. There were smiles and laughter and also the odd nodding of heads. As more drivers came out, getting ready to depart and were introduced to the smashed window event, more shocked faces gathered on the green.
As Aston Martins started to leave for their drive to Wentworth Woodhouse, I stayed behind to capture as many cars as I could on film. It’s always nice to film some Astons actually moving! Aided by another Aston Martin Owner, I was able to fix one of my cameras to their V12 Vantage Convertible, which enabled me to capture some of the cars on route. This would help me tell the story in the video.
We ended the drive as planned at the stunningly beautiful, Wentworth Woodhouse. The pictures below say it all - what a stunning venue for a group of special cars to end a fabulous drive! (Not to mention a nice cream tea for the owners!)
A group of Aston Martin cars parked outside Wentworth Woodhouse, Yorkshire on 25th May 2025 to celebrate AMOCs 90th Anniversary
The FTP Vantage, D7FTP parked in front of Wentworth Woodhouse, Yorkshire on 25th May 2025 to celebrate AMOCs 90th Anniversary
FTP Vantage D7FTP covered in snow foam at Max Car Care Detailing
Preparing for Concours
In the last week of May, I took my Aston Martin Vantage to Max Car Care Detailing and Valeting Service, which is based in York. Although I feel that I’m quite competent in cleaning my car, I had entered two Concours, being the London Concours and the Aston Martin Owners Club (AMOC) Spring Concours at Burghley House, Stamford in Peterborough. I had never entered a Concours before, so I wanted to seek some professional assistance in getting my vehicle prepared for what lay ahead.
I had met Nick (from Max Care Care) a few weeks before, when I took my Vantage for an initial look over, which included a discussion with Nick about what I (thought) I needed and when he could fit me in. Nicks diary was packed. I remember glancing at him looking at his bookings calendar via his mobile phone and seeing his calendar jam packed with appointments. I was actually quite pleased to see this, as it reassured me that Nick was so busy with appointments, he must offer a great service and end result. Having never used a car valeting service before, I took this as a very positive sign - which thankfully lived out to be true.
Nick struggled to squeeze me into his busy schedule, before the Concours, which was entirely my fault for leaving things so late. I’m not sure why I left it so late. Maybe it was me begrudgingly wishing to pay for someone to clean my own car - something I thought I was more than capable of doing myself. However, as the reality hi me, about the standard of Concours cars and after washing my car time and time again and seeing swirls in the paintwork, a few stone chips appear, time and time again and just standing back after a couple of hours effort and thinking - yep you’re clean (the Vantage and not me!) but your not ‘Concours clean’ I relented and decided to bite the bullet and find a detailer.
In short, Nick did manage to squeeze me in. He engineered his diary to the extent that he put himself out and worked a Saturday to ensure he could get the job done! I was immensely grateful and actually relieved to now have a professional detailer, someone who knew far more than me, as to how to get my Vantage looking as good as new - or as good to coming out the factory condition - which is a phrase I had heard from fellow Aston Martin owners, who had previously entered a Concours in the years before.
Drone view of Nick in the process of cleaning the FTP car - D7FTP Aston Martin Vantage
So four days prior to the London Concours (opening day of London Concours being 3rd June, which is when my car was being shown), I drove in the pouring rain from my home in West Yorkshire to York. You can see the weather conditions in the first of four of the Concours Series of films, in the video called ‘Preparation’ on the Fuel the Passion YouTube Channel
I stayed with Nick filming for the video until around midday, when a pre-arranged Uber Taxi arrived to take me to York Railway Station, where I caught a train heading towards home. It felt strange having to catch public transport again, something I hadn’t done for quite some time - especially a train. The last time I had to catch a train was when I had to commute to work in London, quite a few years ago. It brought back work time memories and the countless trips you end up doing, going to and from work for years on end. All that time sitting and standing in busy train carriages, trying to put the time to good use by reading a book, magazine or paper or by listening to podcasts or music. Although I always tried to put the time to good use - I remember spending most of the time day dreaming or people watching or just looking out the window - dreaming about owning an Aston Martin perhaps!
Returning the very next day to collect the car, was an exciting time. To collect the car looking probably the best it’s ever looked, collecting a car I fell in love with and was building a relationship with (no genuinely - I really feel like you do build relationships with cars, how they drive, their little quirks - the noises they make - how best and when to change gear depending on the noise of the engine, how thirsty they are depending on how you drive, the places you go together, the memories you make, etc, etc).
FTP Vantage collection, after detailing completed by Max Care Care
Collection of the FTP Vantage
When I walked into the detailing unit on collection day and saw the car for the first time, it was like the ‘reveal’ day, when I first collected the car from Aston Martin Sevenoaks, nearly a year ago. Wow! In fact that word (wow) was the title of the YouTube Video which described exactly how I was feeling! It was actually a ‘wow’ on two fronts; 1) Seeing my car in such an amazing condition and 2) Seeing the quantity and caliber of cars at Goodwood Supercar Sunday/Breakfast Club. If you haven’t seen the video, click here to view it - the cars are amazing!
I’ll be writing about the Goodwood experience in the June blog as that took place on the 1st June.
Anyhow, back to the collection of the FTP Vantage. I was so impressed with the now clarity of the paintwork. I can best describe it as a mirror effect, as the car now reflected more than I had ever seen it do so before. Yes, of course I cleaned the car regularly and managed to get it gleaming, but not to this standard! Having walked around the car, taking it all in, I was thinking how pleased I was that I brought the car to Nick at Max Care Care, to do this work. When you love your car, you obviously want it well cared for, when and if it ever goes into a garage for any type of work and I like to think I do my ‘homework’ prior to leaving my car with anyone. Nicks work did not disappoint and he now has a returning customer on his books! If you live in or around Yorkshire and you want to find out more information about Max Car Care, I can definitely recommend, click on the link below;
https://www.maxcarcare.co.uk/
As you’ll see and hear if you watch the video, Nick and I walk around the car and we discuss the work he completed, which included a look under the huge bonnet, as Nick steam cleaned that too. I felt I was now ready for Concours! However…I still had to travel around 4 hours, south to Surrey, where I was staying with my parents. The following day, I had some filming to do at Goodwood and I was displaying my car at Woodcote, on the infamous Goodwood Race Circuit. Then I had to drive the Vantage from there back into Surrey and then in the next few days, drive it through London to display it in the London Concours. What state would the car be in then? What i it rains? What condition would the FTP Vantage be in after all of that at the Burghley Concours? Was any of this a good idea? - I asked myself!
Find out my thoughts in the June Blog coming in July!
