April 2025

Right, April rolls around, and even though the weather still insists on playing hard-to-get — cold, a bit grim, and basically auditioning for a winter comeback — you can actually feel the car world waking up from its hibernation. People start chatting, plans get hatched, and the dust starts settling on those neglected machines, ready for the hopefully-warm months ahead.

This was going to be my first proper summer with the FTP Vantage, and I was buzzing. I’d already clocked plenty of miles with the car, especially on that European Road Trip with the Behind the Glass Podcast last September. We zipped through a bunch of countries and wrapped up at the top of the Grossglockner on Austria’s High Alpine Road — a route so epic it almost made you forget the weather was miserable pretty much every day. Calling it a washout is generous; it was more like the car and I became professional rain dodgers. Still, the fun was real, and I really got to know the FTP Vantage inside out. If you haven’t seen those videos on the Fuel the Passion YouTube channel, you’re missing out — although I’ll admit, I was still getting my YouTube sea legs back then, talking to a tiny camera lens like it was a stubborn parrot.

Anyway, back to April — I kicked off the month heading to Helmsley in North Yorkshire for an SC:UK meetup and a drive out to the NY500 Café in Pickering. And guess what? This was all on a Thursday evening. Because who doesn’t want to mix workweek stress with some proper driving fun?

Cue the SC:UK Blakey Ridge to NY500 Evening Drive!

I always cling to the hope that when I sign up for club drives, the weather will behave itself. Leading up to this particular Thursday evening drive early in April, the forecast was your classic Yorkshire mix: patchy, gloomy, with a strong chance of rain. On the way to our meeting spot — a charming little village square in Helmsley — the heavens decided to open, and not just drizzle, but proper, buckets-down rain. Wipers going like mad, I pressed on anyway. After all, this is Yorkshire — where the weather flips faster than a pancake on a Sunday morning.

I got there a bit early, which was perfect because I planned to film the drive and wanted time to set up cameras before the other brave souls showed up, unfazed by the miserable weather. If they thought a bit of rain would keep them home, they clearly hadn’t met Yorkshire drivers before.

It wasn’t long before the other SC:UK drivers started rolling in. Sure, a handful had dropped out thanks to the weather, but we still had a solid 12 to 15 cars — not bad at all. What was less impressive, though, was the sky’s decision to throw another tantrum right while we were waiting. The rain was on-and-off all the way through the drive, but things really kicked up a notch when we hit Blakey Ridge — where visibility dropped so low, I half expected to see a sheep in a wetsuit appear out of the mist. Driving there was like navigating through a cloud with a dodgy pair of glasses!

Fellow SC:UK members arriving at a rather damp Helmsley Market Square, prior to leaving for a drive across the Yorkshire Moors to NY500 Cafe, Pickering

SC:UK Drivers Briefing

After a drivers’ briefing during a rare five-minute pause in the rain, we set off in convoy towards our final destination—the NY500 Cafe in Pickering.

The briefing is always a good thing. It’s where we cover the route, any issues—like, say, the weather—and who’s taking the lead. We also decide how many batches of cars there’ll be and introduce the ambassadors. These ambassadors are basically the experienced pros of the group, keeping an eye on everyone to make sure no one takes a wrong turn, gets lost, or gets left behind. If you do fall behind, no biggie—they keep the lead driver in the loop and decide if it’s worth stopping to regroup. Basically, they’re the friendly sheriffs making sure our motley crew stays on track.

Still intent to film the occasion, I held off at the back of the convoy, as it was great for the camera to capture the line of cars stretching out in front of the FTP Vantage, when we hit some of the Yorkshire Moor Roads. However, it turned out that I was lucky if I could see the car in front of me, let alone a row of cars stretching out into the distance!

The further into the drive we went, the worse the weather conditions seemed to get. Whilst at Helmsley, I decided not to put any cameras on the outside of the car and I was so pleased I didn’t. Visibility got increasingly worse, the higher and further we drove into the moors. Although it was still a driving experience, and looking back, I’m still pleased I went and did it, there wasn’t going to be a Fuel the Passion YouTube Video, worth publishing as a result of my efforts. I’ve still banked the footage, so maybe I’ll consider pulling together a short ‘experience’ video to share later this year - especially in the wintry months, when the weather dictates I won’t be able or wise to take out my rear wheel drive V8 Vantage! By the way, since moving to Yorkshire in 2017 from Surrey, we’ve had snow every winter without fail! Anyhow, see the picture below, as we drive across the Yorkshire Moors. Note the very safe gap, I’ve left between me and the car in front, which you can just about see the rear lights! There were also sheep walking about, some deciding to go for a stroll in the middle of the road, which is always nice!

View from the FTP Vantage - Driving through clouds of rain, Yorkshire Moors during an April 2025 SC:UK club drive

The NY500 Cafe in Pickering is a bit of a motoring legend — and not just because it has three brightly coloured Minis perched on the roof like a bizarre automotive hat (see picture below). It’s a proper magnet for car and bike enthusiasts from all over the UK, a haven for anyone who appreciates petrol in their veins and a good cuppa in their hand.

After our soggy, foggy Yorkshire moorland adventure, arriving there felt like reaching the promised land. Time for a refreshing drink and maybe something to eat — because after dodging rain and sheep, you earn it. Some SC:UK members were like, “Enough already!” and dashed off into the wet, but I decided to hang back, hoping for just a tiny break in the rain to launch my drone and get a proper aerial shot. Luck was on my side, and I did get the shot — proof that even on a grim day, the NY500 still looks impressive from above.

But I didn’t linger. After a quick snack and drink, I set off homeward, utterly knackered. There’s something about navigating wet, foggy roads that turns your brain into mush. I slept like a log that night — which, frankly, these days feels like a small miracle.

It was nice to arrive at NY500 Cafe after a wet and foggy drive across the Yorkshire Moors following an SC:UK Club drive in April 2025

Next outing for the FTP Vantage and I was a dryer affair. I was heading to Stratstone Ferrari, Manchester, where numerous Ferraris and other lovely cars had a drive out into Wales!

Cavallinos & Coffee - SC:UK & Ferrari Stratstone

The Sports & Supercar Club I joined — SC:UK, for those in the know — teamed up with Stratstone Ferrari to throw a proper petrolhead party. The plan? Gather at the showroom, admire some jaw-dropping Ferraris, then all pile in and drive to Wales for lunch. Or, as they say in the business, a cream tea at Pale Hall. Now, I’m not one to say no to a convoy of Italian firepower, so I was well up for it.

I filmed the whole shebang — the cars that turned up for the drive, and the scenic Welsh roads leading to our posh tea stop. The place itself? Stunning. The video’s cheekily titled ‘Outnumbered’ — because, well, I was definitely the odd one out among all those Ferraris! If you fancy seeing me getting outnumbered by a fleet of prancing horses, click HERE to watch.

I rocked up at the Stratstone Ferrari garage nice and early — when there were only about five other cars hanging around. They kindly showed me where to park, which, as you can see in the photo, was politely shoved off to the left, at the end of the line. After all, this was Ferrari territory — Aston Martins don’t usually get invited to these parties!

Before long, it was like the Ferrari factory exploded — one after another, they rolled in, filling the lot with a sea of red (and a few other fancy colours). Sure, I don’t own one — and probably never will — but I’m not exactly complaining. I’ve always had a soft spot for the brand. Let’s be honest, who doesn’t love the look of most Ferraris? They’re like the rock stars of the car world — flashy, loud, and impossible to ignore.

The front FTP Vantage wheel looking out to a silver Ferrari at Stratstone Ferrari, Manchester

Ah, the delightful world of sports and supercar gatherings — where petrolheads are as eager to talk about their metal babies as I am about my morning coffee. Most of the Ferrari owners I chatted with probably have more cars than a small dealership. I mean, it’s like their hobby is collecting red fire-breathing beasts! I wandered about filming a motley crew of these machines, and even managed to get my drone airborne for some aerial shots — because nothing says “professional car video” quite like a bird’s-eye view.

After soaking up enough horsepower, I strolled down towards the Ferrari showroom. It was packed with jaw-dropping cars, mostly for sale, of course — but a couple of ‘show’ cars loaned by customers just to tease us mere mortals. Naturally, I asked a staff member if I could film inside. The answer? “No.” Ah, the old “customer privacy” line. I get it — secrets and all that. Although I’ve seen plenty of other YouTubers sneak past that rule (maybe with Ferrari HQ’s blessing), I’m still the newbie fumbling my way through the rules of this YouTube jungle.

Outside, the crowd had grown — drivers, passengers, photographers, onlookers snapping away, all drawn by the magnetic pull of beautiful machines. It’s incredible how huge and passionate this car community is — probably worldwide. But with all this electric car talk buzzing around, I sometimes wonder if we’re living in the final glorious days of the internal combustion era. Are these golden times? For me, yes. Because, let’s face it, it’s not just about the looks — it’s the noise. That glorious, throat-ripping roar of a proper engine.

And that, my friends, is why I chose a 2019 Aston Martin Vantage. You see, 2019 was the last hurrah before stricter emission rules muffled the sound with particulate filters. Put my car next to a 2020 Vantage, and you’ll hear the difference louder than a football crowd on derby day. A few fellow Aston owners ask me about aftermarket exhausts, amazed that mine sounds this good straight from the factory. “No mods,” I say. “It’s just how it came out of the showroom.” Cue wide eyes and dropped jaws.

So yes, is this the best era of the motorcar? Well, with the noise, the passion, and the sheer beauty on display, it’s certainly a blooming good time to be alive — and revving.

FTP Vantage, which was joined by a lovely red 2023 Ferrari 296 GTS S-A, at Ferrari Stratstone, Manchester

After a bit of milling about, someone from Ferrari and SC:UK climbed a few steps — and called all us drivers over. Well, all of us who had decided to risk our tyres and sanity by driving to Wales. Naturally, I was in.

Then came the drivers' briefing. The Ferrari mob would be setting off first, majestically leading the convoy like Italian stallions on a charge — while the rest of us in ‘lesser’ brands (that’d be me, in the Aston, a car that doesn’t need a prancing horse on the bonnet to feel special) would follow a few minutes behind. We in SC:UK had walkie-talkies, which made us feel like we were on a secret MI6 mission rather than a scenic drive with people who polish their exhaust tips more often than their shoes.

Now, on motorways, staying together is about as easy as herding caffeinated cats, but once we escaped into the countryside — the glorious, sheep-dodging, hedge-lined twisty bits — we were back in formation, the cars in front and behind a glorious conga line of combustion. There’s something genuinely magical about seeing a stream of exotic metal slinking through the landscape, knowing everyone’s here for the same reason: petrol, noise, and not being stuck in an SUV.

At one point, a Ferrari SF90 — the automotive equivalent of a fighter jet in a tuxedo — was right behind me. Gorgeous thing. Fast enough to bend time. But — and here’s the important bit — it sounds like a dishwasher humming in the other room when compared to the snarling, rude, antisocial growl of my 2019 FTP Vantage. The SF90 crew even radioed in to say they were enjoying the sound of my car. That’s like Andrea Bocelli complimenting you on your karaoke.

And that’s the thing. Yes, the SF90 is a technical masterpiece. It’s got more computers than NASA and probably burns less fuel than a kettle, but it doesn’t sing like my V8 Aston. Not even close. I caught the compliment on camera too — it’s in the video. Go watch it. Relive it with me. Because thanks to YouTube, you’re not just hearing about the glory. You’re riding shotgun.

For a large part of our symphonic blast through the Welsh countryside, I found myself following a Lexus LC500 — yes, a Lexus. Now, before you wrinkle your nose and mutter something about golf clubs and silence, let me tell you: this thing had a V8. A proper one. The kind that burbles like a whisky-drunk bear. I’d filmed it earlier at Stratstone Ferrari, mostly because you rarely see one in the wild. It's like spotting a unicorn wearing a Japanese business suit.

It was a lovely car to follow — stylish, composed, clearly built by people who think buttons should feel like piano keys. But if we’re talking noise? The LC500 was a polite cough. My FTP Vantage, on the other hand, was a pub fight. Every tunnel, every hillside, every unsuspecting sheep got the full Aston Martin thunder — a sound so magnificently antisocial it probably caused a few birds to fall out of trees. Still, credit where it’s due: the Lexus was a superb companion on this drive — elegant and civilised, like a Japanese butler.

Then, after a few hours of glorious hooning through scenery that looked like it had been painted by Turner during a midlife crisis, we swung left and entered Pale Hall. And good grief — what a place. It was less of a hotel and more of a country estate where you half expect to be greeted by a man named Charles who offers you a cigar and a pheasant. Absolutely stunning.

Turning into Pale Hall wasn’t exactly a dramatic entrance — more of a cautious creep. The turn was tight, the bump in the road big enough to make you wince, and so we all tiptoed in like nervous pensioners avoiding speed bumps at Waitrose. But once you were through, the whole scene changed. We eased along this postcard-perfect driveway, and immediately you knew — this wasn’t just a hotel. This was somewhere. The sort of place where people say things like “my grandfather shot a stag here in 1892.”

Eventually, I was waved down by a very well-dressed chap — the kind of man who probably irons his shoelaces — and guided into place like I was parking a fighter jet. And then… wow. Just… wow.

Now, let’s be honest. An Aston Martin in front of a stately home? That’s not a car. That’s art. It’s like serving fine whisky in a crystal decanter — it just fits. The Ferrari contingent? They looked fabulous, yes, but they were slightly out of place. Like turning up to a countryside wedding in a crimson velvet suit. Brilliant in Milan, maybe. But this is Wales, not the Amalfi Coast.

That said, the sight was still jaw-dropping — a sea of exotic metal on perfectly manicured gravel. But let’s not pretend: the Aston, in that setting, wasn’t just a car. It was home.

The Ferrari convoy, FTP Vantage and SC:UK cars arrive at Pale Hall. Quite a lovely setting indeed!

Spot the FTP Vantage, parked at Pale Hall

Inside Pale Hall was, as you might expect, every bit as majestic as the exterior. The kind of place where you half expect a liveried butler to offer you a brandy and a cigar before you’ve even sat down. The staff were impossibly polite — like Downton Abbey had crossbred with the Ritz — and I was ushered out to the garden where a table awaited, shaded beneath one of those ornate umbrellas that says, “Yes, I have eaten a scone with clotted cream in the last 30 minutes.”

Afternoon tea, in the sunshine, surrounded by fellow car obsessives and parked just yards from a collection of Ferrari-shaped ego — this was bliss. A few finger sandwiches later and it was time to head off. But not before one last slow stroll around Pale Hall, where every window frame looked hand-carved by someone called Charles in 1782. And yes, if you’re wondering — you can stay here overnight. If you’ve recently sold a kidney.

The drive home to West Yorkshire started gloriously — sweeping, curvaceous roads with delicious national speed limit signs and the occasional sheep for dramatic tension. But then it happened. I hit that stretch. Miles and miles of cruel, soul-draining 50mph average speed cameras. The kind of road that makes you question your will to live — or at least your will to drive.

I cruised, I sulked, I fiddled with my music playlist in protest. And eventually, with motorways ahead and the sweet thrum of that glorious 2019 V8 purring under the bonnet, I found my zen again. Because after a day like that — exquisite cars, stately mansions, and roads that didn’t just twist but danced — even the average speed cameras couldn’t ruin it. Well… not entirely.

Flamborough Head Drive

The very next morning — yes, the next day — I was back in the driver’s seat for another SC:UK adventure. This time, we were heading east, to Flamborough Head and its rather majestic lighthouse, presumably in search of windswept cliffs, bracing sea air, and the chance to make seagulls nervous with V8 noise. This time, I had my wife along for the ride — which meant no loud music, no overly enthusiastic gear changes, and absolutely no comments about overtaking everything in sight “because I can.”

We left early. Stupidly early. The kind of early that makes you wonder if civilisation has been wiped out overnight. Hardly any cars on the road, just the quiet hum of the FTP Vantage and the sun lazily dragging itself up from the horizon like a teenager forced to attend school on a Saturday.

And let me tell you — the camera loved it. Golden rays illuminating the bonnet, road ahead aglow, and at one glorious point, a crow performed a stunt display right in front of us. Proper Top Gun stuff. I don’t know if it was territorial or just showing off, but either way, it looked spectacular framed against a sunrise and the Aston’s sculpted lines.

Honestly, if you’re going to film one drive in your life, make it at sunrise — it turns even a trip to a car park outside York into something bordering on cinematic.

On route to the meet up point in York, beautiful sunrise and an acrobatic crow! - Before a scenic drive to Flamborough Head - SC:UK Drive, April 2025

It took about an hour and a half to reach the meet up point, but I didn’t mind that at all as the journey there, took us through some beautiful sights and countryside. As we turned up, we found about a dozen cars had already arrived, but car after car could be heard turning up, one after the other. It was a good turn out!

After all who were due to turn up, turned up, we held a drivers briefing, which is focused on driving safely, the route, any dangers etc. Because there were quite a few cars — enough to form a respectable grid at Silverstone — we split into two groups. Each group had a lead car, a few ‘ambassadors’ with radios, and absolutely no police outriders… which is a pity, frankly. These ambassadors are essentially the cruise directors of the tarmac world. They keep things running smoothly, call out any road hazards, and generally act like a calm voice in your ear saying, “You’ve missed the turning, you muppet.”

The beauty of it all? It’s so ridiculously well organised that even if you’re not the next Sebastian Vettel, there’s no pressure to go flat-out. You drive at your own pace, whether that’s “spirited GT tourer” or “Sunday gran with scones in the boot.” Everyone just wants a good drive and a good time. And that’s what makes it brilliant.

Roughly halfway into the drive — just as our legs began fusing to Alcantara and our kidneys had taken all the suspension abuse they could handle — we pulled into a pre-arranged car park in a charming little village. The sort of place with a bakery that smells of actual bread and locals who walk their dogs without the need for Bluetooth headsets.

Now, picture this: one moment, peace and quiet. The next? Thirty sports and supercars erupt into town like a grid of angry wasps wearing designer sunglasses. It caused a stir, of course. Curtains twitched. Dogs barked. One elderly chap in a flat cap nearly fell off his bench. But here’s the thing — people loved it. They always do. There’s something about seeing a convoy of V8s, V10s, and the occasional V12 that turns fully grown adults into star-struck teenagers. And rightly so.

Take the Aston Martin Vantage, for instance. I’ve never had anything other than admiration thrown its way — here in the UK or even abroad. You park it, people nod. It’s the automotive equivalent of wearing a tuxedo to a pub: everyone just quietly respects it.

And speaking of Astons — for the second half of the drive, I found myself behind a rather special one. A 007 Edition Vantage. Yes, that one — shaken, not stirred, and limited to just a few. It’s from the same glorious era as mine, what the boffins at Aston call the Gaydon Class 3, or AM6 V8 Vantage. A mouthful, yes, but it’s Aston-speak for “the last of the properly noisy ones before everyone went all Greta Thunberg about it.”

More on that particular beauty once we reached Flamborough Head. But for now, let’s just say: if James Bond had been driving behind me, I wouldn’t have blamed him.

FTP Vantage, behind the Limited Edition 007 Version, on route to Flamborough Head - April 2025

The drive? Sublime. The weather? Practically Mediterranean — if you squinted and ignored the sheep. The route twisted through some of Yorkshire’s finest countryside, the sort of scenery that makes you consider buying a thatched cottage, three Labradors and a tweed jacket. It was one of those spring mornings where everything just clicked: the roads were clear, the engine was purring like a smug tiger, and the sun even had the decency to show up. Glorious.

And then, just as if someone at the National Trust had written the script, we rounded the final few bends and were greeted with the perfect cherry on the cake — a lighthouse. A proper, windswept, white-painted beacon of nautical Britishness perched right on the edge of the world. It looked like something out of a postcard... or an overly dramatic period drama. Either way, it didn’t disappoint.

The roads by now were starting to fill with tourists in beige Nissans doing 27mph in a 60, so the last stretch was more of a gentle coastal cruise than a spirited charge. But frankly, after a drive that good, I didn’t care. We’d had our morning thrill, the car was still shiny, the tyres were still round, and we were about to stare at something spectacular by the sea.

Photos below, because of course there are. You don’t drive all that way to a lighthouse and not take a picture. That would be madness.

SC:UK members arrive at the final destination - Flamborough Head Lighthouse

Flamborough Head Lighthouse looking out to sea

As I busied myself filming like some low-budget David Attenborough of the car world, more and more SC:UK cars began rolling in. One by one, they slotted themselves neatly onto what was optimistically called the "Overflow Car Park" — in reality, a slightly uneven patch of grass that could double as a sheep field with a better PR team.

The line-up? Glorious. A multicoloured parade of noise, carbon fibre, and questionable fuel economy. Locals and tourists alike wandered over, drawn in as if by a strange metallic Pied Piper, wide-eyed and whispering things like “Ooh, that’s a McLaren, isn’t it?” or “I think that one was in a Bond film.” Probably wasn’t, but let them have their moment.

And that’s the thing — you don’t normally see cars like this unless you spend your weekends at Goodwood or accidentally marry into royalty. Seeing them all parked up in a sleepy corner of the British coastline? It’s like finding a Bugatti in a garden centre car park. Utterly brilliant.

After a bit of airborne faffing about with the drone — which is essentially a very expensive way of saying “I’m filming from slightly higher up” — I wandered over for a proper gander at the Limited Edition Aston Martin Vantage 007 Edition. Now, I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: seeing a rare Aston Martin in the wild is a bit like spotting a unicorn in the queue at Greggs — magnificent and deeply confusing.

Naturally, it had all the Bond-inspired gadgets you could want... short of an actual ejector seat and a button marked “Oil Slick.” And yes, I absolutely loved every silly, fanboy-ish detail — from the subtle badging to the ski references that make you want to shout “Roger Moore!” at passing traffic. I asked the owner, more in hope than expectation, if it came with the famous skis and roof rack. “Oh yes,” he replied, “they’re at home.” At home! Where presumably they sit unused, like a fondue set or a gym membership.

Brilliant stuff. Pure theatre on wheels. And if you want to see the cinematic nods and nostalgic nonsense for yourself, you can, because — surprise — it’s all on the YouTube video. Go on. Have a look. Try not to hum the Bond theme while you do it. You won’t succeed.

My wife and I ducked into the café—one of those quaint little buildings that look like they’ve been there since time began—and ordered hot drinks and a cooked breakfast. Now, I won’t pretend it was Michelin-star worthy; it was more “builder’s breakfast” than “gourmet delight,” but honestly, after a morning’s drive, it hit the spot perfectly. Nothing fancy, just good honest fuel for the soul and the stomach.

By this point, the café was packed tighter than a clown car at the circus, every seat filled with hungry souls. From our window, we spotted quite a crowd gathering outside, admiring our SC:UK car display on the grass—clearly, even the locals appreciate a bit of automotive eye candy.

Before heading back to the car, my wife and I took a leisurely stroll along the cliff edge. And let me tell you, the view was so spectacular it nearly made me forget the breakfast was just okay. Nearly. See for yourself in the photo below.

As we peered over the cliff’s edge, we spotted what looked like a seal convention—dozens, maybe even a hundred of the blubbery fellows lounging about, soaking up the sun like they owned the place. Now, I’m terrible at guessing numbers, but trust me, it was a proper seal party down there. Every now and then, one would decide to splash about for a swim, probably wondering what all the fuss was about up here.

Seeing the seals lined up on the beach was almost as satisfying as seeing the SC:UK cars all parked up in a neat row — I suspect the seals get just as much attention from passersby’s as the SC:UK line-up.

I guess if you live by the sea, this might be just another Saturday, but for me? It was a genuinely lovely sight, like nature’s own motor show, only with more fur and fewer horsepower.

After a cracking morning, we packed up our bits and bobs and decided it was time to head home. Plenty of SC:UK cars and their owners were still hanging around the cafe, no doubt planning their next adventure or just enjoying the scene. Some probably went off exploring more of the coastline, but my wife had her heart set on spotting some puffins—those cheeky little birds that look like a penguin’s slightly rubbish cousin.

So off we went, to a spot where a couple of puffins had apparently made an appearance earlier. Did we see any? Nope. Not a single one. Apparently, a few puffins had been spotted earlier, but by the time we arrived, they were off doing puffin things elsewhere. After a good stare and some intense bird-watching squinting, we conceded defeat, hopped back into the FTP Vantage, and enjoyed a calm, cloudless cruise back to West Yorkshire.

All in all, a brilliant day — cars, cliffs, seals, and nearly puffins. What more could you want?

FTP Vantage leaving Flamborough Head for home - April 2025

An airport and a bunch of supercars — what’s not to like?

The following weekend kicked off with a proper treat: two SC:UK events back-to-back. First up, on Saturday, a drive out to Leeds East Airport for a coffee morning meet at the DMB Collection — basically a supercar showroom parked next to a working airfield. I met up with about 20 other SC:UK cars about half an hour away from the airport, and then we all convoyed in like a small-scale automotive parade.

Pulling into the airport, we were greeted by quite the gathering. Seems half the club had beaten us there. It was a brilliant location — a working airfield buzzing with small planes and helicopters, and right next door, a showroom filled with enough supercars to make any petrolhead drool. Location, location, location indeed.

The FTP Vantage arriving at Leeds East Airport behind a brand new Audi and a bright yellow McLaren - nice start to the day!

Once I’d parked up—after expertly squeezing the FTP Vantage into a spot that probably had less clearance than a Formula 1 car in a supermarket trolley bay—I lingered around the now very brightly coloured car park. And by brightly coloured, I mean supercars flashing every shade of the rainbow, each one screaming, “Look at me!”

More cars kept arriving, and the spaces were disappearing faster than a politician’s promises. Thankfully, SC:UK had parking attendants playing traffic cop, expertly directing Ferraris, Lambos, and the odd Aston to their designated spots like it was some sort of automotive ballet. From a filming perspective, it was pure gold—I managed to grab some cracking ‘B-roll’ footage of cars rolling in and slowly parking, including a particularly green Lamborghini that looked like it was auditioning for the next Fast & Furious.

Before I even thought about stepping inside the DMB Collection, I figured it polite to ask the owner if filming was allowed. Luckily, he was more than happy. Inside, the collection was something else: an absolute feast for anyone who’s ever dreamed of throwing their money at some seriously tasty machinery. Porsches, McLarens, and enough shiny metal to make James Bond feel a bit inadequate.

I had a good wander around, soaking it all in—and yes, every single one of those beauties was for sale. So, if you’ve got a spare million or two knocking about, here’s your chance. I’m not going to flood you with pictures here though—that would spoil the surprise. Instead, I’ve got a shiny YouTube video waiting for you to click RIGHT HERE. Trust me, it’s worth your time.

A Special Porsche on display at the DMB Collection, East Leeds Airport - April 2025

Needless to say, I spent a while gorging myself on the cars and doing spot of filming for the short video I produced. It was a great way to spend the morning. After bagging enough footage and gawping at the cars, dreaming of a lottery win, I grabbed a quick coffee from the cafe just across from the showroom and then made for home. Another great SC:UK event. That’s the beauty of being part of a car club - you get the opportunity of seeing things, visiting places and being with fellow car enthusiasts, that you wouldn’t necessarily otherwise meet!

SC:UK Peak District Drive

The very next day following the amazing DMB Collection visit, was another SC:UK meeting. An early morning start to the pre-arranged meeting place, being a pub that I had never been too, in the heart of the Peak District. Again, it was nice to be out and about before most other people in the FTP Vantage. Let’s just say the car was well warmed up, by the time I arrived at the meeting point!

FTP Vantage, waiting patiently for other SC:UK members to arrive before heading off for an epic drive through the Peak District - April 2025

After 30 minutes or so, about a dozen cars from the club had arrived and the it was decided the drivers briefing could start. After that, we got in our cars and pulled out the pub car park and off we went.

I was intending to produce a short film of this drive and had cameras rolling, but I decided not to pull together an edited film for this one and take the day off!

After approximately 2 and a half hours driving through some epic Peak District roads and through one quaint village after another, we concluded the drive at the Oil Can Cafe in Holmfirth! It was quite handy, as I know that Cafe very well as I don’t live too far from it! It was nice to conclude an organised drive at a venue not too far from home.

The picture opposite is a nice one, a Ferrari out in front, with SC:UK cars behind me, driving through a lovely Peak District Village during the drive. What a great day!

Inside the Oil Can Cafe, Holmfirth, following an epic SC:UK drive through the Peak District - April 2025

For those of you, who have never been to the Oil Can Cafe, as you can see from the photographs, it’s a great place for car and bike enthusiasts to pop into for some refreshments.

There’s always a great atmosphere there, with a selection of cakes to choose from, or of course a menu full of meal choices!

As well as being a cafe, it’s also on the same site as the Oil Can Garage, where they store, service and repair cars of all types. Some of which they display and you can take a walk around and have a good look round (as the picture on the left shows you).

Time for New Tyres!

When I bought the 2019 FTP Vantage in August 2024, it still had the same Pirelli P Zero’s it had, when it came out of factory. Due to the car only doing 7,400 miles from new, the tyres (when I bought the car), were still in really good shape, with plenty of tread depth left on them. However, now that I had joined SC:UK and was doing more and more miles, not to mention the European road trip I took part in last year, which I did with a number of other cars along with the organisers being Sam and Tony from the ‘Behind the Glass’ Podcast - YouTube Channel, my rear tyres were getting to the stage where they needed to be replaced. They were still above the legal limit, but I could feel the tread bar indicator in the tyre and due to their age, I was keen to get them changed.

I had originally planned on getting all four changed together at the end of July and whilst I was visiting Aston Workshop in Durham, approximately 7 weeks prior to heading across Europe again, this time on my own - but I’ll be joining dozens of other Aston Martins at the 90th Anniversary of the Aston Martin Owners Club (AMOC) in Austria, and yes, I’ll be filming my adventures and taking you with me! A new series will be emerging on the Fuel the Passion YouTube Channel in early October, so stay tuned for that later in the year - exciting stuff!

Anyhow, back to the tyre situation…

To be honest I was keen to replace the Pirelli PZero tyres, not because I didn’t like them, far from it! I thought they were great, however, I was starting to experience a bit of ‘slippage’ on some spirited drives, especially with the SC:UK drives, where in the national speed limits, I accelerate hard when it’s safe to do so. I also noted the feel of the tyres, wasn’t as great - glued to the road, as they felt when I first bought the car. The fact is, the tyres were getting ‘on a bit’ in relation to their age and the rear ones - their tread depth.

So I decided to change just the rears for now, and keep the fronts until the end of July, when I’ll get them changed as I had originally planned at Aston Workshop.

Now I needed to decide where to take the FTP Vantage to get the tyres changed. That was not an easy decision, as apart from the main Aston Martin Dealership, my closest being Leeds, I didn’t know anywhere that had a good reputation and whom I could trust to look after the wheels and car whilst changing having the tyres changed. That’s not to say that good reputable tyre garages weren’t out there, it’s just that I didn’t know about them. Having moved up to Yorkshire from Surrey about 7 years prior, my knowledge about performance tyre specialists in Yorkshire was not great. So I started my research!

This is where being part of clubs like SC:UK and AMOC really paid off. I reached out through WhatsApp groups and asked around for recommendations. Fellow members shared their experiences, reassuring me about garages that took great care of their cars and wheels when changing tyres. One garage kept coming up again and again—Harworth Tyres in South Yorkshire. To be sure, I checked online reviews and found they matched what the club members had said. That’s when I knew I had a plan.

Finding a place you can trust is such a relief. You want to walk in confident your car will be treated well, and that you’ll be driving away with fresh rubber — and no scratches or damage.

What really impressed me was how easy Harworth Tyres made the whole process. Their website was super straightforward: I just typed in my registration, confirmed the tyre sizes, picked the brand and specification I wanted, and booked a fitting slot — all online. Simple, painless, done.

A few days later, I headed over to Harworth Tyres for the fitting. I even made a short video of my experience, where I talk about tyre pressure monitoring and show exactly how well they handled the car and wheels. If you want to check it out, just CLICK HERE and I’ll take you right there!

FTP Vantage at Harworth Tyres for new sets of rubber on the rear - April 2025

As you can see, I changed my rear tyres from Pirelli to Michelin Pilot Sport 4S’s. Why I hear you ask? Well, I’m sure most of you will have an opinion on this already and some of you will have your own experiences - I didn’t, until I did more research! Pretty much every Aston owner I spoke too, recommended me to switch from Pirelli’s to Michelins, stating they feel better, they offer more grip, better wear and even looked better, with their soft to touch Michelin brand name tyre wall.

I also watched numerous tyre reviews and when tested the difference between Pirelli’s and the Michelins were very very close, almost identical, however the Michelins just about scored better. It was time to make the change and see for myself.

As you can see from the picture on the right, they do look good! It’s like buying a new pair of shoes, only this time, they’re for my beloved FTP Vantage!

FTP Vantage in the Harworth Tyres Garage getting new Michelin Pilot Sport 4S’s on the rear - nice!

To date, the Michelins have been fab, I can’t complain about anything. They grip, the road noise is no different, they look good and they handle very well. I’m just looking forward now to the end of July, beginning of August when I get the fronts changed. I’ll be filming that too whilst at Aston Workshop and already have their permission to film all the areas of their workspace. I know they sell some pretty lovely Aston Martins there, so I’m looking forward to that in July./August.

Whilst we’re on the Aston Workshop element - I’ve decided to now take my FTP Vantage to them - an independent Aston Martin Specialist, for the ongoing care, servicing and MOT, rather than take it to my local Aston Martin, Leeds main dealer. I’m not a millionaire and I suppose if I were, I may stick to a main dealer. But it’s no just that, ie; the costs. Before I move on from the costs, I watched a YouTube video, where the owner of a car the same model as my own, had a puncture which couldn’t be repaired. So they took it to their local Aston Martin dealership and got the tyre changed. The cost of labour was a lot of money, which the owner of the car said, he could’ve taken his car to an independent tyre specialist and not get charged for the ‘labour’ costs at all! From that experience, he vowed not to return to the main dealer for tyre replacement purposes.

I suppose the issue there, like the issue I had, was having the confidence to take your pride and joy elsewhere, to an independent tyre specialist you can trust. Well I did it and it worked out fine for me, all I would say is research, research and research. Don’t just rely on internet reviews, ask around - fellow motorists, friends, car club members etc. It will all pay off in the end.

Back to servicing and ongoing maintenance. So I’ve decided that Aston Workshop will take over that responsibility for the FTP Vantage. I won’t labour the point too much on here, at this time, as I’m going to cover it in a future video, but as well as cost savings, certain independent specialists, like Aston Workshop, have now acquired brand new AMDS2 equipment, which allows them to service the more modern Aston Martin vehicles, which includes my year and model of Vantage. They can also maintain the DB11, DB12, DBS Superleggera and DBX. Many of these specialists also have such excellent knowledge and such an extensive background, many mechanics are ex-Aston Martin trained mechanics. Not only is it more cost effective, not only do they have the specialist knowledge, but they also care for their customers. A lot!

I’m not saying that I’ve had a poor experience from Aston Martin Dealerships, far from it. In fact, I feel I’ve built up a really good relationship with my local Aston Martin Dealer. However, Aston Workshop is a family established and run business, with years of experience. These guys build cars from scratch, using genuine or manufactured parts that they build themselves! Now it’s too early to comment on the service that Aston Workshop will provide to me, but I bet it’s going to be excellent. Everything i’ve researched, tells me that’s going to be the case, and I’m looking forward to get to know the team there. I’ve already introduced myself to them, as they had a marque at Goodwood Revival last year, where they were demonstrating the lengths they can go too - but building your own specification, bespoke Aston Martin DB4. Amazing. I’m looking forward to the visit in July/August, so if you haven’t already, why not subscribe so you don’t miss that episode! CLICK HERE and I’ll take you right there, where all you have to do is click SUBSCRIBE.

Finding some great driving roads in Wales

Towards the end of April, my wife had bought some tickets for ‘Wonder Wool in Wales’. Admittedly not my scene, but I wasn’t going to turn down an opportunity to drive her there, drop her off at the Wool show and then I could hit the roads and find some amazing countryside, views and tarmac to drive! We made it a short stay. I had a great day discovering some great roads, many of which had some stunning views. We also stayed in a lovely lodge off the beaten track. I filmed the experience so you can take a look if you haven’t yet seen the video, called ‘A Perfect Combination’. CLICK HERE and I’ll take you straight to it!

The FTP Vantage at a great spot overlooking the breathtaking Welsh Countryside at the Brecon Beacons, Wales - April 2025

I had visited Wales whilst a child on family holidays, but I can’t remember it that well. I have heard time and time again that Wales had some stunning roads, little villages and views. I couldn’t wait to get started! But first, we drove to our lodge, where we were going to stay the night. It wasn’t until the next day that I could be let free and explore!

Left Picture: Me about to talk to camera filming for ‘The Perfect Combination’ video

The journey to our lodge was fine. The motorway was a tad busy and came to a stop/start situation for a short distance, but apart from that we arrived in good time.

As we turned off the beaten track, down some tight country lanes, at which I was slightly apprehensive about meeting another vehicle, as there were only a handful of passing points, we drove over a small bridge, with a stream gently running underneath, turned right down another country lane for about a quarter of a mile, then we came to our lodge. It had a nice, freshly tarmacked drive, which was all smooth and lovely.

We actually came across the owners of the lodge, who were just finishing up preparing the lodge. We had a brief chat and they briefed us on a couple of points to do with the lodge, then they left us to it! It was a lovely little place, which had only recently been refurbished. The owners had thought of everything, from great instructions, to items we would likely need, to a basket of food goodies! It was a very comfortable little residence for a nights stay. We actually wished we were staying for longer!

If you haven’t seen the video, and would be interested, I provide a quick tour of the lodge, which is always nice to see if you fancy staying there yourselves! Watch the video - CLICK HERE. All the details of the Lodge are in the description of the YouTube video, or they’re on the ‘Videos & Locations’ pages, where you get to see the videos that are already live or are coming up soon.

After we settled in, it wasn’t long before we headed to a little nearby village where we had booked a table, at probably the cutest and smallest pizzeria in the country! It’s called the Proper Pizza Company Ltd, if you want to find out more and visit their website CLICK HERE.

As we entered there were only two, quite large, wooden tables by the side. You could probably seat 8 people around each table. We were greeted by the very friendly staff, and shown to one of the two tables, where we sat down and peered at the menu. The smell from this little pizzeria was fantastic. It’s always a good sign, but it wasn’t long before the phone was ringing in the pizzeria and people were coming in and out collecting pre-booked orders. Two ladies walked in, all very friendly, as if they used the pizzeria regularly. They certainly seemed to know the owners and people who were working there, they were having a good chat. Then they were handed about ten Pizza’s, all in boxes, stacked one on top of the other. One of the ladies took the stack of freshly cooked pizzas, they said their goodbye’s and left, with the lady carrying the pizzas just about peering round the boxes she was carrying to see where she was going! The restaurant was clean, recently decorated, so looked new and like I say, it was busy! I was happy we were going to get a great pizza!

Once we placed our order, it wasn’t long before the kitchen were freshly making our order, right before our eyes. The base was made fresh, then the toppings were put on, then into the pizza oven. A few minutes later, the cook swiped in the huge flat server into the oven and pulled out one of our freshly cooked pizzas.

Let’s just say they went down a treat! I included some film clips in the relevant YouTube film, As you’ll see for yourself, it’s a lovely little Pizzeria - we would definitely recommend. If you’re in the area, get in there and order your delicious and freshly baked pizza. You won’t be disappointed! The only bit of advice I would have, is book first, as I’ve described, they’re a small venue and a busy venue - they obviously have a good reputation with the locals and visitors alike, so secure your collection or place at one of the two tables first to avoid disappointment!

It wasn’t long before the Pizza’s were gone! In our now little round tummies, although now slightly rounder than usual!

The next day had arrived. After a coffee and a light breakfast, following our delicious Pizza the night before, we got our stuff together, packed the car, then we headed off. I was to drop off my good wife to the Wool show, where she would spend most of the day, then I was free to go driving and enjoy the driving roads of the Brecon Beacons! I was looking forward to this!

During the video, I show a Google Maps image and show the viewers my planned route for the day. I had planned to drive in a large circle, which took me down the A4069, over the Black Mountains, then back north on the A4067 back towards the venue where I dropped off my wife at the beginning of the day.

Any good road trip, just has to start with ensuring the car is filled with the best quality petrol you can get your hands on, this was no exception! As I didn’t have local knowledge, I headed for a petrol station I had already driven past on route to dropping off my wife. I filled up with their version of Shell E5 V-Power, which was a 98 score, then off I went on my pre-planned route.

Incidentally, talking of petrol, I don’t no about you, but I always try to fill up at a Shell Petrol Station, not only due to having their reward card app on my phone and collecting their loyalty points, but also because of their V-Power product and all the positive reviews that accompany that fuel. I just think it’s the best out there and that’s not to say other providers don’t provide a product that is just as good. I’m sure the petrol is pretty much the same, but Shell claim some really good benefits to V-Power and the reviews that I’ve read seem to support that. The fill ups on this trip however were not Shell, as I just didn’t come across a Shell Garage at a time I needed petrol.

FTP Vantage at the base of a hill. As I placed cameras on the car, I had a chat with a nice chap in his camper. He was in the process of cooking himself breakfast! Nice views!

During my drive, I encountered a real mixture of road conditions - traffic wise. Mostly the roads were quiet, often I didn’t see another car for a good few miles, which I was surprised by. After all it was a weekend, the sun was shining and it felt warm. It was a great day to get out for a drive or a ride on your bike. However, there were occasions when the traffic increased quite a bit, but as soon as it came, it disappeared into the distance. The roads were brilliant and I honestly can’t recall coming across more than two or three speed cameras - until the foot of climb shown in the picture on the A4069. The climb and subsequent sections of the road, were covered by average speed cameras, however, some of these had been cut down, criminally damaged, so didn’t appear to be working, although I didn’t take any chances.

One thing I would say about driving in Wales, or certainly the roads I was using for his trip - they are loved by bikers. There were a lot of bikers, solitary bikers, bikers in groups, some of them large, as in 20 plus. I did my best to pull the the left when it was safe and let them through, but some of them seemed to like the rear view of my FTP Vantage and stayed with me for miles, despite having ample opportunity to overtake. I didn’t mind, nor did I blame them, as the rear end of the Vantage is a nice view to have, not that I see it that often from the drivers seat!

As I approached the base of a climb, which would take me over some great high roads across the Black Mountains, I pulled over to fix some action cameras to the car, so I could capture some footage for the video. I pulled over next to the camper van in the image above. Inside was a middle aged gent, who was in the process of cooking himself breakfast. What a lovely spot he had chosen. We had a brief chat, said our farewells and I left driving up the road, which was covered by average speed cameras, albeit some cameras were damaged.

To be honest, there were some tight and narrow roads, as I drove upwards and the views were stunning. As I progressed up the mountain road, I came across an ideal spot to stop and take in the views. It’s the image that actually made the final thumbnail for the YouTube film and is shown below. How can it get much better than that - the FTP Vantage - my dream car and that view. Hence the name of the video - A Perfect Combination!

The FTP Vantage parked on a layby in the Brecon Beacons. What a stunning view, which became the Thumbnail picture of the accompanying film

The stunning reflections of Welsh woodlands, as the FTP Vantage is driven through fabulous roads in the Brecon Beacons - April 2025

The above photograph is testament to how clean I keep the FTP Vantage! The reflections of the passing woodland on the paintwork of the car are just stunning! I love the shape and contours of this car! I know people tend to prefer the versions with air louvres in the bonnet or other aero slits here and there, or a sporty back wing etc, etc. I like mine with as few ‘race’ editions as possible, sleek, refined, understated. That’s what the FTP Vantage is to me. Just perfect!

I’ve heard many people say that the Aston Martin DBS is one of the best looking cars ever made. We could all list a number of cars that could be up there, I’m sure, cars made by Alfa Romeo, the Jaguar D and E-Type, the Ferrari 250 GT SWB, the list could go on and on, after all it’s all about personal preference - beauty is in the eye of the beholder - as they say! The reason I mention this, referring back to the DBS, is that yes, I agree it’s a beautiful car, but it has the bonnet louvres and a number of other modifications to make it look ‘racier’. Compare it to an Aston Martin DB9 GT version - sleek, smooth and sophisticated. I would take that version any day, but I know people will disagree and that’s fine. Beauty to a degree is subjective.

Before long my drive around the gorgeous Brecon Beacons was nearly over, as I passed the petrol station where I filled up with petrol earlier that same day. I pulled in again and filled up the Vantage for the journey home. I then went around the corner and collected Mrs T, for the drive home. Mrs T had a great day and purchased a few items that she was very pleased with. I had had a great day with my trusted companion, the FTP Vantage exploring some great Welsh roads. Now back home to Yorkshire!

The final car related ‘event’ for me in April, came from a problem with the FTP Vantage!

Whilst on the trip to the Brecon Beacons, I noticed the ‘coolant’ warning light came on and then off again. This flashed up a couple of weeks beforehand, but went away again. I had checked the coolant levels and all seemed fine. With this light reappearing again, I decided to book the FTP Vantage into Aston Martin, Leeds to see if they could check the issue. They had already checked it once, a few weeks after it’s service, as the light appeared then, but they checked it, ensured the coolant was at the right levels and it all seemed fine.

To cut a not very interesting story short, they diagnosed the issue as a faulty coolant monitor which was in the coolant tank. It was registering coolant levels incorrectly due to a faulty sensor. It was under warranty, so they ordered a new part to be fitted. I re-attended the dealership to have the part fitted, but this time I filmed their current line up of stock, which was a great thing to do. It could also help generate sales from prospective buyers of an Aston Martin - you never know whose going to view your videos once you’ve uploaded them!

The video is called ‘Time Well Spent’ as ever if you haven’t yet seen it CLICK HERE and I’ll take you straight there!

The video will show you all the lovely Aston Martin’s that were for sale, both brand new ones and those for sale as part of the Timeless Range. There was some beauties in and outside the showroom, as always!

I also had a go at the configurator afterwards, as looking at all the materials you could choose from in their showroom, enthused me to spec my dream new Aston Martin, a new Vanquish. What colour did I choose - check out the video to see. You never know, it may happen one day!

Just some of the stunning Aston Martin cars on show at Aston Martin Showroom, Leeds - April 2025

So spring had definitely arrived, April proved to be quite a busy month. I was very much looking forward to more car events, drives and functions in May, where we started off with a load of other sports/super cars…. …in a park! check out the May blog, which will be published in the first week of June.

I’ll hopefully see you on the next one, in the meantime why don’t you go and take a look at the Fuel the Passion YouTube Channel RIGHT HERE or have a browse in the FTP online shop RIGHT HERE.