Club News

750 Motor Club is delighted to announce that Ian Nelson is to be appointed as a new Honorary Vice President, whilst the Club expresses its sincerest thanks to Michael Ware, who will be stepping down from the role that he has held since 1999.

 

Mike joined the 750 Motor Club after buying his first Austin Seven in 1956, and moved on to become the Club’s chairman, as well as forming the Austin Seven register and helping to create the National Austin Seven Rally at Beaulieu alongside Viv Orchard and John Thorne. His motoring activities duly extended to various roles alongside 750MC commitments, with experience ranging from writing in Classic Cars Magazine, to being a curator, director and committee member for museums around the UK.

 

Ian joined the 750 Motor Club in 1969, having been given a sturdy but unwanted Austin Seven by a colleague, and was soon on the road to Monte Carlo in it on a rally organised by the 750MC Brooklands Centre. Having run the popular monthly meetings of the Central London Austin Seven Group, he went on to serve as a director of the 750 Motor Club between 1977 and 1984; in those days, board meetings were held in the prestigious Steering Wheel Club in Mayfair. Ian later became treasurer and company secretary for an additional eight years, before handing over the reins to Paul Chalk. An accountant by profession, Ian’s years at the financial helm of the 750MC were in the pre-digital age, and he was the last to oversee the hand-written accounts and cash book of the rapidly growing organisation.

 

Since 2005 Ian has undertaken the sizeable task of organising the 750 Motor Club’s prestigious National Austin Seven Rally at Beaulieu each year; what has long since become the largest in the A7 calendar since being initiated by Michael Ware, and an event which has continued to flourish under Ian’s enthusiastic control. Furthermore, he can be seen annually as a 750MC marshal in the London to Brighton veteran car run, whilst 2020 saw Ian form part of the team managing the transfer of non-race Austin Seven interests to the Pre-War Austin Seven Club, where his role as 750MC VP will enable the Club to retain vital links to its Austin Seven heritage.

 

Speaking of the appointment, Ian said: “I am delighted to be asked to become a Vice President of the 750 Motor Club after so many happy years as a member, and see my role as helping to maintain the important link between 750MC and its Austin Seven roots.”