News

Welcome to AIB Brooke Jenkins


We are delighted to welcome Brooke to AIB as Administrator & Customer Service Advisor.

Brooke joins us straight out of Barton Peverell College, where she also worked part-time at the Fox and Hounds public house in Fair Oak, Eastleigh.

Brooke is excited to bring her customer service skills to her new role at AIB and is keen to learn the many aspects of a busy insurance consultants. Including motor, property and home and insurance.

FAST FACTS:

  • Brooke loves to chill with a glass of white zinfandel
  • She has a French Bulldog called Diesel (Cool!)

 FUN FACT:

  •  All crisp packets go out of date on a Saturday! (We’re not sure how accurate this is?!)

WE SAY:

 Director, Kirby De–Gray Birch: “It’s a pleasure to employ staff who are just beginning their career journeys. Brooke has many transferable skills that stand her in good stead in her new role at AIB. We hope that together with ongoing training, tools and resources. Brooke enjoys a rewarding career in a satisfying and friendly team environment. We are looking forward to seeing Brooke develop and progress at AIB.”

 

If you are interested in a career within the insurance sector and feel you have the skills or passion to deliver great customer service, please send your CV to info@aib.co.uk with a covering letter.

 

The Concorde Club Classic Car Show

Last weekend the team headed down to The Concorde Club in Eastleigh, Hampshire. This is the first time that we have sponsored the event and it turned out to be an incredible day! Not only were we very lucky with the hot sun to be out all day but the event raised an astonishing amount of £15,246.56 for the amazing charity Naomi’s house Children’s Hospice. Naomi House first opened in 1997 to offer care and support to children who were not expected to live until adulthood.

 

Since then, they have cared for more than 1,000 children and families from across Hampshire, Dorset, Wiltshire, Berkshire, Isle of Wight, West Sussex, Surrey and beyond.

 

Naomi House nursing and medical staff provide individualised nursing care that helps to enhance short lives and allows local families to make the most of their precious time with their children.

 

Whilst wondering around the show you will see a great selection of cars, treasured by their owners all willing to chat about their cars and what they have and do to maintain them, whilst relaxing and enjoying the show themselves. The show has a Ferrari and Super Car section, often sporting the newest Super cars on display for visitors to see. At intervals during the show, you will hear the ‘Sound Off’ competition and this is great to hear the rumble of V8 and V12 engines.

 

It was quite hard to miss us there with the big AIB marquee and colour matched Lotus Evora GT410 brought to the show by one of our clients! The team kept all the family happy with great value insurance for the adults and fun games for the kids with many prizes.

The show always attracts a lot of attention, and the show often gets celebrities attending to help support the show. This year Tiff Needell came to the show! Famous for his racing driving and many years on the hit motoring show ‘Fifth gear’. You will often see ‘The Stig’ at the show, although don’t expect him to talk to you, but he does enjoy sitting in people’s cars.

 

Whilst wondering around the show you will see a great selection of cars, treasured by their owners all willing to chat about their cars and what they have and do to maintain them, whilst relaxing and enjoying the show themselves. The show has a Ferrari and Super Car section, often sporting the newest Super cars on display for visitors to see. At intervals during the show, you will hear the ‘Sound Off’ competition and this is great to hear the rumble of V8 and V12 engines.

 

If you fancied a ride out in a car, then the show had Sporting Bears Charity running ‘dream rides’ for a donation to the show charity. You will be taken on a 10-mile drive to experience an array of different cars and is a must do for any visitor, so make sure you book your slot on the day next year as early as possible as places go quickly.

The Show Winners!

 

 

The ‘Richard Bailey Trophy’ is awarded each year to the car of the show. The trophy is in memory of Richard Bailey who has supported the show for many years!

 

This year’s winner of the trophy was awarded to the 1961 Rolls Royce Silver Cloud Drophead Coupe, the first Rolls Royce to ever get a V8 underneath the spirit of ecstasy!

 

The ‘Best Modern’ Winner went to the stunning Ferrari F12 Berlinetta

 

And the ‘Best Winner’ went to the car we all know and love from the James Bond movies, the 1964 Aston Martin DB5.

 

Enjoy some of our favourite cars of the show!

 

Lamborghini Diablo SV

Only fools and horse’s Reliant Robin

DeLorean DMC-12 from back to the future

Ford Capri 2.8 Injection

1989 BMW 325i

2004 Porsche 911 Carrera 2 Cabriolet

We want to thank all of you who came down and showed support for such a great cause and remember to give us a call on 02380268351 for any of your insurance needs!

 

All photos used belong to Rob Heard

 

 

Car of the Day..MG B V8!

The 1975 MG GT V8. A true British icon in the motoring world. Sporting a 3,258cc Rover V8 engine pushing the cars top speed at 125mph, impressive for the age!

 

 

The Rover V8 engine powering the MG first featured in the infamous Rover P5B. Widely known for being used by high-ranking government ministers and ex-prime ministers such as Harold Wilson, Edward Heath, James Callaghan and Margaret Thatcher. The engine even has royal roots with Queen Elizabeth the second, owning a P5B that also guest-featured on the BBC Motoring show “Top Gear”.

 

 

Although the short lived production line of the V8 variant only spanning 3 years, MG managed to produce 2591 models out of the factory in Abingdon, Oxford. The average price of the MG back then would only set you back £1,925! That’s a mere £16,901 in today’s money, not a bad price to pay for a lightweight, convertible, 2 seater sports car! Unfortunately, the fuel crisis following October 1973’s middle east war was the first domino to fall in the V8’s demise, as well as many other big engines of the time. The car was dropped in 1976 mainly due to the fuel crisis. However the legacy lives on as it is still the most popular modification of the MG, swapping it to the glorious Rover V8 engine.

 

 

A massive thank you to our client Mr B for letting us showcase his MG in the stunning Vermillion red paint.

 

Give our friendly team a call for a quote on 02380 268 351!

Continued Growth for AIB Insurance

Despite living in a world of global economic uncertainty, we are excited to announce that due to our continued growth, we have recently taken on three new recruits. This is largely thanks to our excellent business partners, insurers, and amazing clients.

We would like to introduce Ross Hoskins, Adam Thorp and Kimberley Brown. They have each passed their probationary period with flying colours and are already proving to be a great asset to the business.

Welcome Ross Hoskins – Insurance Consultant

Ross joined our team in January 2022 having spent 4 years on the road within the construction industry installing VNA guidance systems (Yep, we didn’t know either – it’s the wire that stops trucks driving into large racking!). Prior to this he was a concrete floor finisher. With his diverse set of skills, Ross now plans to immerse himself in the world of insurance and will be taking his insurance exams as part of his professional development. Best of luck Ross!

 

“What prompted you to get into insurance?”

“I love talking and interacting with people, so this was the perfect job for me.”

 

“What one item would you one day love to insure?”

“My dream dog, a Rhodesian Ridgeback.”

 

“What did you want to be when you were younger?”

“Can I say taller? Probably a footballer.”

 

Fun Facts: 

  • Ross was born and bred in Lyndhurst, Southampton
  • He lives with his girlfriend Ashleigh and dog Bandit (Great name!)
  • He is a huge Southampton FC fan and loves Formula One
  • His favourite Saints player is James Ward-Prowse
  • George Russell is his favourite Formula One driver
  • His favourite music is pop-punk
  • He decided once on a drunken holiday to get a Blink 182 tattoo!

Welcome Adam Thorp – Insurance Consultant

Adam joined AIB Insurance in March 2022 having decided upon a complete career change due to the huge impact that Covid had on his life and career in retail and as a Doorman. With his background in security, Adam has a passion for customer service which is a great motivator for him in his new role.

Director, Kirby De-Gray Birch commented: “Adam has a natural enthusiasm which is infectious and has settled brilliantly into our team.  He is fast learning all aspects of our business including motor, fleet, and home.  His strong communication skills have stood in excellent stead and I’m excited to watch his career develop”.

 

“What prompted you to get into insurance?”

“Good balance to work and home life with the added job security of a brilliant industry.”

 

“What one item would you one day love to insure?”

“An aeroplane or jet would be cool!”

 

“What did you want to be when you were younger?”

“An archaeologist.”

 

Fun Facts:

  • Adam was born and bred in Poole and attended Ferndown Upper School in Dorset
  • He has a passion for Dungeon and Dragons and calls himself a lover of all things nerdy
  • He loves listening to J-pop (Japanese music)
  • He is currently doing everything he can to pass his driving test

 

Welcome Kimberley Brown – Insurance Consultant

Kim joined the business in April 2022 and has already hit the ground running. She joined AIB having worked for almost 5 years in the healthcare industry.

Kim has a passion for Japanese imported cars so insuring grey imports is something that really interests her. She is looking forward to developing her career within the insurance industry.

 

“What prompted you to get into insurance?”

“The hours and a new challenge were really exciting to me.”

 

“What one item would you one day love to insure?”

“I’d love to insure a 4×4 Hummer. My colleagues around me have, and I’m always green with envy!”

 

“What did you want to be when you were younger?”

“A musician – singer song writer.”

Fun Facts:

  • Kim was born in Newcastle
  • She lives with her boyfriend, James in Southampton
  • Kim once met Taylor Swift whilst attending her Fearless concert. She snuck around the back to sneak a glimpse as she got out of her tour bus. Not only did she see her, but she also got a hug, high five and a signed arm!
  • She has been told she is a lookalike for American actress, Dakota Fanning

2 men, 2 Jensen’s & 2000 miles – What could go wrong?!

The Alternative Spring Break Tour (From The Navigator’s Perspective)

Credit – Jenny, Richard and Adam Fischer

As the original Spring Break Weekend was unfortunately cancelled due to the virus, Richard, Adam and I decided to go ahead with our Scottish holiday once the hotels opened up again in our 1973 Jensen’s.  Adam drives the red Healey whilst my husband and I are the proud owners of a Jensen SP in green.

We set off early on Friday 30 April up the A1, stopping off at Ferrybridge Services to drop off some Jensen Healey parts as Richard had recently sold his Healey. We enjoyed breakfast in the car park and then headed for Scotch Corner via the A66 to Penrith. We had wonderful views of the foothills of the Lake District, as we drove closer to Scotland. There were daffodils growing by the side of the road and sheep and lambs in the fields; we were definitely in the countryside!  We stopped for fuel and lunch then continued our journey to Pitlochry and the gorgeous Atholl Palace Hotel. They have been welcoming guests for over 135 years; I enjoyed a well-deserved cup of tea, while the boys had a beer outside. The hotel is set in beautiful grounds, with a waterfall, large car park, tennis courts and plenty of opportunity to walk around. Pitlochry is a popular holiday resort in a beautiful setting of lochs, rivers, mountains and woods.

We went exploring in the rain on our first route to Cally Bridge, passing desolate moorland in the sleet and snow. Passers-by must have been surprised to see two classic cars out in this weather; little did they know of their journeys ahead. The Bridge of Cally is an attractive village on the River Ardle, but we could not park at there so kept moving and stopped off for fuel at Blairgowrie’s Tesco. Shortly after, on route to the Cairngorms National Park, Richard spotted a sign for the Reekie Linn Falls, and thankfully with fantastic timing, the sun had appeared and the water glistened in the rays.

We carried on, the roads became steeper and the induction roar grew louder from under the bonnet.  We began to experience how quickly the weather conditions can change in the mountains as the windscreen wipers were busy clearing the snow off. A spot of retail therapy in Braemar was very enjoyable, while the boys were having a rest from the day’s driving. We headed further north to see the scenery around Balmoral Castle, the Queen’s summer residence. Time was flying by so we decided to head back to the hotel via the same route.

Taking The Lead

Adam decided to take the lead here and blast up the winding roads just as the Healey was designed to do. We found him waiting with a huge smile at the base of the Glenshee ski area to take some photos of the incredible scenery as the weather had cleared up.

We returned back to Blairgowrie’s Tesco to fill up both cars ready for the next day’s adventures. The SP has a very thirsty engine, Adam’s Healey less so, but in open desolate countryside it was wise to keep the tanks topped up!

More exploring followed on the Sunday; off to Tummel Bridge, passing through Drummond Hill Forest. Adam was concerned about his suspension, as you can see from one of the photos, but fortunately everything was okay. It was easy staring out of the window seeing all the different shades of green pass us by. The views of the surrounding mountains were stunning, seeing the strongly defined mountain tops covered in snow, lower slopes and the lochs below in the valley.  We were in Perth and Kinross country.  We visited Deil’s Cauldron Waterfall which was quite a sight with all the rain, sleet and snow we had encountered!  It was a long walk to the waterfall, but a chance to enjoy some fresh Scottish air.

We left luxury behind on Monday and made our way to John O’Groats via Inverness on the A9, for a couple of days in the very far north. I had the map open on my knees to follow the route, just in case the sat nav had other ideas in mind. We soon arrived at the Welcome to Sutherland sign, about 83 miles from John O’Groats. The sea was appearing with plenty of white horses and the wind was howling, but it was dry, much more pleasant for driving long distances. We arrived safely at the Seaview Hotel in time for a cup of tea and exploring the touristy bit down the road. Adam found a shop selling local beer so he stocked up well following a long day’s drive.

On Tuesday we took it easy, starting off with another re-fuelling session in the nearby town of Wick, which we discovered is an ancient place with a large harbour. We saw an array of rugged cliffs south of the town where wreckages from storms at sea can be found. However, a short heavy downpour sent us scurrying for the cars.

On Tuesday we took it easy, starting off with another re-fuelling session in the nearby town of Wick, which we discovered is an ancient place with a large harbour. We saw an array of rugged cliffs south of the town where wreckages from storms at sea can be found. However, a short heavy downpour sent us scurrying for the cars.

It cleared up and we visited Castle Sinclair Girnigoe, which was set right on the edge of the sea in a desolate area. Goodness knows what it would have been like to live there 200-300 years ago. We went for a long drive in the afternoon along the A897 which Adam nicknamed the ‘rally stage’ as he was playing catch up having missed the left turn; his Lotus engine certainly got a workout. We ended our afternoon at Dunnet Head which is the most northerly point on the mainland.

On Wednesday it was time to leave a very windy John O’Groats and travel to Gairloch on the West Coast. I lost count of how many times we went around corners to find a breathtaking view before our eyes.

A Twisty Drive

We visited Corrieshalloch Gorge en route. We were lucky with the weather as it was sunny and warm while we followed the footpath down to the bridge and across it. I am not a huge fan of heights so I got across it as quickly as I could. The boys, however, took their time, in awe of how deep the gorge was. There was viewpoint at the end of the trail, giving the full perspective of this force of nature. We reached the Gairloch Hotel at 5pm after a fantastic, twisty drive of 220 miles, with the SP certainly living up to its reputation of being a comfortable grand tourer, taking all the twists and turns throughout the day in her stride.

We enjoyed a restful day in Gairloch, exploring the village and seeing the harbour. Adam drove the SP to Torridon in the afternoon along single track roads where we went for a walk around a nature reserve and the far end of Loch Torridon, seeing deer in the field and houses precariously backing onto rocks and mountains.

On Friday we were on the last leg of the journey to Stranraer. It was a longer run of 320 miles but the route went through a number of mountain ranges which were again mesmerising, but it was a long day behind the wheel for the boys.

We had reached the end of the holiday and considering there was a seven-hour drive back home, Adam decided to leave on Saturday as he had to go back to work on the Monday.  Richard and I explored Stranraer on the Saturday morning in the drizzle, the weather had finally caught up with us. When Richard was working he spent a considerable amount of time here, so it was a trip down memory lane for him.

We packed up the car and set off for Harrow after breakfast on the Sunday, and had an excellent journey home. We both travelled more than 2000 miles and I daren’t contemplate how many times we filled up the SP (our petrol bill for it was £900.00).

Before this trip, I had not been to Scotland but we were very lucky to have been able to do so and I would strongly recommend anyone thinking about it to go ahead and visit this beautiful country. Just do it in the right car!

Thanks to our friends at the Jensen Owners’ Club for providing the article, for more information about this club please visit https://www.joc.org.uk

Concorde Classics Car Show – A Garden Party for Car Enthusiasts!

On Sunday 11th September 2022 will be the 13th Concorde Classics Car Show held at the Concorde Club in Eastleigh. The show first started in 2008 when a group of like-minded people wanted to support local businesses, as well as raise money for worthy causes.

It was decided to utilise the lovely grounds around the Concorde Club to stage a charity car show, little did the small organising team realise what a great success the show would become and now features as one of the best Car Shows in the area. Many visitors describe the show as a garden party for car enthusiasts.

The show in the first year featured a few cars on display and was really just for owners and their vehicles taking part. After two years of running the show, the organising committee teamed up with Naomi House Children’s Hospice to make the show primarily about supporting and raising funds for Hospice. In fact, every penny made from the show goes to the charity.

Naomi House is a children’s hospice providing a professional palliative care service for families whose children and young people have a life limiting illness and their families from central southern England. The charity provides care to families living in communities across the seven counties of Berkshire, Dorset, Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Surrey, West Sussex and Wiltshire. The children’s charity has two specialist units, Naomi House for children, and jacksplace for young people. Each unit is purpose built and provides an appropriate environment for each age group. It costs around £4.5million a year to run the two units. The vast amount of money for running the hospice come from donations and fund raising like Concorde Classics Car Show. In the last 12 years the Car Show has now raised over £107,000 for the charity and in November 2019 was awarded the Dr Peter Lee Award for long term support to Naomi and jacksplace.

As the word spread, and the show changed from not just a show for owners but for visitors as well and began growing in popularity. Today the show attracts over 3,000 visitors with around 160 cars on display at any one time. The cars on display vary from vintage right the way up to modern supercars and is very family orientated.

Being family orientated the organizers understand how expensive it can be for a family day out and therefore set the entry cost to visitors low, being £5 per adult, £1 for a child under 12 and children under 3 can get in for free. Tickets are purchased on the day only at the entry gate, and payment by cash is requested. All display vehicles need to prebook, and the show is so popular most of the display places go by June before the show. Display owners pay £8 per car to display. During every show the public vote for their ‘Car of the Show’ and the winner has a lovely photograph taken of their vehicle and awarded a trophy. In 2019, the last full normal show before Covid, the winner was beautiful Jaguar E-Type.

 

 

Every year the organizers want to have a special attraction for people and over the years we have had an array of attractions like Michael Schumacher’s Benetton winning F1 car, Dragsters, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Batman and his Batmobile and much more

 

          

The show always attracts a lot of attention, and the show often gets celebrities attending to help support the show. The TV chef James Martin is a big petrol head and has a wonderful array of classics cars and often attends the show with one of his beauties. The photograph shows James being interviewed with his beautiful Ferrari 275 GTBC. You will often see ‘The Stig’ at the show, although don’t expect him to talk to you, but he does enjoy sitting in people’s cars.

Whilst wondering around the show you will see a great selection of cars, treasured by their owners all willing to chat about their cars and what they have and do to maintain them, whilst relaxing and enjoying the show themselves. The show has a Ferrari and Super Car section, often sporting the newest Super cars on display for visitors to see. At intervals during the show you will hear the ‘Sound Off’ competition and this is great to hear the rumble of V8 and V12 engines.

The show has a large marquee with trade stands, and you can have a go on a large Scalextric track, the fastest person around the track over a number of laps will win a prize.  If you’re hungry then there is a BBQ, Ice Cream Van, Bar and Coffee van. Attention to detail is the show organizers wish and they are always looking for new and exciting things to bring enjoyment and fun to all who attend.

If you fancy a ride out in a car, then the show has Sporting Bears Charity running ‘dream rides’ for a donation to the show charity. You will be taken on a 10-mile drive to experience an array of different cars and is a must do for any visitor, so make sure you book your slot on the day early as places go quickly. Visitors attending the show are directed to nearby car parks and the show runs a Park & Ride scheme as well, so look out for the signs when arriving. To help transport people across the car parks they have Trigger the Train which you can ride on for free, the kids love this experience

This year the show is being sponsored by Airsports Insurance Bureau (AiB) in Chandlers Ford and the show organizers are planning a special show to welcome people back after the recent pandemic. The show this year will feature a Movie and TV car and bike display. The show will have a wonderful ‘Back to the Future’ DeLorean, Herbie the Love Bug, James Bond’s Aston Martin DB5 and many more.

To find out more about the show visit www.concordeclassics.co.uk

 

 

Motorhomer sets up YouTube Studio from his camper!

Philip Tomlinson, a long standing AIB client, has started to use his motorhome as a studio to record YouTube videos!

Philip, owner of popular www.Motorhomer.com arranges rallies for his members across the UK. Spending many weekends away, he soon realised that a mobile studio would be absolutely necessary to record content for his new Youtube channel ‘Those Two Wits’.

Philip has teamed up with his good friend Bruce Lauderdale to create witty videos that leave their subscribers with a smile. Their funny reactions to other videos and the hilarious games they play with other YouTubers, make up the core of their content. Bruce, originally from South Africa, lives full-time in his self converted campervan. He is a professional videographer and he brings his expertise in this field combined with his talent for comedy, to the mix.

Philip’s eldest daughter recently got married to an American, in the USA. To better understand American culture and history, Philip and Bruce started to watch YouTube videos about the USA. They recorded their reactions to these videos and asked American citizens to leave comments on what to watch next, with hilarious results!

Their escape room style ‘Beat The Bomb’ game is a great success. The players objective is to defuse a pretend bomb by solving a series of puzzles. Each puzzle tests different skills, including hand to eye coordination and memory. At the end of the game, the player receives a score that is recorded on a leader board, with the highest-ranked being awarded a trophy at the end of the year.

Partner vs Partner is another one of their creations where couples compete against each other in challenges. These include games like ‘Raw Egg Roulette’ and ‘Undress Your Partner Blindfolded’. Seeing really is believing with these random, weird and downright hilarious games!

Their TikTok account boasts over 219,000 followers and 3.7 million likes, and they are gaining ground on other social media. In addition, they will soon be releasing longer-form podcasts that last around an hour, where they debate a range of exciting and compelling subjects.

If you are interested in watching any of their content, search for ‘Those Two Wits’ on YouTube, Instagram, TikTok or use the link below:

Those Two Wits

Concorde Classics Car Show A Garden Party for Car Enthusiasts

On Sunday 11th September 2022 will be the 13th Concorde Classics Car Show held at the Concorde Club in Eastleigh. The show first started in 2008 when a group of like-minded people wanted to support local businesses, as well as raise money for worthy causes.

It was decided to utilise the lovely grounds around the Concorde Club to stage a charity car show, little did the small organising team realise what a great success the show would become and now features as one of the best Car Shows in the area. Many visitors describe the show as a garden party for car enthusiasts.

The show in the first year featured a few cars on display and was really just for owners and their vehicles taking part. After two years of running the show, the organising committee teamed up with Naomi House Children’s Hospice to make the show primarily about supporting and raising funds for Hospice. In fact, every penny made from the show goes to the charity.

Naomi House is a children’s hospice providing a professional palliative care service for families whose children and young people have a life limiting illness and their families from central southern England. The charity provides care to families living in communities across the seven counties of Berkshire, Dorset, Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Surrey, West Sussex and Wiltshire. The children’s charity has two specialist units, Naomi House for children, and jacksplace for young people. Each unit is purpose built and provides an appropriate environment for each age group. It costs around £4.5million a year to run the two units. The vast amount of money for running the hospice come from donations and fund raising like Concorde Classics Car Show. In the last 12 years the Car Show has now raised over £107,000 for the charity and in November 2019 was awarded the Dr Peter Lee Award for long term support to Naomi and jacksplace.

As the word spread, and the show changed from not just a show for owners but for visitors as well and began growing in popularity. Today the show attracts over 3,000 visitors with around 160 cars on display at any one time. The cars on display vary from vintage right the way up to modern supercars and is very family orientated.

Being family orientated the organisers understand how expensive it can be for a family day out and therefore set the entry cost to visitors low, being £5 per adult, £1 for a child under 12 and children under 3 can get in for free. Tickets are purchased on the day only at the entry gate, and payment by cash is requested. All display vehicles need to prebook, and the show is so popular most of the display places go by June before the show. Display owners pay £8 per car to display. During every show the public vote for their ‘Car of the Show’ and the winner has a lovely photograph taken of their vehicle and awarded a trophy. In 2019, the last full normal show before Covid, the winner was beautiful Jaguar E-Type.

Every year the organisers want to have a special attraction for people and over the years we have had an array of attractions like Michael Schumacher’s Benetton winning F1 car, Dragsters, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Batman and his Batmobile and much more.

The show always attracts a lot of attention, and the show often gets celebrities attending to help support the show. The TV chef James Martin is a big petrol head and has a wonderful array of classics cars and often attends the show with one of his beauties. The photograph shows James being interviewed with his beautiful Ferrari 275 GTBC. You will often see ‘The Stig’ at the show, although don’t expect him to talk to you, but he does enjoy sitting in people’s cars.

Whilst wondering around the show you will see a great selection of cars, treasured by their owners all willing to chat about their cars and what they have and do to maintain them, whilst relaxing and enjoying the show themselves. The show has a Ferrari and Super Car section, often sporting the newest Super cars on display for visitors to see. At intervals during the show you will hear the ‘Sound Off’ competition and this is great to hear the rumble of V8 and V12 engines.

The show has a large marquee with trade stands, and you can have a go on a large Scalextric track, the fastest person around the track over a number of laps will win a prize. If you’re hungry then there is a BBQ, Ice Cream Van, Bar and Coffee van. Attention to detail is the show organisers wish and they are always looking for new and exciting things to bring enjoyment and fun to all who attend.

If you fancy a ride out in a car, then the show has Sporting Bears Charity running ‘dream rides’ for a donation to the show charity. You will be taken on a 10-mile drive to experience an array of different cars and is a must do for any visitor, so make sure you book your slot on the day early as places go quickly. Visitors attending the show are directed to nearby car parks and the show runs a Park & Ride scheme as well, so look out for the signs when arriving. To help transport people across the car parks they have Trigger the Train which you can ride on for free, the kids love this experience.

This year the show is being sponsored by Airsports Insurance Bureau (AiB) in Chandlers Ford and the show organisers are planning a special show to welcome people back after the recent pandemic. The show this year will feature a Movie and TV car and bike display. The show will have a wonderful ‘Back to the Future’ Delorean, Herbie the Love Bug, James Bond’s Aston Martin DB5 and many more.

Introducing….. Charmagne Alderson!

Charmagne Alderson

 

As our successful team at AIB continues to grow, we would like to extend a warm welcome to Charmagne Alderson. Charmagne joins our administration team working with Administration Manager, Megan Greer. 

 

The position became available when our brilliant Ben Simpson, who previously filled the role, has joined our sales team working directly with sales manager, Kirby.  Ben spent six months working in our customer service and administration department, learning the insurance ropes before making it impossible for us not to promote him into our sales team. 

 

22 year old Charmange was born in Guildford before growing up in Waterlooville, attending Crookhorn College. She honed her customer service skills within the hospitality industry and joins us from  Premier Inn, where she was a duty manager.  

 

FAST FACTS: 

Charmagne often gets told she looks like the older sister, Susan Pevensie in the 2005 blockbuster, The Chronicles of Narnia. it’s great to have her fantastical skills on our side! Charmagne has a rescue dog called Jenny, lives with her boyfriend Tyler and has a whopping ten siblings (some of whom are half / step brothers and sisters). Her large family means she is personable, communicative and she now is part of another great, extended family at AIB.

 

Charmagne’s father had the honour of paving Cheryl Cole’s driveway! Parking is now ‘ALOUD’ Ms Cole!’

 

 

CHARMAGNE SAYS:

“I have been warmly welcomed into the team here at AIB. I am enjoying the role immensely and feel lucky to work with such a talented group of people. The job is interesting, exciting and it’s been a great experience working with Megan so far – I look forward to a positive future within this excellent company.”

 

WE SAY:

Megan Greer says: “It’s safe to say, Charmagne has hit the ground running. Her excellent attitude to customer service and the complex skillset she brings from the hospitality industry is evident in her approach. She has already been of great assistance to me in the day to day running of AIB and I am so pleased to have her on my team.”

 

Watch the New Lotus Emira in Action!

Lotus has released a new film of the Lotus Emira in action, showing the eagerly anticipated V6 First Edition being put through its paces by Gavan Kershaw on the iconic Hethel test track.

Gavan, Director, Attributes & Product Integrity, Lotus Cars, leads the dynamic development of every Lotus and is part of the highly experienced team which engineers in the thrill of driving.

Amid some sideways action, he explains the Emira’s outstanding performance on both the track and the road, adding: “With the 3.5-litre V6 configuration and the supercharger, you start an acceleration from as low as 1,500rpm and the car just pulls and pulls and pulls, getting stronger and stronger as the revs increase. This is what a real sports car feels like.”

Gavan also expands on the car’s intuitive driving performance, plus the four different driving modes – Tour, for maximum stability and control; Sport, for increased body slip and throttle response; Race, with even greater motorsport-derived dynamics and a revised instrument cluster; and Fully Off, where the stability control is completely disengaged.

He concludes: “The whole package is tuned to give you maximum reward and confidence. It’s ‘For The Drivers’.

Thanks to our good friends at The Lotus Forums for providing the article. To read more about Lotus including the restructure of Lotus UK and more information on the Elise, Exige and Evora please visit them at https://www.thelotusforums.com/