[Nick]

Hi everyone, I’m Nick - and I'm thrilled to be joining you today as your new Community Manager here on the RAC Community. I’m looking forward to getting to know you all and with that in mind, here’s a bit about me.

I’m based in Leeds where I follow Leeds United with my eldest son, the NFL (49ers fan), and NBA (lifetime Bulls fan). I love music, movies and books, and basically just spending any form of quality time with my family!

I’ve been managing online communities since around 2011 in one form or another and love getting to know community members and hopefully play a part in helping them in whatever interest the community holds for them.

I’ll be popping up in conversations, asking questions, and offering support along the way, where I am able to.

In the meantime - to help me know a at least a little a bit about you....

Introduce yourself in cars:
For me:
Current car: Vauxhall Grandland
First car: Ford Escort Xr3 convertible
Dream car: a toss up between a Ford F250 and an early 80s Mercedes CL360
Favourite TV/Movie car: again a toss up between The Fall Guy's GMC Sierra and Thomas Magnum's Ferrari 308!

Please don’t hesitate to send me a DM with any questions, feedback/suggestions, or just to say Hi!

[Drivingforfun]

Welcome!!

My dad's side of my family is from Leeds and are Leeds Utd supporters! It seems they aren't doing too well these days ... when I was at school they were in the top league with Arsenal and all that. Forgive my lack of knowledge about the correct terminology to use 😆

An xr3 sounds like a cool first car, those were the "st" models of the day weren't they??

[Nick]

Thanks @Drivingforfun ,

I don't know if I'd say we weren't doing too well these days - we're top of the Championship and pushing for promotion to the Premier League, but it's all part of the fun anyway!

Yeah XR3's were probably the equivalent of the STs, probably had the Cosworths come in between them though that really pushed the performance.

How would you answer these questions for yourself?
Current car:
First car:
Dream car:
Favourite TV/Movie car:

[Rolebama]

Welcome Nick.
My current car is a BMW 318i Estate. (The version that comes with working indicators😁).
My first car was an Austin Mini 7, in which I explored most of the South of England.
As for dream cars or favourite movie cars, I don't really have them. Over the years I have driven a multitude of different cars, and I always found something which didn't suit my taste.

[Nick]

Thanks @Rolebama , good to hear from you.

The BMWs with working indicators have always been my favourite 😆
Sounds like you've done plenty of experimenting with your cars - any favourites along the way?

[TC1474]

Welcome.

I am half Yorkshire with my mother hailing from the Dales of Pately Bridge, and I have family in both Harrogate and Leeds. That said, I am a lifelong Manchester City supporter but I hold a season ticket for Reading in League 1.

My current car is a 2009 Jaguar X-Type which I have had from new, although this year will be the year of change.

My first car was a 1967 Renault 10 handed down by my mother, although I took my driving test in her Renault 16 complete with column gear change.

Dream car? Any Aston Martin. I have been fortunate enough to drive a few (including the original Bulldog prototype) and visited the factory, so it would have to be an Aston.

Not sure I have a favourite Movie/TV car, been quite a few that I like, but non I would say are favourites as such.

[Beelzebub]

Hi Nick, welcome.

I learned to drive, aged 10, in Dad's 1953 Ford Popular.

First car I owned was a 1962 VW Beetle. which cost £100 in 1972. Incidentally, the only white car I've ever had.

Current car is a 2024 Kia Sportage Hybrid.

Like Rolebama, I've had dozens of cars, both company and owned, and driven many more. But I don't dream of cars.

[Drivingforfun]

@TC1474 a shot in the dark but I've wondered before if you're Reg Local? Watching him on YouTube and he seems to have a similar career history to you...being in Manchester pushed me to have to ask...!

To answer the questions @Nick

Current car: (BMW) Mini John Cooper Works (manual obviously!!)
First car: 2002 Mini Cooper again a "new" BMW one though
Dream car: Ford Mustang
Favourite TV/Movie car: I'm not sure, don't really have one!! A distant relative or friend of a relative perhaps? wrote this book though...! So maybe the car in that??

[TC1474]

Originally Posted by Drivingforfun

@TC1474 a shot in the dark but I've wondered before if you're Reg Local? Watching him on YouTube and he seems to have a similar career history to you...being in Manchester pushed me to have to ask...!

To answer the questions @Nick

Current car: (BMW) Mini John Cooper Works (manual obviously!!)
First car: 2002 Mini Cooper again a "new" BMW one though
Dream car: Ford Mustang
Favourite TV/Movie car: I'm not sure, don't really have one!! A distant relative or friend of a relative perhaps? wrote this book though...! So maybe the car in that??

No, I am not him. I am in Berkshire, he is in Yorkshire, although I have met him a couple of times.

Different forces, and I pre-date him by a number of years.

[Nick]

Originally Posted by TC1474

Welcome.

I am half Yorkshire with my mother hailing from the Dales of Pately Bridge, and I have family in both Harrogate and Leeds. That said, I am a lifelong Manchester City supporter but I hold a season ticket for Reading in League 1.

--------

Dream car? Any Aston Martin. I have been fortunate enough to drive a few (including the original Bulldog prototype) and visited the factory, so it would have to be an Aston.

I was in the Boys Brigade as a young lad and we spent a LOT of time in Pateley Bridge and the surrounding area as we owned a hostel/house in the hills above. Lovely place. A recommendation if anyone's ever around woulr be to visit the National Trust's Brimham Rocks!

The EFL is where the real football happens. We're members at Leeds - the waiting list is way to long for a season ticket, but we get tickets reasonably regular.

My father-in-law used to work on the production line for Aston Martin way back when. For his 80th birthday a couple of years ago our local dealership gave him a really great VIP day!

[Rolebama]

These are the cars I have owned over the years.
Austin Mini 7, Standard Ensign, Morris Oxford, 2 x Triumph Herald, Humber Sceptre, Rover 3-litre Coupe, Ford Zephyr Executive, Vauxhall Viva, Toyota Crown, Austin Maxi, Ford Transit Minibus, Austin Mini, Ford Fiesta, VW Polo, Peugeot 306, Peugeot 406, and now BMW 318i. I bought all of them at different times to suit a particular purpose.
I have visited Vauxhall, VW and British Leyland Special Tuning factories.
My personal favourite was a Mini which I tuned courtesy of BLST, Vulcan Engineering and SU Carburettors. It basically had a highly modified MG 1100 engine and three independent exhausts as I could not find a manifold to split 2 and 3 cylinders. Modified gearbox and diff. (70mph @ 2,500rpm, 6,000rpm redline). Went like the proverbial, ate tyres, and cost a small fortune to insure.