[Lily]

Hello everyone,


My name is Lily, and I’m thrilled to be joining you as the new Community Manager here at the RAC forum!

You may have noticed a few new faces around here recently, so I thought I’d take a moment to introduce myself. A little bit about me: I’ve been working in community management for quite a while now, with experience in the gaming, music, travel, and composable commerce industries and I’ve had the pleasure of meeting some incredible people along the way. No two days have ever looked the same, and that’s exactly how I like it!

This is my first time working in a community centered around cars, and I couldn’t be happier to be here. When I was a kid, I used to wake up super early on Sunday mornings just to watch the F1 races. I’ve always loved cars and being out on the road, but I know I have a lot to learn, and I’m really looking forward to learning from all of you. 🚙



Starting next week, you’ll be seeing more of me: leaving comments, posting new threads, and hopefully getting to know many of you better. Like my colleague @Nick, I’m here to support you, so please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have questions, ideas, or just want to say hi! 😊


Dream car(s): A Jeep, a ’64 Mustang, an Audi TT... The list goes on.
Current car: A Ford Fiesta (yes, I know...exciting stuff! But hey, it’s reliable and affordable).
Favourite racing video game: Need for Speed. Most of the franchise is great, but I have a special place in my heart for Most Wanted. Also, Mario Kart, of course!

Any fans of racing games in the community? Or fellow travel lovers?

Looking forward to the journey ahead. See you on the road!

[Rolebama]

Hi Lily, and welcome.
Back in the 70s, most of my friends went through the 'American Muscle Car Phase'. We would go to the Chelsea Bridge Cruise most weekends, a convoy of Mustangs, Mercury Cougar, Trans-Ams, Camaros, Firebirds and a pristine T-Bird. I remember a friend bought a Firebird with a straight six engine, and got a 'proper' V-8 lump to fit. All went well until we discovered we needed different engine mounts. A few hours with 2inch angle and power tools, and I fabricated some solid mounts. His father was a professional coach-liner at Mulliner Park Ward, and he painted a fantastic Firebird logo on the bonnet in silver, black and red. The following Saturday we went off to Chelsea, and he booted it on the bridge. The engine ripped off one side, completely destroying the bonnet. So much work destroyed by the impulse to show off.

[Nick]

Great to have you with us @Lily - one of my "dream" cars is a Jeep also - specifically a Jeep grand Wagoneer. Even more specifically the one that John Candy drives in The Great Outdoors, although the new versions are actually up my street too!

[Lily]

Thanks @Rolebama for the warm welcome! 🤗I can't blame you and your friends for going through that stage, such beautiful cars, aren't they? And so cool. Growing up my neighbour had a Camaro, he was the envy of every dad on that street!

Thanks @Nick! It's great to be in good company. Mine is the Lorelai Gilmore's Jeep! It looks very, very comfy

[Beelzebub]

Originally Posted by Rolebama

Hi Lily, and welcome.
Back in the 70s, most of my friends went through the 'American Muscle Car Phase'. We would go to the Chelsea Bridge Cruise most weekends, a convoy of Mustangs, Mercury Cougar, Trans-Ams, Camaros, Firebirds and a pristine T-Bird. I remember a friend bought a Firebird with a straight six engine, and got a 'proper' V-8 lump to fit. All went well until we discovered we needed different engine mounts. A few hours with 2inch angle and power tools, and I fabricated some solid mounts. His father was a professional coach-liner at Mulliner Park Ward, and he painted a fantastic Firebird logo on the bonnet in silver, black and red. The following Saturday we went off to Chelsea, and he booted it on the bridge. The engine ripped off one side, completely destroying the bonnet. So much work destroyed by the impulse to show off.

Really?
Surely destroyed by inadequate DIY engine mounts?😉

[Rolebama]

@Beelzebub Absolutely true. I did point out to him that I didn't think they would take a bootful, and we just happened to have the angle iron laying around.

[Drivingforfun]

A travel lover here but haven’t left the UK since before Covid!!

Combining cars with travel is on my radar, ie like a road trip 🤔

[Lily]

@Rolebama the Firebird logo story had me grinning the whole way through! Your friend should have listened to you. 😅 I can imagine your "I told you face" when the engine destroyed the whole thing. Wait a second, were you in the car when it happened?

@Drivingforfun I love a road trip. I am currently living Wales, heading to London today to spend the Bank holiday weekend with family and friends there. Do you know which places you want to visit? The Peak District is lovely this time of the year, Dorset too (Durdle Door it's definitely worth the trip), here in Wales I like Tenby.

[Rolebama]

I got stuck on a job the day it happened, and I was late to the cruise. Luckily, I had my own car with a towball, so after lashing his engine up, and tying his bonnet down, I towed him home.

[NMNeil]

Deserted the UK in 96 for California and lived in LA for 2 years, 7 years in Las Vegas and now 20 years in Roswell New Mexico, making me a genuine alien. 😁
As Gerry said.
"What a long strange trip it's been"

[Nick]

Out of interest @NMNeil - what made you move to the states? Was it work related? And the same for your move around the country?

Jealous of your time in Las Vegas, one of my favourite places on Earth - assuming you lived outside the epicentre though, somewhere like Summerlin or Henderson maybe?

[Drivingforfun]

I've more than just daydreamed about deserting the UK but always fall back to being wary of "grass is greener" syndrome

There was a famous British agent who in WW2 who defected to the Soviet Union... he adored Britain and "Britishness" and missed it, just loathed the politics ... I can very much sympathise, except the bit about leaving freedom in favour of communism ... in 2025 it feels very much more the other way round to me 😂

[NMNeil]

@Nick I was in Lyon in France; up to no good, when I met an American lady who was on a wine tour. Had a great time and when she returned to the US we kept in contact. One day she called and said she had taken some time off work and asked if I fancied coming over for a visit. As at that time flights were cheap so I said yes. Went drinking, woke up with a wife and a hangover. Got rid of the hangover but still had a wife. So I had to make a choice, stay in sunny Southern California or return to my flat on Roundshaw. That was a tough one🤣
Went through the immigration process and we wanted to buy a house, which was unrealistic in California due to prices. We went to Vegas for a weekend and it didn't take long to realize that if you've seen one casino; you've seen them all, so we went for a drive and found a brand new house in North Las Vegas that we could afford and put a deposit down on the spot. No job and no clue what to do next, but the dice rolled our way (Vegas pun intended) and I got a job. After 7 years we decided to look for a retirement home because Vegas was getting overcrowded. Did lots of traveling to Arizona, Northern Nevada, Oklahoma and Arkansas but settled on New Mexico as we found a house that was perfect. 3 bedroom, 1500 sq ft on 3.5 acres in the countryside. Sold the Vegas house just before the market crash and paid for my present house in cash. Amazing what sort of a discount you can get when you mention 'cash'.
So here I am, 71, retired and enjoying brewing and drinking beer and growing and smoking weed.
Odd to think that not so long ago as a cop I was arresting people for weed before it was legalized.
To repeat.
"What a long strange trip it's been"

[Lily]

@NMNeil Roswell?? That brings back memories! As a teenager, I used to love this series called "Roswell" by the WB or the CW I think. Of course, the aliens were not green, but very attractive people with superpowers. 😂

I'd still love to pay it a visit, check all the UFO museums and attractions. What really happened in 1947?? 👽 Do you have any theories?


@Nick I'd have never guessed Las Vegas was your favourite place on Earth, not in a million years. Never judge a book...Are you a poker player?


@Rolebama very late replying to you, srroy about that (I took a little holiday) nice of you to take him home, that's a good friend right there!

[NMNeil]

@Lily As Roswell relies on tourism for a fair chunk of it's revenue I don't want to dispel the mystery; but ask yourself a question.
If we had found an alien ship nearly 80 years ago with all that technology, why are we still strapping ourselves on top of tons of explosives, lighting the blue touch paper and hoping for the best to get into earth orbit? 🤔

[Lily]

@NMNeil maybe the government is lying to us (sorry, I had to go full conspiracy here since we are talking about Roswell!)

Now, in all seriousness, it makes sense we haven't been visited yet. The mystery remains...

[Nick]

@Lily haha, I'm not a poker player, but am a huge Rat Pack/Frank Sinatra fan, so the old school glamour and showbiz side of Vegas is what appeals to me. I love to hang out at favourite bars, restaurants, get dressed up for a night out, catch a show, visit the sights, and find somewhere to stop and slow down for a while to people watch!

[Lily]

@Nick that sounds really cool and pretty glamorous! I can totally see you in Vegas now.

I have a huge jazz fan at home, and I love some Nat King Cole in the evenings. Maybe Vegas is not a bad idea after all. 🤔 We went to Ronnie Scott's in London and loved the whole experience.

[olduser]

As the say, 'there'll never be another Nat King Cole', the warm velvet voice with clear articulation, timing, phrasing, and cool cool piano, now throw in a mellow base, and intelligent drums, the world can stop until they have done.
The only thing that might distract me could be Ela Fitzgerald but there again Lena Horne could deliver.

I have a vague recollection Fitzgerald, and Cole performing a duet together, not competing but together, shown on TV, but then it may have been one of my wildest dreams.

[Lily]

Hey @olduser, you weren't dreaming, look what I've just found:



I fully agree, his voice is literally velvet!