- SOME BASIC FACTS

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For many years going to a classic car show gave the public the chance to see their “Dream Car” in all its glory as part of a static display. In May 1994 at the NEC Show a new facet of “Showing” the cars was introduced to owners and public alike. For the first time the Sporting Bears Dream Rides feature allowed the cars to be seen being driven and for a fortunate few there was the opportunity of a passenger ride. Since that date Sporting Bears have continued to develop and use Dream Rides at many locations as a part of their charity fund raising.

 “Dream Rides” is a simple concept where people making an agreed minimum donation to a named charity are offered a free passenger ride in the car of their dreams. The rides have historically been of up to 10 miles duration on public roads. The drivers cover all their own expenses and thus are not seen to be driving for hire or reward. Given the above the integrity of the drivers own insurance is maintained and thus normal passenger cover remains intact.

Sporting Bears Motor Club has been running this feature at the NEC Classic Car shows since 1994. From the first year when 15 cars raised £4,300 over 3 days, to the latest show in 2006 when over two days, 70 cars gave over 1000 rides and £36,000 went to charity. In all Dream Rides at the NEC has raised over £212,000 to date.

The club has provided “Dream Rides” at shows nation-wide. Locations have included, Brooklands, Kimbolton Country Classic, Dundee, Guernsey and Mount Stuart on Bute. These activities have added another £75,000 to the overall total which now stands at £287,000. In addition around 6,000 enthusiasts have had the opportunity to ride in their dream car.

Several celebrities have taken part in the activity including Johnny Bute(Dumfries), Robbie Coltrane, Stirling Moss and Ken Tyrell.

Sporting Bears members and friends regularly offer their cars for “Dream Rides”. We have been able to call on such super classics as Jaguar XJ220, Porsche 959, Ferrari Enzo, Lamborghini Countache, etc. and at the other end of the spectrum the Fiat 500. In addition we have had rally cars both old and new. In recent years several modern “classics” such as Noble, Renault Clio V6 and Subaru have joined.

All the known necessary legal angles have been covered and the club’s legal advisors have been active in producing both a format for the operation of this activity and all the necessary indemnity forms for both drivers and passengers. The club has public liability insurance for £5,000,000.

The concept of Dream Rides has become a model for other car clubs and organisations to use both for charity fund raising and interest in their particular cars.

The Rides have, whilst aiding the raising of money for children’s charities, promote the ideals of ownership and involvement in the classic car club field by bringing large numbers of the public into direct and meaningful contact with cars in use rather than as static exhibits on display.

No money raised at “Sporting Bears Dream Rides” goes to anyone other than the charities named.