To Clean Or Not To Clean?
I recently had my black Mercedes professionally detailed by Steve McMahon, from
Geeky Detail Reviews, a detailer and Influencer known for reviewing car care products.
He is amazing!
My car now looks like a mirror. And my AMG alloys look brand new.
I found myself refusing to drive for the first day after the clean (totally normal car person thing to do). I know some people prefer mud as this is proof that it’s driven - but this is my daily and I need it to be clean for when I visit clients etc. I also don’t want my white jeans getting mucky just before a meeting. When I drove it, it felt great! Like a new car. Then a quarry lorry drove past… and completely sprayed my new shiny motor in brown water and dust. It’s black so of course it shows. I guess I'll just have to use Steve once a week like a crazy person.
Go and check Steve out!
Next Job: winter tyres.
Skkaries
Check. Your. Tyres.
The UK is facing a serious tyre safety issue, with 40% of vehicles on the road running on tyres that are either illegal or dangerously close to the limit, according to new research from the National Tyre Distributors Association (NTDA).
The NTDA’s TyreCheck 2025 report, the largest study of its kind in the UK, examined over 58,000 vehicles across 141 locations. It found that 8% of cars had tyres below the 1.6mm legal minimum, while another 32% were on “barely legal” tyres, meaning they technically pass the legal test but offer dangerously poor grip, especially in the wet.
The findings suggest that many motorists are waiting until the very last moment to replace their tyres, putting themselves and others at serious risk.
Key findings:
Halesowen (West Midlands) is the UK’s most dangerous hotspot, with 71% of cars running on illegal tyres – described as a “public safety emergency.”
Nationally, 8% of vehicles have illegal tyres, and 32% are on borderline tread depths (1.6–2.0mm).
Two in five vehicles pose a serious safety risk on UK roads today.
Regional results vary sharply: Northern Ireland recorded 21% of vehicles on illegal tyres, rising to 57% in focused checks. Major cities also fared poorly, including Sheffield (62%) and Bradford (36%).
The East of England, Surrey, and Hampshire reported some of the safest results, showing that higher standards are achievable.
Ian Andrew, CEO of the NTDA, said:
“Nearly two in five vehicles are running on tyres that are either illegal or dangerously close to it. This isn’t just a technical problem, it’s a life-threatening one. Drivers are waiting too long to replace tyres, and we need to make tyre safety a national priority.”
The NTDA is calling for urgent action, including:
Raising the legal tread depth minimum from 1.6mm to 2.0mm
Targeted safety campaigns in high risk areas
Financial support for drivers struggling with replacement costs
With stopping distances in wet conditions doubling when tyres are below 2mm, and fines of up to £2,500 per tyre plus three penalty points for illegal tread, the message is clear:
Delaying tyre replacement is not just risky, it’s gambling with lives.
Why Certain Car Brands Are Becoming Less Favoured In The Market
It’s been a strange few years for car brands. Jaguar’s recent stumble and questionable marketing decisions have left many wondering how a heritage name could lose its spark so fast. Land Rover, once the benchmark for off road luxury, is struggling to fit into an all electric future that doesn’t quite align with the brand’s identity. Will you be able to have your beautiful Defender 90 in Central London in a few years? And Tesla, the disruptor that started it all, has faced safety controversies, including a fatality involving its autopilot system, that have forced people to question how ready the technology really is.
Meanwhile, the wider industry is being pushed hard by governments toward electric adoption. That’s creating a divide between what consumers actually want and what they’re being told they should want. Many established manufacturers are trying to catch up, but the transition feels forced and in that scramble, a lot of genuine innovation could be seen as being replaced by marketing spin.
Arguably, there’s also a quieter conversation about the sustainability of it all. Batteries don’t magically make cars clean; they take years of use before their environmental footprint balances out. When you consider how mining, shipping, and recycling factor in, it’s easy to see why “green” can sometimes feel more like “greenwashing.”
Brands that once stood for adventure, craftsmanship, or performance are trying to rebrand themselves as eco-tech companies. Some will evolve successfully. Others will lose the essence that made them iconic.
The car industry is at a crossroads. And where do car enthusiasts stand here? Which brands will cease to exist in the next decade?
The Road to 2030: What the UK’s Petrol and Diesel Car Ban Really Means
Firstly, I can already hear you *sigh* as a fellow car lover.
The ban on new petrol and diesel cars was originally introduced in 2017 under former Prime Minister Theresa May’s government, with an initial target date of 2040. This was brought forwards to 2030 during Boris Johnson’s tenure in November 2020, then delayed to 2035 due to cost-of-living concerns by Rishi Sunak.
However, this has since been rescinded, with the original 2030 target restored by Keir Starmer’s Labour government in 2024 for the sale of new petrol and diesel cars, whilst new hybrid sales are still expected to be phased out by 2035.
Not all is lost! You can still drive your cars. But this does mean the end of an era. I remember the days when the Audi R8 had just been released, it was rare to see a Lamborghini on the roads and Top Gear was the main source of car content consumption (my personal choice was watching Mat Watson do the water bottle test on Autocar). I could be cliche and say ‘oh the good days’ like everyone else. We all know that’s the case, so we have to move on and accept that we are part of history, and we were part of building it through our passions for cars.
The cease in sales of traditional cars will mean that we will move on. But it also means that some of us could potentially make some exciting investments in petrol and diesel cars and one day show our grandchildren what a petrol car was.
What are your thoughts?
Share your thoughts on our Instagram page @eventautomotiveuk
Heading into the Winter months
Event Automotive, Driving Forward Into Winter - Are you looking for winter car storage near you?
As the days grow shorter and the winter months set in, many assume that the automotive world begins to slow down. At Event Automotive, the reality is quite the opposite. This season offers us the perfect opportunity to shift gears, focus strategically, and prepare our clients for an exciting year ahead.
Winter is a time for planning. While the roads may be quieter, we are hard at work meeting with clients, developing strategies, and ensuring that the summer calendar of events is shaping up to be something truly special.
Alongside event planning, we continue to provide our suite of digital services. From web development and social media management to tailored digital marketing campaigns, our goal is to ensure that our clients remain visible, relevant, and connected throughout the year. Winter gives us the opportunity to refine these strategies, helping brands strengthen their digital presence so they are ready to shine come spring and summer.
Of course, the colder months also open the door to unique opportunities. We have some special winter plans in the works that will bring enthusiasts together in new ways, proving that passion for cars doesn’t have to be seasonal.
For us, winter is not about hiding away your beloved toy in the garage. It is about keeping the spirit of automotive culture alive all year round, ensuring that when the sun returns, you and your car are ready for the road ahead.
If you are looking for winter car storage near you, just contact us below.
Goodwood Revival 2025
One of the most memorable and inspiring event experiences I’ve had is at Goodwood Revival. The attention to detail, atmosphere, and above all the themed dress up element, completely transforms the day into an unforgettable event. Rennsports ST R Porsches were out in force, old racing cars and the best hair do-s. There’s something powerful about giving guests a purpose before they even arrive. When an event has a strong theme, especially one that encourages participation like vintage fashion, it naturally creates a sense of belonging, anticipation, and cohesion. It’s more than just attending, it becomes performative, emotive, and shared. I’ve seen firsthand how this creates moments people remember, photograph, and talk about long after the day ends. I know I was lured into the photo booth by the power of consumer psychology, and now I can look back at a physical photo. I love attending events like this, not only to enjoy them but to study them, I make a habit of reviewing the best parts and using those insights to craft richer, more purposeful experiences for my own events and for clients. A theme becomes the event’s USP, its identity, and its story.
A Look Back On Monterey Car Week 2025
Monterey Car Week was unbelievable. It was a car lover's dream come true. I got to see F40s and F50s cruising around like it was just another day, and the Maserati MC12, wow, what a sight. There were Singers casually parked on the side of a road, just hanging out like they didn’t belong to a different world. But honestly, the highlight for me was visiting Jay Leno's garage. His collection of cars and bikes was mind blowing.
We stayed at a ranch high above Bixby Bridge, which, let me tell you, was an adventure in itself. The drive down those treacherous mountain roads? Risking our lives every time, but it was totally worth it! We were always on the lookout for wild animals, hoping to catch a glimpse of something crazy. As for the cars? I mean, there were Ferraris, Lamborghinis, DB5s, and every kind of classic you could dream of, all parked in one spot like they were in a secret car club. It was car heaven.
If you ever get the chance to go to Monterey Car Week, I urge you to go, an absolute must do. And while you're there, take a stroll on Carmel's beautiful white sandy beach. Even better if you're a surfer, because the waves are incredible. As someone who’s obsessed with sharks, I was on full alert, scanning the water, hoping to spot one. Sadly, no sharks for me, but it was still an unforgettable experience. Honestly, everything there, the cars, the people, the atmosphere was fantastic.
Salon Privé 2025 at Blenheim Palace, A Masterclass in Automotive Elegance
I visited Salon Privé this year on a non work related weekend family trip. Each year, Salon Privé sets the tone for what an automotive event should be. Held within the grounds of Blenheim Palace, this year’s event once again demonstrated why it remains one of the crown jewels in the motoring calendar.
From the moment you step onto the palace lawns, it’s clear that this event is in a class of its own. The cars on display were fabulous. It’s not every day that one stands mere feet from some of the rarest and most revered machines ever made, the kind of vehicles that typically live behind closed doors, protected by velvet ropes and decades of heritage.
Let’s not pretend we didn’t all gravitate toward that Ferrari, the one that barely needs an introduction or marvel at the precision and theatre of today’s leading hypercars. The breadth and depth of the selection reflected an organiser’s contact list that’s second to none.
Yet Salon Privé isn’t just about the cars. It’s about the experience. And the atmosphere this year was, quite simply, immaculate. From the effortlessly stylish outfits to the way guests moved between displays, champagne in hand this is an event that knows exactly who it’s for, and delivers accordingly. Credit must be given to the event planners and marketing team; the brand experience is polished.
That said, even a near perfect event can suffer from the occasional misfire. With an estimated 3,000 guests in attendance, the presence of just six food trucks meant that queues became an inconvenience. Many guests found themselves missing displays while waiting for a bite, a reminder that at events of this scale, catering logistics matter just as much as the cars. Simply put: people remember if they’re hungry.
Still, minor gripes aside, the setting remains unbeatable, the vehicles unforgettable, and the overall experience was splendid.
Salon Privé continues to set the benchmark for prestige automotive events in the UK. We're grateful to have been there, and we’re already looking forward to the next one.
Until next time.