Mike009 Gardner wrote:

At "Dream Rides" events, members of the public pay a fixed "donation" price take a 10 to 12 mile ride in a car of their choice , the more rare and exotic, the higher the "donation". This overcomes any `for hire` issues.Amounts also vary depending on the type of show we attend as you have to gauge what the punters will pay. Obviously top dollar is at the NEC Classic Car Show which is the big earner and brings in about £30,000 over three day event .

My first ever ride in a Marcos (and experience of the Sporting Bears) was as a punter in Mike's car at the Classic Car show in 2006. So in addition to funds for very worthy charities, Mike, Jack and the Bears have sucessfully exposed the masses to the Marcos experience.

The unfortunate by product for me is that the glorious roar of my very own V8 is now accompanied by the ever present chant "will I get my new kitchen sometime soon"