Afro Classics Register was formed in 2017 and the newly formed African Caribbean Classic and Sports Car Club (ACCSCC) was subsumed into it.

ACCSCC consisted of about 10 members and under the ACR banner we have now grown to over 150-members from across the UK. 

fro Classics Register’s (ACR) journey began in 2017 following a small gathering of Afro Caribbean Classic Sports Car Club (ACCSCC) enthusiasts and Gary Gordon, the ACR Chairman. 

This convergence of a handful of engaging African and Caribbean car enthusiasts was a standout moment on many levels. 

It led to the creation of Afro Classics Register which is focussed on Driving  for Change and social and economic mobility. 

Whilst most car clubs present at Bromley Pageant of Motoring were dedicated to a particular brand of car, we had a small but diverse range of classic cars and we were open, ooze of fun and entertainment – for some we seemed to be having a party, food and music being pre-requisites for any African or Caribbean gathering. 

As people passed by, they seemed to conclude that we were “the black car club”.  For many others the club vibe was a welcome change from the boring and macho atmosphere of traditional clubs; we represented what many from within our community have always wanted from their car club and for others it raised the question, “why do they need a black car club”.  However, for more open-minded skin colour was not the primary feature it was the relaxed atmosphere. As the day progressed, it would appear that we had become the talk of the event for many people.  

Increasingly, we were inundated with visitors of African & Caribbean descent overjoyed to learn of the existence of the group.  We comfortably flaunted our cultural identity without apology or feeling a sense of non-conformance.  Some people who had brought their cars to independently display began to approach us to see if they could display with us – the need to put in place a formal governance and leadership structure was identified.

Afro Classics Register exists for car enthusiasts of African and Caribbean descent, and census information from Africa and the Caribbean clearly reflects the diversity of the diaspora. 

Many of our members belong to a number of marque classic car clubs and our existence will not change that. We positively enrich the proposition that most car clubs may seek to offer. People are at the core of our purpose for existing and cars are merely decoration for the events that we participate in.  

A common discussion thread amongst most car enthusiasts of Caribbean and African heritage is that they feel marginalised within the traditional car clubs and events arena; there is generally a lack of appreciation of cultural nuances and many clubs tend to lack vibrancy.   

The Irish community has a classic car club, there is also the Gay Car Club so why can’t there be an African & Caribbean heritage focussed car club?

The African and Caribbean culture is naturally open and based on respect, it is normal for us to greet each other with a smile or a nod, irrespective of whether we are seeing each other for the first time.  

Social conditioning and the misunderstanding of what “integration” should mean has led many from the diaspora to shy away from publicly maintaining many important traditions (e.g. saying a simple hello or acknowledging your presence) in an attempt to make others feel that they are integrated into UK society.  

We believe that integration is a two-way street, and the indigenous population has also got an obligation to adjust its norms to ensure equality for all. 

Our members do not see themselves in the same way as most car club members; our primary purpose is to use our pride and joy to bring about a small change in the perception of people of African and Caribbean heritage, not just amongst people that don’t share our cultural background, but also those of us that feel that it is progressive to reinforce the negative stereotypes.  We will never compromise on having an equal and deserved seat at the table.

We are a club whose displays are accessible to everyone, and our members are always hospitable and amenable to open enquiries where experiences can be shared.  We are on a quest to be included in the perception and narrative of classic car owners and clubs.

What binds our members together, contrary to most people's perception it is not colour, it is our heritage and culture just like most car clubs. 

Where our members experience is  different to many other car clubs is that we all have persistent experience of being marginalised and consciously seek to avoid inflicting any such experience on others.

The priorities of the club are evolving and at present it is to positively support, contribute and promote the development of our community.  

We aim to be more visible within our communities whilst taking responsibility for bringing about positive change and appreciation for those that have laid and will maintain the foundation for us. 

Our Elders Have Made Many Sacrifices for Us

During 2022 we hope to use our cars to support churches with fundraising. We aim to offer a sponsored classic car drive to and from church for elders. 

In the summer we will also try to arrange a drive to the seaside for a small group of elders and may start this initiative with our members parents.  

Our club is made up of a number of very talented and capable individuals. As part of our desire to acknowledge our elders we would like to use our skills and resources to contribute to improving the living conditions of our elders, again at no cost.

Journey to Success

The Younger Generation is Important Too

Working with charities that support disadvantaged young people, we will provide a reward for achieving relative academic success. 

In acknowledgement of the hard-work and the achievement of a small group of young people across greater London we will provide a classic car (at no cost) to take the pupils to their school prom or graduation in London. 

We will work with the charities to define the criteria against which the winner(s) will be selected, however, it is unlikely to be based solely on pupils that achieve the highest grades.

The car club fraternity has, perhaps unintentionally, not recognised obvious gaps in its service offering, and the need to appeal to all people to remain wholly relevant.  

A high degree of complacency has been allowed to take root, watered by an assumed monopolistic and elitist arrogance. This projects a message that cars are more important than the very people who have made many sacrifices to keep their vehicle viable over many decades so that we and future generations can enjoy them. 

As individuals of colour what we experience within the traditional car club setting is generally representative of our day to day life experiences, and we too are normalised to it. We have decided to take control for improving our experiences, feelings and outcomes.  

Ultimately, our focus is to ensure that we represent our community positively, ensure that genuine meritocracy and equality prevails in the car club industry.  

We do not desire special treatment or concessions, ultimately what is required is empathy and equality, because without these minorities are unlikely to receive or perceive dignifying treatment. 

At ACR we believe that whilst each and every car has its own unique history, its existence is a testament to the owner's life journey. Consequently, our members will always be the focal point for our club. 

We provide a friendly and collegiate environment where our members know that they can relax without judgement along with people that understand or share similar cultural nuances.

Our discussions are never focussed on who has the best or most expensive car; we focus on supporting our members to safely and economically meet their objective for their car.  

Through discussions our members typically find a treasure throve of experience and suggestions for maintaining their car, parts suppliers, garages, approaches to repairs, and occasionally a little help - maybe no different to many other clubs.

Quite often when the topic of inclusiveness or members dignity is raised, within the traditional classic and historic car family, occasionally the response to such suggestions is rooted in defensiveness, e.g. "....are they saying we're racist?...." or "....I don't see colour..."; for those that say "I don't see colour...." or "....I treat everyone the same..." it is clear that they should not drive or fill-up their cars with petrol or diesel because they clearly cannot see. Such individuals are blindly likely to lack empathy and awareness. 

Those are a few examples of the (often) unconscious/ privileged attitudes that explain why many people from communities formed outside the UK may not feel comfortable in the traditional classic car club setting.

We appreciate that many people may choose to consider that a club focussed on people of African and Caribbean descent is divisive and likely to lead to segregation within the car club community. We urge those people to look at the demographic of Africa and the Caribbean before making such judgement as people of many nationalities and colours successfully coexist there.

Our perspective is different, we believe that if the traditional car clubs wish to change, they will when they are ready too. In the meantime, we are taking responsibility for our own happiness and using this opportunity to develop the necessary skills and experience to ensure that we are unquestionably qualified to perform pivotal roles within a more inclusive industry. 

Many of our members subscribe to a variety of marque clubs and this is unlikely to ever change. What is required is for clubs to ensure that they know the characteristics and understand the experiences of their membership.