We were very pleased to receive a new membership application from Simon Brown recently as in fact Simon was a previous member of the club back in 1998 and there is now a second Barchetta in his life.
Simon has kindly provided an introduction below and some interesting photos from some early club meetings. Do any of our current members go back this far?
Welcome back Simon and we look forward to seeing you and the new Barchetta soon.
I just thought I would re- introduce myself!
Car Magazine October 1995 was when I made my mind up to get a barchetta. A lesser known James May, with Richard Bremner and Gavin Green, road tested barchetta against the current NA MX5, Alfa Spider and MGF. All three agreed that the barchetta was the one to have.
In August 1998 I purchased a silver LE S466APD no 2499/2500 and enjoyed several trips with this club owners club, I wonder if some of you were members back then (see photos) before children and a house sale meant we parted company in 2000.
Despite fuel smells and flaky dashboard electrics I loved that car.
After owning a TR7 (still going strong), MGTF (disaster), NC MX5 and ND MX5 none of them truly enabled me to move on from barchetta, despite a quarter of a century of time.
Here we are in 2026 and I’m back in the club with my 2004 barchetta and very much looking forward to meeting up with you at future events.
Simon Brown
Welcome back Simon. We still have a few members from the early days, I hope they remember you.
Thanks Martin, I had forgotten what it’s like to be stopped at petrol stations and asked what is the beautiful car I’m driving. I’m going to have to practice a positive but very short reply. So far 100% strike rate.