With warmer months on the horizon, it’s time to finish those winter builds, wake your show car up from hibernation and recommission your classic. With the unexpected retirement of Ultimate Dubs in 2024, Volksworld now kicks off the UK show season, bringing its celebrated air-cooled showcase to the south of England showground on 22 March.
To help you get ready, we caught up with former Brentacre team member and air-cooled specialist, Alex Tovey, for his top tips on preparing your classic for the season ahead.
Alex, for those who don’t know you, tell us about yourself
I’ve been a Volkswagen fan from a young age. I completed my apprenticeship with one of the largest air-cooled VW specialists at the time, then moved into a garage focused on engine tuning. After working independently and developing my specialist knowledge, I joined Brentacre in 2015, where I loved speaking with enthusiasts across the country about their cars.
In 2020, I made the difficult decision to leave Brentacre after spotting a gap in the market for a specialist air-cooled and retro restoration garage in south Wales. Today, we’re proud to be one of the largest garages of its kind in the region.
Every day brings something interesting through the doors, from rare VW variants to retro classics from outside the VW world. Seeing cars we’ve worked on at shows – and meeting their passionate owners – never gets old.
When owners bring their cars to you in spring, what winter storage problems do you see most often?
The most common issues are also the most preventable: flat batteries, perished or flat-spotted tyres, seized brakes and early corrosion. A trickle charger – or simply running the engine regularly – helps avoid many of these. We also recommend a pre-show inspection and a full service at the start of the season, especially with long weekends, frequent starts and, for some Volksrods, high speeds!
We often see stale fuel in infrequently-used cars, missing tinware causing overheating and snapped fan belts due to irregular servicing. Catching these early saves money and helps you avoid arriving at a show on a recovery truck!
So preparation is key! What tools should show attendees carry?
With older air-cooled vehicles, recovery companies may not have suitable parts on hand, so it pays to be prepared:
- Phone, torch, hi-viz jacket and warning triangle
- Locking wheel nut key (if fitted)
- Spare wheel inflated to the correct pressure
- Basic toolkit: jack, adjustable spanner, screwdriver, spark plug socket and wheel brace
- Jump leads or a portable boost pack
- Spare fan belt
- Spare bulbs and fuses
- Spare ignition components as appropriate (spark plugs, coil, leads, rotor arm, distributor cap, points and condenser)
- Engine oil of the correct grade
We’re always happy to advise on the right parts and can supply everything listed.
Have you ever had a car come in that looked show-ready but hid some serious mechanical sins underneath?
Quite often. Some cars arrive freshly purchased and cosmetically smart, but the mechanical maintenance hasn’t kept pace. We inspect vehicles thoroughly to identify overlooked issues and help owners plan properly so they can enjoy their pride and joy for years to come.
One memorable example – which went viral on our Instagram – came in with suspected rust spots but turned out to be largely filler, with plastic bags packed inside the bodywork!
Finally, what advice do you find yourself repeating to classic VW owners?
We regularly meet owners paying far more than necessary for insurance through mainstream providers. We always suggest speaking to Brentacre – the team’s specialist knowledge of classic cars often helps enthusiasts secure more suitable cover and reduce premiums.
Brentacre customers also receive a 5% discount on servicing with us.
Ready for the season?
Preparation now goes a long way toward a stress-free show calendar. If you’d like advice, parts or a pre-season inspection, get in touch with Alex and the team.
For specialist cover from petrol-head experts, visit Brentacre or speak to our team to find the right policy for your passion.
