To mark our Club’s 21^st Anniversary your Committee decided to produce a special issue of Direct Drive giving members the history behind the founding of the Renault Frères. To capture the sentiments leading up to the formation of the Club is has been appropriate to begin the story from the Rallye Renault events held in the 1960’s and ‘70’s. Our old cars were not so old then and the roads were far more tranquil than they are today. The Renault Owner’s Club covered cars from the very earliest to the latest model bought new from the local Renault agent only the previous day. It was decided therefore to found a Club that catered for Renault cars built between 1898 and 1940 as it was impossible for these very much slower cars to keep up with faster, modern cars on organised rallies.

Renault have, over the years, given our Club a great deal of support and generous sponsorship, which had been increased over the past few years. From time to time they do ask us to help them by providing some of our veteran and vintage cars for various events held around the country; the launch of Euro Tunnel and Euro Disney, other promotional launches, and various marketing events. Invariably when these requests are made some members and their cars will be available to help out and find that the events they attended are thoroughly enjoyable. We have a debt of gratitude to Renault UK for their generous sponsorship.

Due to the special nature of this issue of Direct Drive you may note that some of our regular features have been omitted. They will, of course, reappear again in the Spring issue. You will observe that we have had a lot of ground to cover but we do hope that you will find the background history and reminiscences interesting and that this is an issue of the magazine which will become a collector’s item.