2021 A Year in review

2021 has seen tremendous change within the business. We are in a different place to where we were this time last year. We’ve done it with hard work, long hours, investment, and most importantly the faith that all of you have shown in us – and for that all we can say is “Thank You”. 2021 has not been without problems, but with that we can say we’ve learnt, developed and can confidently look to 2022 knowing we’re better equipped for it.

The new storage lifts at Ware have added a significant change to the running of the site and as Graeme likes to joke “it’s now playing Tetris on 2 levels”. We couldn’t be happier with them and those of you that have seen them have also been impressed. Read the ‘in-depth’ here. Feel free to get in touch if you want to come for a coffee in the New Year.

Some highlights to mention, driving the 800+bhp HSV from Ware to Standon – it’s not far, but it certainly was memorable (Thank you Richard)! The Le Mans Blue F355 detail, moving into the new Ware unit, driving the Dodge Challenger (Thank you Peter), the day we got a Lotus Carlton through the door, hearing a 360 Challenge Stradale singing from at least 5 miles away. There’s honestly too many to mention but we’ve had a blast.

Looking back to this time last year we couldn’t have predicted all the twists and turns and we cannot thank you all enough in helping us get here. We’ve always said that we need you guys and girls to come on the journey with us and we’re the first to admit that we haven't made Rome, yet. So, thank you one last time for your patience and support in getting thus far – next stop more ramps, climate control, more investment and no doubt yet more insurance cover!

A little throw back to those warmer days!

Ramping it UP!

One of the key things to GQ is space. A crude way of looking at it is that the start of what we sell. The need is a daily struggle, and how we effectively and efficiently manage what we have is a never-ending task. Our standards are extremely high, and we know that is what you guys and girls like. We reached a neat point with Ware two and were able to re consider our approach.

Taking on more space was given some consideration; but the cons greatly outweighed the pros. The only solution I thought was most effective was to go up in the world and utilise the space we are already paying for. This also finally enabled the more presentable plan of running down the sides with a turning circle out and down the middle. May (some) of the hair follicles start to return.

Then came the fun part – shopping for car lifts! While there is an abundance of ‘car lifts’; ‘storage lifts’ are a slightly different prospect. We are a storage company so we needed to look for the best solution to our needs. We’ve found that the most fastidiously maintained car regardless of age can develop leaks. While some places might settle for conventional finger lifts, we know that all it takes is a single drip of brake fluid to fall on the car underneath and you’re in a spot of bother. The lifts we have chosen have a tray base, so all drips and drops are caught long before reaching the car underneath. It also helps monitor what’s going on with the car on the tray. On from there, you’ll notice these leg share to the rear, (don’t ask me how 🤯) thus space not only down the line but in the turning circle on exit.

Installation was very straight forward and came together surprisingly quickly. Thank you to those of you that helped in letting us move your cars to other sites while this work was carried out. We are still getting used to how they have changed the operation of the facility to be honest but those of you that have seen them have been impressed, we certainly are happy with them. While it would be great to have added more we’ll need a while to recover from the expense(!) However, it also allows us to observe, learn and perhaps evolve differently if required next year.

If you’d like to come for a coffee and see them for yourself, do get in touch, we’re really happy showing them off, Merry Christmas to GQ!

GQ Social: Bicester Scramble

With the New Year we are (again) going to try and start up the GQ Social (I’m aware as I type Omicrom is looming ever larger). We have in advance hope purchased a limited number of tickets for the Sunday Scramble at Bicester Heritage on the 16th January 2022. We are offering them complimentary to our Care Pack owners. These are on a first come first serve basis, so, if you’d like one please get in touch via the button below or via your chosen channel.

Naturally if you are not a care pack customer, you are more than welcome to come along - tickets can be purchased directly from Bicester Heritage but we’d still ask you to confirm attendance via the button below by 2nd January 2022.

As you can imagine, hosting such an event brings logical challenges so please do work with us as we look to bring back the GQ Owners Socials next year.

Omicrom not invited!

Review: Silverstone Lap of Lights

For the past couple of years Silverstone have decided to convert their circuit into a light and laser show over the festive period to fill the void that gets left once the race season finishes. Well, I took the family along to see if it’s worth the journey. I’ll start by saying it was my son’s 5th birthday on the night we decided to take our lap, so we were all on a bit of a sugar high – but then I suppose that could well have aided in our enjoyment of the lap. 

I’m not a track day specialist by any stretch so the thought of driving the circuit was quite a big pull for me. There could have been a few marshalls with torches and laser pointers dotted around the lap and they would have pulled a crowd in. But there is so much more than that.

You start by joining the circuit at Luffield and drive the old start/finish line into Copse (looking to see if there’s any remnants of Max’s Red Bull still in the gravel trap – there wasn’t), then the full show gets going just before you turn into the Maggots/Becketts complex, you then get wow’d by lasers, lights, classic trucks, and more all the way past the Wing and out the other side to Village corner where you then exit the circuit. I obviously made sure I hit my apexes just right, my wife and kids were left astounded by my sheer raw untapped driving ability. This is not a fast lap though. They send out pace cars to keep you at a sensible 5mph and your just in an extremely long line of cars all trundling round, there isn’t really the opportunity to ‘open the taps a little’ – but you wouldn’t want to.

In the wing they have a “Lodge” set up where you can buy food, memorabilia, or more sugar for the kids. I will say the pig in blanket with stuffing hot dog is exceptional. Typical event prices apply, on any reasonable day you’d say it was too expensive – but you get in the spirit of it and buy one anyway. I didn’t feel especially hard done by, and I think the whole event was good value for money.

It was a little disorganised on our arrival, some to-ing and fro-ing where to access the event from as we had a buggy. But you could just as easily put that down to we got there early-ish and they weren’t totally set up. If you do go and have a buggy, they want you to park in the blue badge car park.

It was a great afternoon/evening’s entertainment with plenty to occupy the family. But it’s just as engaging without kids. There’s even a free soft drink to the designated driver so they are trying to cater to everyone. There is still plenty of availability and you can book all the way into the new year; my 2p is it’s definitely worth a visit.

 To see the 2019 Mercedes W10 with Ant Davidson at the wheel take on the lap at great speed, then look no further!

Video: Thriving in bad weather

With the weather drawing in and the roads becoming less and less appealing. Here’s a video of some of the greatest cars to thrive on awful roads. The video is worth a watch just for some amazing footage of flying cars!

"From Santa?

Feeling a little self indulgent or just super generous? Here’s a look at what we’re shouting up the chimney for.

Otto Models – who doesn’t love um? …and this 850 T5-R Estate caught our eye last night while sofa surfing. If your pockets are a little deeper and you can work with yellow here’s a real one. No typo, that’s £25k!

BMW E9 – Oddly x2 E9 BMWs are coming up soon. The darker one is even local to Herts - you won’t even need to travel far.

Jaguar XFR-S Sportbrake – There’s something about a fast estate that really does blow the wind up my skirt

Honda Integra Type R DC2 – One for the JDM fan boi’s. It’s those headlights (so much better than the UK supplied cars imo). Your chance to get a good example, and not be scared of putting the miles on.

Ferrari 456 GT – Prancing horse - check, V12 - check, manual - check. Need any more reasons?

The Original X5 – We could really use a utility vehicle and I keep looking at the original BMW X5. This range topping 4.8is has been keeping us up at night last week.

Last but not least – No link this time, only this pic. Another off market opportunity from a fellow owner. Needless to say it’s a super clean example. To have it on the drive for Christmas drop me a line and I’ll introduce you guys. “From Santa” indeed.

Graeme – AKA The G Man!

In other news Graeme (AKA The G Man) has started phasing out of GQ HQ to enable his inevitable return to the camera. For those that have met him you will know that his photography is an intrinsic part of his life and pre GQ he was found storming pretty much every UK race circuit known to wo-man!

So, in prep for the world continuing to return to some degree of normality in 2022 his ramp down has begun and the shutter hotline has already started to pick back up.

Some might recall he also has an E39 M5. She’ll be staying in store with us, and will of course be coming along to some of the GQ socials when the window of opportunity presents.

Graeme brought enormous value, wit, diplomacy and order to his role at GQ and although he’ll be missed “you can certainly see where he’s been”.

Thank you once again for your time and belief Graeme. You won’t need luck with shutter skillz like yours.

P.S. For anyone that needs professional photography support feel free to reach out and I’ll share his contact details.

Festive Opening Times

I know, quite how it’s the final week before Christmas is beyond us – but here we are.

Below is our Festive and New Year opening times and while we will of course do all we can to get you out, for first time in 5 years we are taking a (small) break.

Friday 24th: CLOSED
Saturday 25th: CLOSED
Sunday: 26th: CLOSED
Monday 27th: CLOSED
Tuesday 28th: CLOSED
Wednesday 29th: 48 HOURS NOTICE
Thursday 30th: 48 HOURS NOTICE
Friday 31st: 48 HOURS NOTICE
Saturday 1st: CLOSED
Sunday 2nd: CLOSED
Monday 2rd: CLOSED
Tuesday 3rd: BUSINESS AS USUAL

As ever we will be online 24/7 throughout but physical access is outlined to the above.

Thank you again storing with us and we wish you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.