Latest News & Notices
Latest News & Notices
Imp National 2026
Thursday 30 July to Monday 3 August
Chesterfield Panthers R.U.F.C.
Dunston Road, Chesterfield, Derbyshire, S41 9BF
Advance-booking for Imp Club Members is now open. Tap here to book your place.
Thruxton Retro Event • July 2026
Thruxton is always a highlight in the racing calendar for Imp owners and several racing Imps were out on the track again.
Tap here to check out the race results and some photos from the event.
Impressions • July 2026
- Imp National final update
- Membership Musings – prices and a new option
- Full English Weekend (Cornish Edition) report
- Retro Rides Weekender report
- Gunnedah Imp – Tim Olthoff’s Australian Imp restoration – Part Four
- Imps racing at Oulton Park
- Motoring Madness or Magnifique? Ben Beuret’s 900-mile Continental Tour in his Mk1
- Martin Percival’s Caledonian restored – Part Two
And much, much more…
Tap here to view the magazine online (Members: the password will be provided in our monthly email around 6pm 1st July)
Imps at the Dene Rally
20th & 21st June 2026
Eight Imps proudly line up in the centre of the main field at the Dene Rally this year, surrounded by steam traction engines, tractors and other heritage vehicles. Oh, and on the Imp club stand, Daniel and Tim did a “quick” gearbox swap!
Tap here for photos and update from the event.
Full English Event • June 2026
Once again the Full English event took place this June and what a fabulous event it was! Many Imps joined in – with their owners – for several days of entertainment, chat and good cheer.
Tap here to see the full blog notes.
Impressions • June 2026
- Imp National update
- Imp Ecosse report
- Basingstoke Festival of Transport report
- Wicked Welsh North update
- Drive It Day in the Surrey Hills report
- Imps racing at Donington
- Used Car Test – Hillman Imp Super, reprinted from Autocar, 11th November 1971
- Gunnedah Imp – Tim Olthoff’s Australian Imp restoration – Part Three
- Martin Percival’s Caledonian restored – Part One
And much, much more…
Tap here to view the magazine online (Members: the password will be provided in our monthly email)
Basingstoke Festival of Transport
Several Imps attended the event this year again. The fine weather brought out the crowds and, of course, lots of interest in the Imps.
Graham Anderson’s Imp (VMT 384M) received a trophy from The Berkshire and District Motor Club as their chosen car of the day.
Goodwood Retro Rides – May 9 & 10 Weekend
Daniel Waghorn and Sam Gill attended the Goodwood Retro Rides weekend this year.
The mixed weather created variety but did not deter lots of fun.
Heart of England Retro & Classic Vehicle Show
Weather permitting this event takes place fortnightly throughout the summer. This week 3 Imps were in attendance. Tap here for interesting news about the Stiletto.
Birmingham Area Centre
Tap here for news from the Birmingham Area Centre.
Impressions • May 2026
- Behaviour at Future Nationals
- Imp National update
- Wicked Welsh North update
- Practical Classics Classic Car Restoration Show report
- Gunnedah Imp – Tim Olthoff’s Australian Imp restoration – Part Two
- Fitting Intermittent wipers – Pete Fitzgerald shows how
- A special Imp handbag!
- Granada TV Huskys
- Reproduction Imp badges
And much, much more…
Tap here to view the magazine online (Members: the password will be provided in our monthly email)
Drive it Day 2026
Sussex, Surrey and Hampshire (and more!)
Drive it day for several Imp club members from the Sussex, Surrey, Hampshire and surrounding areas included a weekend camp at the National 2025 site near Alfold, Surrey.
Such a fantastic weekend – Imps galore and the weather to suit. Our WhatsApp chat group has been buzzing with happy comments since we have all arrived home safely. So what did we get up to then?
Tap here to find out more!
The club has secured a club stand at Thruxton Retro on July 4th and 5th, which is the weekend that the Pre66 CTCRC Imps are out on track. Thruxton has given us a club discount on tickets and we have space for about 10 cars.
Car club tickets cannot be purchased through the public page but if you are interested in attending with your Imp then use the link below to purchase your ticket.
Click here to book (opens other website). There is a club discount: TR26BIMP
Imps in Classic & Sports Car Magazine
Once again an Imp (several this time) has been featured in a magazine, this time the Classic & Sports Car.
Here in the May copy, the article describes Frank Cheevers’ Husky, Russel Sears’ Stiletto and Les Human’s Singer Chamois Sport.
Grab a copy of the magazine from your local shop.
National 2026 Update
- Chesterfield Panthers RUFC,
Dunston Road, Chesterfield S41 9BF
- Thursday 30 July to Monday 3 August 2026
Preparations for our National Event this year are progressing really well. The organisers are finalising some of the arrangement details, planning activities and drive-out tour routes.
Tap here to see more about the National 2026
Impressions • April 2026
- Wicked Welsh North announced
- Behaviour at Future Nationals
- Pete Fitzgerald fits a fuel cut-off switch
- Gunnedah Imp – Tim Olthoff’s Australian Imp restoration – Part One
- Greeny, Demelza Sears’ Imp, meets Sally Traffic
- An Imp Journey, Part Two of Tony Symon-Brown’s Imp restoration
- Caledonian 50th Birthday – Alex Know looks back
- Obituary – Bill McGovern
And much, much more…
Tap here to view the magazine online (Members: the password will be provided in our monthly email)
2026 Practical Classics Restoration & Classics Car Show
This was another fantastic weekend for the Imp Club at the Birmingham NEC. Several “pristine” cars attended from our club.
Tap here to check out more photos from the 2026 NEC event where several Club Imps were proudly on show.
B Rooney 1st in Class at Donnington Park
Competitive racing this weekend at Donnington Park for sure and the Imps were out! Tension and exhilaration, right to the line when B Rooney came in first in Class.
Next up is Cadwell Park, over the weekend of April 11 & 12.
Tap here to keep watch on more Imp Motorsport news.
2026 Motorsport Season Begins
Dates in 2026:
- March 21 & 22 – Donnington Park
- April 11 & 12 – Cadwell Park
- May 16 – Oulton Park
- June 6 & 7 – BTCC Oulton Park (Island)
- July 4 & 5 – Thruxton Retro
- August 1 & 2 – Brands Hatch
Tap here to check out further details and more photos of this season’s racing.
Impressions • March 2026
- Full English announced
- ‘The Auk’ – flight of fancy (Imp restoration), Part Two of Digby Harman’s Imp restoration
- Lights, Cameras, Imps in Action – Sears Imps in TV and film
- The True Story of ‘Olive’ . Les Human’s Imp
- An Imp Journey, Part One of Tony Symon-Brown’s Imp restoration
And much, much more…
Tap here to view the magazine online (Members: the password will be provided in our monthly email)
Impressions • February 2026
- Driving Imps in winter
- Pressed Steel Panorama. Reprinted from Mass Production, circa 1963/64
- ‘The Auk’ – flight of fancy (Imp restoration), Part One
- 3D Printing
- Reprinted ad: ‘The Most Compact’, His & Hers! The £726 Stiletto
And much, much more…
Tap here to view the magazine online (Members: the password will be provided in our monthly email)
Impressions • January 2026
- Lancaster Insurance Classic Motor Show report
- Customs No. 5 – Imp. Reprinted from Custom Car, March 1971
- Chamois Restoration in The Netherlands
- Chamoisport! Reprinted ad from 1966
And much, much more…
Tap here to view the magazine online (Members: the password will be provided in our monthly email)
Impressions • December 2025
- Imp 2026 – Announced
- Imp Ecosse 2026 – Announced
- Classic Trialling in an Imp – and Llama
- Monte Carlo Imps – all participants, 1964-1973, listed
- Miniature Imps
- ‘My Time at Rootes with the Imp’
- Tim Fry Spirit of the Imp Award – Winner Bob Allan
And much, much more…
Tap here to view the magazine online (Members: the password will be provided in our monthly email)
National 2026 Event • Dates for your diary!
The organisers of the National 2026 Event are very pleased to formally announce the outline details of our 2026 National Event. Pop the dates in your calendar and look out for more information over the forthcoming months.
- Chesterfield Panthers RUFC,
Dunston Rd, Chesterfield S41 9BF
- Thursday 30 July to Monday 3 August 2026
The event team are already making great progress with booking facilities, making arrangements and sorting details. If you can offer any help please contact the team via [email protected]
Impressions • November 2025
- Wicked Welsh Weekend Report
- Gathering at Tilford Rural Life Centre
- Imps in the Alps
- CTCRC final round-up
- Imps at Doune Hillclimb
Tap here to view the magazine online (Members: the password will be provided in our monthly email)
The Club’s 2025
Annual General Meeting
This year’s hybrid AGM will be held physically and virtually via Teams on:
Sunday 19th October 2025 at 11am
The British Motor Museum
Banbury Road, Gaydon
Warwickshire
CV35 0BJ
Our AGM is an important event during our Club’s annual cycle of operations and formalities. Not only does it provide the opportunity for all our members to vote on important Club matters, the discussion and consideration of future changes ensures that we continue to develop and improve. The Club officials will be voted in at this time as well; the Chairman, Directors and Committee members alike.
And you can take part! Check out this month’s Impressions to find out how you can join in and help shape the Club in the future. Your support will be valued – be that a tick in a few boxes to vote in your favourite Club members, to formalise Club rule updates or to take part in discussion. You can do all this either online or in person.
For more details look at page 9 in our October Impressions magazine
or use the link in your recent Members’ email.
Impressions • October 2025
- AGM Final Reminder
- National 2025 Report
- Rootes Heritage Day Report
- Sourcing Imp brake wheel cylinder repair kits
And much, much more…
Tap here to view the magazine online (Members: the password will be provided in our monthly email)
Birmingham & Coventry Areas Celebrate!
To help celebrate Charlotte’s birthday a few members from the Birmingham and Coventry area centres met up for lunch at a local carvery. Coventry area no longer has regular meetings so it was especially welcome to get together with other Imp enthusiasts. Alongside excessive eating there was much Imp conversation! Plans are already underway to ensure that as many of us as possible, along with our Imps, make it to next year’s National event. Those helping Charlotte celebrate were Nicola, Pam, Lynda and the three Daves.
Tap here to read more about this Area’s meetup evening
September’s Impromptu
Tap here to view the Impromptu page on the website
(Members: the password will be provided in our monthly email – it is different this month!)
Impressions • August 2025
- AGM Agenda and Calling Notice
- Irish Experience 5 Report
- Full English Weekend 2025 Report
- Historic Heroics in the Caribbean
Tap here to view the magazine online (Members: the password will be provided in our monthly email)
National 2025
The final arrangements are being sorted. Facilities are already being prepared. The event team are working their magic (and expiring rather a lot of effort and sweat) to make sure the 2025 National lives up to the high standard we expect, as members, of the National Event.
The marquee is going up, the Club’s National equipment has arrived. Colin, Stuart, Tim and countless others are working hard to get things ready.
Have you booked yet? It is not too late – but the online bookings close on Monday 28 July to let the organisers sort their admin and finances. Bookings at Rally Control are possible though.
Tap here for more information.
Impressions • July 2025
- Retro Rides Weekender reports
- Hall of Fame – Adrian Oliver
- Reprinted article from Sheffield Star and Morning Telegraph – win an Imp and Channel Ferry Crossing (1966)
- Reprinted article from CCC: As Far As You Can Go – Colin Valentine goes Production Car Trialling (1976)
Tap here to view the magazine online (Members: the password will be provided in our monthly email)
Area Reports and Updates
A new section has been added to our website to share some news features, updates and outline reports from Area Groups.
To kick off the page the NE Hampshire & NW Surrey Area offer their update.
Tap here to see this first report in from the area.
All areas are welcome to share a news update via the website. Area Centre Organisers are invited to contact Warren (contact details in Impressions).
National 2025 Event Update
Bookings:
Advanced bookings are now active. Discounted rates are available online
Tap here to book to attend the National Event 2025
On-arrival entrance will cost about 10% more so book place beforehand to secure your discounted rates for camping or day passes.
Activities:
The organisers are adding the ‘finishing touches’ to the details for each of the days of the event. A summary of the plans is updated on the National Event page here on the website
Tap here for more information
Event Programme:
A full colour programme, as usual, is being prepared and will contain all the details and information for event goers. This will be included in your Event Pack when you check in at Rally Control.
National Event Online Booking
Bookings are now OPEN
Online, right here, is the online booking link for our National. Paper-based booking sheet is included in the June Impressions magazine.
Tap here for the link to the online booking forms.
Amberley Museum:
A Special Promo for our club!
As a feature of our National this year, a run-out to the Amberley Museum has been organised. More details about that later but in the meantime the Museum has already promo’d our club on their website.
Tap here 
to check out their website entry
Impressions • June 2025
- Drive It Day run at the National 2025 venue
- Imp Ecosse report
- Obituary – Anthony (Tony) Cattell
- Hall of Fame – Andy Dawson
Tap here to view the magazine online (Members: the password will be provided in our monthly email)
Impressions Article
June 2023
Check out this older article from our June 2023 Impressions magazine about the 60th Anniversary of the Imp launch with the Curborough track day report.
Tap here to check out the article in full.
Our Forum : An update
As of the beginning of May 2025 it is regrettable that the Club Forum is no longer available. The Club committee are looking at alternative provisions and will provide an update on this situation later during the year.
Whilst we consider the next step in looking at future Forum options, please continue to use the various Facebook group pages where live liaison about sales, help and advice can be found. Please note that any Forum that continues to be operated at this time is not considered official and therefore the Club is not responsible for any content presented or shared.
If you would like to take part in future planning for a new Forum, or have ideas about how the Club can move forward with other services, please get in touch with one of the Club Committee.
Thank you for your understanding about this change.
Impressions • May 2025
- Introducing your new Treasurer – Iain Robinson
- Imp National 2025 – Q&As
- Practical Classics Classic Car & Restoration Show report
- Call for Nominations for Pre-judged National Awards
- My ex-works Hillman Imp – our story together – Part Two. By Bron Burrell
- A Hero in Our Midst! – Bob Allan wins Club Hero award
Impressions Article from May 2023
Check out this older article from our May 2023 Impressions magazine about how the semi-automatic gearbox was developed for the Imp.
Tap here to check out the article in full.
‘Club Hero’ – UPDATE!
Bob Allan WINS a Classic Car & Restoration AWARD
Bob wins the Classic Car and Restoration Award as a “Club Hero”. Check out the full details in the May Impressions magazine.
Well done Bob!
‘Club Hero’
Bob Allan is shortlisted for an award
Our very own spares manager, Bob, has been shortlisted for the ‘Club Hero’ award at the Classic Car & Restoration Show at the NEC over the weekend of 21st to 23rd March 2025.
Impressions • April 2025
- Imp Ecosse update
- Foto Flashback – David Llewellyn’s Mason Stiletto
- Re-covering a Stiletto dash surround by Chris Clark
- Always Too Good to Last – reprinted from Motor, 9th March 1972
- My ex-works Hillman Imp – our story together – Part One. By Bron Burrell
- Coventry 2+2 – Californian review – reprinted from Motor, 21st January 1967
Impressions Article from April 2023
An article from our April 2023 Impressions magazine gives a fascinating account of the story behind Roger Hargreaves’ racing during the 1970’s
Tap here to check out the article in full.
National 2025 : The plans are evolving!
Our plans for the 2025 National Event are coming together rather nicely. We hope you have the date in your diary if you are able to attend this year.
Tap here for more information about our National Event at Cranleigh, Surrey, this summer.
Impressions • March 2025
- Imperator – reprinted from Classic and Sportscar, March 2013
- Hall of Fame – Roger Nathan and his Flying Imps
- John Blunsden tests the Nathan Impudence 2 – reprinted from John Blunsden Motor Racing Book of Track Tests
- Rootes Motor Show ad – reprinted from Autocar, 12th November 1965 (Motor Show Number)
Impressions Article from March 2023
An article from our Impressions magazine in March 2023 shares the restoration story about John Hill’s Imp GT in Perth, Western Australia.
Tap here to check out the article in full.
Impressions • February 2025
- Zimp Reminiscences
- The Hillman Imp Story. Reprinted from Restored Cars Australia, September/October 2004
- CSSS Swinging Sixties – Simon Benoy looks back to 2024 race series
- Counterfeit parts – beware
- More memories from Charles Hislop of his years at Rootes
- The 1974 Isle of Wight ‘Gas Imps’
Impressions Article from February 2023
This month’s snippet from an older Impressions takes us back to Ron Kane’s Imp tour in the Sahara, during September 1976.
Tap here to check out this article.
Do you have any stories about your Imp, or an Imp you used to own? If so, why not share it in our next Impressions.
National Drive-IT Day
Sunday 27 April 2025
The FBHVC is organising a nationwide series of events again this year.
Is your Area Centre planning on taking part?
Tap here to check out the Imp Club’s plans in your area and how you can take part with one of the FBHVC events.
Who’s Who – Present & Past
Check out the new page about key people in our club.
sections include:
• Chairman – Tim Sears
• President – Sue Knight
• Founder – Richard Knight
• Past President – Rosemary Smith
Tap here to go to the page or find it in the About Us section.
January 2025
2025 National Event – First News
We are excited to announce that the initial plans for the National 2025 Event are shaping up very nicely.
Dates: July 31st – August 4th 2025
Location : Cranleigh, Surrey GU6 8EX
Details will be shared in due course but put the dates in your calendar!
Tap here to go to the Older News and Updates
