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AUGUST 2025
SEPTEMBER NEWSLETTER
Closed Roads & Bigger Things: DR!VE CO SEPTEMBER Update
August might have been a little quieter on the organised drive-out front (holiday season and all that), but there’s been plenty bubbling away behind the scenes. From epic circuits to podcast chats, new events to small-but-mighty convoys, the DR!VE CO momentum hasn’t slowed one bit.
DRIVE 1000: The Anti-Ego Rally - Coming September 2026
Let’s start with the big one. A new event is locked in for 2026 and it’s going to be massive.
Think:
Closed roads
Proper start lines
70 cars
Decals & Sponsors
Evening speakers
Mystery routes
This is the biggest thing we’ve ever planned and I cannot wait to share more details as they unfold. Mark it now: September 2026 — DRIVE 1000 is coming.
Porsche Club UK - GT Heaven at Anglesey
I had the privilege of being invited to the Porsche Club UK GT event at Anglesey Circuit. If you’ve never been, put it on your list — it has to be one of the most picturesque tracks in the UK.
The road trip up was... interesting. Passenger in a Spyder RS, drizzle (rain!), and a “scenic route” that got a little too scenic. Let’s just say farm roads and the village of Llanddewi Brefi.
The Sunday evening kicked off with a 3-course meal alongside fellow petrolheads and Porsche enthusiasts, which made Monday’s track action even better. Highlight of the day? Jumping in with ex-BTCC champion Tim Harvey in his GT3 RS. That man can drive. Unreal experience.
The LOWE Down Podcast
I was honoured to be the first guest on the brand new LOWE Down Podcast, hosted by my good mate Ollie.
If you know Ollie, you’ll know he’s a character. If you don’t — you probably still know him, somehow! We covered everything from cars to adventures, broken bones to skydiving, and of course a bit about DR!VE CO, the ethos behind it, and why this community matters.
It’s 40 minutes of proper car chat. Grab a coffee (or a beer) and give it a listen.
Drive Out to Five Zeros
We also squeezed in a drive to Five Zeros. The weather gods were on our side this time — dry roads, blue skies, perfect.
It was a smaller crew (Goodwood Revival stole a few away), but that made it all the more enjoyable. Some new faces too, which I absolutely love — meeting fellow enthusiasts is a huge part of why DR!VE CO exists.
We set off from the smallest car park known to mankind, headed through the Forest of Dean, and down into the Cotswolds. Not everything went smoothly — a rogue waypoint and a hungover navigator led to some map chaos — but honestly, that’s all part of the adventure
What’s Next?
For the rest of 2025:
Expect a few dawn raids — weather dependent. These will be posted last minute via the WhatsApp groups.
Planning is underway for a Christmas drink / meal — full details will be in the next newsletter.
Dragon Rally 2026
The infamous Dragon Rally returns for its 3rd year in 2026! We’ve already got 27 cars booked in with just 3 spaces left — so if you’re keen, get in touch ASAP. Expect 2 nights, 3 days, dawn raids, 4-star hotels, karting with our friends at GYG, and plenty more entertainment. This one’s going to be special.
Final Word
As always, a massive thank you to everyone who’s joined a drive, shared a story, or pointed fellow petrolheads our way. The support really means everything.
I may see some of you at the Wales Car Show in Pembrey this weekend. If not — I’ll see you out on the road.
AUGUST 2025
AUGUST NEWSLETTER
Full Send & Full English Welsh: DR!VE CO August Update
First off — a massive thank you. I honestly didn’t expect much from the first newsletter. It was a bit of a trial run (read: late night caffeine-fuelled idea), but the messages of support, feedback and general encouragement have been genuinely appreciated. So... the newsletter lives on - for now!!
Route 7 — Slippery Start, Glorious Finish
Since last time, we squeezed in Route 7 - and while it technically sold out, Welsh weather had other plans. A drizzly morning saw some of the more exotic stuff sit this one out (can't blame them), but those who braved it were rewarded.
The Cup 2s did not enjoy the damp start - only me and one other GT3 driver kept the faith - but once the roads dried up, it turned into one of those drives. B-roads through mid-Wales, coffee in Rhayader, and the mighty A483 down from Beulah – EP!C.
We wrapped things up at the brilliant UN1T & Coffee House in Llanelli, with a great breakfast and coffee. Huge thanks to Dan and the team for hosting us.
We didn’t manage Elan Valley this time - but it’s definitely on the hit list for a future run.
LOWE Classics Launch — Community in Full Force
Another highlight this month was the official launch of LOWE Classics’ new venue. I’ve known Ollie (the founder) since 1994 — and we’ve got stories on each other that are best left in the archives
The turnout was wild — easily a few hundred cars and an atmosphere to match. Huge respect to Ollie and the team for pulling it off. We’re already cooking up a few DR!VE CO x LOWE collab ideas... stay tuned.
Lights, Camera, Elan Valley
One of the big moments this month was the DR!VE film day - finally getting behind the lens to capture what we’re all about. Massive shoutout to Dan and Kieren - absolute magicians with a camera and drone, and not afraid to hang out of the boot of an Audi estate to get the shot (literally).
We took a small crew of 7 DR!VE regulars and ventured up through Elan Valley and a few scenic spots along the way. The footage already looks incredible and I can’t wait to post it.
There’s been a slight delay in getting the videos out - mainly because I wanted to include some proper intro-to-camera moments. Time to put a face to the brand, share a bit about how this all started, and drop some inro on what’s coming next.
By the time this newsletter drops, we’ll have wrapped up filming those final clips at Baffle Haus - and Dan is now working his editing magic. Keep your eyes on Instagram and YouTube — the final cuts are coming soon
Dragon Rally 2026 – The Return of the Dragon
Planning is in full swing for next year’s Dragon Rally — and trust me, keeping it fresh is no easy feat. Behind the scenes, it's hours of planning, scouting, and negotiating with venues (and the weather).
For 2026, we're switching things up:
Returning to our friends at GYG Karting (Red Bull’s track!). We’ll be partaking in a new endurance format, with teams of two sharing kart duties - so, teamwork and maybe a bit of friendly sabotage. Same vibes, new flavour
Tickets went live on 27th July… and sold out in under 24 hours. I’m honestly blown away - thank you to everyone who jumped in early. There is always some trepidation releasing an event – will anyone be interested, has the candle burnt out…so selling out in under 24 hours was insane!
Something Big (and Slightly Terrifying)
With Dragon Rally locked in, I’ve started planning something big for later in 2026. I can’t say much yet (mostly because it’s still slightly terrifying), but it’s shaping up to be either the greatest thing we’ve ever done… or a spectacular fireball of failure.
But hey - he who dares!
Watch this space.
LOWE DOWN Podcast – Cars, Chaos & The DR!VE CO Story
I recently sat down with Ollie from LOWE Classics for a chat that went way beyond the usual car talk. We covered everything from our first cars (and questionable modifications) to learning to skydive with broken arms, epic road trips, and the journey that’s built DR!VE CO into the community it is today.
It’s a mix of stories, laughs, and behind-the-scenes insight.
Ollie and I have known each other for 30+ years, both with chaotic traits, the conversation covers a variety of topics!
GT4 Ownership – Still Grinning
Something personal…
Three months in with the GT4 and it’s still making me smile every time I take it out. The Cup 2s continue to be a questionable life choice on wet roads, but on dry tarmac the thing just hooks up.
That said… I’ve noticed my late-night scrolls on Autotrader and PistonHeads are starting to feature more 458s. 2026 maybe?
But for now, the GT4 stays.
Toby
DR!VE CO
Instagram: @drve_co
Website: www.drive-co.uk
DATE: July 2025
JULY NEWSLETTER
100 Drivers, One Community: The DR!VE CO Journey So Far
Over the past 18 months, DR!VE CO has grown in ways I never expected. What started as a random idea has turned into a genuine community — and I’ve met some amazing people along the way.
From our early runs like Hausbound and Drive to Machine to the second edition of the now-infamous Dragon Rally, we've welcomed nearly 100 drivers this year alone. The variety of cars has been wild - but it’s never been about the badge or the price tag. It's about the people, the adventure, and the most important thing, the banter.
We keep it simple:
No egos
It’s not a race
Drive them, don’t hide them
The Momentum Builds
With the success of the 2025 events so far, I may be getting carried away in terms of future plans but as a very wise man once said ‘he who dares Rodney’, I think that was Albert Einstein ?
HAUSBOUND
Our first single-day run was an experiment — and it sold out fast. We had 29 cars on the road, including 12 Dragon Rally veterans and 17 new drivers. From a 488 Speciale to a VW Polo and a Peugeot RCZ, everyone rolled up with the same energy and attitude. More of this please 😊
Shoutout to the team at Baffle Haus — as always, legends. They handled my always chaotic approach and somehow found space for 29 cars at peak time. Couldn't have done it without them.
Drive to Machine
Same vibe, longer route. We headed to the epic Caffeine & Machine — what a place, via some amazing A and B roads. I may have taken us down a few wrong turns, some may have got lost but it all adds to the adventure!
What I loved about this drive, we met at 06:30am, so an early rise, but some drove 2+ hours (4am start!) to even get to the start line! A special shout out to Codi and his crew, for driving from Stratford to Cardiff, to make the start in his awesome BMW!
C&M The Hill certainly delivered, I haven’t visited their other sites yet, but I’ve got plans for 2026...
2026?
WHATS ON?
Route 7 — SOLD OUT
Next up: Route 7. We're heading deep into Mid Wales (watch out, sheep), then circling back to UN1T 7 coffee house in Llanelli. It's already fully booked, and we can’t wait to welcome even more new drivers.
B-Road Boogie — Coming Soon
The final run of 2025. September 13–14.
Two days in North Wales with some incredible roads lined up. We’ve taken your feedback from the Dragon Rally on board — so expect optional early morning runs before breakfast to make the most of the empty roads. Plus, a pit stop at Anglesey Circuit to catch some of the chaos from the legendary Honda C90 race series — should be a fun break in the middle of the route.
Full details dropping soon. Drop us an email or Instagram DM if you are keen.
I’m already deep into planning, and it’s safe to say things are getting a bit ambitious...[remember the Albert quote from earlier!]
Some of what I can share:
Dragon Rally returns for its third year — but this time with a twist. (you better like boats?)
Monthly drive-outs with new routes, new stops, and new people — still rooted in the DR!VE CO mindset: all welcome, no egos.
And what I can’t share just yet...
We're working on our biggest project yet, it is going to be big, like scary big!
I plan to cover in a monthly docuseries to cover the planning, challenges and details, lets see how that turns out!
The first filming day is set for Monday 17th July, clip board at the ready!
All I can say is, save the date: September 2026 — it’s going to be massive.
To everyone who’s joined a drive — thank you.
If you haven’t yet, we hope to see you on the next one.
Toby
DR!VE CO
Welcome to DR!VE CO. - Built for the Love of the Road
At DR!VE CO., we live for the sound of combustion engine, and-most importantly-the community that brings it all together.
Our story starts with a lifelong obsession. Our founder spent over 20 years racing motorbikes, diving headfirst into the wild world of Freestyle Motocross in the late ‘90s. After years of pushing the limits—and collecting more than a few battle scars along the way—he embraced the old saying:
"With age comes a cage."
But the passion for speed and machines started long before that. As a kid, hours were spent sat in the family’s Ford Orion 1.8, parked in the driveway, daydreaming about where the road could take him.
Then came the moment that changed everything—the mid-80s, when a friend’s father pulled up in an Ice Green Metallic Porsche 911 G50. From that day on, the dream was set in stone. It was always going to be Porsche. Always going to be 911. [EDIT: I could always be tempted by some Italian horses!]
Years later, with the opportunity to finally immerse in car culture, the vision for DR!VE CO. was born—not just as a brand, but as a community. A place for those who love to get behind the wheel, and share the experience with like-minded people.
In 2016, our founder set off on two wheels to ride around the circumference of Wales-hugging the coast and the English border, and only using A and B roads. This mini adventure sparked the idea of sharing the stunning route with fellow enthusiasts—but this time, from behind the wheel of four wheels.
That dream became reality in 2023, with our first official rally. It was an epic event, filled with awesome cars, amazing people, and unforgettable moments. The route spanned 500 miles of prime Welsh tarmac, showcasing breath-taking coastal roads, iconic country twisties, and legendary spots like the Brecon Beacons and Snowdonia National Park.
This year we have partnered with our great friends at Baffle Haus, whose superb locations served as both our start and finish lines. And let’s not forget the luxury hotels we stayed at for two nights, karting at Europe’s largest outdoor kart track, and a cheeky stop at Caffeine and Machine-because what’s a rally without good coffee and car talk?
Our 2025 rally is already sold out, but stay tuned for all the pictures and updates! And if you’re feeling the FOMO, check out our events page or feel free to contact us to register your interest for the Dragon Rally ‘26-it’s going to be epic!
At DR!VE CO., it’s more than just the cars. It’s about building a community that shares the same passion for driving, adventure, and camaraderie.
No egos. Just passion.
This is just the beginning. Let’s DR!VE.
