Find out more about Steph and the story behind her online success with idriveaclassic, which has almost 70,000 subscribers on YouTube. You can also get involved in deciding which classic car Steph will be driving down to France!
Tell us a little about yourself. Where are you from and what do you do?
I’m Steph and I’m a content creator producing content on classic cars and vintage lifestyle content, with a nod to classic racing and classic specialist vehicles.
I don’t just make the content, but work in a classic restoration business, ADO Restoration for part of the week as the Business and Marketing Manager. We specialise in British classics, which is great for me, because that’s my favourite area of classic motoring!
In my spare time I can be found trying to keep my classics on all four wheels and ready for adventure and i’m currently working on a barn find Austin A35 from 1958 – slightly too pessimistic to hope it’ll make Le Mans Classic this year!
What got you into classic cars?
As a child I was obsessed with Heartbeat, a classic TV series from the 90s and early 2000s which was set in a fictional village in Yorkshire in the 1960s.
I wanted to live that life fully, which I think I’ve done pretty well considering I live in Yorkshire, drive various 50s and 60s classics every day and dress in 60s vintage clothing 24/7.
Do you have a favourite classic car?
My favourite classic is one of my own, my dearly loved Morris Minor called Nancy. i’ve had her since I was in my early 20s when I gambled my first two weeks wages on a car which hadn’t been driven in 20 years. She’s ex-disability and would’ve once been the transportation for somebody who qualified for assistance under what would’ve been the Ministry of Health.
She arrived looking very…well loved, which meant that not only was she cheap, but she needed some work several years down the line. She’s now been fully restored and last year, had an Ivor Searle engine fitted I sourced through MGOC Spares (who really helped me get it quickly, because it was months of waiting otherwise!). A costly investment but incredibly wise, considering how many miles I like to do; usually in excess of 10k per annum.
What car are you going to drive to Le Mans Classic?
Well, this is the million dollar question! I’m going to give my subscribers the choice of ‘choose your own adventure’ – they can pick reliable Nancy with her continental touring experiences of 10 years+ (so I am certain she’ll make it!) or they can choose Speedy the Standard 10 – a car we put back on the road last year with a heady top speed of circa 50/55mph. No autoroutes for us if that’s the case!
Are there any cars you’ll be on the look out for at the Le Mans Classic?
It’s so easy to spot things like Minis, etc in the UK so I’ll be looking to give my subscribers something ‘wow’ they wouldn’t see at home and really ensure they feel the FOMO and book for next time; so we’ll be looking for rare classics and things we just wouldn’t spot at home. I hope to be able to capture the stories of a few of these cars too; because a car’s back story is sometimes just as gripping as the driving experience!
What might your followers not know about you?
I have a dodgy Morris Minor tattoo, which remains hidden from public view and was an unwise University decision. However, it does say ’no drive finer than a Morris Minor’ and to some extent, I would still heartily agree!
Will this be your first time at Le Mans Classic?
Yes! I am excited to go, but also excited to take my subscribers on the journey with me; from prepping the car, to discussing those late night nerves before we set off, to the journey and of course, the event.
What are you most excited about in coming to the Le Mans Classic?
Gosh – is it wishy washy to say everything?! I saw some of the girls I follow online attend the last Classic and I was seething with jealousy at their late night shennagins, the cars they witnessed roaring up the track and everything in-between. Roll on July!
What kind of videos and content will you be looking to capture at the Le Mans Classic?
We’ll be covering getting ready, the adventure to the track, the offside adventuring and what there is to see off the track, trying to hunt down great stories and everything in-between. There will be reels, stories and long form video – so plenty of reasons to tune in!
Do you like any other series in motorsport?
UK wise, nothing beats the racing at Revival. I’ve heard Classic is just as incredible, so without wishing the summer away, I am counting down the weeks until we start the car and begin the adventure.
What made you start creating content?
I wanted to shine a spotlight on the ordinary classics which people had once owned and loved and to dig deep into the stories behind them. With 70,000 subscribers, I’d say we’ve pulled along a decent bunch of folks who love the ordinary stuff just as much as I do!
Where should people go to see your content?
Simply search ‘idriveaclassic’ on all social media platforms.
