Sportscar Tours is owned and operated by Stuart Crouch and his wife Sara. In 1978 they launched a company that became one of the leading tour operators in Britain, and sold that company in 1999 to one of Europe's largest travel companies. Using their more than 20 years of experience of Britain's roads, quiet villages and historic cities they started Sportscar Tours Ltd.

The concept for Sportscar Tours came from a meeting between Stuart and Bill Wykeham of Wykehams the London Morgan agent. Bill has been racing and rallying Morgans in Europe and the Americas for several years and as well as operating the best known Morgan agency in London Bill has enough Morgans to create a small and very exclusive Morgan hire car fleet. With the development of the intemet over the past few years it created a fantastic opportunity to combine professional tour operating with driving classic sportscars.

The tour programmes are based on the extensive knowledge that Sara and Stuart have of Britain. Each day offers a different driving experience as the recommended route will take you through small towns and villages, over mountain passes and along quiet valleys. The roads vary from the old Roman road now called the A1 which takes you in a straight line across the North Yorkshire moors, the winding road alongside Loch Tay in Scotland and the spectacular drivers' roads in rural Wales. The hotels we use range from Country House hotels in rural locations, to luxury manor houses in their own grounds and 4 and 5 star hotels in city centres. Whatever the hotel they all provide the best comfort and relaxation at the end of each day. An evening meal is included each night and the menus have been chosen to reflect the locality, for example with Salmon in Scotland and Lamb in Wales.

The Morgan sportscars are the 4/4 model. They have Ford engines and electronics, plus disc brakes and modern tyres, combining modern technology and reliability in a classic design. The Morgans' soft tops work well and will keep you warm and dry whatever the weather. The MGF sportscars are mid engined with all of the fun of the originals but with a proper soft top and a very comfortable interior, the Mini’s are the latest Cooper and Cooper S models and are the most fun you can get on 4 wheels, the XK8’s and the S Type are very very British and combine elegance with performance and the Range Rover is simply the best 4/4 in the world.

Throughout its development, Sportscar Tours Ltd has and will continue to work closely with Visit Britain and the English sportscar manufacturers.

This section will tell you about our cars, who can drive them and how we insure them, the hotels we use, the route we have planned for you, and of course, how to make a reservation.

The cars

			Morgan classic 2-seater Supplied by Wykehams the London Morgan agent, our Morgans have the latest Ford components, are easy to drive and have that classic feel you only get from hand built cars.
			Mini Cooper The latest Mini is just as much fun as the original but with the added benefit of modern technology.
			Jaguar XK8 - convertible and coupé There are cars that are faster and there are cars that are more practical, but there are none that are more elegantly British than a Jaguar XK8 convertible or XK8 coupé. True to the Jaguar philosophy they're wonderful to look at and a delight to drive.
			MGF Mid engined and perfectly balanced, this is a proper sports car in every sense, but with the added advantage of a modern a soft top and electrics.
			Jaguar Saloon Grace, space and pace - this is the ultimate British sports car for friends who want to travel together in comfort and style. With its unparalleled balance between performance and elegance, it could only be Jaguar.
			Range Rover The world's best 4x4 with the added advantage of great performance and a driving position that gives a great perspective on country lanes.

Hotels
The hotels we use range from country house hotels to luxury manor house hotels in rural locations, and 4 and 5 star hotels in city centres. Macdonald Hotels, Paramount Hotels, and privately owned hotels who are in membership of the Best Loved Group consortium such as the Bath Priory Hotel all feature on our tours. All of our tours include bed and breakfast and an evening meal, and we know that you will be delighted with our choice.

The planned routes
The routes we use and the places we visit are a balance between the experience and pleasure of driving a classic English sports car or elegant saloon or 4/4 along the quiet lanes and roads of Britain and taking time to visit a country with thousands of years of history. The routes include ancient cities, historic towns, small villages, country gardens, islands, lochs, lakes, valleys, and mountains. The route we have chosen is easy to follow and you and your partner will drive an average of 175 miles (280kms) a day.

Maps, Hats and luggage
When you make a reservation with us we will then send you a plan of your tour route and details of the hotels you will be staying in. As you prepare to leave London on Day 1 we will give you the latest maps of the areas you will be driving through. If you are driving a convertible such as a Morgan, an MGF or XK8 please remember to bring a hat to keep the sun out of your eyes, wind proof jackets and dark glasses. The hotels we use range from Country House to 4 and 5 star in the City Centres. The dress code is smart casual so ties, jackets and evening wear are not necessary. If a hotel has a specific dress code we will always tell you at the time of booking.

Luggage space in a Morgan is limited and we recommend that you only bring with you, 2 soft medium size sports bags to go behind the seats and just one waterproof case to strap onto the luggage rack on the back of the car. The other cars have more luggage space but we do advise our clients that English cars do not have a lot of luggage space.

Driving restrictions, car rental details and insurance
The driving restrictions vary from car to car. For our gearbox cars you must have a license to drive manual or stick shift, only the Jaguars and the Range Rovers are available with Automatic transmission. If you have any restrictions, citations or points on your license you must let us know when you make the reservation with us. If we have any problems with accepting your license we will ask for approval from the car rental insurance company. Age restrictions for most cars are from 21 to 70 and for the Jaguar and Range Rover it is from 25 to 70. Before you leave London on Day 1 we will ask you to complete the normal car rental form and at that point we will need to see your driving license, passport, and a credit card. Comprehensive insurance is included and this includes third party damage. As the driver or drivers you will be responsible for any damage that occurs to the car whilst it is in your care. The amount varies with each car: Morgan £500.00, MGF £750.00, Mini Cooper £600.00, Cooper S, £1,000.00, Jaguars and Range Rover £3,000.00.

We do not include travel insurance and we do not include cancellation insurance.

Making a reservation - direct in London
To make a reservation, use our online reservation form, or telephone us on +44 (0) 207 610 6991 or e-mail bookings@sportscartours.com. Tell us which tour you want to join and if possible give us an alternative date that you will accept if your first choice of tour dates is already sold out. We will answer you with a confirmation and a booking form. Complete the booking form as it tell us what you expect to get out of the tour, e.g. twin beds or double beds, special diet, airport transfers, hotels before or after the tour etc.

Payment
Deposit payable to Sportscar Tours Ltd. A 20% per person deposit is payable to confirm a place on the tour. Balance payable to Sportscar Tours Ltd. 80% per person is due 45 days prior to departure of the tour. Payment can be made to Sportscar Tours Ltd directly to our London Bank. Payment can be made to Sportscar Tours Ltd by Visa, Mastercard or Amex.

Not included
Petrol (gas) and oil. Lunch, Drinks Entrances, Personal Expenditure. Flights. Airport transfers, Cancellation insurance. Travel insurance, Visas and Passports. Please check to see that your passport before is valid before you travel. You should also check your visa requirements for the United Kingdom before you travel.