Car clubs are a wonderful thing. While most people join because of a car, eventually it is the people who make the experience valuable. Call it the power of community.

Simon Pritchard had been having a pretty rough go of things. Firstly, he developed Reiter’s Syndrome, which is a type of arthritis that comes as a result of infection. He’s had lung problems and then a series of mini strokes put him in hospital. The one thing that kept Simon going was his restoration project, a Lotus Esprit.

The trip to the hospital prompted his car club buddies to collect both dollars and time and then put both to good use. They restored Simon’s car! Upon his release from hospital, Simon was taken to a Lotus club event at the Castle Combe track in Wiltshire. Upon realizing that was his own car on the track in front of him, Simon cried & passed out.

Talk about a lucky guy to have such a great bunch of friends. Car people.

Thanks to Carscoop and the BBC for making me get all misty at work!