Bespoke Rallies purchases Classic Driving Tours

British classic car rally organisers, Bespoke Rallies, has purchased its Australian counterpart, Classic Driving Tours, to expand their portfolio of driving events for classic car owners and enthusiasts.

Founded in 2012 by John Brigden after several years’ experience in organising and operating classic car rallies, Bespoke Rallies events have been held in Africa, South East Asia, Central America, India, the Amazon, Scandinavia and the USA, including exotic countries like Bhutan, Laos, Cuba and Madagascar.

While COVID-19 interrupted many planned Bespoke Rallies events, including in Australia, rallies returned on a limited basis in 2021, ramping up this year, with half a dozen events scheduled for 2023, and a similar number in 2024, including one in Tasmania.

Classic Driving Tours was founded by John and Colleen Davis to offer escorted driving tours with a luxury touch. John Davis used his past experience in motor sport, including tarmac rallies and hill climbs, to create a series of carefully-planned self-drive tours.

Unlike Bespoke Rallies, which have a competitive element that sees participants take their cars on challenging routes and terrain, Classic Driving Tours are held on the best roads in luxury hire vehicles. They’re also less regimented, with guests free to leave the group and explore, combining cultural experiences with world-class events and accommodation in the best hotels.

“This is an exciting step for us,” Brigden explained. “We have known John and Colleen for some years, and they joined us on our recent 8,000km Imperial Rally that took in no less than 10 countries.

“It transpired that John and Colleen wished to retire, and it made perfect sense for us to add their business to ours.

“We will continue to market the events separately,” Brigden added, “as their non-competitive tours are conducted in self-drive hire vehicles and our rallies are aimed at those wishing to stretch the legs of their own classic cars.”

The first Classic Driving Tours event to be held under the new ownership is the ‘Africa Tour’ from 17 March to 1 April, 2023, followed by a series of tours in the USA and a ‘Goodwood Revival Tour’ of southern England.

Further details on Classic Driving Tours can be found at www.classicdrivingtours.com/home with more information on Bespoke Rallies events available at: www.bespokerallies.com