Wednesday 10th December

PistonHeads Sporting Tours - have your say!

PH Sporting Tours are gearing up for a 2026 comeback - and we want your input...

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We’ve been busy behind the scenes here at PH Towers. Not only is the 2026 Sunday Service calendar on the way (watch this space), but the 2026 Annual Service is already on sale, our Le Mans trip registrations are filling up fast, and we have a host of exciting new events coming up – including the return of PistonHeads Sporting Tours.

You may remember we first launched Sporting Tours back in 2018, followed by both north and south variants in 2019. As you can imagine, everything had to be paused in 2020 for obvious reasons – and, in truth, we simply haven’t had the opportunity to bring them back until now.

Our Sporting Tours pack plenty into a single day. Driving teams follow carefully curated routes using Tulip Road Books to navigate some of the UK’s finest roads. Each book details distances, directions, and junctions - and yes, sat navs are strictly off-limits.

Although each team has a scheduled start time and much of the tour takes place on public roads, it wouldn’t be a Sporting Tour without a competitive twist. You can expect a timed slalom, a tarmac “rally stage”, a sprint section, or potentially all three.

Plans for our return next year are already underway, but we’d love to hear from you. Specifically, we want you to tell us what you’d like to see from the revived Sporting Tours by completing the form below. And if you’ve joined us on a previous tour, why not share in the comments what you enjoyed – or what you’d love to see included next time?

Thank you for helping to shape the future of our events, and we look forward to seeing you on a PistonHeads Sporting Tour very soon.

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Answer the questionnaire: click here

[jaykay42]

Hi!
Great idea - I like it.
Do I need to have a Google Account to answer the questionnaire or am I overlooking something here?

[Ben Lowden]

jaykay42 said:

Hi!
Great idea - I like it.
Do I need to have a Google Account to answer the questionnaire or am I overlooking something here?

Nope a Google account is optional - you can complete the form without one

[wolfie28]

Always wanted to do one of these so it is a great idea. Cost would be an important factor for me. I feel like car enthusiasts are being taken for a ride (no pun intended) over the last few years with price increases. I understand public liabilities, insurance, cost of living etc have risen but value for money has gone out of the window.

I think the perception often made is that all people who own nice cars have lots of money, therefore will shell out the cash without a thought. Like many I am not in that situation so have cut back on car events purely on a cost basis; however get the balance right and hopefully you are on to a winner.

[bigyoungdave]

wolfie28 said:

Always wanted to do one of these so it is a great idea. Cost would be an important factor for me. I feel like car enthusiasts are being taken for a ride (no pun intended) over the last few years with price increases. I understand public liabilities, insurance, cost of living etc have risen but value for money has gone out of the window.

I think the perception often made is that all people who own nice cars have lots of money, therefore will shell out the cash without a thought. Like many I am not in that situation so have cut back on car events purely on a cost basis; however get the balance right and hopefully you are on to a winner.

Agree with this. Whilst I wouldn't expect PH to do this for free or little profit, it would be nice if it also wasn't a total fleecing as is often the case with car tours

[jaykay42]

Hi!
I did the form, don't think it was possible without a Google account, I couldn't anyway.
To the other posters: yes, I totally echo what you're saying and my fun car is certainly on the bargain basement of all the "pistonheads - cars" hence I replied on the form with a suitable budget category.

[HorneyMX5]

Responded to survey

[nismo48]

HorneyMX5 said:

Responded to survey

+1

[Mr Tidy]

I don't have a Google account but had no problem completing the survey.

[arbseven]

My wife and I have done a couple of these events with Midland Automobile Club (MAC) they do a great job for price at low end of ranges given in the survey. It makes a fun day out especially if there is a “destination” to look around at the end.

https://www.amcygnet.com/stanwayfountainclassictou...

https://www.amcygnet.com/macclassic

I look forward to a similar Pistonheads event.

[DGR13]

We did both the first and second (South) events. My son navigated at we both really enjoyed it only going wrong a couple of times. He was about twelve at the time. Nothing too competitive, mainly about not getting lost and a bit of fun. First one had some round the cones stuff at an old air base and the second one had a slalom and short tarmac rally section at brands hatch. Good mix of cars and last time around from memory it wasn’t very expensive. Feedback was the first event was more social because everyone got to park up together at lunchtime which was good. Would definitely be interested if they return (although now going have to share driving with my son!)

[Ben Lowden]

DGR13 said:

We did both the first and second (South) events. My son navigated at we both really enjoyed it only going wrong a couple of times. He was about twelve at the time. Nothing too competitive, mainly about not getting lost and a bit of fun. First one had some round the cones stuff at an old air base and the second one had a slalom and short tarmac rally section at brands hatch. Good mix of cars and last time around from memory it wasn t very expensive. Feedback was the first event was more social because everyone got to park up together at lunchtime which was good. Would definitely be interested if they return (although now going have to share driving with my son!)

Great to hear, watch this space! And noted on the more social lunch stop too

[B'stard Child]

I did the first two with a few like minded PH'rs - well organised, great fun and the "off road" sections certainly improved from the first event to the second

Was disappointing the third one clashed with another event so I couldn't sign up but was subsequently cancelled

I'd echo the comments above about the social "lunch break" it was almost like a small car show

I'm pretty sure you can count on support from PH'rs Gewy (and Mrs Gewy) as well as PaulDTS

We've been doing a similar "Tulip Rally" every year with a local motorsports club - they normally have over 100 entries which is huge

Anyway really glad to see the sporting tours might be resurected - might be just the kick up the ass I need to get the "Big Green Mini Cab" back on the road although I am facing a bit of a weldathon on it but it's been 10 years since the last weldathon so all things considered it's done well

[B'stard Child]

wolfie28 said:

Always wanted to do one of these so it is a great idea. Cost would be an important factor for me. I feel like car enthusiasts are being taken for a ride (no pun intended) over the last few years with price increases. I understand public liabilities, insurance, cost of living etc have risen but value for money has gone out of the window.

I think the perception often made is that all people who own nice cars have lots of money, therefore will shell out the cash without a thought. Like many I am not in that situation so have cut back on car events purely on a cost basis; however get the balance right and hopefully you are on to a winner.

Search out your local Motorsports Club - they often do this type of "Tulip Rally" car run - certainly our local Norfolk Club does it's entry cost is per car not person and around £35 - starts are staggered by 2 min intervals - always has interesting rest stops starts at 9am ends at from 3pm to 5pm depending on your start time.

I seem to remember the Sporting tours were around the £100 mark last time but splitting the cost between driver and navigator (you really do need a navigator for this type of event) and bearing in mind it was a days activity I regarded it as still good value for the entertainment provided