The Robin Hood Owners Club and Register, RHOCaR, is the owners club associated with a model of kit car, produced in the Mansfield area of England, since the 1980’s. The Club has one of the largest member bases of its type in the country and was formed when two smaller clubs, The Robin Hood Owners Club and The Robin Hood Register, were amalgamated approximately ten years ago. In 2009 we had seven hundred and twenty members, and with membership running from January to December each year, we are currently on target to achieve, and hopefully surpass this number for 2010.

Although the name of the company has changed from Robin Hood Engineering to Robin Hood Sports Cars and subsequently Great British Sports Cars, they are still producing good, affordable entry level Lotus Seven style kit cars, and through these changes of name and owners the ethos of the Club has remained the same, to support our members throughout the building of their cars, and to encourage ownership of kit cars in general. Unlike some other clubs, we do not discriminate against other marques of car, and believe that being a ‘Hoody’ is a state of mind and attitude, not which car you drive.

In 2005 the Club, with the backing of the members, donated £1000.00 from its funds to the Asian Tsunami appeal. The following year, after one of our members was struck by tragic circumstances, it was decided to adopt the Rainbows Children’s Hospice as our charity of choice. To support them a calendar, featuring members cars, was produced and made available to members for a donation. This resulted in £2500.00 being raised. The calendar was produced again in 2007 and 2008, raising £3480.00 and £1520.00 respectively.

Following a break last year, one of our members has suggested that we once again become involved in fund raising for a deserving cause. It has been decided to raise as much as we can for the Air Ambulance Association, and for any money raised to be distributed equally amongst the nineteen individual trusts within the Association. Our efforts will centre around ‘Hoody the Bear’, who will be travelling the country, visiting each and every county, along with other special events, locations and people. Hoody will travel in cars built and owned by Club members, and will have with him a journal for friends old and new to sign along the way. Hoody Bear’s Great Adventure will start at the National Kit Car show at Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire on Sunday 2^nd May 2010, and conclude twelve months later at the same location. Hoody has his own website, ‘hoodythebear.co.uk’, where as well as following his progress, you use the links to donate online and also learn more about the Air Ambulance Association, or you can become a member of Hoody’s group on his Facebook page, and follow him there.

For more information about Hoody Bears Great Adventure contact:

Phil Shelton – email phil@philshelton.co.uk Tel 0116 2811437 / 07968484740

For more information about RHOCaR contact:

Steve Johnston – email - steve@rhocar.org Tel – 0161 484 2198 / 07944 615999 or visit www.rhocar.org