Car clubs evoke images of street gangs or cruising on a Friday night on the strip to show off your ride.

American popular culture promoted this stereotype in movies like American Graffiti and Grease, but car clubs have been around since the automobile was born.

Owners took pride in their vehicles and wanted to learn how to maintain them, make them faster, or make them unique.

Despite the differences in the various clubs, the one thing they all have in common is their passion.

Stanger’s Martin David started the car club Team Ford 032 in November 2016.

A die-hard Ford fanatic, David’s objective was to bring Ford owners together to socialise and provide a platform where enthusiasts could share their hobby.

“When the club began in Stanger we had 4 members – all Ford fanatics,” said David who used the dialing code of Stanger in the name of the car club.

“I am not going to claim to be the most hard core, die-hard Ford fan in the world – but I am close. It has been a part of my life from an very early age.

“My father was always into Ford cars and that passion was fed into my unrelenting love of everything related to cars. The saying ‘if your dad did not own a Ford car he owned nothing’ rings true in our family,” said David, whose pride and joy is his championship show car, a 1990 Ford Sierra rep Cosworth which he built on his own from a bare shell and has become the club’s flagship vehicle.

“That car was named overall winner in 20 car shows last year, competing with top-end cars from all over the country,” said David.

While David qualified as a mechanic, his career path took a different turn when he became a police officer.

He has now served in the KwaDukuza police department for three decades.

David agrees that car enthusiasts are very much a dying breed, but his obsession has been passed onto his 3 children, all named after racing car drivers.

The club has grown to about 30 members, who are regulars at cars shows around the province. It is not uncommon for them to leave loaded with silverware.

The club has also hosted a number of shows locally and has an established out-reach arm, supporting a number of charities.

“Our club has also expanded to include Team 032 car club – which is open to all variety of vehicle owners – and Extreme 032 for special classical car collectors.

Wherever your interest lies, there is a car club to accommodate your hobby. Car clubs convert your hobby into a lifestyle where you can share your knowledge of and dedication to your vehicle.