Altogether about 5.3 million Minis rolled off the production line between 1959 to 2000 and Mini numbers continue to rise after the launch of four new Minis in 2001. For modern Minis alone there are 372 different interior trim and 319 different exterior options. Allowing for all variant possibilities, it is theoretically possible to produce literally millions* of different variants of the new Minis.

So it’s not surprising that getting insurance for a particular Mini is a bit of a minefield because of all the different models of different ages and in different states of repair. However, Herts Insurance Consultants, HIC, is an expert at insurance for all Minis - old and new, from Classics to modern souped-up models and even foreign left-hand drive models. HIC now boasts over one hundred different insurance schemes for Minis.

By using different underwriters HIC can tailor its insurance schemes to suit a client’s individual requirements and lifestyle. The policies are designed with a range of options that can be mixed and matched so owners can get exactly the cover they need without paying extra for cover they don’t need.

The options include: flexible limited mileage, classic rally days and track days cover, independent agreed value cover, modifications on a like for like basis, ICE cover, breakdown cover and salvage retention. There are additional discounts of up to 20% for female drivers and enthusiasts.

HIC plays an active role in the car enthusiast’s world sponsoring events like Mini rallies, shows and track days. HIC’s trained insurance advisers have expert knowledge of Minis and the Mini scene and many are Mini owners themselves.

They also have one other thing in common - banger rally insurance has often been tricky to come by.  This is one area where the insurance can cost more than the car – because the car itself is so cheap. 

Until now.  Insurance specialist HIC has introduced a banger rally insurance scheme that makes it a lot easier and cheaper for the ‘wacky racers’ to get cover.   And it’s not only easier for the driver and passengers, but for race organisers too. 

The two leading ‘banger rally’ organisers, Ramshackle Rally and Scally Rally, have found the new HIC policy gives them and their entrants huge benefits.

The Ramshackle Rally (www.ramshacklerally.com) has three routes in 2008, starting at the Channel ports, going to Spain, Croatia and Poland.  And for each one, HIC’s Banger Rally scheme is the preferred insurance, says the Ramshackle Rally’s organiser Greg Powell-Rees.

"Insurance was our biggest headache in the early days of Ramshackle," says Greg.  "While we had no great problem with our own public liability insurance, a key condition was ensuring that every team had their own insurance.  And that was the tricky part.  With all the different companies they were using, it was difficult for entrants to arrange insurance just for the four days of the actual rally, and it was difficult for us to check that they had the right insurance.  Almost every policy would have different terms and conditions.

"So we spoke to HIC about getting a special policy that suited the rally.  It needed to be flexible to cover the different cars that were entering, and the different amounts of time that teams wanted to spend on the trip.  The main rally was four days, but some teams wanted to sell the car at the end and fly home, or drive straight back, or make a leisurely fortnight out of it. HIC’s new policy covers all the entries, meets all the regulations, and doesn’t cost extra for time that the entrants won’t need. 

"For us, checking all the different options and covers would have been a nightmare.  But HIC has made it very easy.  When teams insure through them, it’s not only very competitive, but we know the small print is consistent and covers everything we wanted.   We now reckon that an HIC policy will speed registration threefold."

Another banger rally relying on HIC is the Scally Rally (www.scallyrally.co.uk).  Organisers Sue and Neil Thacker say that fund-raising was at the Scally Rally’s heart from the start, with over £75,000 raised last year for good causes by both organisers and entrants. 

Scally has set its sights wide - because for the first time in 2008 there’s not only the ‘Across Europe’ version but also a ‘Round Ireland’ rally.

"We decided to work with HIC when we realised they could tailor insurance for our type of event," says Sue.  "It was obvious to us that HIC’s policy was ideal for Scally entrants and they understood our needs.  HIC can insure for short periods, with a variety of options, but covering all the essential things we as organisers wanted."

Volksworld Show Special: 29 - 30 March 2008, Sandown Park Esher

Volksworld Insurance Services (VWIS) will be stirring things up with a heady mix of temptations on their Volksworld Show stand. For a kick-off, visitors will be able to bag an extra 10% discount on their insurance - and they can actually get cover at the Show, on the spot.

Then there’s the small matter of the VWIS Babes. They all work with HIC (Herts Insurance Consultants), the name behind VWIS and the company that provides a huge range of cheap insurance schemes for VWs. The VWIS girls are all recruited from company staff and, when they aren’t being babes, are insurance executives. They’ll be bringing a welcome touch of glamour to the Show.

VWIS always offers cheaper insurance and the extra 10% discount applies to anyone arranging cover at the Show. Staff will be able to sort out insurance cover online, on the spot - and if the policy isn’t due for renewal just yet, visitors can still take advantage of the deal as VWIS can handle policy start dates up to 60 days in advance.

As if getting cheaper insurance and hanging out with the VWIS Babes weren’t incentives enough, anyone who asks for a quote can also grab a VWIS Goodie Bag. Amongst the swag are some of the famous HIC Squidgy Beetle key rings - but collectors need to be quick off the block as numbers are limited and when they’re gone, they’re gone. Luckily there are loads of other freebies, including mugs and pens.

Last but by no means least, VWIS is running a free prize draw to win a year’s worth of insurance, with a value up to £500. Visitors should pop along to the stand and ask one of the VWIS Babes to show them how they can win! They’ll also be offering light refreshments and comfy sofas, so visitors can quench their thirst and take the weight off while they organise their insurance.

Contact Volksworld Insurance Services on 08451 240 240 or via www.volksworldinsurance.com

HIC is the enthusiast’s car insurer with a passion for motoring that translates into great deals on car insurance. For more information visit www.hertsinsurance.com 

Tight Japanese regulations mean that a Bongo is a great buy for international travellers - high quality, good economy, holds its value, and is an excellent base for modifying. Auctions are even held dockside in Japan, the Bongos are driven straight on to ro-ro ships, and often offloaded in the UK straight into conversion shops to be turned into motorhomes.

But getting the Bongo over here is easy. The hard part is usually insuring them. Conventional insurers often won’t touch them - especially for European travel - or else they’ll load the premiums unreasonably if they hear your Bongo has been converted to a campervan. More tricky still, unless you are a UK resident you could have real problems finding insurance.

Now Herts Insurance Consultants has introduced various schemes for covering your Bongo, especially for travellers with wanderlust, and it normally doesn’t matter what motorhome modifications have been made, where the owner came from or where in Europe they are travelling.

HIC’s Walkabout policies can be tailored to the specific needs of van owners.   For example, in March 2007 mountain biker John Oldale bought a Bongo to travel to races and meetings throughout Europe. The 1996 model was smart, good-value, gave him space to store his bike and spares, and all the accommodation needed.

There was just one small problem. John’s travelling companion was an American biking photographer and journalist covering his trip, and when he asked about insurance, no one, it seems, wanted to cover an overseas visitor for driving a Bongo around Europe.

Except for HIC. “I rang around loads of places, and nobody else would give cover on a visitor to Europe who didn’t already have a UK driving licence or a previous UK policy”, he said. “Only HIC could offer us cover”.

John’s Walkabout policy covers his Bongo for travel throughout Europe, Turkey and other selected countries, and includes full comprehensive cover for his American colleague to drive.

Walkabout is superbly handy for travellers. They can organise insurance even before arrival in the UK, and they don’t need a permanent address. HIC can send insurance documents by e-mail, and they can be downloaded by the traveller at any point in their journey - even at sea!

Nor do policy holders need a UK driving licence. A variety of international licences are acceptable, including from New Zealand, Australia, South Africa, USA or Canada. Cover can range from 15 days to 12 months and includes a Green Card valid for 12 months.

HIC is the enthusiast’s car insurer with a passion for motoring that translates into great deals on car insurance. For more information visit www.hertsinsurance.com or call 08451 290290.

The stunning classic 1984 Opel Manta of Brian McClure has just won Top Ride for 2007 in a national competition organised by insurance specialist Herts Insurance Consultants (HIC).

The Top Rides competition featured hundreds of classic and modified cars, all entered by their owners. Brian’s Manta was declared the ‘HIC Rides car of the year’, with more website traffic, chatter and admiring comments than any other.

Brian’s prize was a TomTom satellite navigation system - his first satnav, and something that would have seemed like magic when the Manta was built 23 years ago. After a long drive from his home in Gourock (central Scotland) to Wales earlier this month he’s already had a chance to discover the joys of being innocently directed the wrong way up one-way-streets, down dead ends or the long way round short cuts!

Brian’s Manta is a stunning car, originally created by Opel specialist dealer Steve Thompson Cars Ltd, of Walsall, using Irmscher parts. The current spec includes a heavily modified Calibra turbo engine, uprated exhaust and adjustable suspension. Only 25 were made, and Brian’s car has had five or six previous owners, all of whom adored it and really looked after it. It’s still immaculate in its original livery of the Rothmans motor racing sponsorship (remember that?) - white with blue ‘go-faster’ 1980s stripes, a real period piece.

Getting insurance on such a cherished and rare car wasn’t an easy process, says Brian. “When you’re trying to insure a rarity, it’s hard for most insurers to put a value on it, because most of them rely on book value, and there aren’t enough examples to give an accurate book value,” he commented.

When Brian approached HIC he was immediately impressed. “All the people I spoke to there were knowledgeable about motors and really helpful,” he says. “They didn’t just use book value, they used their own knowledge. That’s not been my experience of most other insurers.”

Because of this expert knowledge HIC were able to discuss an agreed value for the car, and knew what the modifications meant in insurance terms.

“Agreed value was critical,” said Brian. “HIC looked at my photos, my description and the history of the car and agreed very quickly. They gave me by far the best deal.”

Winning the HIC Rides gallery is the icing on the cake for this Manta, which has featured in several magazine spreads, and won Best Car at the Irvine show as recently as August 2007.

HIC Rides is an opportunity for car enthusiasts of all ’stripes’ to show off their motor and have fellow enthusiasts vote on the favourite. Next year’s competition is already under way, with a top prize of two tickets to the 2008 British Grand Prix at Silverstone.

On HIC Rides, you are the judges. The winner is simply the most magnetic car, the one that draws the most attention.

HIC is the enthusiast’s car insurer with a passion for motoring that translates into great deals on car insurance. For more information visit www.hertsinsurance.com or call 08451 290290

Editor’s notes:
A detailed description of Brian’s Opel Manta I200 is available on http://www.mantaclub.org/archive/manta_b_i200.htm

Despite the major set back of their car blowing its head gasket just two weeks before the off, the HIC (Herts Insurance Consultants) team of insurance superstars surprised themselves and their mates by making it all the way to Valencia during the Ramshackle Rally this August.

The gasket incident meant another car had to be found at short notice and the Herts Insurance Consultants team of Andy Morton, Peter Cook and Andy Stubbings were lucky to find a dirt cheap 1.61 K-reg Tdi Passat with 262,000 miles on the clock as a replacement.

“We thought if it had gone that far another 1,800 miles couldn’t hurt,” says Andy Morton of HIC. As it turned out he was right, the Passat was good for even more miles - it made it back home again too. Peter and Andy drove the whole way dressed in camouflage gear. The car itself was tarted up to look the part as well.

“When we got to the starting grid at Calais we were greeted with one of the most ridiculous sights we’ve even seen - all these old bangers painted up with their teams attired to match. For example there was a Polo done out to look like a Twister Mat, an Alan Partridge inspired Rover, A Clockwork Orange and even a team called Knight Riders that had strapped a huge cuddly horse to the top of their Daewoo,” says Andy Stubbings.

Five days, five countries and 1,800 miles later with plenty of steep mountain passes under its fan belt - a hot, bothered but undaunted Passat with tired, but grinning HIC team members rolled into Valencia.

At present the HIC team is collecting in the money they’ve raised in sponsorship for CHIPS , a Hertfordshire-based children’s charity, and the team hopes to hand over at least £2,500 at the end of November. Read further details of the journey on the HIC blog .

HIC is the enthusiast’s car insurer with a passion for motoring that translates into great deals on car insurance. For more information visit www.hertsinsurance.com or call 08451 290290. 

Note to editors:

C.H.I.P.S (Children in Hertfordshire Integrated Play Scheme) is a charity that helps integrate disabled and able-bodies children into play schemes in schools. The scheme also offers a support network of parents of special needs children. 

Based in Bishop’s Stortford, HIC (Herts Insurance Consultants) was born back in 1989 in a tiny office with only 2 people to cover the phones. The company ticked along for a few years until one day a young girl in the office mentioned that she was having problems insuring her modified VW. From that day on HIC has never looked back and are now one of the major players in insuring classic and modified VW. Not being the type of company to rest on their laurels we have used our knowledge of the classic and modified scene to build insurance products based on what our customer needs are.

A 26-year-old Mini caused a traffic jam in Causeway Road, Bishop’s Stortford on Friday October12th. However, this was no broken-down jalopy, but a £25,000 custom rebuilt ‘mini-monster’ being handed over to lucky winner Darren Pygott by motor insurance specialist Herts Insurance Consultants (HIC).

Eyes popped as the 1981 Mini, dubbed ‘L’il Player’ by its builder Mat Keeley of Ghost Concept Autos , was put on show outside Stortford’s public library.

The £25,000 project was created as first prize in a competition by HIC in conjunction with Mini World magazine. HIC is a specialist insurer of unusual and enthusiast cars, and as part of the prize has insured the car for its first year of private ownership.

Locals agreed they’d seen nothing like it. It ‘dances’, it plays Xbox and its bright candy orange paint job makes it look like it’s just escaped from the set of an Austin Powers movie.
Winner Darren, of Fordham Heath near Colchester, was staggered by his prize. “I’m totally lost for words,” he said. “I love it - the colour is fantastic, everything about it is fantastic!”

Darren is a huge classic Mini fan - his first car was a Mini and his family now own four. “That first one cost £160 - a bit different from Li’l Player. I’m really into the whole scene - we’re in the Colchester mini club and we go to all the shows.”
With everyone watching, and after one last ‘dance’ on its mental hydraulics, Darren fired up the ignition and was gone.
Mat Keeley said ‘L’il Player’ was a labour of love, and it was bitter-sweet to see it drive off, but he was glad it went to such an enthusiast as Darren.

“She turns heads wherever she goes,” he says. “She’s been fantastic fun to work on - and I hope Darren really enjoys driving her. I hope he looks after her, too - she deserves it!”
‘L’il Player’ was a big hit at the British Motor Show, and has starred in its own promotional video. Outside there’s the candy orange paint job, chrome 13” superlights and raised arches - but they’re just the tip of the iceberg. Inside, there’s a ‘dancing’ hydraulic suspension that makes it look like people are having fun! The car features thick chain-link steering wheel and gearsticks, a home cinema with surround sound, an Xbox games console and three LCD screens, furry seats and a deep shag pile carpet.

“The idea was to take an old conventional Mini and modify it to the ‘nth’ degree, to see just how far we could go,” explains HIC’s general manager Andy Morton. “We insure all sorts of weird and wonderful motors, so we figured L’il Player was a great way to market HIC to our potential customers.”
“She worked fantastically”, he adds. “L’il Player’s been the star of every show she’s gone to to and she’s had loads written about her in magazines and websites over the past 18 months.”

“Next week we’ll start thinking of the follow-up. I want to see someone build something even weirder for us to insure.”
Although Darren plans to take his mental motor to Mini shows and events, he’s also hoping to use it for every day driving. His first year’s insurance is free, but even after that the cost shouldn’t be too high, despite its value and modifications. That’s because HIC was able to insure L’il Player under a classic car scheme . Andy Morton reckons the premium should only cost around £350 per year, depending on circumstances.

For more information visit www.hertsinsurance.com or call 08451 290290.

To view more pics please click on the hyperlinks below

http://www.vocus.com/images/pr/publicity-works_mattkeeley-.jpg

http://www.vocus.com/images/pr/publicity-works_handing-ove.jpg

12 noon, Friday 12th October, The Causeway, Bishop’s Stortford

A completely ‘mental Mini’ is heading for Colchester.  It dances, it plays Xbox and its bright candy orange paint job makes it look like it’s just escaped from the set of an Austin Powers movie.  The car goes on public display for the last time in the middle of Bishop’s Stortford on Friday 12th October, at the end of an extensive tour of car shows in the UK and Europe.  After that it heads for the Colchester home of Darren Pygott, who won the Mini in a nation-wide competition.

If you’d like to come to the event at noon on 12th October, or talk to the winner, please contact The Publicity Works on 01263 76100 or email urgent@publicityworks.biz

The Mini, created by insurance specialist HIC (Herts Insurance Consultants) cost over £25,000 to build (excluding the cost of the original 1983 Mini).  It was a fantastic hit at the British Car Show, it starred in its own promotional film and now it’s going to its new home in Colchester.   

Darren, who is 22 and lives in Fordham, will pick up the keys to the Mini on Friday 12th, at The Causeway, outside the Library in Bishop’s Stortford.  With everyone watching, and perhaps after one last dance on the mental hydraulics, he’ll fire the ignition and take the Mini away. 

Mat Keeley of Ghost Concept Autos , who led the project, is sad to see the Mini he dubbed ‘L’il Player’ go.  “She turns heads wherever she goes,” he says.  “She’s been fantastic fun to work on - and I hope Darren really enjoys driving her.  I hope he looks after her, too!”

The HIC Mini is seriously mental.  Outside there’s the candy orange paint job, dancing hydraulic suspension, chrome 13” superlights and raised arches - but they’re just the tip of the iceburg.  Inside, she boasts a thick chain link steering wheel, a home cinema with surround sound, an Xbox games console and three LCD screens, furry seats and a deep shag pile carpet. 

“The idea was to take an ordinary Classic Mini and modify it to the ‘nth’ degree, to see just how far we could go,” explains HIC’s general manager Andy Morton.  “We insure all sorts of weird and wonderful motors, so we figured the Mental Mini was a great way to market HIC to our potential customers.” 

Has it worked?  “L’il Player’s the star of every show she goes to and she’s had loads written about her in magazines and websites over the past 18 months,” says Andrew Morton.  “Yes, she’s worked well.  I’m not sure what we’ll do as a follow-up, though….”

For more information visit www.hertsinsurance.com or call 08451 290290.

What’s the best campervan to go walkabout round Europe in? Obviously a brand new expensive one with all mod cons. But most travellers are on a budget. So what’s a good alternative?

Phil Johnston and Annette Salvio came over from Australia in 2006 and have been working in Belfast to raise money for a trip around Europe. They’re on a budget and although Phil fancied a Caravelle he didn’t think they could afford it. The answer? A 2002 VW Transporter, which the couple are converting to a campervan.

“No way could we have afforded an ‘02 Caravelle,” says Phil. “It would have been twice the price or more. We’re making the Transporter into a really comfy home - nice bed, kitchen, all mod cons. Well, some mod cons?”

Previously the Transporter was used as a freight van - to carry Stannah Lifts (”Slow but steady,” says Phil, nodding approvingly). Is the lack of windows in the back a problem? “It’s a bit dark but it’s great from the point of view of security - thieves can’t see in.”

Phil’s from England originally and it was Australian-born Annette who wanted to visit the Old Country. To say they love travelling is a bit of an understatement. The pair met in Alice Springs, moved to Western Australia and then North Queensland. En route to the UK they travelled extensively, including a mountain bike trip through Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam.

They plan to take the Transporter all round the UK then through Europe and eventually to Turkey. “Travelling that distance means reliability is very important,” says Phil. “We might have been able to buy an older Caravelle for the same price, but we wanted something younger. The ‘02 Transporter should be good for this trip, no worries.”

But one thing that was an issue was insurance. “I started off with Yellow Pages and phoned loads of companies,” says Phil. “I went on the Internet, asked in supermarkets, everything. For all sorts of reasons we couldn’t find what we wanted. Some insurers didn’t like the fact that the van was converted, loads didn’t like the fact that Annette was on an Australian license. But mostly they couldn’t offer us long enough cover in Europe.

“One company said they could, but that we’d have to come back to the UK every 60 days. Even if it was just for one day! Then we could have another 60 days cover. Crazy.”

Then Phil called HIC (Herts Insurance Consultants) and was amazed when they sorted the problem right away. The company’s Walkabout policy is designed for exactly this type of trip - foreign licences are no problem, converted vans are no problem, and Phil and Annette can stay abroad as long as they like.

What’s more, because they only needed cover for eight months, that’s all they had to pay for.

“It’s great - we want to just go where the fancy takes us, with no restrictions. This insurance policy lets us do that without any clauses or small print or hassles - and it’s cheap. If we want to stay a bit longer in one place, we will. If we don’t, we’ll head over the next hill?”

A real Aussie-style walkabout then. Helped along by HIC’s Walkabout policy.

HIC is the enthusiast?s car insurer with a passion for motoring that translates into great deals on car insurance. For more information visit www.hertsinsurance.com or call 08451 290290.

“We always like to have a good time at VanFest,” says Peter Cook of HIC. “And this year is no exception. As its Just Kampers 18th birthday we’re celebrating by handing out birthday cake and fizzy pop!”

All you have to do to be a part of the birthday celebrations is to visit the Just Kampers stand, pick up a Service Pack and join the party.

VanFest, the world’s largest event for owners and enthusiasts of VW’s Type 2/Transporter Vans is on 7, 8, 9 September 2007 at the Three Counties Show Ground, Malvern, Worcestershire. It’s a weekend of fun and entertainment and a real chance to show off your VW  camper with competitions including Cooking in a Camper and Show and Shine.

More details of VanFest 2007, including ticket purchase and camping arrangements can be found at www.vanfest.org .

HIC is the enthusiast’s car insurer with a passion for motoring that translates into great deals on car insurance.  For more information visit www.hertsinsurance.com or call 08451 290290.