ACE CAFE OWNER WINS AWARD
Recognition for man who runs PHers' haunt
Ace Cafe owner Mark Wilsmore![[FONT=verdana,geneva"]](/forum/styles/default/pcgb/space.gif ". [FONT=verdana,geneva\"]")
Mark Wilsmore, owner of the famous Ace Café in north London, has won the 2005 Meguiar's Award for "˜UK Car Enthusiast of the Year'. The award was conferred by an independent panel of 12 respected automotive journalists specially brought together by Meguiar's, the leading manufacturer of automotive surface care products in both the United States and Australia, and a rapidly growing brand here in the UK.
The annual Meguiar's Award is designed to honour a person who has made a significant contribution to the growth, visibility and quality of the car enthusiast movement, in all its varied forms. There were 25 nominees, and the selection committee took a day out of their busy schedules at the Royal Automobile Club in Pall Mall, London, to decide the winner. They gradually narrowed the field down to a shortlist of four, and after due deliberation Mark Wilsmore emerged as the winner by unanimous vote.
The Ace Café, located just off the North Circular Road at Stonebridge, near Wembley, first opened in 1938. It became a famous bikers' haunt in the 1950s and '60s but closed in 1969. Having served in the Metropolitan Police for almost 20 years, Mark's love for all things automotive finally got the better of him and in 1997 he left the Police to re-launch the Ace as a venue for bikers and car enthusiasts alike -- including many PHers.
By 2001 Wilsmore had restored and refurbished the Ace Café to its present condition. Mark's labour of love has made the Ace not only a firm favourite with motorcyclists once again but also with car enthusiasts of all kinds and of every age, from classic car connoisseurs to performance tuning enthusiasts. As a result, the venue attracts many thousands of people who would otherwise have no suitable place to share their passion. It has become a place of pilgrimage for anyone with petrol running through their veins. People flock there from all parts of Britain, and beyond.
In just four years, Mark, aged 47, has established the Ace Café as a congenial meeting place for every type of car enthusiast to meet and enjoy a relaxed, informal evening or afternoon, with a wide variety of excellent food and drink, including a licensed bar.
The Ace welcomes 15,000 to 20,000 people during an average week, and a single event can attract several thousand.
Importantly, the Ace is not a niche-interest venue or an exclusive club "" it welcomes car lovers of all kinds, free-of-charge. The number and range of events there is astonishing, with the Ace playing host to 16 monthly car meets (192 per year) as well as 62 special events during 2005. In addition, there are a similar number of monthly meets and special events for motorcycle enthusiasts. That's a total of over 500 meets and special events per year, taking place at different times during the day and evening.
Thanks to the Ace's location there are no residential neighbours to annoy, but Mark still holds regular meetings with the local Council, Police and other official bodies, to ensure that everything runs smoothly and safely.
"I'm absolutely knocked out to win the Meguiar's Award and feel really honoured," said a delighted Wilsmore. "I would like to thank my staff for their help and support, and of course our customers for helping to make the Ace such a success."
Award ceremony
The Meguiar's Award will be presented to Mark Wilsmore in the elegant surroundings of the The Royal Automobile Club, Woodcote Park, Epsom, Surrey, on the evening of Friday, 23 September. Up to 180 representatives of car clubs will mingle with major figures from the world of motoring, and proceedings will be compered by Richard Hammond of BBC Television's Top Gear.
The managing director of Meguiar's UK Steve King will be joined at the award ceremony by company boss Barry Meguiar. The award ceremony will be televised in the United States and Canada on the Speed Channel, where Barry Meguiar hosts a popular weekly show called Car Crazy.
Firm foundations
The Meguiar's Award began in America 11 years ago and the US award ceremony now attracts an audience of 3,500 to the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood, home of the Oscars. "We feel confident that the British award will grow in a similar way," said Steve King of Meguiar's UK. "The award is only in its second year here, but it has already created enormous interest and is considered by many to have fulfilled a long-standing need."
Last year's inaugural UK Meguiar's Award went to Tom Wheatcroft, founder of the world-famous Donington Grand Prix Collection.
Recognition for man who runs PHers' haunt
Ace Cafe owner Mark Wilsmore
Mark Wilsmore, owner of the famous Ace Café in north London, has won the 2005 Meguiar's Award for "˜UK Car Enthusiast of the Year'. The award was conferred by an independent panel of 12 respected automotive journalists specially brought together by Meguiar's, the leading manufacturer of automotive surface care products in both the United States and Australia, and a rapidly growing brand here in the UK. The annual Meguiar's Award is designed to honour a person who has made a significant contribution to the growth, visibility and quality of the car enthusiast movement, in all its varied forms. There were 25 nominees, and the selection committee took a day out of their busy schedules at the Royal Automobile Club in Pall Mall, London, to decide the winner. They gradually narrowed the field down to a shortlist of four, and after due deliberation Mark Wilsmore emerged as the winner by unanimous vote.
The Ace Café, located just off the North Circular Road at Stonebridge, near Wembley, first opened in 1938. It became a famous bikers' haunt in the 1950s and '60s but closed in 1969. Having served in the Metropolitan Police for almost 20 years, Mark's love for all things automotive finally got the better of him and in 1997 he left the Police to re-launch the Ace as a venue for bikers and car enthusiasts alike -- including many PHers.
By 2001 Wilsmore had restored and refurbished the Ace Café to its present condition. Mark's labour of love has made the Ace not only a firm favourite with motorcyclists once again but also with car enthusiasts of all kinds and of every age, from classic car connoisseurs to performance tuning enthusiasts. As a result, the venue attracts many thousands of people who would otherwise have no suitable place to share their passion. It has become a place of pilgrimage for anyone with petrol running through their veins. People flock there from all parts of Britain, and beyond.
In just four years, Mark, aged 47, has established the Ace Café as a congenial meeting place for every type of car enthusiast to meet and enjoy a relaxed, informal evening or afternoon, with a wide variety of excellent food and drink, including a licensed bar.
The Ace welcomes 15,000 to 20,000 people during an average week, and a single event can attract several thousand.
Importantly, the Ace is not a niche-interest venue or an exclusive club "" it welcomes car lovers of all kinds, free-of-charge. The number and range of events there is astonishing, with the Ace playing host to 16 monthly car meets (192 per year) as well as 62 special events during 2005. In addition, there are a similar number of monthly meets and special events for motorcycle enthusiasts. That's a total of over 500 meets and special events per year, taking place at different times during the day and evening.
Thanks to the Ace's location there are no residential neighbours to annoy, but Mark still holds regular meetings with the local Council, Police and other official bodies, to ensure that everything runs smoothly and safely.
"I'm absolutely knocked out to win the Meguiar's Award and feel really honoured," said a delighted Wilsmore. "I would like to thank my staff for their help and support, and of course our customers for helping to make the Ace such a success."
Award ceremony
The Meguiar's Award will be presented to Mark Wilsmore in the elegant surroundings of the The Royal Automobile Club, Woodcote Park, Epsom, Surrey, on the evening of Friday, 23 September. Up to 180 representatives of car clubs will mingle with major figures from the world of motoring, and proceedings will be compered by Richard Hammond of BBC Television's Top Gear.
The managing director of Meguiar's UK Steve King will be joined at the award ceremony by company boss Barry Meguiar. The award ceremony will be televised in the United States and Canada on the Speed Channel, where Barry Meguiar hosts a popular weekly show called Car Crazy.
Firm foundations
The Meguiar's Award began in America 11 years ago and the US award ceremony now attracts an audience of 3,500 to the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood, home of the Oscars. "We feel confident that the British award will grow in a similar way," said Steve King of Meguiar's UK. "The award is only in its second year here, but it has already created enormous interest and is considered by many to have fulfilled a long-standing need."
Last year's inaugural UK Meguiar's Award went to Tom Wheatcroft, founder of the world-famous Donington Grand Prix Collection.
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