Today’s speaker was John Pogson of Italia Autosport, Meltham Mills, an independent Ferrari specialist for the past 28 years.
Being advised by family as a young man to try for employment at David Brown Gears, John decided not to turn up for his job interview, instead preferring to try his luck at Lockwood Motor Company, who immediately took him on as a motor mechanic, dealing mainly with B.M.C. products. Thankfully for him, after a couple of years the franchise changed overnight from BMC to Lancia, a major Italian sports car manufacturer, and his love of Italian cars blossomed.
He stayed 8 years, then moved to Huddersfield Garages, who at the time had ventured into the sale and service of a still fledgling Ferrari marque. He soon found himself working for the company in Marinello, testing and racing the company’s new offerings.
His great experience led to him setting up his own company, where he specialises in all Italian sports cars, but especially Ferrari, and he is proud to say that his workshops use no computer diagnostic tools of any sort. He tunes his engines by the use of a glass tube and screwdriver!! He has built up the trust of a large wealthy clientele, on whose behalf he researches and finds exotic vehicles all over the world, but mainly in Europe. Such vehicles are then scrupulously rebuilt and serviced back to original factory condition, and then often garaged by him, at owner’s not inconsiderable expense!
He told us of many hair-raising stories during his years of racing, and we were left in little doubt that if the right race comes along, he will be anxious to extend his list of championship successes.
He is somewhat wistful for the future of his magnificent machines, as the skills required to restore and maintain them are simply not being maintained.
