Welcome to the VINTTRO Member Interview!
At VINTTRO, our community is built on more than just high-octane fuel and polished chrome, it’s built on people. Our members are a unique breed: a vibrant mix of passionate enthusiasts and visionary business people who apply the same drive to their professional lives as they do to their garages.
The Member Spotlight is our way of celebrating the incredible community we protect, focusing on the extraordinary journeys of the people behind the wheel.
To kick off part two of the series, we’re excited to introduce a standout member and policyholder. Quite simply, he is an absolute fascinating character and a incredible person, we’re sure you’ll going to love this! In this interview, we get to know him better.
Tell us a bit about yourself, starting with your name:
Greg McNair.
Where are based and what does a typical day look like for you?
I’m based in Bury St Edmunds, in Suffolk.
A typical day for me starts at 7 a.m. when I jump into my recovery truck to help drivers and the police after a breakdown or an accident. But the truth is, there is no such thing as a ‘typical’ day in recovery, you never know what you’re driving into
The First Pay check: What was your very first job, and how did your career path evolve into what you do today?
My first job started in 1993 as a trainee air compressor engineer, and my first wage was a grand total of £80 a week.
What was the “spark” that led you into your current industry?
As for how it evolved into where we are today? That’s a bit War and Peace. In short, that job was followed by a few years in America working as a church organ builder and restorer, an American muscle car importer (and later restorer), a Monster Truck driver, and now, a recovery truck driver.
The spark that led me to what I’m doing today came out of pure curiosity. I’d done general haulage and been that truck driver who was away all week. I wanted some of my time back, and I wanted to do something a bit different.
Company Info. What is the company name you work for now, and what position do you hold?
Today, I work for Manchetts Rescue & Recovery as a recovery operator, and I’m proud to say I’ve been there for nine and a half years now.
What services do they provide, and what is the website address?
Manchetts provides a service that means we can recover pretty much any kind of vehicle from any situation. We have a lot of specialist equipment that allows us to lift and remove vehicles from tight spaces, greatly reducing the risk of damage to some pretty big off-road equipment, including cranes. On an almost daily basis, we recover everything from motorcycles and the smallest city cars all the way up to fully loaded trucks and trailers.
Find out more: www.manchetts.co.uk
The Automotive Obsession
What age were you when you first realised you’re a petrolhead?
I first realised I was a die-hard car guy when I was about 12 or 13. My uncle had a 1970 bullnose Pontiac Trans Am with a 455-cubic-inch big-block V8 (7.5 litres for those who don’t measure engine sizes the American way) and a 4-speed manual transmission. The noise it made and the raw acceleration just completely got me. After going out in that car, I was hooked. I knew right then that a classic American muscle car was the route I needed to take as soon as I could.
What was the first car you ever owned, and how much did you pay for it?
Oh dear god, must you ask about my first car?! It was a 1989 Skoda Estelle LSE. I’m still trying to shake that off, even though it was many years ago, i can’t even remember what I paid for it!
What cars do you currently own (including your daily driver)?
My current collection consists of:
2001 Vauxhall Omega CDX 2.6 24v (part-owner)
1984 Mercedes-Benz SEC
1995 Mercedes-Benz W124 E220 Coupe (my daily driver)
2001 Land Rover Discovery 4.0 V8 Adventurer
2001 BMW E39 M5
2004 Mercedes-Benz CL55 AMG Kompressor
2006 Mercedes-Benz S600 L
Which car do you most regret selling or losing?
The car I most regret letting go, after 20 years of ownership, was my 1970 Plymouth ‘Cuda.
If money and garage space were no object, what is your ultimate “dream” car and why?
My ultimate dream car is a bright yellow 1971 Plymouth Hemi ‘Cuda. They aren’t widely known to the general public because, unlike the Dodge Charger in The Dukes of Hazzard, they weren’t really featured in mainstream media. But back in the ’70s, they were feared and respected, the undisputed kings of the 1/4 mile and the red-light-to-red-light race. They were the car everyone in the scene wanted. (Don Johnson did actually drive a convertible version around San Francisco in his ’90s TV show Nash Bridges!) Production numbers were extremely low in 1971, so any hardtop will easily command six figures today, while the convertibles fetch millions.
Describe your ideal Sunday morning drive, where are you going, and what’s playing on the radio?
My ideal Sunday drive involves heading straight to the coast. The sun will be out, and I’ll be looking forward to a walk on the beach and a nice pub lunch. On the stereo, it’ll be either classical music or country music, depending on what I’m driving. Yes, I know, opposite ends of the spectrum! But it chills me out and just puts me right in my zone.
Manual or Automatic?
Although all but one of my current cars are automatics, I’m definitely a manual guy at heart. My Plymouth ‘Cuda was a 4-speed manual, and obviously, my E39 M5 is a 6-speed manual (as they all were). That thing is absolutely epic to drive and incredibly engaging because of it.
Electric cars – Yes or No? (Give reason)
Electric cars are not for me. However, I highly encourage everyone else to buy them, because as a recovery driver, I need the income to keep my own classics on the road!
Hard Roof or Convertible or both?
I’m not a hater of convertibles, and I’ve owned a couple, but they don’t overly excite me. Some of the ’80s and ’90s American cars I’ve owned had T-tops, which is a cool compromise, but I’m just as happy in a hardtop with the A/C blasting as I am being blown away with the roof down.
Track Day or Weekend Cruise?
I am definitely a weekend cruiser and European road tripper over a track day enthusiast. I’ve done a couple of track days, but as a past collector of American muscle, I can safely say corners aren’t really their strong point. I’m much more competent in a straight line than I am managing lots of bends!
What is one piece of advice you’d give to someone looking to buy their first classic/performance car?
The advice I’d give anyone looking for their first classic or performance car is to really think about what you want to do with it. If you just want to go to local shows and hang out with friends, that’s great. But that requires a very different kind of car than if you want to be like me, doing a few thousand miles a year touring Europe. A ’68 to ’70 Dodge Charger with a 7.2-litre V8 will be an absolute show queen and command the exact same attention as a high-end Italian exotic, but it is definitely not the best tool for a 2,500-mile road trip down to the South of France!
Finally, Beyond the Car Obsession
When you aren’t behind the wheel or under a hood, how do you spend your time? (Hobbies, other interest’s etc).
Through this interview, we delve deeper into the world of automotive passion and the stories that connect us all. This interview is a testament to the community we cherish.
When I’m not working or playing with cars, my true first love is astronomy. I’ve been looking up at the stars since I was old enough to lift my head, so almost my entire life. I’ve formally studied astronomy and take great pleasure in talking about it. I love being able to explain a bit about what goes on up in space, how it affects us, how it shapes other planets, and ultimately, how we were all made. It’s a fascinating subject and something I am incredibly passionate about.
I have a collection of different telescopes, and that is ultimately what I use my Land Rover for. On a clear night, I can throw one or two telescopes in the back, drive up to the top of a friend’s field, and just look up, completely losing myself in the wonders of the universe.
Thank you Greg! we hope this interview inspires others to take part.
Would you like to feature?
If you would like to take part in the VINTTRO Member spotlight interview series, please email us at info@vinttro.co.uk and we’ll be in touch.
