i-drive with Clive Maides
Clive Maides, 63, a founder of the Martel Maides estate agency and auctioneering group, now a consultant director of the auction business, has spent more than 40 years driving on Guernsey roads and has probably visited a major proportion of island homes and commercial properties during his career. He remains passionate about property and enjoys the challenge of auctioning anything from fine arts to vehicle number plates. Since his early teens he has been a keen car and motor sport enthusiast. He participated in local hill climb events in his early 20s and was a classic record holder for a number of years. More recently he has competed in local motor sport charity events and track days in the UK and France.
1. What do you drive at the moment?
Some may call me a bit of a stick in the mud as I drive my faithful 13-year-old BMW 5 Series. I bought my first BMW 528 in 1976 and have lost count of how many BMW 5 Series cars I have owned since then – a number of earlier models from when Jacksons was at Glategny Esplanade. My current car has become a limited production classic, as it is the last in a line of the V8 400hp M5s with a 'proper' gearbox. This is the longest I have ever owned a car, but it still delivers the comfort and performance I love, especially when touring off island.
Classic cars still tick the box for me as I also drive a 20-year-old Porsche 911 turbo cabriolet. This car turned out to be extremely rare – only six of that model were built and this is the car I carefully use on track days and for other motor sport events.
2. What was your best car and why?
Probably my current 13-year old BMW. However, over the years I have owned a number of sports cars, including an early Lotus 7, a Sunbeam Tiger with raw V8 power and a Honda NSX, often referred to as 'the poor man's Ferrari'. I count these as my favourites.
3. Do you consider yourself to be a good driver?
Yes, I believe so. I focus far down the road ahead and can therefore anticipate problems, giving me sufficient reaction time. Much of my learning and understanding of the capabilities of a vehicle have come from track-day events where you can legally push driver and vehicle to their outer limits – an experience I would recommend to all drivers.
4. Who keeps your car clean?
Me – and I try to avoid ever using a car wash.
5. What do you keep in your glovebox?
Always a copy of Perry's Guide, a torch, some CDs, paper, pen and a compass.
6. What frustrates you on the roads?
Roadworks with poorly-signed traffic diversions, drivers who insist on using roundabouts as filter in turns and middle-lane 'huggers' on motorways.
7. Do you have a favourite soundtrack to play while you drive?
It much depends on my mood or mission. Anything from the gentle tones of Songbird by Eva Cassidy to the rock of Status Quo.
8. What would be your dream car and why?
It would have to be the 1960s iconic AC Shelby Cobra 427 – seven litres of V8 'grunt'.
A purist's car without a single item of electronic technology or gizmos.
9. If you could take your car on a dream journey, where would it be?
A couple of months touring Europe and Scandinavia – the contrasts would just be amazing.
10. What would make driving a more pleasant experience for you?
Fill in the potholes. We all pay huge amounts in fuel tax, so why should driving not be a pleasure?
