Richard Hammond among stars to toast special milestone for business

A NORTH Yorkshire business marked a special milestone with congratulatory messages from stars

A NORTH Yorkshire business marked a special milestone with congratulatory messages from stars including Nigel Mansell, Martin Johnson, Karun Chandhok and Richard Hammond.

Classic & Sportscar Centre, whose cars have found homes as far afield as Japan and Argentina, celebrated its 35th anniversary with an evening at the National Railway Museum in York.

Customers, friends and supporters joined the team among the museum's collection of historic locomotives, where CEO James Szkiler traced the company's story: its origins as Grundy Mack, the support of his father Nick as the business expanded, and the founding of its sister company, restoration specialist Malton Coachworks.

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Starting out at Broadfield Mills in Huddersfield in April 1991, the company, set up by Nick Szkiler, moved to a 27,000sqft showroom at Phoenix Mills, close to the town centre five years later.

The business relocated to Ryedale seven years later, and in 2006 Nick’s son James took over the running of the company, which later expanded to include Malton Coachworks offering classic car restoration and maintenance.

James said: "I'm really proud to reach this milestone: 35 years of business. I was given the opportunity to take on this business 20 years ago at the age of 23.

"Hopefully I've done my dad proud, and my family proud. I started with a team of six. Today, we have 50."

Congratulations arrived from across motorsport, film and sport, including former Formula One world champion Nigel Mansell, Karun Chandhok, a former racing driver and now a key analyst for Sky Sports F1, retired rugby union player Martin Johnson and broadcaster Richard Hammond.

Former The Grand Tour presenter Richard, said: "As I know from my own, sometimes bitter, experience running my restoration business, it is not easy operating any business in the classic car space, especially when you've been growing as rapidly as you have."

Company founder Nick Szkiler, added: "We've got a talented team, fabulous customers and products that bring smiles to the faces of those who drive them. Our love affair with the classic car is not going to end any time soon."