21/09/2026
Today, we pause with full hearts to honour and celebrate the birthday of the late, great Philip Young. The founder, the original ringmaster, the pioneer and the spark who lit the flame of the classic rallying world.
Philip’s story began in Kent, in the quiet hum of his father’s garage. As a young boy, wide-eyed and eager, he stood in awe as legends like Pat Moss and Peter Harper rolled in, their works-prepared Minis filling the air with the intoxicating mix of oil, rubber, and pure possibility. In those moments, seeds were planted, seeds that would one day grow into a lifelong passion, and a legacy that would touch lives across the globe.
Though he made his living with words as a journalist, Philip’s true heartbeat was always in motorsport. That fire led him to create the Historic Rally Car Register, the Classic Rally Association, and eventually the world-spanning Endurance Rally Association (ERA). Through ERA, he turned dreams into adventures and maps into memories. Guiding people from every corner of the world across continents, deserts, and mountains, always in their beloved classic and vintage cars.
But Philip was never just an organiser. He was a dreamer, a doer, and above all, a connector. His rallies didn’t just chart new routes across landscapes, they carved new paths in people’s lives. He built bridges of friendship, inspired journeys of courage, inspired life choices, and gave countless men and women stories they will tell for the rest of their days.
Today, on what would have been his birthday, we remember him not with sorrow, but with gratitude. Gratitude for the inspiration he shared. Gratitude for the joy he created. Gratitude for the community he built. A community that carries his spirit forward with every mile travelled and every adventure yet to come.
Philip Young was, and always will be, extraordinary. He may be deeply missed, but his presence is alive still, in the roads we drive, the friendships we treasure, and the adventures we dare to chase.
Happy Birthday, Philip.
With love,
