In the 1990s, the spark of an idea ignited in the heart of a motorsport garage. Barry Gough, a leading F1® mechanic with a passion for racing and keen eye for storytelling, saw the potential in the retired components of race cars. Instead of letting the racewear and bodywork go to waste, he would find a way to give them new life and allow fans to treasure them for what they were...pieces of history.
After years of moulding his business model, in 2010 Barry coined the name Memento Exclusives, and started trading as an official memorabilia company. Now, 15 years later, Memento Exclusives delivers world-class, officially licensed memorabilia to sports fans all around the globe. It’s been a decade and a half of innovation, growth and bringing the action closer to people who dedicate their time to watching sports.
From humble beginnings, Memento Exclusives has paved the way in the world of sports memorabilia. What started out as F1® wheel rims being turned into tables and carbon fibre parts being transformed into displays, has now evolved into official partnerships across MotoGP™, UFC, Team GB, Anthony Joshua and more.
Explore the brands and find the perfect memorabilia from event used items, to an actual F1 car.
In celebration of the anniversary, we speak with Barry himself about how far Memento has come and what he has in store for the next 15 years and beyond.
A story of drive
Not one to take his foot off the pedal when it comes to running the business, Barry is often spotted deep in talks with the product team, discussing his next idea, or down in the stockroom reviewing auction lots. From day one, he’s seen his vision through, from the initial process to execution and delivery.
With the company so quickly developing, from the once small start-up to the memorabilia empire it has become, Barry comments, “It’s hard to believe that most of our growth has happened in the last five years. But that initial decade was so crucial when I look at where we are today as a business. We established ourselves as a voice of authority and as trusted brand. Having started with Formula 1® – one of the largest sporting bodies in the world – we were then able to obtain more licence agreements with UFC, MotoGP™, Anthony Joshua, and Team GB, and that’s due to the commitment of the team behind it all.”
Despite the economy and the global climate over the past five years, Memento Exclusives has thrived, “I think Memento’s journey has mirrored the evolution of sports fandom. In a world where fans crave a deeper connection and authenticity, we’ve offered something no screen can match: a tangible link to sport’s most iconic moments that fans can own... And that’s why our motto is ‘Own The Moment’.”
At the heart of it all
Memento Exclusives’ HQ in Northamptonshire, sits in the heart of Motorsport Valley, which has proved useful with a growing portfolio of F1® team licences. However, as the business has branched out to other sports, Memento Exclusives has quickly adapted to be able to communicate efficiently with partners all around the world.
With UFC based in Las Vegas, United States, Memento employees are often on the ground in Nevada, and in recent years the team has expanded with permanent US-based members joining the team. Barry says, “As the demand for sports memorabilia has grown, the business has had to grow with it and adjusting our strategy is just a small part of that. The launch of UFC Collectibles back in 2022 was our first venture outside of motorsport, and it’s a testament to the team how we’ve been able to develop this brand to become widely known around the world.”
Besides the team itself, the Headquarters have seen significant growth. What once was a cowshed located in farmland, has since been re-engineered into a state-of-the-art office, akin to a space you might expect a race team to operate from – with working race bays, paint shop and composite unit. And in 2025, this development continues, with new units being added to cater for the demand of stock, content and race car builds.
With the renovations to the building, Memento Exclusives has undergone a period of rediscovery too, revamping its branding and logo in recent years to reflect a more contemporary, fast-paced and industry leading organisation.
An exciting road ahead
Fifteen years on, Memento Exclusives shows no signs of slowing down. With plans to expand into new sports and deepen the storytelling behind each item, the company’s future is just as exciting as its past.
Barry reflects, “What started as a passion project has grown exponentially – but I always had confidence it the business’ ability to do so. At the heart of it all is the team’s shared belief: that sport has the power to inspire, and that the memories it creates deserves to be preserved.”
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