fenderbender wrote:................ I don't live in the UK so my guess is that I have little use of the benefits of being a CTC member.

I was a person that always wanted to be in the CTC, but never actually got round to it. I'm a member now, and not really an active one either, but a member nonetheless.
What made me take the plunge and join? The 3rd Party Insurance! There are other benefits of being a member, of course, but I've not used them - or the insurance (yet)! The insurance is a very good safety net, and well worth the membership fee. You get the magazine free too!
Basically, what I'm saying, join the CTC, get the safety net of the insurance, and the mag thrown in as a freeby.
Mick F. Cornwall