There were numerous single marque and model club displays spanning a wide range of cars, together with
classic dealer displays, and the associate trade stands offering a broad selection of motoring related
merchandise. Those arriving in classic cars had a special parking avenue between the main car park and
show entrance, which was nice idea as it meant that spectators had a further element to enjoy even before
they reached the show proper. Bonhams held an auction at the event, which featured a wide variety of
vehicles at a broad spectrum of prices, ranging from a 1912 Daimler 15HP Open Drive Laundelette, through
a number of vintage vehicles, including a 1931 Leyland Lioness Six Fire Engine, to a later 1958 Leyland
Super Comet Petrol Tanker in National Petroleum livery. There was also the quirky, like the 1921 Belsize
Flat Lorry and the French built 1979 Cicostar Matic 50 with a 50cc Mobylette 2 stroke engine. At the other
end of the scale there were sports cars like a Jaguar XK 120 and E-Type, Aston Martin DB7 Vantage, and
coming more up to date with a 2010 Bentley Continental Supersports and a 2018 McLaren 570S Spider.
One of the big attractions of the gathering was the test track, where throughout the three days there was
activity at set intervals, with again a wide variety of machinery taking part. These included a tribute to the
great rally driver Colin McRae, with a number of the rally car that he drove through his sparkling career on
display in the paddock, and in action on the track, notably the “555” branded Subarus in their iconic
metallic blue and yellow liveries. There was plenty of exciting action and antics, from a wheel waving Bugatti
Type 35B, a variety of specials from the pioneer days of motor racing, like the GNs from the twenties, the
Morgan RIP Special from the same period, an Indianapolis Peugeot from 1914, through a wave of rally cars
and racing saloons to a Benetton B193 F1 Car. After the first runs, the most eagerly anticipated car was
the Jaguar Mk 1 saloon, the famous ex-Coombs “BUY 1” registered example of Grant Williams, who put on
spectacular tyre smoking displays of great car control, rarely having it in a straight line, much to the
appreciative applause of the spectators around the circuit. It was a definite spirit uplift that took one’s mind
off these depressing pandemic times.
Keith Bluemel
09/2020
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