2024 show season
Discussion
It's getting to that time when I start to look at which shows I want to go to and what I need to do to the car to get ready. I know that shows are a bit marmite and it's a subject covered here several times.
What's everyone's plans? Any must go to shows? Any hidden gems? And what needs to be done? And what about that essential purchase from the autojumble?
I need to give the rover an oil and filter change, sort out an intermittent fault on the Kenlowe fan and get a coachline repainted.
Shows will probably be Tatton Park (June 1st and 2nd), Hoghton Tower (30th June), Leighton Hall (7th July). I'll try and get to Dalemain and possibly Lytham. I'd also like to go further afield - maybe Scotland or Southern England for a change of view, a road trip and to see some different cars.
My essential purchase would be a set of head rests complete with the reading lights. I doubt I'll see any though!
There's also numerous local fetes and shows dotted around the year.
SD.
What's everyone's plans? Any must go to shows? Any hidden gems? And what needs to be done? And what about that essential purchase from the autojumble?
I need to give the rover an oil and filter change, sort out an intermittent fault on the Kenlowe fan and get a coachline repainted.
Shows will probably be Tatton Park (June 1st and 2nd), Hoghton Tower (30th June), Leighton Hall (7th July). I'll try and get to Dalemain and possibly Lytham. I'd also like to go further afield - maybe Scotland or Southern England for a change of view, a road trip and to see some different cars.
My essential purchase would be a set of head rests complete with the reading lights. I doubt I'll see any though!
There's also numerous local fetes and shows dotted around the year.
SD.
I was pondering the same thing yesterday - I've booked tickets for the restoration show at the NEC next month and an 'all comers welcome' show at Gaydon in the summer so far. I'm also eyeing up some American shows around the UK which I intended to do last year but never got round to. In April the local pub meets will start up again so I'll be going to some of those if I'm not working.
I'll probably do Donnington Classic again this year. Thoroughly enjoyed it last time I went.
Still annoyed that Chateaux Impney stopped their event.
Might try and get to Classic Wheels at Rutland.
A few years back there was an event called "flywheel" at Bicester heritage which was absolutely fantastic but it appears to have been a one off. Was a bit like a scramble but with a short sprint track and air displays, live music etc too.
Pistons at Props at Sywell usually quite good too later in the year.
Still annoyed that Chateaux Impney stopped their event.
Might try and get to Classic Wheels at Rutland.
A few years back there was an event called "flywheel" at Bicester heritage which was absolutely fantastic but it appears to have been a one off. Was a bit like a scramble but with a short sprint track and air displays, live music etc too.
Pistons at Props at Sywell usually quite good too later in the year.
I've rather 'grown out of' static shows in fields. I like a bit of 'something different'. It's nice to stay somewhere attractive and/or interesting. Night in a hotel, have a nice meal.
So, I'm doing (South West, England)
Lyn Valley Classic. Great location, worth a stay. Minehead motor Club do an Exmoor Tour, a drive over Exmoor ending up at the show
https://www.lynvalleyclassic.co.uk/mmc-entry-form
Vintage Nostalgia Festival, mainly a music (mostly 50's) festival with a car show thrown in
https://www.vintagenostalgiafestival.co.uk/
Gloucester Goes Retro, cars/ music etc in the streets/docks of Gloucester. An ok place to visit, plenty of street entertainment. And a freebie!
https://www.gloucestergoesretro.com/
So, I'm doing (South West, England)
Lyn Valley Classic. Great location, worth a stay. Minehead motor Club do an Exmoor Tour, a drive over Exmoor ending up at the show
https://www.lynvalleyclassic.co.uk/mmc-entry-form
Vintage Nostalgia Festival, mainly a music (mostly 50's) festival with a car show thrown in
https://www.vintagenostalgiafestival.co.uk/
Gloucester Goes Retro, cars/ music etc in the streets/docks of Gloucester. An ok place to visit, plenty of street entertainment. And a freebie!
https://www.gloucestergoesretro.com/
We kicked static shows into touch 10 years ago and now take part in 'scenic tours' or 'touring assemblies' as they are also known. They're organised by local car clubs and we travel all over England and Wales; we've a calendar of 19 so far this year.
As they're organised by car club members who know their local area well the routes (usually around 100 - 140 miles) are always interesting and challenging. They're not competitive events so not a great strain on the car, they're navigation exercises using tulip diagrams and are a very enjoyable way of driving whatever classic you own.
The great thing is, there have been cars of all nationalities from the 1900s to the 2010s taking part so there's always plenty of interesting machinery to see at rest halts and on the road - which is where they should be.
As they're organised by car club members who know their local area well the routes (usually around 100 - 140 miles) are always interesting and challenging. They're not competitive events so not a great strain on the car, they're navigation exercises using tulip diagrams and are a very enjoyable way of driving whatever classic you own.
The great thing is, there have been cars of all nationalities from the 1900s to the 2010s taking part so there's always plenty of interesting machinery to see at rest halts and on the road - which is where they should be.
Ambleton said:
I'll probably do Donnington Classic again this year. Thoroughly enjoyed it last time I went.
Still annoyed that Chateaux Impney stopped their event.
Might try and get to Classic Wheels at Rutland.
A few years back there was an event called "flywheel" at Bicester heritage which was absolutely fantastic but it appears to have been a one off. Was a bit like a scramble but with a short sprint track and air displays, live music etc too.
Pistons at Props at Sywell usually quite good too later in the year.
There was a Flywheel event at Bicester last year. It was good, but it's not on the calendar for 2024.Still annoyed that Chateaux Impney stopped their event.
Might try and get to Classic Wheels at Rutland.
A few years back there was an event called "flywheel" at Bicester heritage which was absolutely fantastic but it appears to have been a one off. Was a bit like a scramble but with a short sprint track and air displays, live music etc too.
Pistons at Props at Sywell usually quite good too later in the year.
Some enthusiasts can be a bit snobby about static shows which is a pity, as there are a few gems about. As a child I loved attending the Ashover vintage car rally near Chesterfield. Often the road trip there is as important as the event itself. The Gawsworth Hall car shows near Macclesfield both take place in May & just on the edge of fantastic Peak District routes.
roperrich said:
Some enthusiasts can be a bit snobby about static shows which is a pity, as there are a few gems about. As a child I loved attending the Ashover vintage car rally near Chesterfield. Often the road trip there is as important as the event itself. The Gawsworth Hall car shows near Macclesfield both take place in May & just on the edge of fantastic Peak District routes.
I used to show my Riley at the Ashover show and others in the area (Thoresby Park, Hope Valley, Eckington, Wollaton Park) and some a bit further away, (Cholmondeley, Tatton Park, Burton Agnes) but they lost their appeal after a while - there had to be a better way to enjoy a 60 year old classic car than getting up early on a Sunday morning, driving up to 100 miles, parking it, spending the day looking at others then driving home again.We discovered some local driving events, entered a couple and had such a good time we wanted more. We discovered the Historic Rally Car Register's Scenic Tour series - just what we were after. All the events we take part in raise money for charity, they're all organised by car enthusiasts, we're always made very welcome and we always have a great time.
If that's being 'snobby', we're happy to be branded snobs.
Riley Blue said:
Rumdoodle said:
There was a Flywheel event at Bicester last year. It was good, but it's not on the calendar for 2024.
We went to the first one in 2015 and also to last year's, it wasn't a patch on the original.Generally, I think I prefer the Scrambles.
Ambleton said:
I'll probably do Donnington Classic again this year. Thoroughly enjoyed it last time I went.
Still annoyed that Chateaux Impney stopped their event.
Might try and get to Classic Wheels at Rutland.
A few years back there was an event called "flywheel" at Bicester heritage which was absolutely fantastic but it appears to have been a one off. Was a bit like a scramble but with a short sprint track and air displays, live music etc too.
Pistons at Props at Sywell usually quite good too later in the year.
Donington Classic is/was a great meeting, and it is a pity the Chateau stopped their events - was 10 minutes from my dad's house, and as i'm of the "cars are meant to be driven" camp it was brilliant getting to see the cars up close and then used in varying degrees of anger up the driveway Still annoyed that Chateaux Impney stopped their event.
Might try and get to Classic Wheels at Rutland.
A few years back there was an event called "flywheel" at Bicester heritage which was absolutely fantastic but it appears to have been a one off. Was a bit like a scramble but with a short sprint track and air displays, live music etc too.
Pistons at Props at Sywell usually quite good too later in the year.
My wife and I have been doing shows and tours for over 20 years, and getting a bit old and past it. ( us not the car. )
We normally like to do classic car gatherings from April to September at steam rallies, country shows, stately homes etc where there is lots of other interests other than cars.
Most local to us ( Reading ) that we can do in a day, then pick two or three that's a bit far, "w/ends away", stay in a nice pub show next day.
https://www.bloxhamrally.com/https://www.woodcoterally.org.uk/ Steam Rallies, and https://www.swallowfieldshow.co.uk/ Country Show are huge events.
Before Covid messed things up we did a few tours away with https://www.sceniccartours.com/. Laon Classic in France and Jersey International Motoring Festival are perfect short holidays for petrol heads. We found Scenic very good, they lay on everything, mind you its getting very expensive now.
We normally like to do classic car gatherings from April to September at steam rallies, country shows, stately homes etc where there is lots of other interests other than cars.
Most local to us ( Reading ) that we can do in a day, then pick two or three that's a bit far, "w/ends away", stay in a nice pub show next day.
https://www.bloxhamrally.com/https://www.woodcoterally.org.uk/ Steam Rallies, and https://www.swallowfieldshow.co.uk/ Country Show are huge events.
Before Covid messed things up we did a few tours away with https://www.sceniccartours.com/. Laon Classic in France and Jersey International Motoring Festival are perfect short holidays for petrol heads. We found Scenic very good, they lay on everything, mind you its getting very expensive now.
Edited by Old Merc on Tuesday 13th February 19:02
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