Following several years of successful shows at the tram museum we are booked in to return there on Saturday 27th March 2021. The museum has found itself in financial difficulties this year due to the Covid pandemic, and support from the public and car clubs will be important in 2021 to keep the wheels moving at the museum. Entry is free to drivers of classic cars but we would politely suggest a donation of £10 per car to help with museum funds; it's a fascinating piece of British history that we don't want to lose. On Sunday the group will be following a pre-planned 47-mile route around the stunning Peak District countryside, taking in superb view points, a water mill, pre arranged lunch stop and passing through the iconic Swainsley tunnel.
The more the merrier to help support Crich - no limit on numbers and all classics welcome, not just pre 85 Brits. Enquiries to Gar Cole - you can find more information and indicate your interest via the button below.
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Message from Clarion EventsWe are delighted to announce that Practical Classics Classic Car & Restoration Show, with Discovery, will now take place 11-13 June 2021 Due to the on-going COVID situation, we feel this new timeline will give us the best opportunity to bring the community together to celebrate the world of classic cars and their restoration journey. While we are still planning on incorporating all the COVID secure measures put in place for the show this year, they are all being implemented in a way that can be scaled back assuming a vaccination programme is well underway.
More details will follow in the new year but we wanted to update you now so you can save these new dates! Visit the website Announcing our most epic tour ever, the Scotland North Coast 500. Spread over 9 nights and a whopping 1600 plus miles, scheduled for September 2022 - interested?
Full details can be found on the button below and in the Events section on Facebook. All vehicles - British or not - are welcome, provided they are pre-2000. Note you need to be a member of "Enthusiasts of British Motor Vehicles Built Before 1985" to view the tour details. With thanks to Bill Munro A celebration of Vauxhall history, with a selection of cars from the Vauxhall Heritage Centre.News of a new free-to-attend exhibition, 'Vauxhall - Made in Luton", opening September 5 Note this event is not organised by Enthusiasts of British Motors Built Before 1985 - we are sharing information from the organisers for the benefit of our members This exhibition showcases a curated selection of vehicles from the Vauxhall Heritage Centre, and is a unique opportunity to get close to some of the iconic vehicles produced by Vauxhall over the last 100 years. Follow the story of the major car company in Luton, and learn something of the impact made on the town. Vauxhall was established in 1857 and moved to Luton in 1905. The company’s Griffin logo was chosen by the Scottish engineer Alexander Wilson, who took the Falkes de Breauté’s heraldic griffin as the company badge. Falkes had land and a house at what would become Vauxhall, giving the company another connection to Luton as Falkes de Breauté also owned the Manor of Luton. Come along to the exhibition and discover more about the history of this iconic car manufacturer. Cars included (subject to change)Booking Information
Social distancing measures will be in place throughout your visit. As per government guidelines, as the exhibition is inside you are required to wear a face covering unless exempt.
The exhibition is FREE to visit, but you will be required to book a ticket to ensure manageable numbers on the day and you get the best out of your experience. from Admin
by Admin The organisers Clarion Events have reached agreement with the UK Govt that this year's Lancaster Insurance Classic Motor Show with Discovery will go ahead, albeit with a raft of additional health & safety measures in place. We feel honoured that once again we have been offered the opportunity of a club stand at the show, however after much consideration and with considerable regret we have on this occasion decided to decline the offer. Our concern is above all for the health & well-being of our team. The organisers fully understand our decision and we hope to return to the large show scene at the Practical Classics Classic Car & Restoration Show in March 2021 - subject of course to the pandemic situation prevailing at that time.
by the Lancaster Insurance team We're really excited to let you know that we are doing everything we can to bring the community together for the season finale in November, once the government gives the green light. While we intend to bring you the show you know and love, some things will be a little different this year. We're putting steps in place so you can feel confident that you are in as safe and secure environment as possible, as you immerse yourself in all things classic motoring. Key changes include:
• Temperature checking upon arrival and face masks recommended • Extended opening times with dedicated entry time and hall entrance options • Widened aisles to enable easy viewing whilst maintaining physical distancing • Hand sanitiser stations across the show • Enhanced cleaning regime by venue and exhibitors To see all the measures we are putting in place, in detail, head over to our Keeping You Safe page on our website. For those of you keen to have something in the diary to look forward to, we're pleased to let you know you can now book tickets online. The booking process has been amended to accommodate the staggered entry and tickets will be limited and released over time. In the meantime, help us keep the community talking. Follow us on social and take five minutes to share your favourite #MotoringMemories with us. Let's fill the timelines with all things classic motoring! All going well, #WheelMeetAgain, in a few months! by Clarion Events Important update regarding the show Everyone involved in putting the show together is extremely disappointed that the ultimate restoration experience will not be brought to the community this year. However, the health and well-being of our visitors, exhibitors, partners, contractors and staff is of the upmost importance. With the government’s roadmap suggesting that restrictions on movement will still be in place for some time, it is therefore the right decision for us to cease planning for an event of this size and importance in August.
We will now be putting all our efforts into delivering an extra special restoration show in 2021 and a fantastic meeting of the community for our flagship event, the Lancaster Insurance Classic Motor Show, with Discovery, in November. Clarion Events is working with other event organisers, venues and government to develop guidelines on how to deliver the best versions of our events while ensuring the health and safety of all involved. We will update you further on the measures we are putting in place in due course. We really appreciate the ongoing support that so many clubs give to the show and it is with great regret that the current situation necessitates another change of plan. We look forwards to the time when we can enjoy our classics again without concern or disruption. All car clubs which had stands confirmed for the March 2020 event will be offered space at the 2021 edition if they wish to attend. by Admin
from Admin Predictable we know, but still we are sad to confirm the Jurassic Coast Driving Tour has been postponed until next year. Our campsite booking has been moved back to 23rd to 25th April 2021, and the driving tour will now take place on the Saturday 24th April.
For more information please chat to Gar in the Facebook group. We hope you can join us!From Clarion Events We are pleased to confirm that the rescheduled dates for the Practical Classics Classic Car & Restoration Show, with Discovery, are 7-9 August at NEC, Birmingham. From AdminWe're unsure exactly what this will mean for us at this stage but will update you all about our potential attendance at the rescheduled show when things have been worked out. In the meantime .... an invitation from Danny Hopkins, Editor of Practical Classics magazineYou can join the Practical Classics Classic Car and Restoration Show - lockdown version - this weekend as well. by Alison Judge, Club Coordinator for and on behalf of Clarion Events Ltd
We're very excited to announce we now have confirmation of a club stand at the 2020 Practical Classics Classic Car & Restoration Show at the NEC in March! Our stand will be in Hall 5 in our favoured location against the wall, with our friends from the Boston Classic Car Club beside us once again. The team is already working on some exciting ideas for the stand and we will soon begin the search for great classics to be displayed. In the meantime, here is the floorplan (our stand is bottom left in Hall 5). Save £££ on Parkingby Gar Cole
Breaking news - we have been allocated a club stand at the 2020 Practical Classics Classic Car & Restoration Show at the NEC next March! We dont have any details of the stand size or location as yet but we WILL be there for our 4th consecutive Resto Show. Tickets are already on sale and if you use the club discount code RSCC2095 as shown in the image above you can save some money for extra cakey!
A fabulous free-to-take-part mix of scenic coastal driving and heavy engineering as the group heads to mid Wales - 22 & Sun 23rd of August 2020. Base camp and start of the drive will be Brynowen holiday park near Aberystwyth. From here we take the scenic coastal route on the A465 to the Internal Fire museum of power, just outside of Cardigan at Tany Y Groes , featuring huge diesel and steam engines from the industrial and maritime past. From the museum we will head inland passing through remote villages and towns such as Newcastle Emlyn as we meander north back towards our second stop of the day at Rheidol hydro electric power station, set in stunning scenery the group will be allowed to park up and explore the reservoir and dam itself before going inside on a pre arranged tour of the inner workings of the power station including the huge water turbines, hot and cold refreshments are available at the visitor centre. Sunday's part 2 will involve a gentle 7 mile drive to the Vale of Rheidol steam railway, a fantastic 12 mile narrow gauge railway winding it's way up and around impressive terrain before arriving at Devils Bridge Waterfalls, for those that don't wish to use the steam railway an alternative driving route will be provided and you can meet the train and those riding it at Devils Bridge for some excellent photo opportunities. Click the button to let us know you're coming
Group members Graham Adams and Sue Clamp invite everyone to join them on 27 June 2020 for the Staffordshire Oatcake Tour - a driving tour centred in the Peak District that they have planned and designed specially for the group. Day 1 on Saturday, the convoy will leave base camp www.haleshallcaravanandcampingpark.com based in Cheadle and head north onto the moorlands with a first coffee stop in Flash, the highest village in England. From Flash we head across country to the town of Buxton before heading towards Macclesfield on the Cat & Fiddle Road. Lunch stop will be at the newly refurbished Cat & Fiddle Inn, recently reopened with it's own whiskey distillery, suitably fed and watered the tour will continue back towards the campsite stopping off at Oakamoor to give our cars a blast up the Speed Hill climb course located there. Day 2 - Sunday's tour takes a gentle turn south to the National Memorial Arboretum with time to explore this thought provoking place. From here on to the National Brewery Museum in Burton on Trent. This organised visit will allow us to park in the museum's inner courtyard, sample the brews on offer, enjoy lunch and check out their collection of vintage brewery vans and their beautiful Shire horses and carriages, finally returning to base camp around 4pm. Below - images of the National Brewery Centre For those who prefer not to camp there is a B&B less than 1/2 mile from the site, meaning a stagger back to bed after an evening socialising with the rest of the group is possible. Abbot's Gaye B&B Tel 01538 750645 / www.abbotshaye@uwclub.net This tour is open to all members of this group and the Pre Millennial Motors group. Click the button below to indicate if you intend to take part.
Ways to save money on parking for the showThe official photo gallery from the group's final event of 2019 - the Yorkshire Moors Driving Tour - is now available via the button below.
by Gar Cole. I think it's fair to say that 2019's Lancaster Insurance Classic Motor Show has been our most successful to date, despite having one of the smaller pitches compared to the past. We crammed it with 5 diverse and fabulous vehicles; I saw people show every emotion from surprise, delight, envy and appreciation, you just couldn't ignore the stand.
Massive thanks to the 5 vehicles owners Paul Green, John Dickson, Mick Taylor, Nick Arthur and Tosh and Gus Brooks. You guys gave brilliant support all weekend from setting up to chatting with the public, special thanks also to Phil Allin, Gill Taylor, Lincoln hunt , Ian Woodward and Bernard Owen for helping with setting up and manning the stand. It was a lovely and genuine surprise when our stand won it's first award for the collection of vehicles the judges would most like to take home. A big thanks to Dave Youngs at Lancaster for all your support. Last but definitely not least our head admin Paul Sweeney who does a lot behind the scenes folks never see, helping me with the show forms and emails from the different departments as well as managing the website and online shop, and of course my fellow 'fat bloke' Mike Peake for his tireless support and enthusiasm for these show, it was a team effort and we nailed it!😀 Headline sponsor Lancaster Insurance is celebrating its 35th anniversary this year at the Classic Motor Show. Fully embracing the Top Trumps theme, the classic car insurance specialist has launched a Special Edition Top Trumps pack, which attendees can buy, and some of the cars featured will be displayed on its stand in Hall One. Six cars will be on show and include a very rare flat nose Porsche 911 Turbo, MG Maestro Turbo, VW Campervan, Morris Mini Cooper, MK1 Escort Mexico and a Ford Mustang Fastback. The stand will also act as a collection point for attendees to pick up their Special Edition Top Trumps packs. Five of these packs will randomly feature an exclusive golden ticket and the lucky winner will receive a pair of day tickets to Goodwood Revival 2020, an overnight stay and dinner. (T&Cs apply).
This year, Lancaster will be displaying on two stands side by side - more information to be revealed very soon! It has also teamed up with Kelsey Media to create ‘Lancaster TV’. Over the three days, a ‘chat show’ will be hosted with special guests and the video will be uploaded onto social media daily. Andrew Evanson, Senior Operations Manager at Lancaster Insurance, comments: “The show, like Top Trumps, evokes a feeling of nostalgia for many visitors as they look back and reminisce about the cars and memories from years gone by. This special theme is a perfect one as we mark 35 years of being part of the classic car community and we can’t wait to celebrate with visitors, clubs and exhibitors alike in November.” THE SWEENEY CONSUL RESTORATION REVEALED The restoration of the Ford Consul GT that featured heavily in the first series of the 1970’s cult classic cop show The Sweeney is to be revealed at the Lancaster Insurance Classic Motor Show, with Discovery.
This 1974 model was supplied to Euston Films, part of the Thames TV company, from new for use in a new TV series called ‘The Sweeney’. Ford had originally supplied a blue Consul but the producers apparently asked for it to be replaced with one painted in a brighter colour to stand out for the camera against a drab London background. The Consul was used for the entire series one production and most of series two before being replaced by Ford with a Granada 3.0S shortly after the Consul range discontinued production in 1975. Appearing in the opening title sequences of the first three series, the Consul was on-screen with the show’s lead actors John Thaw, who played Regan, and Dennis Waterman as Carter, along with their boss Haskins, played by Garfield Morgan. This Consul was used in some of the most remembered 1970’s TV classic car chases around west London and consequently was fitted with some non-standard equipment including a full engine sump guard, full fuel tank shield and a bulkhead brace bar. The current owner, known to those who have been following the build on social media as Mr Shifter, bought the car in 1988 in the Slough area and used it regularly until it was taken off the road in 1989 after failing its MoT on structural corrosion. It was placed into storage until it was finally rebuilt and the restoration completed earlier this year by the team at MBVR Ltd. Mr Shifter said: “My thanks go to all the companies and people who have worked hard to get the car back to full health after almost thirty years off the road.” The Ford Consul will be pride of place at the entrance to Hall 5 of the Lancaster Insurance Classic Motor Show, with Discovery, so they’ll be no chance of missing it. It will have security with it just in case anyone tries to slide across the bonnet in a 70s cop show style! Provided by the Federation of British Historic Vehicle Clubs A new and fascinating feature at the entrance to Hall 5 of the Lancaster Insurance Classic Motor Show, with Discovery, has been created by the Federation of British Historic Vehicle Clubs and their partners featuring a unique collection of exhibits. The stand will be difficult to miss as centre stage will be a Midland Red double-decker bus. SHA 431 spent all its service life working from Birmingham Digbeth garage on routes from Birmingham to Coventry, Malvern, Solihull and Stratford. It was sold in 1967 to Foster Brothers, manufacturers and retailers of men’s clothing. Fosters painted it green and used it daily to transport staff from their old factory in inner Birmingham to new premises in Shirley.
The chassis is a Leyland Titan PD2/12 Special; between 1923 and 1970 Midland Red built its own buses but, from time to time, urgent needs for more new vehicles meant buses were purchased from outside manufacturers. 100 Leyland Titans were bought by Midland Red in 1952-3 with bodies modified to suit the company's styling ideas. It is believed SHA 431 is the only remaining example. Electric vehicles are in the news every day but they have been around far longer. There will be a 1912 Baker Electric Car, 1974 Zagato Zele city car and from 1940 an electric motor complete with bespoke gearbox created by the French manufacturer Lucien Rosengart as a direct replacement for the Austin 7 powerplant in the cars he built in Paris under licence. In the USA in the years 1899 and 1900 electric vehicles outsold all other types of car. In fact, according to the Census, 28 per cent of all 4,192 cars produced in 1900 were electric. The Zagato was created for an entirely different reason, the company gained a reputation as a coachbuilder and styling house for many great names - Alfa Romeo and Aston Martin to name just two. But by the late sixties’, manufacturers were taking styling in-house and producing cars like the Ford Capri and Datsun 240Z. Zagato was in trouble and their solution was to create a city car powered by electricity. This is the only car manufactured completely by Zagato and the vehicle remained in production until 1991. Other vehicles on display include another Rosengart, this time a 1938 Sutosix SuperSept Coupe, the only survivor of five or six cars manufactured. The car has covered less than 8,900 kilometres from new and the owner has researched the full history including the original bill of sale. By complete contrast, there is a Trojan from 1927, named the Utility it was very basic. This car has the three optional extras available at the time - pneumatic rather than solid tyres, a windscreen wiper and a calorimeter, used to measure the temperature of the water in the radiator. Trojan advertising at the time claimed ‘over 200 miles, driving a Trojan is cheaper than what you would pay in shoe leather and socks.’ Don't miss the 1914 Matchless 8B MGC (Machine Gun Corps) combination, this prototype was offered to the British Army but it did not place an order so Matchless offered the machine to Russia but it did not order either; it is amazing that it has survived for so many years! The Federation is joined on the Village Green by its partners Peter James Insurance, Duckhams, paint manufacturer Glasurit, King Dick Tools and Cambridge & Counties Bank. The partners are also displaying vehicles. Whilst King Dick Tools only manufacture tools in the UK these days, it has made rifles and motorcycles amongst many other things. The AKD [Abingdon King Dick] Model 40 was manufactured in 1930 and is the only surviving example. But for a real heritage fix, have a look at the stand of Cambridge & Counties Bank . . . it is showing a 1955 ex-works development TR2. This car is being restored and you will have the opportunity of meeting apprentices from the Heritage Skills Academy and examining period photographs showing the Apprentice Training School in the mid-fifties! by Gar Cole Date: Saturday 26th September 2020 To celebrate the joint 60th birthdays of Group members Nick Arthur and Gus Brooks I'm announcing by far our most ambitious driving tour to date, taking place on Saturday 26th September 2020 .
The convoy will meet at the Quayside in Castletown on the southern tip of the island with members of the islands classic car club , from here we head across to Port Erin, then we will head north using as many rural and coastal roads up the western side of the island, taking in towns with such great names as Peel, Ballaugh, The Cronk, Jurby and the northern-most village of Bride. From here the route heads south down the East coast through Ramsey and stopping at the Laxey wheel, the largest water wheel in the world, just next door we will park up and take a ride on the Snaefell electric mountain cog railway to enjoy the amazing scenery. To finish up the convoy will head into Douglas for a pre booked celebration birthday dinner at one of the larger promenade hotels/restaurants . To answer a few frequently asked questions as best I can:
This is a joint tour with our sister group Pre Millennial Motors, so all vehicles British and foreign built before 2000 are welcome. Feeling adventurous? |
EditorsPaul Sweeney |