New speed festival
Herefordshire town to launch street event next month
A new town-centre motoring event is being launched in Herefordshire next month, highlighting the area’s historic links with the car industry.
Bromyard Speed Festival is to be held on Sunday 3 April with Morgan the featured company due to their links with the town – and Sir Malcolm Campbell’s Sunbeam Bluebird land speed record car from Beaulieu will be driven in the parade.
Morgan will be featured in a factory display in Market Square plus parade classes for Morgan cars through the ages and another specifically for Morgan competition cars. Morgan will also be celebrating 80 years of the 4/4 series.
Automotive engineering was started in Bromyard by the Pettifer family who manufactured chassis components for the Morgan three-wheeler in 1910, prior to the building of Morgan’s factories at Malvern, Worcestershire.
The family-friendly street event – free to the public – is expected to attract around 2500 visitors with 70-100 cars and 30-40 motorcycles taking part in parades through the town.
Bromyard’s main streets will be closed off for parades and participating cars and motorcycles will be held in paddock areas and divided into eight to 10 classes.
Each class will drive around the circuit for 15-20 minutes behind a leading pace car, which will be used to determine safe circuit speeds within the speed limit. The event is being organised by Bromyard Speed Festival CIC, a not for profit Community Interest Company, and is supported by Herefordshire Council and Bromyard and Winslow Town Council.
‘Bromyard is well known for its festivals so it seems logical to feature motoring in a town with such historical links,’ says festival spokesman Tony May.
‘In addition to the Morgan connection, the chairmen of Austin and Bean motor manufacturers also lived nearby. The late Lord Montagu bought out the entire stock from a Bromyard garage when he was building up his museum at Beaulieu!
‘There will be some lovely cars and motorcycles taking part – there will be an incredible variety of vehicles being driven through the town.’
A form for anyone interested in entering a vehicle for the festival can be found on the website.
www.bromyardspeedfestival.co.uk