BROMYARD SPEED FESTIVAL

BROMYARD, HEREFORDSHIRE, 3 APRIL

Thousands of visitors lined the streets of Bromyard for the town’s inaugural Speed Festival celebrating its motoring links past and present.

A star attraction was the appearance of Malcolm Campbell’s 1924 Sunbeam Blue Bird land speed record car from the National Motor Museum, Beaulieu. Following transmission problems on its morning appearance, museum staff worked in the paddock to enable it to do an out and back run in the afternoon.

Town centre roads were closed and lined with barriers to allow the crowds to enjoy safely the sight of more than 150 cars and 30 motorcycles as they paraded round the tight circuit.

Steve Morris, managing director of Morgan Cars and Tony Burt, Mayor of Bromyard, assisted by Peder Nielsen the town crier, officially opened the Festival. The first car was an Austin Mini Cooper S driven by well-known Bromyard racing driver Barrie ‘Whizzo’ Williams, accompanied by his 100-year-old mother. Barrie later reappeared driving a go-kart.

The area’s links with Morgans was recalled with a display and a parade of cars ranging from 1930s threewheelers to 2016 models. Other selections included hillclimb, racing, and rally cars, and motorcycles.

Organised by a group of motoring enthusiasts supported by local authorities and companies including Brightwells, Holden Vintage & Classic, Morgan and Mintex, the event has been four years in the planning. Judging by its initial success, it should become a regular fixture. David Brown