Exceptional new grounds for Festival

The Festival of the Unexceptional will return this year with a brand new venue.

Hagerty’s celebration of the exceptionally ordinary will take place on 22 July and will now be held in the grounds of Stowe House, Buckingham. Hagerty admits the change of venue (previously held Whittlebury Park Golf Club in Towcester, Northamptonshire) is to create a sense of juxtaposition between the ordinary cars, and the extraordinary venue - that was the home of the Duke of Buckingham, and now belongs to £11,490 a term Stowe School.

Entries are now open online for any suitable 1966-1989 ‘ordinary’ vehicle. This year hand-picked vehicles from the visitor’s car park will be invited specially to join the main show’s concours participants.

Prior winners of the Unexceptional award have included a Nissan Cherry Europe, a Morris Marina pick-up, and a Hillman Avenger Super Estate.

Angus Forsyth, managing director of Hagerty says: ‘ The grounds are spectacular, and we feel the new venue will add to the enjoyment of this terrific motoring event. The Festival is a great opportunity to celebrate these unusual classics and to recognise their lasting impact.’

The judging panel of the Concours de l’Ordináire is yet to be announced, but

CCW understands that there may be at least one celebrity judging.

Participants will once again be encouraged to pack a picnic reflecting the era of their car.