Newby Hall rally
This was one of Britain’s biggest single-day classic events, even with the football World Cup Final to contend with
World Cup? What World Cup? This one-day event was still one of the biggest in the North of England, with more than 1300 classics – despite the clash with a certain football tournament.
The grounds of the 17th century stately home were dominated by huge club stands, with a 40car turnout from the Teeside Yesteryear Motor Club, more than 50 cars from the Stag Owners’ Club, and a 20-car display from the Jensen Owners’ Club coming in for particular praise from showgoers.
The model-by-model displays retained their strict focus on pre- 1973 vehicles – and there are no plans for it to be changed to line up with the current tax exemption system – with the exception of a busy ‘Future Classics’ area, catering for cars made up to 1994.
The North of England Classic and Pre-War Automobiles Club said turnout had also been affected by two large clubs not taking part this year due to other commitments, but praised the turnout of individually-entered classics and the volunteers involved with marshalling.
Show organiser, Harry Fletcher, said: ‘People come not just for the wonderful setting but also for the motoring nostalgia – there are so many cars here that people will recognise as being their first car, or their dad’s first car. For me the workaday classics like the Morris Minors and Ford Anglia 105Es are the highlights of this show, and there’s a real joy at looking at cars that a lot of people think disappeared years ago.’
Councillor Lionel Ackroyd, who brought his Triumph Stag along from Bradford, said: ‘Even in the past five years this show’s got a lot busier, which I’d put down to there being so many more enthusiasts owning and looking after classics.
‘It’s now a very busy event, but a very well organised one that has so much variety.’