Festival of 1000 Classics, Cholmondeley
Cheshire’s long-running classic ’fest lives up to its 1000-car promise
This event more than lived up to its bold claim of having a big car count – you didn’t have to venture far in the grounds of this 19th century country house to spot something exciting.
Clubs were a big part of this oneday event (now in its third year), with the MG Owners’ Club, Wigan Classic Owners’ Club, Jaguar Enthusiasts’ Club and Stoke-on-Trent Classic Car Club among those in attendance. Visitor numbers were consistent with previous years, with 5000 classic fans attending – including many who brought their own classic vehicles along, making the visitor car park a bit of a treat in itself!
Among the stand-out classics on show this year was Christine and Keith Smith’s 1962
Jaguar E-type, which they had brought along from nearby Nantwich. They were at the event as part of the South Cheshire Collectors’ Car Club, which displayed a total of ten cars in front of the Grade II-listed building.
Another highlight was Brenda Clay’s 1976 Leyland Mini 850. She picked up the bug for the diminutive Brit classic from her late husband, Gordon, who at one point owned 25 of them.
Brenda’s car drew plenty of admiring glances, being so original and having covered only covered 36,000 miles in 42 years. She says: ‘I was told to join the Women’s Institute, but I don’t make strawberry jam – I’d much rather be out here in a field with the Mini and a flask of tea, enjoying all of these cars!’