Cumbria Classic & Motorsport Show

Rare Fifties saloon stars at 800-strong show at historic Lakeland venue

A1952 Standard Vanguard beat more than 800 cars to the top honours at this busy show in the heart of the Lake District – the finale of a two-day celebration of classics by northern England’s biggest car club.

There’s nothing worse than reading about the weather in an event report, but in the case of the 31st Cumbria Classic Weekend, it really did have a bearing on how the proceedings panned out.

It’s split into two halves

– the Rose and Thistle Challenge Tour on Saturday, and the

Cumbria Classic and Motorsport Show on Sunday.

Event organiser, Graeme Forrester of the Wigton Motor Club, said that the Saturday tour was a great success: ‘75 crews joined in the fun from the start at Houghton Hall into the Borders and a lunch halt at Gilsland Spa Hotel and then a route in the Pennines and Eden Valley to the finish at Lowther Castle. It was hood down for the whole day for the open cars that

enjoyed a wonderful route designed by Ron Palmer.’ The same can’t be said for the Sunday’s Cumbria Classic and Motorsport Show, which was held in the grounds of Dalemain Mansion. The Lakes did what it’s most famous for and provided a soggy backdrop for the show – but despite that, Graeme confirms that 800 cars lined the field during the day. The good news is that many owners and drivers just got on with the important job of showing off their cars in trying circumstances, many smiling and enjoying this typically Cumbrian day out. The sheer mix of cars is what makes this show so appealing, with pre- and post-war cars rubbing shoulders with post-1980 modern classics, and all getting equal billing. The serious job of choosing the category-winning cars went undampened, and although the lineup of winners at the end of the day was almost as muddy as the autotest running alongside, there were some impressive cars in the winners’ enclosure.

Graeme concluded: ‘The day started well with blue sky but went downhill during the morning and there was persistent rain for much of the day. However, many of the entered cars turned up and enjoyed the activities on the field.’

wigton Motor club managed to pack more than 800 classics into Dalemain’s grounds, despite the inclement weather.

Brian Powton’s stunning standard Vanguard was voted car of the show by the judges.

This Tomcat is part of Mark McGrady’s small collection that includes a late Mini cooper and ex-factory MG ZT.

John wilkinson, from levenshall, near kendal, has owned his 1962 Volvo P1800 for 20 years and has partially restored the car during that time.

roy exelby, from kendal, has had his very orange Bond Bug since 2014, when he saved it from near-death in a relative’s garden before fully restoring it.

steve Howe has had his Tuscan for five years – it’s the second TVr that he’s owned.