BICESTER SHOW TO HOST 18,000 VISITORS IN SEPT
New ‘Classic Car Drive In Weekend’ aims to safely support 18,000 visitors including clubs and dealers this September
A shock announcement from the organisers of the London Classic Car Show today confirmed that a giant outdoor event – known as the Classic Car Drive In - is confirmed for 18-20 September at Bicester Heritage, Oxfordshire.
Morning, afternoon and evening showings of classic car films are to play within the 444-acre site; having registered online, enthusiasts can watch the film of their choice in their historic vehicles.
Brand Events’ event director, Bas Bungish, said that he wanted the show to become a yearly fixture on the historic vehicle calendar – and promised a wide variety of clubs, dealers and specialists exhibiting outside of the film screenings. Rolling classic car demonstrations around Bicester Heritage’s test track - and Bonhams MPH’s 19 September auction, complete with viewings, will also take place according to government guidelines updated on 17 July.
Bas said: ‘People, clubs and dealers are desperate to get out in their cars and go to serious events again – that’s what the Classic Car Drive In Weekend is all about.’
THE COVER STORY
Brand Events, the team behind the London Classic Car Show, is rolling out a new outdoor event at Bicester Heritage on 18-20 September.
The Classic Car Drive In Weekend is the largest post-lockdown show organised to date, capped at 6000 tickets per day owing to the size of Bicester Heritage, based on a former RAF bomber base in Oxfordshire. It’s the first time that Brand Events and Bicester Heritage have collaborated on a show; the latter postponed its 26 April Sunday Scramble until 20 June next year.
At the heart of the fully COVID-19 compliant event, prebooked online to social distancing requirements, will be a drive-in cinema with morning, afternoon and evening screenings; Senna, Rush, The Italian Job (1969), Days of Thunder and Gone In 60 Seconds (2000) are among the slots confirmed. It’s expected that morning and afternoon attendees will head into the exhibition itself, comprising 35 car clubs and a host of dealers, specialists and convoy demonstrations on Bicester’s test track. Evening showings, for the more casual event goer, will concentrate on the films only with the rest of the show cordoned off. ‘Grab and go’ lunch providers will be on site, direction markers will be provided and extra, regularly sanitised toilets will be available. All staff will also be fully kitted out in personal protective equipment (PPE).
Bonhams MPH is also to run its 19 September sale during the Drive In Weekend with sociallydistanced, crowd-limited viewings of cars inside its hangar on site.
Brand Events’ events director, Bas Bungish, said: ‘People, clubs and dealers are desperate to get out in their cars and go to serious events again – that’s what the Classic Car Drive In Weekend is all about.
‘Clubs and dealers confirmed their interest really quickly; it’s more or less in the centre of the country and the sheer size of Bicester means that we can safely accommodate up to 6000 people per day. We want to make this a yearly gathering.’