FIND OUT HOW NORTHERN SHOW ORGANISERS ARE COPING,
Local lockdown measures prompt revised car shows and cancellations
Event organisers in the north of England have reacted to local lockdowns imposed on 5 August by re-locating shows or calling them off.
Infection levels in the North West and parts of West Yorkshire prompted the curtailment of any gathering of more than 30 people under Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions on Gatherings) (North of England) Regulations 2020, which is to be reviewed today, 19 August.
Cross-contamination from other areas – and close monitoring of rising infection levels in West Lancashire – prompted organisers to move the Ormskirk Motorfest from its home town and change its format. Having abandoned plans in July to take the show on tour out of Ormskirk, the 31 August show is to now run as a closed doors event at the historic Aintree Motor Racing Circuit in nearby Merseyside.
West Lancashire Borough Council ( WLBC) councillor, Ron Cooper, said in a Facebook posting on 7 August: ‘ West Lancashire [Ormskirk and Skelmersdale] has now been ranked as red, which means that there is an upward trend in cases. Due to this upward trend, WLBC [is] actively progressing our local prevention plans in anticipation that lockdown measures will be put in place for our residents as well.’
Aintree Motor Circuit, which runs Ormskirk Motorfest on behalf of West Lancashire Borough Council, added in an online statement: ‘Due to the ever changing circumstances and with new areas experiencing higher infection rates within the North West and particularly Lancashire, the authorities have made the decision that Motorfest cannot go on tour, to reduce the risk of any COVID-19 spike in West Lancashire.’
The re-located Ormskirk Motorfest will see clubs and cars invited to the original show display and then drive around the remains of the former Grand Prix circuit; entries for the original 2020 event have rolled over, with further tickets to take part available at £25 per vehicle (driver and passenger). Entries close on 26 August.
Worries about visitors from the North West and West Yorkshire also prompted the organiser of Cars and Coffee Cheshire – which took place at the Cheshire County Sports Club Mannings Lane in Chester – to keep meets off the calendar… for the time being at least.
Organiser, Nick Arkell, told Classic Car Weekly: ‘I don’t think the government rules for car meets are clear enough, given how important they are to the hobby and the economy. I see other shows starting up again, but it’s too soon.
‘ We also have the added issue of clubs and cars wanting to join us from the Greater Manchester area, which, given the local lockdown, rather complicates things further.’
❚ ormskirkmotorfest.com
❚ carsandcoffeecheshire.co.uk