NEW EVENTS EARNS UNIVERSAL PRAISE
The inaugural Rustival appealed to enthusiasts of all older vehicles.
Rustival, the brand-new classic/ youngtimer show hosted by YouTubers Steph from idriveaclassic, Matt from Furious Driving and lan and Carly from HubNut, is set to return after its inaugural outing was met by huge acclaim from a bumper crowd. Taking place at the British Motor Museum on 9 March, the event's all-encompassing ‘clapped-out to concours’ mantra and welcoming nature saw around 2,500 people pass through the gates and an impressive 875 cars exhibited, and now the organisers have confirmed that the event will return on Saturday 28 September to the British Motor Museum.
Rather than focus on a particular genre of vehicle, the show's aim was to create an inclusive show where everyone felt welcome, covering everything from pre-war vehicles to a daily driver you'd see in a supermarket car park.
A gamble on paper perhaps, but not in reality, for the variety on show was nothing short of unprecedented.
The cars were spread over sold-out ‘Vanden Plas’ and ‘Mayfair’ parking areas, and included many cars you perhaps wouldn't expect to see at a traditional classic event. While typical attendees included a pair of Yugo
Sanas, an Alfa 6, and a V8-powered Hyundai Stellar, mixing with a couple of Ferraris and a Maserati 430, there were also a number of Jaguar models on display ranging from X300s through to Dave Clarke’s TWR XJ-S.
Put simply, anything went, with all vehicles deemed equal. It was the same for attendees too, with people of all ages and from all walks of life mixing amid a relaxed atmosphere.
Up on stage — an adapted Mk1 Transit, fittingly — there were talks from various YouTube stars and motoring personalities, plus tech chat, buying advice and more.
Visitors could also get professional automotive guidance free of charge, and we were particularly enthused by a meet-up spot called Friendship Corner, where visitors could talk to people and make new friends. Of course, being hosted by the British Motor Museum meant event tickets included access to the JDHT Collection and main museum too, so there was plenty to do. The affordable entry was also widely praised, as was the organisation and lack of queues.
Social media and YouTube have been awash with post-event show coverage, and it's even been picked up by national media too. YouTuber Morgan's Miles described the event as “the friendliest car show ever,” while Thecrapcarhunter simply said: “the bar has been set for classic car shows.” Perhaps the highest paise came from attendee Darren Staples, who said: “In years to come this show will go down in folklore in the same way that the original Woodstock and just a couple of other events did.”
Co-organiser Steph Holloway commented: “I think I speak for all of us when | say we were blown away by the brilliant line-up of vehicles which included a stunning array of Jaguars of all ages and the warm, friendly community the event created. The event is just as dear to us as it is to the attendees, which is why we are now carefully reviewing and reflecting on our first event to ensure the next one retains the values loved by attendees but moves forward in a positive way. We would love to see more of the Jaguar community at the next event and remind all interested parties that Jags of all ages and conditions are welcome.."
A date for the promised return has yet to be confirmed, but you can be sure that'll it will be eagerly awaited. Keep an eye on rustival.co.uk for announcements.