News and events
New Year’s Day has become an important date on the UK classic car calendar, and for those who don’t overdo it the night before there is now a wide selection of events to choose from. Relatively mild conditions this year encouraged many to make the effort, and by late morning the sun was shining brightly on the righteous, which seemed only right.
Brooklands set new records for both cars on display and bodies through the gates at its traditional New Year’s Day gathering. More than 1700 classics were on show, not counting the hundreds more supercars and interesting moderns to turn out. And just shy of 8000 people joined in – the queues to enter were long, but all reckoned the wait worthwhile.
Brooklands’ big secret seems to be its ability to attract huge variety. Enthusiasts brought along every conceivable form of ancientwheeled conveyance: ’bikes, both immaculate and ‘oily rag’; classic campervans; hot-rodded Fords and Vauxhalls; and a gigantic complement of the usual classic suspects – TRS, Minis, Jaguars, 911s, MGBS and many, many more.
Parked modestly among the ranks was an immaculate 1977 Chrysler Alpine, already famous having been awarded Best in Show at last year’s Festival of the Unexceptional and one of only 13 UK cars left. A superb two-tone Hillman Minx brought back memories for many, with a dramatic contrast to its originality coming from the nearby ‘lifted’ Vauxhall Cresta. And a split-screen ‘rat rod’ VW Kombi double-cab pick-up generated energetic debate among onlookers, some of whom yearned to make it immaculate again, with others positive it needed to stay as it was.
Further north there was the 10th running of Vintage Stony and this, too, was the biggest of its kind to date. Enthusiastic crowds jostled for space to take in the vast array of pre- and post-war classics filling the streets and car parks of Stony Stratford, near Milton Keynes.
This event’s warmth and friendliness was perfectly demonstrated
by the fact that its ‘minute of noise’ at noon, led by Duncan Ricketts’ impressive ex-reg Parnell Eraengined Challenger, was dedicated to the memories of two popular supporters of Vintage Stony who passed away in 2018: racing legend Barrie ‘Whizzo’ Williams, and C&SC ’s own much-missed chief sub editor David Evans.
The Spirit of the Event award went to a 1922 GN cyclecar, while a 1935 BSA three-wheeler and its hardy occupants took home the prize for having driven furthest to the event. A captivating 1932 Alfa Romeo 6C-1750 with Touringstyle ‘Flying Star’ coachwork was the judges’ Take Home winner.
Within a few paces you could see classics of all shapes, sizes and ages. There were Triumphs including Stags, a TR7, TR3B and TR2S; a Vauxhall Chevette and Velox; various Minis and Fiat 500s; MGA Twin Cams; a BMW 3.0 CSL; a Mercedes-benz 190 Fintail; Volvo P1800s; and a pair of Citroën DSS.
Americana featured heavily, too, such as a Chevrolet Camaro Z/28, Plymouth Sport Satellite, Cadillac Coupe de Ville, 1902 Gladiator, 1929 Ford Model A Tudor Sedan and 1918 Stutz Bearcat.
And when did you last see a Bond Equipe GT or a Clan Crusader? There was even a first-generation Nissan Micra 1.2 GS called Marmaduke on display!
In Somerset, the Junction 24 New Year’s Day Meeting and Road Run was attended by more than 200 classics, with probably the greatest assortment of vehicles at any meet that day, due to it being organised by the county’s Traction Engine Club. Steam vehicles, old lorries, classic tractors, Landrovers and a great range of classic cars – from a Berkeley SE328 to Jaguar E-types – gathered from 10am. The car park was packed by 11.30am, after which many set off on the pre-arranged road runs.
There was a shorter route for slower entrants, but following the longer trail resulted in a picturesque drive to blow away any morning-after cobwebs.
Meanwhile, crowds lined the streets of the capital for London’s New Year’s Day Parade. The Rollsroyce Enthusiasts’ Club, Aston Martin Owners’ Club, Mini Moke Club plus film-star cars and US classics joined the convoy as it snaked through the city from Piccadilly to Parliament Square.