YOU’LL BE TRANSPORTED…

Whether you’re a speed freak or a bus buff, this weekend’s Heritage Transport Show will have whatever you’re looking for on wheels. Angela Cole has a look

From early steam to classic cars straight out of the silver screen – vehicles in all their many guises will be revving up this weekend. The annual Heritage Transport Show, now in its eighth year, will bring buses, steam engines, bikes and coaches to Kent Showground, Detling, on Saturday, April 1.

And there’ll be some film star turns from some. The Volvo P1800S, driven by Roger Moore in The Saint TV series, and the Lotus Esprit 52 – the same model featured in the Bond film The Spy Who Loved Me – will be speeding in. Visitors will also be able to see a replica of the Porsche 356A Speedster, famously raced in the USA by James Dean and Steve Mcqueen in the 1950s and 1960s.

Enthusiasts will not be disappointed as examples of veteran and heritage vehicles will be on show, including a 150-year-old modern internal combustion engine used by thousands of makes and models over the decades, and many makes of familiar names in car manufacturing through the years will be exhibited.

Buses come from the long-standing partnership with the South East Bus Festival, which will bring more than 100 buses and coaches. Some will be offering a free service around the showground for visitors, who can wait at a number of special bus stops around the site and take a trip back in time as they climb aboard a vintage bus.

There will also be a large display of agricultural machinery and stationary engines. Hopfields Live Steam Model Railway, Maidstone Model Engineering Society and the Veteran Cycle Club will hold demonstrations and displays throughout the day.

Trevor Manuel, heritage committee chairman, said: “Our show illustrates the history of the motor industry. Many visitors, whether young or old, have specific memories of a particular make or model that played an important part in their life.

“Without owners who spend time maintaining these vehicles, we would not be able to understand the remarkable journey the modern-day car has undertaken.” Throughout the day, owners will remain with their vehicles to chat to enthusiasts and answer visitors’ questions.