Gloucestershire Vintage & Country Fair Extravaganza
The first weekend of August will see the Stroud Vintage Transport & Engine Club (SVTEC) host its Extravaganza at South Cerney Airfield in Cirencester, Gloucestershire. Now in its 46th year, the show is widely regarded as one of the biggest and best steam, vintage transport and countryside events in the UK. Set on an exwartime airfield, the sprawling show site covers around 200 acres, most of it filled with attractions to keep your attention all day long.
One of the largest display areas is the motorcycle section featuring more than 200 bikes from 1911 right up to the 2000s. Among the marques on display will be – in no particular order – Honda, Cotton, Meteor, Yamaha, Harley-Davidson, Moto Guzzi, AGS, James, Triumph, Royal Enfield, Rudge, Baker, BMW, Norton, Velocette, Panther, Francis Barnett, Matchless and Greeves. There will also be an abundance of Lambrettas, plus the welcome return of the BSA Bantam Club.
Section leader John Grange said: “We always try to bring something of interest to all ages and interests, from veteran to vintage and classic. From the smallest Brockhouse Corgi ‘Para’ bike to the HRD Vincent Meteor Series B, from the Yamaha FS1E (my first bike!) to the Suzuki GT750, there will be something to suit everyone’s motorcycling interests. The section celebrates 100 years of motorcycles. It’s always great fun to see the Tigers children’s motorcycle display team in action, too.”
Aside from the magnificent display of two-wheeled machinery, visitors to the show can expect to see classic cars, including more than 80 American vehicles, 30 visiting car clubs, 70 bicycles from 18921980, 30 miniature steam engines, 80 stationary engines, 70 full-size steam engines, model engineering, 200 tractors, more than 70 buses and coaches, 130 military vehicles, 315 emergency and commercial vehicles, 70 industrial trucks and plant machinery and 50 vintage caravans. There’s also a vintage fairground with ‘electric yachts’, waltzers, a big wheel, steam-driven gallopers, penny arcade games and a 10¼-inch scale steam locomotive.
As if that wasn’t enough, there will be trade and craft stands and an autojumble, a vintage tearoom, Lindy Hop dance displays and live music from Miss Franny Delight. The Extravaganza raises money for national and local charities and up to 30 will be represented on site raising money and awareness of their respective causes. The event is held from August 5-7, which is just as well because one day isn’t enough to see everything at the Extravaganza! For details see www. glosvintageextravaganza.co.uk where you can buy tickets, although we think the gate prices for adult tickets of £9 for either Saturday or Sunday and just £7 for Friday (a full weekend ticket will cost you just £15) are quite a bargain!