Club heroes provided the highlights as the Classic Motor Show returned, with the best winning at C&SC’s Club Awards
WORDS CHARLIE CALDERWOOD PHOTOGRAPHY MAX EDLESTON
Nearly 70,000 visitors attended this yearʼs Lancaster Insurance Classic Motor Show, held at the NEC Birmingham from 11-13 November. Some 300 exhibitors interpreted the theme of ʻPart of the Familyʼ in myriad ways for the UK classic car sceneʼs bumper annual indoor get-together.
The Railton Ownersʼ Club displayed a family tree explaining how different marques and men interacted to develop these cars from Railton, via Essex to Brough Superior, while the Ford Y & C Model Register led a tribute to Henry Ford and his products, and how they have become the basis of British family motoring since the arrival of the Model Y 80 years ago. The BMW Historic Motor Club UK took a more personal approach, with a BMW 503 owned by John Surtees until his death in 2017.
Corporate families reunited on the TVR Car Club stand, which marked 50 years of the M Series with Mike Bigland, the modelʼs designer, and former company owner Martin Lilley, who shared a drink beside the cars that bear their names – ʻMʼ standing for both Martin and Mike (see Full throttle for more, p47). The clubʼs display also celebrated 75 years of the TVR name with a line-up of models from throughout the marqueʼs history, including a Griffith, Cerbera and Sagaris.
Meanwhile, the Austin Counties Car Club took the show theme literally with a whole family of A40s giving birth to a pair of J40 pedal cars – a display good enough to land a gong for Best Themed Club Stand in our Club Awards (see p15 to find out the winners).
There were further trophies handed out in the Lancaster Insurance Pride of Ownership competition, with show visitors choosing Ian Croftʼs ex-Graham Hill 1968 Lotus Elan +2, while the judges in the ever-competitive Meguiarʼs Club Showcase awarded the trophy to Mark Rainer for his superb 1956 Triumph TR3.
The Sporting Bears Motor Club celebrated its 30th year of offering Dream Rides, raising a further £35,767 for childrenʼs charities, while The Grand Tour host Richard Hammond joined show regular Mike Brewer on the Live Stage. Hammond displayed a collection of cars from his workshop The Smallest Cog, including a Ford Escort RS2000 and an MGB GT previously seen on Top Gear.
Next yearʼs event is confirmed for 10-12 November 2023.
