A remarkable array of classics was joined by vintage aircraft, a variety of military vehicles, motorcycles and even tricycles for the return of the Flywheel festival at Bicester Heritage on 17-18 June, following a five-year hiatus.
More than 15,000 attended the show, of which some 2000 were aged 14 and under, reflecting the broad appeal of the event and its historic venue. Around the figure-of-eight test track marked out by haybales were merry-go-rounds, military vehicles available for passenger rides, trade stalls, an autojumble, the Scramblers Club car park and a continuous flow of vintage air traffic on the runway, from a loop-the-looping biplane to the wonderful duet of a Spitfire Mk1 and Blenheim light bomber of WW2 vintage.
It was difficult to tear your eyes from the track action, though. This kicked off with a set of rally cars, the dramatic highlight of which was undoubtedly a quartet of Ford Escort Mk2s driven with particularly sideways flair. Modern supercars and the stars of manufacturer heritage fleets also enjoyed a run around the demo track, including Mazdaʼs 1973 RX-3 and Vauxhallʼs 1926 30-98 OE-type. It kept getting better and, at times, stranger, with the arrival of pre-war racers including a Bugatti T35, plus a 1928 Austin Heavy 12/4 Special and the Riley Menasco Pirate, the latter powersliding at angles almost as daring as the Escortsʼ. This wild, period-style creation was built by former Mercedes-AMG Grand Prix team chief engineer Robin Tuluie and is fitted with a 1921 6-litre, four-cylinder aircraft engine originally intended for aeroplane racing.
The crowds also got a look at how the Leyat Hélica propeller car manages to produce f
