WWII Jeep proves to be a big pool
Here's something we haven't come across before –apool car that’s available to members of the Essex Historic Military Vehicle Association.
The group's David Smith explains: ‘In 2021 we were given aWWII Jeep on long-term loan, for education, events and fundraising. It had been stored for 20 years, so our members had to club together to get the vehicle back on the road; and now that it's running again it can be borrowed to take to events such as school fêtes, military shows and more general classic car meets.
‘The Jeep, named Esther, was used by British forces in 1943 and appeared in the film TheLongest
Dayin the Sixties. It’s been afabulous tool to bring our members together.’
To find out more about Esther and the Essex HMVA, go to their website at essexhmva.co.uk.
A BIGGER CRASH
The Devon-based Crash Box & Classic Car Club celebrates its 60th anniversary in 2024, and it's confident that its annual Historic Vehicle Gathering at Powderham Castle will be better than ever.
The CB&CCC's Richard Wood proudly told us: ‘The event first ran in 1975 and we now have 1500-2000 exhibits spanning vehicles of every type, and a modern classics section. We have live music, an autojumble and various family attractions for those who aren’t petrolheads. There are camping facilities for those who want to make a weekend of it.
‘Over the years, we’ve raised more than £250,000 for various charities – and we're aiming to add to that total in 2024, when the Gathering provisionally takes place on July 13-14.’ All the details can be found at crashboxclub.co.uk.
A season to be jolly about
There will be plenty of chances to exercise your classic over the festive period. We expect the biggest event to be the New Year's Day bash at Brooklands, where some 1500 classics usually visit.
Boxing Day will see the Lakeland Motor Museum in Cumbria holding its usual gathering. It’s always very busy – but try to build-in time to have a good look around this splendid museum.
If you've still got some leftover Christmas money to spend, the latest Huddersfield Auto Retro Jumble is on December 31; and the day before that you can expect something special at the Great British Car Journey in Derby.
Other New Year's Day favourites of ours include the Cotswold Classic Car Club shindig just south of Cheltenham, along with Vintage Stony (which also welcomes post-war classics) in Stony Stratford near Milton Keynes.
The Museum of Power in Essex’s New Year wassail promises lots of music and dancing, plus the sound of lots of engines roaring.
Finally, if you're more into the journey than the destination, how about the 95-mile Scottish Highlands road run that's being put on by Classic Car Tours on January 2? Starting and end
