Halfpenny Green Forties Weekend, May 2013 Photos

Some exciting photos to see here at this lovely show based on an operational airfield. Hope you enjoy the show report too !

 

Halfpenny Green Forties Weekend, May 2013 Show Report

Winter had returned to the Midlands this week with heavy showers in between a little sunshine and time to get the winter jumpers out again. Will it be better for the annual Forties Weekend held on the old wartime Halfpenny Green airfield? We sighed with relief as we opened the curtains on the bank holiday Saturday morning, here in the UK. Glorious sunshine and blue skies ! Classiccarblog joined our colleagues from our sister website Miliblog and headed off into the deepest South Staffordshire countryside to visit this lovely show.

This is the third year the show has been held, with this year being organised by the Military Vehicle Trust rather than the Northern Forties Re-Enactment Group. Although a mainly military vehicle event, there’s usually a great selection of classic cars from the 1930′s and 40′s for those who like their vehicles shiny and bright !

First to attract our attention was a glorious MG SA saloon of 1937. The interior was as immaculate as the exterior with lovely cream leather upholstery.

 

In between the dull green machines we found an unusual 1948 Studebaker Starlight Coupe with an absolutely fantastic body shape. The owner wasn’t there to ask, so we had to wait until we got home to find out what it was from our reference books. See what you think !

 

Land Rovers followed Jeeps until we came to another car to add to our list of favourites. A 1946 Alvis TA14. We chatted with the owners, Karen and Lindsay Webb who told us they’d had the car three years and bought it from a chap in Weston-Super-Mare in Somerset. They drove it all the way home but had to stop every 20 miles of so as it overheated. Lindsay’s a brilliant engineer and soon had the radiator fixed within a few weeks meaning the problem hasn’t happened again. He rebuilt all the engine of the following months and now it runs like clockwork. ‘You have to really drive this car”, he said. “No syncromech gearbox means double de-clutching every time you change gear, and with rod brakes and drums rather than more modern disc brakes, you really have to predict the road ahead !” Karen added that they often get invited to drive a Winston Churchill or Montgomery look alike to some of the 1940′s shows and she even gets to play the part of their wife and invited onto the stage. Sorry Karen having met you. more like their daughter than their wife !!!  Karen even posed by the car for us !

 

Not only do you see the lovely cars at classic car shows, but you get to meet the lovely people that own them too ! These ladies seemed to be really enjoying the show, and had it all well planned with a bottle of pink bubbly !

 

 

 

Already looking forward to next year’s show !

 

 

 

 

 

Catton Hall Classic Car Show, May 2013 Photos

Well after reading our show report, I bet you can’t wait to see more photos of the magnificent vehicles we enjoyed over the bank holiday weekend. Remember just click on any photo to enlarge it. So grab a coffee and have look through 350 photos we took at the show !

So please enjoy and feel free to email us at classiccarblog@outlook.com with your thoughts.

 

 

Catton Hall Classic Car Show, May 2013 Show Report

On the warmest day so far in 2013, the grounds of Catton Hall in South Derbyshire provided the perfect backdrop for Linda & Geoff Price’s Transtar Promotions Classic Car and Transport Show. The event as ever was extremely well organised and we were advised by the organisers that over 700 vehicles had pre-booked for the show. ClassicCarBlog joined the throng around noon with Simon eagerly snapping away at many vehicles in the car park. Amongst the rows were TVR’s, MG’s, Jensen’s and a particularly old Chevrolet pick up truck from the early 1940′s. Later ClassicCarBlog had a quick conversation with the two owners and found they were both flying enthusiasts and had spotted the old truck from the air while flying over it. As they drove off they were heard to say “I wish this old truck had power steering” as they diligently steered the vehicle round and off down the field towards home.

 

A 1970′s red Jensen Interceptor looked almost brand new and a dark green TVR Griffin waited under dappled shade for the owner to return and fire up the throaty engine.

 

Crossing into the showground there was a cavalcade of numerous classic vehicles. First to greet the eye was a row of MG’s from the late 1960′s, all with glinting chrome and highly polished painwork. Next up were the Mercedes enthusiasts, including a particularly attractive silver 230SL, which was also known as a ‘pagoda’ due to the shape of it’s hardtop.

 

Our eyes were then drawn to a row of gleaming Austin A35′s, in greens and blacks their condition belying their over 50 years old. There was also a very striking Austin Nash Metropolitan in a wonderful 1950′s aqua and white. The car was a co-production between Austin and the American Nash company and was sold in the US as part of Britain’s post-war export drive.

 

ClassicCarBloggers were like kids in a sweetshop with so many pristine vehicles, not knowing which one to chose next. In no particular preference, we noted Triumph Stag’s, with one in an unusual purple shade, Triumph TR’s and MG Magnettes, definitely on our shopping list as an early GTI ! Then we saw a trio of Ford V8 Pilots, followed by many, many more British cars of the 50′s and 60′s. Absolutely wonderful ! Not forgetting our American friends, the contingent were out sporting Mustangs, Cadillacs and a gorgeous eye catching Chevrolet Corvette Stingray, in a metallic pale blue livery.

 

No show would be complete without samples of the ever popular Ford range, if you’ll excuse the pun !  And Catton Hall didn’t disappoint with Capris, Escorts, Granadas, Cortinas,  Zodiacs and Fiestas, all polished up and giving an excellent show. We wandered on and then found a brace of 1950′s Vauxhall Crestas, in maroon and grey and in pale blue and white. With their big rear wings and wrap-around windscreens, they typified the American influence on the British car designers of the era. A rare Morris Oxford Traveller then caught our attention, in pristine british racing green and pea green, it looked immaculate and was a strong contender for a class winner.

 

Equally rare was an Austin Maxi rally car that took part in the 1970 World Cup Rally and was driven in the event by all woman crew. The rally was from London to Mexico and was an endurance race timed to finish in Mexico City just before the start of the 1970 football World Cup. The rally winner was a Ford Escort driven by Hannu Mikkola and Gunnar Palm.

 

Moving along the rows of lovely cars, we came to a delightful AC Ace, which was the predecessor to the world famous AC Cobra. It was a delight to the eye, seemingly immaculate in all departments.

 

On the back rows, close to Catton Hall itself, were the commercial vehicles and military vehicles. A fine display of Volkswagen camper vans and a perfect unusual Morris J2 Paralanian camper van, which I’m sure would be a star in any episode of Endeavour or Heartbeat on TV. A few WW2 US Willys Jeeps and more modern army Land Rovers were there, which our sister website www.miliblog.co.uk will no doubt feature in their show report.

 

We walked on past the auto jumble section, with many traders having an excellent day selling parts and accessories, until we came to the pre-war section, where we found some absolute gems. On show were Austins, Morris’s, a three wheel Morgan, a couple of lovely Alvis’s, Buicks, Wolseley, a BSA and a top of the range Rolls Royce, which even had a separate compartment for the driver with an open top.

 

And finally, after passing many wonderful cars, we came across what we guess to be the contender for Best in Show. An Austin Healey 3000, something befitting a Hollywood starlette. In better than showroom condition, it had metallic ice blue and ivory paintwork, with polished engine and chromed carburettor air intakes that shone in the late afternoon sunshine. Quite simply breathtaking !  With it’s FRE 3A number plate, it’s no competition to guess the owner had called her Freda !

 

All in all a great day out,  with the crowds all nodding their approval and enjoyment as these lovely old vehicles began their journeys home. As we stood by our car in the car park, a cheery wave, a smile and a toot from the drivers of these much loved cars as they passed us by, said it all. A lovely day out, lovely surroundings, we’ll do it all again soon. And ClassicCarBlog will be their to report it ! See you there and once again, three cheers or pips to Transtar !

 

 

 

 

Wolverhampton West Park Show, June 2011

The annual Wolverhampton Steam Fair and Transport Rally took place in the town’s central West Park on June 4th and 5th, with the usual parade through the town centre on Saturday afternoon. The show is organised by Wolverhampton City Council who make an excellent job of running it, with other attractions such as old steam traction engines, military vehicles, model boats on the lake and the usual funfair.
The weather wasn’t too bad for the day dry and overcast with the threat of rain.
However it was enough to discourage the number of entrants seen in previous years. Many of the vehicles we saw were old favourites having seen them at the Weston Park show two months before, but it’s always good to see them again. An unusual vehicle being a 1966 Commer FC Jennings Road Runner Camper Van which attracted a lot of interest from the enthusiasts.

 

Catton Hall Classic Car Show, May 2011

Coming soon !

Show report and loads of photos !

 

Weston Park Transport Show, Easter 2011

Weston Park Transport Show, Easter 2011

One of the main classic car shows in the diary happens traditionally over the Easter weekend at the glorious Weston Park stately home in Shropshire. Situated on the main A5 between Cannock and Telford, it’s in a few miles range for many classic car enthusiats and owners from all over the Midlands.   

 

Weston Park Festival of Transport, April 2010

Weston Park Festival of Transport, April 2010 

Set in the grounds of Weston Park, just on the A5 East of Telford, this annual event has been held for many years. It gives owners a chance to air their vehicles after the winter break and to inrtoduce new vehicles and rebuilds for the first time.  It’s often a joke in the Midlands, that this show not only attracts the cars but also the rain as well !!! However this year wasn’t too bad for the rain, but boy was it cold !!! Lots of owners huddled behind their cars drinking hot soup while sitting in summer garden seats ! Either that or sitting inside their cars with a blanket on their laps ! 

Some years ago I was asked to be a judge at a classic car show in the Midlands and enjoyed it very much. The dedication to polishing the chrome and buffing the leather seats had to be seen to be believed. The hardest thing was to pick a winner. How could you differentiate between one car and another ? I’m sure the judges here had the same problem. 

What was our favourite car from the show ? Difficult again to choose, with different cars from different eras. To me I had to be a tie between two. A 1938 Rover 16hp which typified the late 1930′s car for a professional person, such as a doctor or an accountant. The other car being a Bristish muscle car, just oozing a ‘get me on the racetrack’ , a 1966  Austin Healey 3000. Just look at the space between the front tyres and the front wings, suggesting quite a hard suspension and a bumpy ride, but who cares !!!

 I’ve highlighted these two below. There were many other lovely cars on display, so choosing our two winners wasn’t easy. 

 

So enjoy looking through our photos !

 

Weston Park Festival of Transport, April 2009

Weston Park Festival of Transport, April 2009

Held over the Easter weekend, The Festival of Transport is organised by Geoff and Linda Price. They are well known in the Midlands for organising classic car shows and I think this is their first show of the season.

Set in the lovely grounds of Weston Park in Shropshire, a stately home just off the main A5 just East of Telford. It’s usually a great event for classic car enthusiasts but with many other attractions as well. These include a small military section, commercial vehicles and a nice autojumble.

Some lovely cars were on show, but I think our favourites were the Bentley Le Mans from 1929, which had a wonderful sound when it was started up and also an unusual MH ZA Magnette convertible. Not sure if this was available at the time in the 1950′s or whether it has been a more recent conversion. Perhaps one of you MG enthusiasts out there could help us with this one ?

So enjoy the photos below and if you’re one of our many visitors to Classiccarblog from the USA,  then just laugh at the quaintness of british cars of the 1950′s !  

 

Trimpley Classic Car Show, August 2009

Trimpley Classic Car Show, August 2009

A fantastic show with a wonderful atmosphere. Run by enthusiasts for fellow enthusiasts. Based in the middle of glorious countryside, just North of Kidderminster in Worcestershire and just South of Bridgnorth in Shropshire, it was a one day event held on Sunday, August 2nd. After all the rain in July we had been having, the day was bright and mostly sunny and I think that many enthusiasts with their classic cars, had thought let’s have a day out.

My one favourite was the 1939 Austin 8hp Military Tourer in civilian bright red. The owner, Steve Swift, a good friend of ours, always resisting pressure from military vehicle owners to get the matt green paint out ! In fact Steve told me a story from one show he attended where an old soldier spotted his car and told him the tale. For the whole of WW2, he had driven his officer all over the country in a similar Austin and when it came time to de-mob after the war, he was told to drive the car one more time to a disposal centre. When he arrived, the sergeant told him just to park it up with all the other military cars and issued him with a rail ticket to get back. Now our friend had driven this car for 5 years and of course knew every nut and bolt and of course had become quite attached to his steed. So passing the car on the way to the station, he cjecked over his shoulder, got in and drove it home. The family kept the vehicle for a number of years until it finally expired in the mid 1960′s !!!!! 

 Any way a superb show and hopefully we’ll be back next year. Maybe we can book some more sunshine again ?!!!

 

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