Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

[Rick]

Over 1000 Classic cars to take part in the South West’s largest festival of transport!

The 45th Annual Gloucestershire Vintage & Country Extravaganza

South Cerney Airfield, Cirencester 2-4 August 2019

2-4 August 2019 will see the Stroud Vintage Transport & Engine Club (SVTEC) stage their Annual Show at South Cerney Airfield in Cirencester, Gloucestershire. The show now in its 45th year is widely regarded as one of the biggest and best Steam, Vintage and Countryside events in the UK. Set on an ex wartime airfield, the sprawling show site covers around 200 acres, with surprises around every corner, to suit young and old alike.

A show within a show with over 1000 vehicles represented, including 30 visiting car clubs representing the dawn of the motoring era, to pre-war, post-war, Pre-72 American to modern classics, hot rods and Land Rovers. The oldest vehicles entered are 1904 CGV Talbot (only 50 were ever built, with only 2 left in existence) and a 1904 Talbot that has been lovingly restored by a family in Cheltenham, and often competes in the world-famous London to Brighton Veteran Car Run. To the opposite end of the spectrum, there are supercars such as Rolls-Royce, Bentley, Bugatti to mass produced run-abouts such as Morris, Austin, and Ford marques – we often hear people saying ‘my Dad had one of those’.

Over 30 visiting car clubs confirmed including: Gloucestershire MG Owners Club, Atwell Wilson Motor Museum, Nostalgia Car Club, Panhard et Levassor Club GB, The A30/A35 Owners Club, Blakehill Minis, 5 Valleys Mini Club, Gloucestershire Mini Owners Clubs, Colerne Classic Car Club, Glavon TR Register, Swindon Rod N Custom, Cotswold Conrods, Hilltop Mini Club from Malvern, Fairford Classic Car Club, Wiltshire Classic Ford Club, Pre-90s Classics, Six-Ex Minis, Cotswold Classic Car Club, Citroen Traction Avante Owners Club, Landcrab Owners Club, Triumph 2000 register and the first appearance of the Ford Granada MK1 and MK2 Club.

The American section alone has 70 Pre-72 American cars confirmed. These include two 1929 Cadillac's, both in concours condition, a rare 1957 Galaxie Skyliner with retractable hardtop, plus 1939 Plymouth P7 Roadking, a stunning 1957 and a 1955 Chevrolet Bel Air to various Mustangs, Chevvy’s, Ford Model A’s, Studebaker, Pontiacs to a 1970 Chevrolet Camaro boasting a 455 ci big block engine, supercharger, twin 750cmf carburettors and nitrous oxide. All owners are knowledgeable and proud to show off their splendid vehicles.

Alongside regular exhibits are remarkable stories of barn finds, restoration projects and histories to be told, such as the gentleman in Malmesbury, Wiltshire, who had a great deal back in the 1960s when he swapped his camera for a 1935 Austin 10. He has since purchased a similar camera back in a charity shop for £2! The Austin 10 came complete with original letters from its previous owner, along with its history. The vehicle was borrowed in the Second World War as a private defence vehicle for the army and at the time had its headlights covered so it could not be seen by enemy aircraft.

The commercial vehicle section pays tribute to the unmodified Land Rover in its various forms. As you walk round the show you will notice it also pops up in a variety of guises in various other sections too! If you wanted to choose an object that represents solid rugged reliability and dependability, making its presence felt in some of the most hostile and demanding terrain, it could be none other than the Land Rover. It is without doubt the original multi-purpose vehicle whose secret lay in its versatility, making it the ideal vehicle for adaptation to a particular role, be that with the local farmer or fighting alongside the army in some of the most inhospitable parts of the world.

Aside from the huge car show visitors to the event can expect to see a vast array of vintage transport including 1000 classic cars, 30 visiting car clubs, 335 motorcycles and scooters, 70 bicycles from 1903-1980, 30 miniature steam engines, 90 stationary engines, 70 full size steam engines, model engineering, 200 Tractors, over 70 Buses and Coaches, 130 military vehicles, 315 emergency and commercial vehicles, 70 industrial trucks, 50 vintage caravans and over 50 model aircraft taking to the sky above.

The closing date for vintage vehicle entries is 1 June.

All contact details are available for the relevant section leader online at www.glosvintageextravaganza.co.uk

Show Highlights include:

As seen on TV - New for 2019 – The Ken Fox Wall of Death. The Fox family have been touring and entertaining since the 1920's with their Wall of Death. Ken Fox is considered to be the leading rider on the Wall of Death and the only person ever to take a steam bike on the wall! The Troupe is very much a family affair – the nucleus of the show is Ken and his two sons Luke and Alex.

The riders perform incredible stunts and acrobatics on the 20ft high vertical wall on their vintage Indian Scouts. The noise, the speed, the smell, the proximity of the bikes ridden to the top of the wall, barely 6 inches from the audience is a breath-taking display of skill and balance and must be seen. In 2016 Ken Fox worked with Guy Martin in his televised attempt to break the Guinness World Records Guinness Records for the Highest speed on a Wall of Death.

75th Anniversary Tribute to Glenn Miller! The event will also pay tribute to American Popular "big band era" bandleader - Major Glenn Miller - one of the most popular and commercially successful dance orchestra of the Swing era and greatest singles charting acts of the 20th century. 2019 commemorates the 75th anniversary of Glenn Miller performing at Cirencester in August 1944 shortly before his disappearance.

Glenn Miller landed at RAF South Cerney airfield and stayed one night in Cirencester at the US Officers Mess. On Monday 7 August 1944 Glenn Miller and his band performed to 7,000 troops, doctors, nurses and injured serviceman at a special concert. Over 100 military vehicles will be present at this year’s show. As the vehicles enter the main arena, an American flag will be raised in honour of Glenn Miller, where a musician will perform along with 50+ 1940s swing dancers.

The Royal British Legion Poppy Parachute Display Team, made up of serving and former members of the Army, to support and raise awareness of the Armed Forces charities will descend into the arena on all three days of the event too.

Free Admission for WWII Veterans - The show would like to provide free tickets to any WWII veterans and their carers. Special parking and transportation will be provided on the showground for these veterans. To apply, please contact: rebecca@eventspr.co.uk or T: 01452 260063.

Live Action Arena with non-stop demonstrations from spectacular Showman’s Engines to dancing tractors plus the opportunity to drive a steam engine and the Tigers children’s motorcycle display team. Don’t miss the grand parade of miniature steam in the Alec Tanner arena or take a passenger ride on the 10¼ inch scale steam locomotive.

· Vintage Fun fair with fairground organs, 'electric yachts', waltzers, big wheel, steam-driven 'gallopers' and traditional penny arcade games, plus ‘Chuffy the train’ passenger rides.

· The popular Dog Show will take place once again. Categories include: Scruffiest Mutt, Prettiest Bitch, Handsomest Dog, Quickest Sit, Best Child Handler, Best Rescue to Waggiest Tail. Come and enter your four-legged furry friend on the day for just £2 per entry per class (in addition to show event entry fee) all money goes to help a local animal shelter.

· The Countryside Arena actively promotes animal conservation and features both fun and educational displays from a vulture flying display, ferret racing, rare breeds, alpacas, shire horses, horse logging, reptiles, bee hive making to Morris Dancing. Back by popular demand is the hilarious ‘Sheep Show’ - an entertaining demonstration of shearing and sheep dancing - get into the groove with the Sheep Show Shuffle! Plus the children’s area has traditional vintage funfair games, face painting and Professor Colliwobble with his free regular Punch and Judy Shows.

· Massive Trade stand zone featuring model tents, 2 large craft marquees and over 180 trade stands selling a vast array of countryside apparel, vintage clothes, tools and memorabilia.

· Food & Drink - The showground site is sprawling, but there’s plenty of food and drink ‘pit stops’, a firm favourite is the vintage tea room with the 1940s Radio.com broadcasting a great selection of tunes, Lindy Hop dancers plus regular sets by the ‘Steamed Up Brass’.

· FREE vintage bus rides around the showground on all three days.

· Bedford OB Buses Wanted! The Extravaganza is celebrating its 45th anniversary this year and this is the third time that it has hosted the Bedford OB Get-Together. Indeed, the show has become a mecca for Bedford OB enthusiasts and last year's event attracted 13 examples making it the largest display of the type at any event in the country in 2018. At least 75 Bedford OB's are thought to survive although not all are roadworthy so if you have a Bedford OB and would like to take part in the 80th Anniversary Bedford OB Get-Together please contact John Hitchings, Bus & Coach section leader at: bus_coach.svtec@hotmail.com

The Extravaganza is organised by the Stroud Vintage Transport and Engine Club (S.V.T.E.C). This non-profit making organisation 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 Club has donated over £200,000 for charity in recent years. One of the charities on site is The Graham Fulford Charitable Trust that promotes awareness of Prostate Cancer who will be carrying out Psa tests over the weekend. Last year they carried out 268 Psa checks at the event, 15 of which came back as amber warnings and 19 as red warnings prompting further investigation for those men. Ultimately the test might’ve saved several lives.

The rally is one of the largest events of its kind run entirely by volunteers. Chairman of (S.V.T.E.C) Martyn Slater, said: ‘Our goal is to give the best value for money family day out in Gloucestershire, with something for all of the family to enjoy. Whilst the show has evolved a lot, the mission remains the same - to inform, educate, celebrate and preserve our unique transport heritage’.

For further information or to purchase advance tickets please visit: www.glosvintageextravaganza.co.uk

The show opens daily 10.00am - 5.00pm, with a free vintage bus service operating around the perimeter of the show site, and to and from Cirencester Town Centre and Kemble railway station to the show ground connecting with selected First Great Western Trains inc Stroud, Glos and Chelt.

With so much to see and do, one day just isn’t long enough!

For further show information, bus timetables or to purchase advance discounted tickets visit: www.glosvintageextravaganza.co.uk

Ticket Prices:

Ticket prices remain frozen for the 10th consecutive year:

Fri: Adult £7, junior £4. Sat or Sun: Adult: £10, junior £5

Weekender (Fri- Sun) Adult: £15, junior: £8

Family Weekender ticket (2 x adults, 2 x junior) for all three days: £35

Children under 5 years old go free

· The event is a disabled friendly site, with disabled parking, toilet facilities and mobility scooters on site to hire. To pre-book, please visit: https://www.eventmobility.org.uk/

You can Follow us on Facebook: GloucestershireVintageandCountryExtravaganza and Twitter: @GlosExtrav
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[Rootes75]

Always a big and very popular show. We must get round to going there one year.
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Various Rootes Vehicles.