The classic car calendar is packed with events large and small, with something for everyone whether you're a marque aficionado or general enthusiast. Here are a few throughout the UK that are deserving of your attention, whether you're away on holiday or simply fancy a destination for a day out.
Now that spring ids finally here (officially, at least), hopefully we can all get out and about.
We will be adding to the list every week as more events are confirmed.
March 25: Mini Madness, Brooklands Museum, nr Weybridge, Surrey
More than 1,000 examples of the evergreen Mini are expected at Brooklands, the site of the the world’s first purpose-built motor racing circuit, for the annual Mini Day on March 25.
Alongside the iconic Austin and Morris Minis, visitors can expect to see all manner of variants and incarnations of this much-loved car, from the Mini Cooper, Clubman and Traveller through to the less common Mokes, Riley Elfs and Wolseley Hornets to customised vans, Scamps and the modern, BMW-produced models displayed on the recently re-opened Finishing Straight of the Brooklands circuit.
As well as the cars, expect plenty of participation from the many enthusiastic Mini owners’ clubs, along with traders selling memorabilia, spares and other Mini paraphernalia.
Mini owners can also submit their cars to an ascent of the circuit’s daunting Test Hill.
The Brooklands Museum also includes a superb collection of classic cars, motorcycles and aircraft, including the only Concorde open to the public in the south-east and the recently opened Brooklands Aircraft Factory and Flight Shed.
The amazing 4D Theatre and the Concorde Experience require separate booking.
Full details at www.brooklandsmuseum.com
April 15: London Bus Museum 45th annual Spring Gathering, Brooklands Museum, nr Weybridge, Surrey
Public transport is in the spotlight at the Brooklands Museum, the home of London Bus Museum, which will have a wide variety of historic buses and coaches on display, as well as the opportunity for enthusiasts to journey around the locale in some of the classic vehicles.
The organisers have already confirmed the appearance of RM2, the second of the Routemaster prototypes built in 1955. It will be joined by a Greater Manchester Transport and later ex-Stockport Corporation Leyland PD3 from 1969, along with a 1939 Bristol K double-decker, the oldest of its type to carry its original Eastern Coach Works body.
As well as the historic transport and the rest of the Brooklands Museum's attractions, there will also be a market selling collectibles and memorabilia, along with a special exhibition charting the story of all bus operations directly related to Brooklands. This includes buses used at Brooklands in connection with pre-war motor races and special services for aircraft factory workers.
For the first time there will be six vintage bus tours. For a small extra cost, visitors can travel back in time on 90-minute return journeys to Woking, Teddington, Leatherhead, Hampton Court and Virginia Water.
Entry prices, which include entry to all the motoring and aviation exhibition areas of Brooklands Museum, including the new Aircraft Factory and Flight Shed Exhibitions, are £13.50 for adults, £11.50 for seniors and £7 for children. A family ticket costs £35.
Full details at www.londonbusmuseum.com
April 21: 'Classic Virgins' Experience Day, British Motor Museum, Gaydon, Warwickshire
This popular, hands-on, informative day is aimed at those considering buying and owning a classic car.
A variety of experts will offer guidance on buying and running a historic vehicle, while the programme also includes practical, workshop-based sessions covering routine maintenance and more.
There will also be the opportunity for passenger rides in a variety of classic cars.
The cost is £90 per person, including lunch.
The fantastic museum also contains the world's largest collection of historic British cars; full details of this and other events throughout the year at www.britishmotormuseum.co.uk
April 21-22: Perthshire Classic Car Festival, Perth
This actually incorporates three events in the area over the two days; the City of Perth Classic Car Parade and Scone Palace Classic Car Day on Saturday on the 21st and the Blairgowrie Drive It Day convoy of historic vehicles on Sunday the 22nd.
Motoring aficionado HRH Prince Michael of Kent will once again be involved in all three events, at which all funds raised are donated to charity.
The City of Perth Classic Car Parade will consist of registration at Scone Palace early on, before the 150 cars cross the Old Perth Bridge which still bears a sign from 1879 reminding drivers that all cars had to be preceded by a man bearing a red flag. The cars will be parked for public viewing in Ttay Street until 1pm, whereupon they return to Scone Palace over the same bridge.
The display at Scone Palace from 9am will feature more than 300 classic cars, including displays from Ecurie Ecosse, along with historic commercial vehicles, family entertainment and stalls.
For the Blairgowrie Drive It Day convoy on the Sunday, 80 classic cars will proceed through the town and into Aberdeenshire before returning to Scone Palace via a different route.
Full details at www.blairgowrieclassiccartour.co.uk; www.perthcity.co.uk and www.scone-palace.co.uk/whats-on
April 22: Drive It Day
This year’s Drive It Day, in which owners of classic vehicles are encouraged to show them off as much as possible, takes place this Sunday
Organised by the Federation of British Historic Vehicle Clubs (FBHVC), Drive It Day is aimed at celebrating the UK's rich and varied transport heritage while demonstrating how many interesting historic machines of all types are still on the road.
Here we showcase a number of events incorporating Drive It Day, although there's nothing to stop you jumping into your pride and joy and driving nowhere in particular just for the pleasure of it.
The British Motor Museum is celebrating the national Drive It Day by offering owners of classic cars discounted entry of £9 to the museum. No advance booking is required - just turn up and display your car outside while you enjoy the collection's 300-plus cars.
Every year Drive It Day is held on the Sunday nearest to April 23 to commemorate the 64 cars that left London on the first day of the Thousand Mile Trial on that date in 1900. In the museum, visitors can see an 1899 Wolseley Voiturette registered OWL 707, which won first prize in its class at this historic event.
April 22: Ripon Classic Car and Bike Show, Ripon Racecourse, Yorkshire
More than 500 classic cars and motorcycles are expected for this spring event, which is timed to coincide with the annual Drive It Day when owners of historic vehicles are encouraged to get out and about to show off their pride and joy on public roads.
As well as mouthwatering cars, expect to see classic motorcycles, historic vans, commercials, trucks and ex-military vehicles, along with a display of classic Land Rovers.
Thee will also be an autojumble, as well as the usual plethora of trade stands, entertainment and refeshments courtesy of the racecourse's amenities.
The show runs from 10am to 4pm; tickets are £7 per adult and £2.50 for children.
Full details at the Mark Woodward Classic Events website.
April 22: Rotary Club of Croydon Charity Classic Car Run, Dorking to Goodwood
The 2018 edition of this annual classic car run starts at Denbies Wine Estate just north of Dorking and takes a stunning scenic route through two counties through the high grounds of the Surrey Hills and country lanes of parts of “Old Surrey & West Sussex”, incorporating the most beautiful villages and hamlets.
Participants can picnic at one of the beautiful locations on the way or enjoy a lunch at one of the plentiful pubs. The run ends at the Goodwood Motor Circuit outside Chichester, venue for the annual Revival historic race meeting.
The entry price is £45 which includes the car, the driver, one passenger, a run pack, route guide and finisher’s plaque. Additional passengers are £15 each. Space is limited to 150 cars.
To take part, email dhiraj@dsandco.com or croydonjubilee@virginmedia.com
April 28-29: Classic Car Boot Sale, Kings Cross, London
The ever-expanding Classic Car Boot Sale takes over the whole of the Granary Square development in King’s Cross, featuring classic vehicles and vintage clothing, most of it sold out of the backs of the historic cars and vans.
Classic commercial vehicles also dispense a wide variety of drinks and street food, while the whole event has a soundtrack courtesy of authentic live bands and DJ sets from atop a vintage bus.
The mini-festival for a £5 has plenty for the kids to climb in and out of and loads of eye candy for adults, too, with this year's event offering visitors the chance to try their two-wheeled skills on radical custom motorcycles or historical boneshakers.
It's the brainchild of designer and champion of all things vintage, Wayne Hemingway, and there's nothing quite like it for a fun day out. If you enjoy shopping, so much the better.
The celebration of classic designs includes mods and rockers, with a scooter ride arriving on the Saturday around midday and a classic motorbike ride visiting on the Sunday.
Full details at the Classic Car Boot Sale website.
May 4-6: Donington Historic Festival, Donington Park circuit, Castle Donington, Derbyshire
The first major historic racing festival of the season takes place at the swooping Donington Park circuit in the Midlands over the early May bank holiday weekend.
action-packed timetable for the 2018 Donington Historic Festival (May 4, 5 and 6) has been announced, and it promises a feast for historic motorsport fans.
Qualifying takes place on Friday May 4, when you'll be able to see every single race series in action.
The racing proper starts on the Saturday, with 10 events including the return of the glamorous pre-1963 GT racers and the Festival debut of the HSCC Derek Bell Trophy for Formula 5000 and Formula 2 single-seaters produced from 1967-79.
The Sunday schedule features nine races, including the ‘Mad Jack’ race for Pre-War Sports Cars, the GT and Sports Car Cup for pre-66 GT and pre-63 sports cars and the second Derek Bell Trophy race.
Spectators can also enjoy the all-access open paddock, pitlane walks, Group B rally car and historic kart demonstrations, supercar and classic car passenger rides with the Sporting Bears, thousands of classic cars gathering in the infield and DHF’s family-friendly, inclusive atmosphere.
Full details at the www.doningtonhistoric.com official website.
May 6: Simply Ford, National Motor Museum, Beaulieu, Hampshire
This year's Simply Ford event in the grounds of the National Motor Museum will mark the 50th anniversary of the Escort in all its forms produced from 1968 to 2000 - along with many hundreds of other Fords of all ages to make about 1,500 in all.
From affordable runabout to rally-winner, the Escort has been many things to many people during six generations. Simply Ford will feature the whole gamut, from highly modified road-burners to original examples.
Display cars will include the National Motor Museum’s own 1981 Escort RS1800 rally car that was successfully campaigned by Ari Vatanen. Other historic Fords in the museum collection include a 1914 Model T to a 1986 Sierra RS Cosworth; more details at www.beaulieu.co.uk/ford.
Other event highlights will include a strong show of Mondeos and the legendary Transit light van, along with performance-orientated models such as the Focus RS and Mustang.
For those driving Fords to Beaulieu, tickets are £10 adults and £5 for children aged 5-16 when purchased in advance (£12 and £6 respectively on the gate).
Admission tickets include entrance to all of the Beaulieu attraction, including the National Motor Museum, Beaulieu Abbey, the Montagu ancestral home of Palace House and its gardens.
Full details at www.beaulieu.co.uk
May 12-13: Gaydon Land Rover Show, British Motor Museum, Gaydon, Warwickshire
The show, now in its fourth year, will celebrate 70 years of Land Rover marque with a huge range of models from 1948 to the present.
In addition the show will also celebrate 50 years of the Lightweight Land Rover and aims to highlight the history of Land Rover's development, as well as feature its original British rivals such as the Austin Champ and Austin Gipsy.
As well as displays of the cars, there will be arena events, a competition for the best dressed exhibitors and a parade through the arena for children to showcase their vintage and modern mini Land Rovers. The fiercely competitive Land Rover team quiz, hosted by motoring journalist and Quiz Master and Dave Barker, will take place again with rounds on both days leading to the grand final on Sunday, to declare the Land Rover Academician of the Year 2018.
There will also be a trade area with Land Rover merchandise and parts to help with restoration projects. Visitors will also be able to visit the Museum and Collections centre which is home to a wide range of Land Rovers, including the the first production Land Rover.
Advance tickets cost £10 for adults and £6 for children 5-16 (under-fives free).
Full details at www.britishmotormuseum.co.uk/events
May 16-20: Nissan Figaro Owners' Club annual rally, Jersey
No fewer than 64 of the cute, retro-styled Figaro roadsters from throughout the UK and Europe will descend on the island of Jersey in May.
The Figaro Owners Club hope Jersey residents and visitors alike will enjoy the spectacle as the pastel procession makes its way around the island, taking in some of the Jersey’s most magnificent scenery including Devil’s Hole, Grosnez Castle, La Corbiere, St Catherine’s, Bouley Bay, Elizabeth Castle and Bonne Nuit Bay.
Club founder Kevin Fagan said: “Our members always talk about Jersey with fond memories as the island’s roads and speed limits suit our little cars perfectly.
“We’re used to people stopping to wave and smile when they see our rallies and I know that our Club members will get a real Jersey welcome here with lots of waving as we pass.”
From 1991, only 20,000 Figaros were manufactured by Nissan for the home market but their retro styling and excellent equipment meant that many found adoring owners after being unofficially imported to the UK.
Full details at http://www.figaroownersclub. com/events/jersey-figaro- rally-2018/
May 19-20: Spring Autojumble, National Motor Museum, Beaulieu, Hampshire
The first start-up of the National Motor Museum's 1950 BRM V16 will take place at Beaulieu’s Spring Autojumble after the painstaking rebuild of the treasured F1 racer’s complex engine.
On Saturday May 19 at 3pm, visitors will hear the incredible roar of the BRM’s powerful but highly-strung supercharged engine, which made it famous during its heyday when driven by Juan Manuel Fangio and Reg Parnell.
To watch the BRM’s newly-rebuilt engine running before being re-fitted, see www.youtube.com/watch?v=RhoytYf-joY&feature=youtu.be. Or to watch the last time this iconic racer ran in public, see www.youtube.com/watch?v=KvsyazElybo.
Beaulieu’s Spring Autojumble features more than 1,000 stands for classic car parts, automobilia and motoring literature. It will also celebrate the 70th anniversaryof the Morris Minor, one of the nation’s favourite classics, with more than 300 examples on display.
The centrepiece will be a real-life timeline, showcasing every phase of the Morris Minor’s development during its long production run, ranging from one of the earliest Minor ‘lowlights’ of 1948, through the special edition lilac Minor Million of 1961 up to one of the last Minor 1000 vans to go into service with the Post Office in 1972.
On the Sunday there's a Land Rover Rummage in which everything and anything Land Rover-related can be bought, bartered, swapped and sold, while the Trunk Traders features stalls selling surplus spares, tools, books and automobilia.
Full details at www.beaulieu.co.uk/events/spring-autojumble
May 26-27: Land Rover Legends, Bicester Heritage, Oxfordshire
A new event for Land Rover connoisseurs, collectors, preservationists, restorers and enthusiasts that celebrates everything special about the famed 4x4 maker past and present.
This year is the 70th anniversary of the introduction of the first Land Rover in 1948, and this event sets out to showcase the very best examples, from original vehicles to renovated and restored ones. As well as production models, the line-up will also include prototypes and pre-production vehicles, rare and bespoke conversions and military derivatives from the 1948 Series 1 to the very latest upmarket models.
Forums and presentations will allow enthusiasts to hear fascinating stories from Land Rover experts such as engineers and designers, as well as explorers who have taken the marque to the most inhospitable places on the planet.
The event takes place against the appropriately authentic and beautifully restored backdrop of the former military buildings at Bicester Heritage, which is well worth a visit in its own right.
There will be priority parking for anyone arriving in a Land Rover, while Land Rover clubs will display and demonstrate members' vehicles, while leading Land Rover restorers, specialists and associated suppliers will be located in and around Bicester Heritage’s magnificent main exhibition hangar.
Full details at the www.landroverlegends.com official website.
May 26-27: La Vie en Bleu/La Vita Rossa, Prescott Hillclimb, Gotherington, near Cheltenham, Gloucestershire
The home of the Bugatti Owners’ Club will once again be transformed into a celebration of fine French and Italian cars and motorcycles, action-packed motor racing on the hillclimb course, along with entertainment for the whole family.
The spectacular, 261mph Bugatti Chiron will be taking to the hillclimb and be on static display in the paddock, accompanied by the no less impressive Bugatti Veyron Supersport and Veyron Pur Sang. There will even be an opportunity to win a passenger ride in the Chiron.
Other Bugattis on show will include many vintage models, more Veyrons and the first of the modern Bugattis, the EB110 from the 1990s, while the race programme will feature special classes for French and Italian marques, including a round of the Ferrari Hillclimb Championship.
The paddock will be packed many of the world’s most desirable, rarest and significant French and Italian cars, as well as other supercars by invitation only.
The heroic Duncan Pittaway will perform demonstration runs in his mighty 1911 Fiat S76 land speed record contender, the Beast of Turin. With about 300bhp from a 28.5-litre, four-cylinder engine the thing has to be seen to be believed.
Fans of British racers will be treated to a special class for ERA voiturettes which includes the iconic ex-Raymond Mays R4D, the most celebrated chassis in the marque's history, and - for the first time - an ERA E-Type.
Advance tickets cost £15 per day or £25 for the weekend – on-the-gate prices are £20 and £35 respectively. Entry includes free parking and all entertainment. Under-16s are admitted free.
Full details at prescott- hillclimb.com/events/tickets/la-vie-en-bleu-2018
May 27: Hutton-In-The-Forest Classic Car and Bike Show, Hutton-In-The-Forest, near Penrith, Cumbria
The spectacular Cumbrian parkland and historic hall will reverberate to the roar of classic cars, motorcycles, light commercial vehicles and more on the Spring Bank Holiday weekend.
Privately-owned classic cars are warmly invited, so it’s a great opportunity to show off your pride and joy in the spring sunshine.
There will also be an arena show, together with plenty of trade stands and an autojumble.
Located six miles from Penrith in the north of the Cumbrian fells, less than three miles from the M6, the show runs from 10am-4pm. At £7 per adult and £2.50 for children, admission includes free parking, full access to the park, gardens and tea room, with house tours from 1pm for a small additional fee. Well-behaved dogs are welcome.
Full details at www.markwoodwardclassicevents. com
May 28: Yorkshire Classic Vehicle Show, Ripley Castle, nr Harrogate, Yorkshire
This spring bank holiday Monday the 700 year-old Ripley Castle will be featuring a huge display of classic vehicles; not just classic cars but also motorcycles, vans, trucks and ex-military vehicles.
The displays centre on Ripley Castle's magnificent deer park, along with arena demonstrations, parades and a host of club stands, as well as an autojumble for parts and motoring paraphernalia. Chief among these is the ever-popular classic Land Rover display.
Visitors can enjoy the historic venue, too; admission to the car show (£7 for adults and £2.50 for children) includes the castle grounds, gardens and parkland. Castle tours run from 11am for an additional fee, and tickets can be purchased on the day. Parking is free.
Ripley Castle is three miles north of Harrogate, with easy access from the A1.
Full details at the www.markwoodwardclassicevents.com website.
June 2-3: Argyll Festival of Performance, Inveraray Castle, Argyll
The magnificent, fire-breathing Beast of Turin, the Fiat S76 record-breaker from 1911, makes its first ever appearance in Scotland for this new festival celebrating the country's contribution to motorsport.
With a 28.5-litre, four-cylinder engine developing 300bhp and capable of 116mph, the Beast set the one-mile land speed record in 1911.
It was more than a century before the Beast was run again, following an intensive and meticulous restoration by its owner Duncan Pittaway. The current Beast comprises the chassis of one of only two Fiat S76s built and the engine of the other.
The Beast joins a stellar line-up of cars for the Festival including a Lotus 18 raced by Innes Ireland, Scotland’s first GP winner, and later raced by Jim Clark. Also confirmed is the Tyrrell 001, Ken Tyrrell’s first F1 car, as campaigned by Jackie Stewart.
An iconic Porsche 917K, stunning Ferrari F40, Cooper-Bristol T-51 and a Maserati Tec Mec will also be on show in the grounds of the historic seat of the Clan Campbell.
And to mark 50 years since the untimely death of one of the sport’s most famous sons, Jim Clark, a one-off Lotus 32B constructed for Jim to race in the 65 Tasman Series will join the line-up. The Jim Clark Trust is the event’s charity partner with a donation from every ticket sold going to support the Trust’s plans to further develop a heritage centre to celebrate this great Scot’s contribution to motor racing.
Full details at www.argyllfestivalofperformance.com
June 3: Simply Porsche, National Motor Museum, Beaulieu, Hampshire
As many as 1,000 Porsches are expected to join Beaulieu’s Simply Porsche event in the grounds of the National Motor Museum, held in association with The Independent Porsche Enthusiasts’ Club (TIPEC).
Now in its sixth year (and 2018 marks the German company's 70th anniversary of sports car production), Simply Porsche attracts a wide variety of Porsches of every age and model. The 356 that built the manufacturer’s reputation in the 1950s and 1960s will be joined by the 911 and its modern-day successors, the front-engined 924, 944 and 928, plus the latest Cayenne and Macan 4x4s.
Those arriving in a Porsche will be admitted for £10 adult and £5 children 5-16 if bought in advance online (£12 and £^ on the gate). Tickets to Simply Porsche include entry to all of the Beaulieu attraction, including the National Motor Museum and its collection of more than 250 vehicles, new-look World of Top Gear, On Screen Cars, 13th century Beaulieu Abbey, the Montagu ancestral home of Palace House and its stunning grounds and gardens.
Simply Porsche is one of nine Simply rallies at Beaulieu this year. Simply VW will be returning on June 16th as part of a vibrant motoring-themed Father’s Day weekend, while Simply Land Rover on June 24th will also feature the new Simply Rummage, offering sought-after spares for the nation’s favourite 4x4. Rally favourites also returning this year will be Simply Jaguar on July 8th, Simply Japanese on July 29th and Simply Smart on November 11th.
Full details at www.beaulieu.co.uk/events/simply-porsche/
June 9-10: XK70 Jaguar Festival, Shelsley Walsh hillclimb, Shelsley Walsh, Worcestershire
This event, which celebrates 70 years since the introduction of the ground-breaking Jaguar XK120, will take place at Shelsley Walsh in Worcestershire – with demonstration runs by three of Jaguar’s famed Group C endurance racing cars, including the 1987 Championship-winning XJR-8.
The organisers are aiming to attract a record-breaking 700 XKs from around the world to the historic venue, including those rare examples that were re-bodied in period by some of the world’s finest coachbuilders, such as Ghia and Bertone.
Also welcome are all other XK-engined Jaguars, including the Mk1 and Mk2, E-type and XJ6, plus more recent models such as the XK8 and F-type.
Le Mans winner Richard Attwood will be there, as will former Jaguar racers Peter Sutcliffe and Peter Sargent, plus the evergreen Norman Dewis, along with former jaguar chairman Sir John Egan and former Wheeler Dealers presenter Edd China, who will be filming at the event.
Entries are now open for the competitive hillclimb, which will take place on the Saturday, while Sunday will be packed with parades and demonstration runs – including the chance for enthusiasts to drive their own car up the hill.
Overhead, the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight will stage a fly-past, while family entertainment includes a vintage fairground, shopping village and live music, as well as various food outlets.
Discounted advance tickets start at £20, with under-16s admitted free when accompanied by an adult.
Full details at www.xk70.co.uk; details about the venue at the Shelsley Walsh website.
June 10: Vauxhall Heritage Centre Open Day, Luton, Bedfordshire
Vauxhall Motors' renowned Heritage Centre in Luton, which this year celebrates its first quarter-century, houses a fascinating collection of 75 vehicles spanning the company’s entire 115-year history – with almost all of them maintained in working condition.
Exhibits include the first Vauxhall model – a 5hp, single-cylinder, chain-driven ‘horseless carriage’ – to the latest 600hp VXR8 GTS-R.
Models celebrating anniversaries this year include 35 years since the first Astra GTE, 55 years since the first Viva and 40 years since the first Chevette HS – but arguably the most important is Vauxhall’s best-selling Corsa, which this year turns 25. Expect to see all four generations of the supermini outside the Centre on the day.
As well as production cars, the collection also features concepts and prototypes, including the ground-breaking XVR and SRV concepts from the Sixties and Seventies.
Vauxhall’s Heritage Centre Open Day will run from 10am to 4pm. Parking is free. As in previous years, the day coincides with nearby Luton Festival of Transport.
The Heritage Centre is situated behind Vauxhall’s Head Office on Park Street, Luton LU1 3HG.
June 30-July 1: Heveningham Hall motorsport and aviation concours d'elegance, Heveningham Hall, Heveningham, Suffolk
The Heveningham Hall concours d’elegance returns for its third year alongside a country fair in the Grade 1-listed Georgian mansion’s 5,000 acres of parkland, featuring 50 of the world’s most iconic cars exhibited on dramatic grassed terraces.
Also, following a successful inaugural event last year, there will be a simultaneous aviation concours featuring some of the world’s rarest aircraft.
New for 2018 will be the opportunity for concours’ owners and specially-selected guests to demonstrate their cars on timed sprints within the Capability Brown-designed landscape.
The Heveningham Tour also returns following a successful inaugural event in 2017 that saw around 25 concours owners and guests - their cars including a 1951 Ferrari 212 Barchetta, 1985 Lancia Delta S4 Corse and 2017 Ferrari LaFerrari Aperta - make their way through the Suffolk countryside.
This year's 50-mile tour takes place on Friday, June 29, taking in Suffolk’s renowned Heritage Coast.
Full details at www.heveninghamconcours.com
July 27-29: CarFest North, Bolesworth Castle Estate, Tattenhall, Cheshire
The car-themed family festival, which has raised more than £10.5 million for BBC Children In Need over the past six years, returns for 2018 bigger and better than ever.
As usual, there is one event in Cheshire and one in Hampshire, on July 27-29 and August 24-26 respectively.
The Car Paddock will celebrate the very best F1 cars, convertibles, coupés, grand tourers, saloons, supercars and more. Also on the menu is a display of German cars set around a Bavarian beer hall with traditional food, music and entertainment.
Live music acts already confirmed include Bananarama, who will appear alongside Billy Ocean, The Feeling, Status Quo, Alfie Boe & Michael Ball, The Proclaimers and Madness. There will also be an exclusive performance from CarFest’s Supergroup, curated by The Kaiser Chiefs’ singer Ricky Wilson, including Sophie Ellis-Bextor and Spandau Ballet’s Gary Kemp, with more members still to be announced.
The CarFest Kitchen will include Joe Wicks, Nadiya Hussain and Candice Brown. Returning culinary masters including Tom Kerridge and Angela Hartnett will be joined by car-mad chef James Martin.
The Vintage Village is back by popular demand, featuring vintage market traders, tea rooms and sweet shops, and the chance to savour cars from the 1930s through to the 1970s.
The final batch of tickets for both events will be available from April 19 at www.bbc.co.uk/radio2
Full details (and for the CarFest South event on August 24-26) at www.carfest.org/
August 4, 2018: National Metro & Mini Show, British Motor Museum, Gaydon, Warwickshire
The 60th anniversary of the Mini will be celebrated in style at this annual show, which has moved from its traditional June slot to early August.
The show will be supported by various Mini clubs including the 59 Register, the Mini Traveller and Countryman Register and the Cooper Sport 500 Register. Plans are also coming together for a Guinness Book of Records attempt on the Saturday before the show to create the longest line of Minis ever seen.
Tom Caren, show manager at the British Motor Museum, said “As home to both the first and last classic Minis, it is only fitting for the British Motor Museum to celebrate the car’s 60th anniversary. The 2019 National Metro & Mini Show will be held on the weekend before the International Mini Meet to allow our international visitors and Mini enthusiasts to plan for a week of Mini 60th celebrations.”
Visitors to the Show will also be able to explore the Museum’s collection of more than 300 historic British vehicles from the 1900s to the present day.
Full details at www.britishmotormuseum.co.uk
July 27-29: CarFest South, Laverstoke Park Farm, Laverstoke, Hampshire
The car-themed family festival, which has raised more than £10.5 million for BBC Children In Need over the past six years, returns for 2018 bigger and better than ever.
As usual, there is one event in Cheshire and one in Hampshire, on July 27-29 and August 24-26 respectively.
The Car Paddock will celebrate the very best F1 cars, convertibles, coupés, grand tourers, saloons, supercars and more. Also on the menu is a display of German cars set around a Bavarian beer hall with traditional food, music and entertainment.
Live music acts already confirmed include Bananarama, who will appear alongside Billy Ocean, The Feeling, Status Quo, Alfie Boe & Michael Ball, The Proclaimers and Madness. There will also be an exclusive performance from CarFest’s Supergroup, curated by The Kaiser Chiefs’ singer Ricky Wilson, including Sophie Ellis-Bextor and Spandau Ballet’s Gary Kemp, with more members still to be announced.
The CarFest Kitchen will include Joe Wicks, Nadiya Hussain and Candice Brown. Returning culinary masters including Tom Kerridge and Angela Hartnett will be joined by car-mad chef James Martin.
The Vintage Village is back by popular demand, featuring vintage market traders, tea rooms and sweet shops, and the chance to savour cars from the 1930s through to the 1970s.
The final batch of tickets for both events will be available from April 19 at www.bbc.co.uk/radio2
Full details (and for the CarFest North event on July 27-29) at www.carfest.org/
August 31-September 1, 2018: Déjà Vu Ulster Rally Reunion, Titanic Quarter, Belfast
Rally legend Walter Röhrl will return to the scene of his dominant win in the 1984 Ulster International Rally for the latest in Déjà Vu Motorsport’s popular rally reunions, in aid of charity, which have already raised £70,000.
What’s more, Paddy Hopkirk, a five-time Circuit of Ireland Rally winner, has confirmed that he will be returning to his native Belfast to also take part.
It’s 34 years since Walter and his co-driver Christian Geistdörfer blasted their Group B Audi Quattro S4 over the Antrim, Down and Fermanagh stages to obliterate the opposition. Those who witnessed their performance rate it as one of the greatest drives in Irish rallying history. The unbeatable duo defeated luminaries such as Russell Brookes, Jimmy McRae and local hero Bertie Fisher by more than four minutes.
The Porsche-contracted driver will return to Ulster to head a cavalcade of historic rally cars over famous Antrim stages such as Glen Dunn and Torr Head. He will be joined by many of his contemporaries and a host of other rally stars.
The cavalcade starts at the Titanic Quarter in Belfast at 10am, taking in a 150-mile route over classic rally stages used in the Circuit of Ireland and Ulster Rally.
Afterwards, there is a gala dinner in Titanic Belfast with classic rallying videos, interviews with star drivers and other entertainment.
Registrations and tickets for the gala dinner can be reserved at the RPM Motorsport website below. All profits will go to Macmillan Cancer Support.
Full details at www.rpm-motorsport.com/tours/ or email alan@rpm-motorsport.com
September 2, 2018: Blenheim Palace Classic & Supercar show, Woodstock, Oxfordshire
This family-friendly event returns for 2018 with more than 300 of the world's greatest classic and supercars, set in the spectacular grounds of the Blenheim Palace World Heritage Site.
One of the highlights will be the Pirelli Prestige & Performance Competition, featuring 80 supercars and hypercars built between 1978 and now, split into eight classes of 10 ground-breaking cars.
Full details at blenheimclassicsupercar.com
Cloverlands Model Museum, Montgomery, Powys
This charming museum has a display of about 2,000 model cars, some of them up to three feet in length.
Well worth a visit if you're in or near mid-Wales - and the area also has some of the finest driving roads in the UK.
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