Author: David Lillywhite
Images: Events
Sunday Scramble
https://bicestermotion.com/calendar
Bicester Heritage, Oxfordshire. April 27 (and October 5)
Informal car gatherings don’t get much better than this. The sublime Bicester Heritage opens up to the public, with the chance to meet some of the specialists based on the restored former bomber base. Thousands turn up, and you’ll see all manner of machinery. And, although it’s not the reason that the Scramble is listed, Hagerty Drivers Club members get to hangout in the Hagerty HQ too. You’ve missed the January Scramble but it was very cold… The April event deliberately coincides with Drive-It Day.
Can’t make it? Try a Caffeine & Machine meeting in Stratford-upon-Avon or Bedford instead.
Goodwood Festival of Speed
https://www.goodwood.com/motorsport/festival-of-speed/
Goodwood House, Chichester, Sussex. July 10-13
This is as much about modern cars as classic, with current F1 and WRC cars mixing it with the historics in action on the hillclimb and the slippery chalk surface rally stage. One day really isn’t enough, and there’s nowhere else you’ll see such a wide range of truly iconic machinery or as many sideshows and extra attractions. It’s become the replacement for the British Motor Show, with manufacturers investing heavily – and this year it promises the ‘biggest ever celebration of Formula 1’.
Can’t make it? Sorry, nothing comes close.
Festival of the Unexceptional
https://www.hagerty.co.uk/official-events/hagerty-festival-of-the-unexceptional/
Grimsthorpe Castle, Lincs. July 26
Yes, this is a Hagerty UK event but no that’s not why it’s included. It’s all about celebrating once-run-of-the-mill base models and enjoying the absurdity of the motor industry’s biggest failures. It’s actually a relatively basic event, with just a few food and drink stalls and a main stage, but its sheer size and relaxed atmosphere makes it a truly enjoyable day. Be prepared to spend the day hearing, “My dad owned one of those,” and “That was my first car!” And don’t be surprised when you utter the same words yourself at some point…
Can’t make it? Hagerty also runs RADwood, for the best of 1980s and ‘90s cars.
Vintage Prescott
https://www.prescotthillclimb.co.uk/event-details/vintage-prescott
August 2-3. Prescott Speed Hill Climb, Gotherington, Glos.
So many events aim for the motoring garden party feel but this one really achieves it. One of many superb Vintage Sports-Car Club events, and our favourite, thanks to its location at the Prescott Hill Climb, home of the Bugatti Owners Club. Great hillclimbing action, an amazing variety of cars, open-to-all paddock access and the most relaxed atmosphere you’ll come across. Take your tent and make a weekend of it.
Can’t make it? For more classic hillclimb fun try Shelsley Walsh Nostalgia (and don’t forget Hagerty’s own hillclimb event there too).
Silverstone Festival
https://www.silverstone.co.uk/events/silverstone-festival
August 22-24, Silverstone, Northants
If you love motor sport, you’ll get your fix here. It’s the world’s largest historic motoring event, with the most grids, and the most cars on each grid. You can watch near-continuous historic F1, GT, Sports and Touring Cars racing, from the 1940s to the 1990s, and this year there’s a special celebration of 75 years of the Formula 1 championship, along with a return of the popular Group C race. Stay into the evening and you’ll be able to watch big-name music acts on the main stage. There’s a large club presence too, plus trade village and ‘Foodie Fest’, so there’s no shortage of things to see – but it’s spread out across the sprawling in-field so be prepared for plenty of walking or hitch a ride on the shuttle bus.
Can’t make it? Donington Historic Festival is smaller but spectating is better.
Concours of Elegance
https://concoursofelegance.co.uk/
Hampton Court Palace, East Molesey, Surrey. September 5-7
There are surprisingly few open-to-all true concours d’elegance events in the UK. Not concours as in the most immaculate version of any car but concours as in the absolute greats of the car world, the coachbuilts, the one-offs, the limited editions. The Concours of Elegance started out at Windsor Castle but has now settled on a residency of King Henry VIII’s remarkable Hampton Court Palace. Visit it – you won’t be disappointed.
Can’t make it? Try the similarly-excellent Salon Privé at Blenheim Palace
Goodwood Revival
https://www.goodwood.com/motorsport/goodwood-revival
Goodwood Motor Circuit, Sussex. September 12-14
What can we say? It’s not cheap, it’s crowded, but it’s utterly sublime. Historic racing at its best is at the core of the Revival but you could have a wonderful weekend there without even watching the racing. Everything is set in pre-1966 period, right down to the mock Earls Court, and the majority of visitors dress in period style. Racing, paddock access, sideshows, stalls and a Bonhams auction – we say it’s the best classic event in the world. For the finishing touch, drive there in a tax-exempt classic, of any type to park in the classic car park.
Can’t make it? Only the smaller, more exclusive Goodwood Members’ Meeting comes close.
Beaulieu International Autojumble
https://www.beaulieu.co.uk/events/international-autojumble/
National Motor Museum, Beaulieu, Hants. September 6-7
English eccentricity at its best. In these days of eBay you wouldn’t think there would be a place for a huge autojumble, but Beaulieu blows that idea out of the water. There are stands selling all manner of spares, tools and automobilia as far as the eye can see, a large classic cars for sale area, a Bonhams auction of restoration projects – and of course the wonderful National Motor Museum and the beautiful surrounding New Forest as added attractions.
Can’t make it? Try Beaulieu’s slightly smaller Spring Autojumble is almost as good
London to Brighton Veteran Car Run
http://www.veterancarrun.com/
Hyde Park, London to Madeira Drive, Brighton. November 2
On the face of it, standing around in the cold to watch 400-odd pre-1905 cars trundle pass doesn’t sound much fun. But my goodness it’s wonderful. The sheer variety of the cars, some of them steam-powered, all to wildly different formats and designs, and the characters involved makes for a great spectating, from the early start at Hyde park, via the halfway stop at Crawley to the triumphant finish on Brighton’s Madeira Drive. There’s also now the St James’s Motoring Spectacular on the Saturday too.
Can’t make it? There’s always the smaller but warmer Summer Veteran Car Run.
Classic Motor Show
https://www.necclassicmotorshow.com/
NEC, Birmingham. November 7-9
It’s November, it’s rather cold for classic cars, but the ever-increasing quality of the long-established indoor show at the Birmingham NEC means you can see the year out with a bang. The exhibition halls are warm, the food is good (much better than it used to be) and there’s an amazing amount to see. This was traditionally a club stand and autojumble event but the additions of live restoration demonstrations, stage events and celebrity appearances have taken it up another notch.
Can’t make it? You’ll love the Practical Classics Classic Car & Restoration Show, also at the NEC.
Are you heading to any of the events listed this year? Let us know in the comments below.
