Churchill Vintage and Classic Car Show, Sunday 8 June 2014

CHURCHILL VINTAGE AND CLASSIC CAR SHOW, SUNDAY 8 JUNE 2014

I’d already abandoned the Gloucestershire Motor Show on Sat 7 Jun thanks to unremitting rain in the morning; the forecast for Sun 8 was so-so. In fact, the weather held and I met up with David Smeaton (Zero) in Twigworth before we headed off to meet the others at Tewkesbury Services. Gary Packer & Lyn (SEi), Tom Packer & Camilla (MAC) and Stuart Cottam (SEiW) had just arrived when we got there. The bad news was that Tony Sighe wouldn’t be meeting us at the show.

Five cars headed eastwards towards Stow-on-the-Wold (one of my favourite blats) and then on towards Chipping Norton before we took a right to Churchill. A senior moment on my part meant we turned off a bit early but we got back on track only to find ourselves in a mini-traffic jam in Churchill; somebody said there was a car show going on! It was just after 1100 as we parked up on “Westfield Corner” which this year we had to share with some Porkers and, being greedy, they had taken more than their fair share. Gary, being last in, had to park at an angle. The feather flag was broken out for the third time at a show and we laid the WSCC Cotswolds banner on the ground in front of our cars.

The show didn’t disappoint, as always there was everything from a hundred plus year - old AC Sociable, complete with side-tiller steering, to relatively modern MGs and Jaguars. There are photos of some of the more interesting (IMHO) cars attached, take a look and see if you agree. Although the car show was the main attraction, there were motorbikes, tractors and a couple of stationary engines as well as a plethora of auto jumble/book/burger/cake/craft stalls, etc, and I bagged a couple of good books at a knockdown price.

The public were interested in our cars and I even gave out a couple of WSCC leaflets to people who seemed really keen. One guy told us he had owned all manner of kit cars and was currently rebuilding a Caterham. The weather was not scorching hot and we had shade to sit in when the sun shone. Soon it was time to start packing up and Stuart was the first to leave (he had the longest run home) followed shortly after by Gary & Lyn and Tom & Camilla. David and I hung on for a bit longer and, in retrospect, perhaps we should have left a little earlier as we encountered wet roads and the last few minutes of my journey was in the rain. A real soaking was avoided but only by the narrowest of margins.

So that’s Churchill for another two years, it’s always a good show and the organizers no doubt made stacks of cash for the various supported charities. Thanks to all who turned out in their well-presented cars.

I’m now looking forward to the Westfield Speed Series Support run to Prescott and the next shows at Hartlebury and Hampton Ferry. Join us if you can, it’s a great day out.

Paul Griffiths, WSCC Cotswolds Show Co-ordinator