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The Second International Historic Motorsport Show

With a 50% increase in exhibitors, and a 33% increase in visitors, the organisers of the world’s best show of its type must be pleased with the way things turned out over three days at the end of February. There was certainly something for anyone interested in the very best historic racing or rallying.

It seems incredible to believe that this is only the second running of the event. Show Director Ian Williamson and the rest of the team having done such a good job, giving the impression of it being a well-oiled machine in existence for many years. The idea (established last year and built on in 2005) is that the industry is so large that it merits its own show, designed to be the interface between competitors, spectators, event organisers, technical suppliers and preparers. So you would find - amongst others - Carol Spagg’s Historic Motor Racing News magazine (the ‘Bible’) promoting its own ‘Gentleman Drivers’ series for GT and Sports Racing cars, Peter Auto launching the 2005 Le Mans Classic Japan (and excellent DVD of the 2004 event in France), the Aston Martin Owners Club with a big display that included a lightweight DB4 racing car for sale from Runnymede Motor Company, and Duncan Wiltshire’s Motor Racing Legends company offering their own Pre-War sports car series, the Le Mans Legend historic race on the morning of the big event itself and their famous Le Mans Classic Cavalcade for cars of the type that entered Le Mans in period.

Halls 1 and 2 were filled with the big exhibitors from the world of racing, rallying and touring while 3 and 4 had motor sporting memorabilia such as books, artwork and models. Amongst these exhibitors could be found two supporters of Classic Driver, Tim Scott of Fluid Images, and Andy Cann and Harriet Addyman from Autodromo. The latter pair showing the unbelievable detail on their latest model, a 1/8th scale Maserati ‘Birdcage’ chassis.



Classic Driver was running the ‘Virtual Showroom’ stand, an innovative idea to sell the many 100s of suitable competition cars available on the Classic Driver car database, and a rough survey would indicate that just about anyone who was anyone in the sport attended the show over the three days, Friday being the best for business.

On Saturday afternoon auctioneers H&H successfully sold £1.6 million of cars and automobilia, the most significant lot being the famous ‘Cut 7’ Jaguar E-type for £295,625 (including buyer’s premium). Click HERE for the full auction results.

Total attendance for the three days was 20,882, with 476 exhibitors (up from around 300 last year). The organisers have announced the dates for 2006 as 24th - 26th February, at the same location.

We recommended a visit last year, we unreservedly repeat that advice for 2006.

For more information visit www.historic-motorsport.co.uk.

Story/Photos: Steve Wakefield


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