Classic Cars, Events
Mercedes cars will be the stars of the show as Beaulieu’s Simply Mercedes returns for its fourth year on Sunday 21st August, with an impressive line-up in the grounds of the National Motor Museum.
From luxury saloons to glamorous sports cars and even rugged vans and utility vehicles, look out for all manner of high-quality motors wearing the famous three-pointed star badge, as they park up in the show, as part of this motoring themed day out that all the family will enjoy.
From impressive classics to their high-performance modern counterparts, last year’s show gave a snapshot of the rich variety of Mercedes on the roads. This year’s display promises to be just as varied, with the chance to admire all manner of Mercedes on show.
Make sure to head inside the National Motor Museum to see Beaulieu’s replica 1886 Benz Patent-Motorwagen, ancestor to the modern-day Mercedes and representing a key moment in the development of the motor car. This fascinating machine is just one of the objects in the brand new exhibition, The Story of Motoring in 50 Objects, which celebrates the 50th anniversary of the National Motor Museum.
For more Mercedes magic inside the museum, look out for the stylish 1928 Mercedes-Benz Model S 36/220, along with the 1903 Mercedes 60hp and 2006 McLaren Mercedes MP4/21 F1 show car, very different but equally fascinating machines at opposite ends of motoring history.
Event-goers can vote for their favourite Mercedes of the show in the People’s Choice Award, with the winner receiving a Beaulieu trophy and an Autoglym prize. Voting is open to all visitors until 1pm that day, with the presentation taking place at 2pm.
Participants are encouraged to buy their tickets in advance at beaulieu.co.uk/events/simply-mercedes. Participant tickets, for those driving into the show in a Mercedes to join the display, include entrance to the rest of the Beaulieu attraction.
All other visitors should purchase normal visitor admission tickets, which are available to book at beaulieu.co.uk.
Simply Mercedes is just one of the exciting Simply rallies taking place at Beaulieu during 2022. Simply BMW will be following in its tyre-tracks on 18th September, along with Simply British Classics on 25th September and Simply Smart on 13th November. For Beaulieu’s full 2022 event calendar, visit beaulieu.co.uk/events.
Visitor and participant tickets include entrance to all that Beaulieu has to offer, including Bond in Motion – No Time To Die in the National Motor Museum, Little Beaulieu, World of Top Gear, On Screen Cars, the ancestral Montagu home Palace House, Secret Army Exhibition, 13th century Beaulieu Abbey and the stunning grounds and gardens.
Events
One of Beaulieu’s biggest and best-attended Simply rallies, Simply Japanese, will be returning on Sunday 24th July with a diverse line-up of Japanese cars and motorcycles in the grounds of the National Motor Museum, as part of a huge family day out.
At last year’s show, over 1,000 Japanese cars took their places in the busy show. From the Nissan Skyline, 350Z, 200SX and Cube, to the Toyota Supra, GT4 and MR2, Mazda MX-5 and RX-7, the Subaru Impreza WRX, Honda Civic Type R and even a Honda Acty Kei truck, all manner of marques, models and ages were represented in the line-up, with this year’s show promising to be equally impressive.
From luxury saloons and cheerful camper vans to economy hatchbacks and high-powered performance cars, every Japanese car and motorcycle is invited to join the event, giving owners the perfect opportunity to catch-up, talk cars and admire the varied display, as well as enjoying all of the features of the Beaulieu attraction.
Make sure to head inside the National Motor Museum to see Beaulieu’s 1935 Datsun Type 14 saloon, which marks the beginning of the Japanese motor industry’s rise to global success during the twentieth century. The fascinating Datsun is just one of the objects in the brand new exhibition, The Story of Motoring in 50 Objects, which celebrates the 50th anniversary of the National Motor Museum.
Event-goers can vote for their favourite Japanese car of the show in the People’s Choice Award, with the winner receiving a Beaulieu trophy and an Autoglym prize. Voting is open to all visitors until 1pm that day, with the presentation taking place at 2pm.
Participants are encouraged to buy their tickets in advance at beaulieu.co.uk/events/simply-japanese. Participant tickets, for those driving into the show in a Japanese car or motorcycle to join the display, include entrance to the rest of the Beaulieu attraction.
All other visitors should purchase normal visitor admission tickets, which are available to book at beaulieu.co.uk.
Simply Japanese is just one of the exciting Simply rallies planned for 2022. Simply Mercedes will be taking place on 21st August, followed by Simply BMW on 18th September and Simply British Classics on 25th September. For Beaulieu’s full 2022 event calendar, visit beaulieu.co.uk/events.
Visitor and participant tickets include entrance to all that Beaulieu has to offer, including Bond in Motion – No Time To Die in the National Motor Museum, Little Beaulieu, World of Top Gear, On Screen Cars, the ancestral Montagu home Palace House, Secret Army Exhibition, 13th century Beaulieu Abbey and the stunning grounds and gardens.
Events
- Just a few tickets remain for the 2022 Hagerty Festival of the Unexceptional
- Thousands of spectacularly mundane cars will be on display at Grimsthorpe Castle in Lincolnshire on Saturday 30th July
- FOTU celebrates base model cars registered between 1967 and 1997
- 2022 marks the eighth Concours de l’Ordinaire organised by Hagerty
- To book the last remaining tickets use this link
It’s almost time for the automotive highlights of the year, and there’s still time to grab a ticket for the 2022 Hagerty Festival of the Unexceptional taking place on Saturday 30th July at Grimsthorpe Castle in Lincolnshire.
Festival of the Unexceptional showcases long forgotten ordinary classics of the late 1960s, 70s, 80s and 90s, and remains the only concours where a sporty or luxury model is rejected over a base model for a spot on the judging lawn. If you remember a time when windows were wound up and down, when central locking meant leaning over to unlock the door from the inside, and when a passenger door mirror was optional, this is the show for you.
10 cars have already been announced as taking part in the 2022 concours including a Fiat Panda Italia, Ford Fiesta Fanfare, and a Mazda 1800.
A number of special attractions will be added for the 2022 event, including esteemed motoring journalist Steve Cropley joining the Concours judging panel, and TV Wheeler Dealer Mike Brewer attending the show. In addition, there will be a number of exhibitors, a children’s play area and hundreds of unexceptional cars to view in outside of the 50 chosen to be a part of the concours judging.
Tickets for the 2022 Festival of the Unexceptional are priced at just £20 per car, meaning the more friends and family guests bring along, the better value the ticket price. Limited tickets remain available and early booking is advised to avoid missing out.
Events
- More vehicle brands represented at The British Motor Show than any other UK car event since 2008
- More halls, more space and a record number of exhibitors expected for 2022
- Three exclusive model reveals to take place, including the UK’s first glimpse at a British-built and designed electric van.
- The British Motor Show sponsored by cinch takes place at Farnborough International on August 18-21, 2022
- Over 70,000 visitors expected
The British Motor Show 2022 is truly marking its place on the world auto exhibition stage as it grows considerably this year, with more car brands represented than at any UK car event since 2008.
The last time as many different manufacturers’ models were exhibited was at Excel in 2008, when the last British International Motor Show took place.
Over 25 manufacturers are represented at the show, which takes place over a much greater area than the 2021 event and has new halls alongside the already successful 2021 layout.
The show will also have at least three exclusive model reveals, including an exclusive first opportunity to see a new British-designed and British-built electric van – proof that the Show is being seen as a real opportunity for international launches thanks to its high footfall and media profile.
With most of the major brands on sale in the UK represented at the show, this is the largest collection of car brands to be seen in one place for over 14 years. The British Motor Show will also have more than 20 cars available to test drive live at the event, plus a dazzling array of classics and supercars – things that weren’t ever seen at British Motor Shows of old.
Over 150 exhibitors have already signed up to the event, from manufacturers to retailers, tech companies, modifiers and marketplace retailers. More exclusive content reveals includes an important new piece of technology set to be exclusively revealed by the AA for the first time.
The British Motor Show CEO, Andy Entwistle, said: “We were quite bold in our plans for the show at the start and have committed to the growth we said we’d deliver in 2022, which a lot of people didn’t believe we were capable of.
“But after some sensational feedback on our launch event last year from exhibitors and visitors alike, we’re delighted to say that our commitment has paid off and we’re now counting down to deliver an even bigger, better and more content-packed show than we did last year – and that’s saying something.
“There are more halls, more features and – importantly – more cars. Yet we’re committed to ensuring the show remains a great value, interactive and family friendly event that’s a “must-attend” in the summer holiday calendar.”
The British Motor Show will be held across 18-21 August 2022 at Farnborough International. Building on the success of its scheduling at last year’s show, The Live Arena – featuring stunt shows, car reviews, supercars and more – will be hosted again by Wheeler Dealer, Mike Brewer. Mike will be supported by petrolhead and Olympic silver-medal sprinter, Iwan Thomas. The Family Zone will also be extended in 2022 to feature a unique car-themed escape room, as well as popular features from 2021 including car wrapping and The Racing Bug’s racing simulator. Ticket prices are held from 2021 at £18.50 each, or £37 for a family of four. Tickets are available at www.thebritishmotorshow.live
- The 2022 British Motor Show will take place from August 18-21 at Farnborough International
- 2021’s Show was the first after a 13-year hiatus and its return in 2022 promises an even bigger event, featuring even more interactive content, with manufacturers and exhibitors having already booked stand space following the show’s successful return
- The 2021 Show featured new, used and classic cars, supercars, driving displays and marketplace sellers, with the halls and outdoor areas of the show packed throughout with more than 47,000 visitors praising its size, value, layout and content.
- Celebrity guests included Fuzz Townshend and Tim Shaw from Car SOS, TV motoring pundit Mike Brewer, presenter Vikki-Butler Henderson and YouTube sensation Yianni, who mixed happily with the crowds.
- A Live Stage and Live Arena featured the Paul Swift Stunt Show, the British Army Lightning Bolts parachute display team, Car Football, supercar and motorsport displays, with many weekend pass holders returning for a second day to make sure they didn’t miss any of the action.
- The British Motor Show is unparalleled in the UK in terms of delivering such a variety of content, celebrity guests and live action, and supporting the automotive industry, which contributes £18.6 billion to the British economy.
- For tickets to The British Motor Show 2022, and for all the latest event news, visit www.thebritishmotorshow.live
Classic Cars, Events
The winners in the automotive and aviation categories at this year’s charity Heveningham Concours were announced at a summer garden party for owners and guests on Saturday 2nd July at Heveningham Hall in glorious Suffolk.
The judges in the automotive concours Max Hunt (chairman), Ian Callum, Malcolm Wilson, David Gandy, Tony Hatter and Marino Franchitti awarded top prize in the pre-war category to the 1933 MG K3 Magnette.
In the post-war category, the judges awarded top spot to the 1963 Jaguar E-type Lightweight and in the supercar category the winner was the 2021 Bugatti Chiron Super Sport 300+. Over at Horsepower Hill, the winning car in the drag race up the main estate drive was a Ferrari SF90 Spyder.
In the aviation concours, chairman of the judges Vic Norman, who was joined by Paul Bonhomme and Jeremy Warren awarded top prize – the Hanna Aviation Trophy – to the 1934 de Havilland DH.83 Fox Moth Speed Model.
Commenting on the event, chairman of the judges Max Hunt, said: “We brought it back with a bang this year, the terraces lit up with some amazing cars – a huge thank you to all our owners.”
All proceeds and profits from the event go to charity including the East Anglian Air Ambulance and the concours funds a full ‘i-mobility’ scholarship at the Royal College of Art.
Heveningham Concours takes place at the same time as the annual country fair which attracts over 20,000 people for main ring events, entertainment, shopping, livestock, flypasts, agricultural vehicles and more.
Classic Cars, Events
Hundreds of cars gathered to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the National Motor Museum at Beaulieu as guests and visitors discovered the final selection to tell The Story of Motoring in 50 Objects.
Owners of Seventies classics joined the party in their Escorts, Minis and Ford Cortinas, as some even dressed for the decade to take part in the 1970s Classic Car Drive-In Day on Sunday 3rd July.
Lord Montagu asked young ambassadors of Starter Motor – the charity which aims to get the next generation driving, maintaining and enjoying classic cars – to choose the best car of the show on his behalf. They chose the Lotus Elan Series 4 SE owned by Beaulieu volunteer Kevin Kinsella, who was called from giving a tour in the National Motor Museum to be presented with his winning trophy. Event-goers picked the People’s Choice award, which was awarded to Wayne Rose for his impressive 1972 Toyota Crown Deluxe.
An anniversary golden paddock recreated the Beaulieu car park of 1972. It also displayed some of the amazing vehicles which took part in the original celebratory cavalcade at the museum opening, half a century ago.
Lord Montagu said: “It’s been quite a trip back in time! When HRH The Duke of Kent came to open Britain’s National Motor Museum in July 1972, it was the proudest moment of my father’s life, and what we have in the museum is his greatest legacy.
“In 1972, our exhibits spanned a period of about 80 years; they now account for over 130 years and so it is no surprise that our collections have expanded considerably, especially in the libraries and archives. It has been with these collections in mind that we’ve created The Story of Motoring in 50 Objects, giving you every reason to re-explore the museum. The exhibition launches the start of our sixth decade and a new chapter in the development of Britain’s National Motor Museum.”
National Motor Museum Trust Chief Executive Jon Murden said: “Our next challenge is to take the museum and its collections forward, by reimagining Edward, Lord Montagu’s vision in order to engage with a wider audience and remain relevant for the future.”
At the celebrations, Lord and Lady Montagu cut a cake which was shaped as one of the #50 objects – the 1930 ‘Blower’ Bentley 4½ litre Supercharged. The Carousels entertained guests with hits from the Seventies, while Friends of the National Motor Museum Trust led their own cavalcade before setting off on a Forest Drive. Meanwhile on the Beaulieu Parkland, the National Austin Seven Rally celebrated a century of one of the world’s best-loved cars.
Final #50objects revealed
Inside the museum, event-goers were the first to see the final selection of the top #50objects in the anniversary display The Story of Motoring in 50 Objects.
The objects were carefully chosen from over 1.7 million items in the internationally-acclaimed collection cared for by the National Motor Museum Trust. Curators whittled down the selection to a shortlist of 150, then made the final choice to include the most historically important vehicles, motoring artefacts, film footage, images, documents and books from its archives.
For pioneering motoring, we had to include the 1903 De Dion Bouton 6hp which started our collection when Edward, Lord Montagu put this car on display in the entrance hall of Palace House as a tribute to his father, the motoring pioneer John Montagu. The 1908 Votes for Women! Shell postcard, linking motoring to female drivers, has also made the final cut.
For achievement and endeavour, the 12hp Daimler is one of the most significant cars in our collection and was the first petrol-engined vehicle to enter the Palace Yard of the House of Commons, after being bought by John Montagu MP in 1899. When he entered the Daimler in the 1,000 Mile Trial ground-breaking drive from London to Edinburgh the following year, it was the first time that many people in Britain had seen a motor car on the road.
The precious 1913 racing silks of Percy Lambert, who was the first man to drive a car more than 100 miles in one hour, have also made the final 50, along with the stunning Land Speed Record breaker Golden Arrow which was chosen for its tremendous aircraft power in a car.
For technology, progress and environment, a 1907 Halda taximeter which gave taxi cabs their name, has also made it into the exhibition, together with a brochure weighing up the options of steam, petrol and electricity during the same year. Cat’s eyes and a crash test dummy have been chosen for helping to make driving safer.
For art, advertising and design, the 1911 Rolls-Royce Spirit of Ecstasy had to make the top 50, as one of the most recognisable sculptures ever made. It was created by Charles Sykes and some of his work was inspired by Eleanor Thornton, the secretary and mistress of John Montagu. The beauty of Lalique’s exquisite glass mascots also put what is believed to be his first work, Cinq Chevaux, amongst our curators’ first choices.
For industry and economy, road builders’ clogs may be less well-known, while a 1920s children’s book telling the story of charabanc rides carrying workers and their families on day trips to the seaside and countryside is a colourful addition to the exhibition. Archive film of the 1913 Ford production line also shows a transformation in industry, marking the start of motoring factory work as we know it.
And finally for society, mobility and leisure, the 1952 DRH car radio provided the first factory-fitted radios in British cars for driving music. In the year of the Queen’s platinum Jubilee, we also had to choose the 1955 Royal Caravan, which is still owned by HRH The Princess Royal who enjoyed touring Buckingham Palace gardens in it, with a young Prince Charles and their father, Caravan Club Patrol HRH Prince Philip the Duke of Edinburgh.
Visit the exhibition
Visitors can discover the full set of 50 objects in the National Motor Museum, as the exhibition remains on display until April 16th, 2023 – using the Smartify app to scan objects and uncover more content and stories.
Explore The Story of Motoring in 50 Objects as part of your ticket on a marvellous day out to Beaulieu that the family can enjoy together. See Bond in Motion – No Time To Die, featuring original cars and gadgets from the latest 007 film, the World of Top Gear and On Screen Cars. Ride on a ‘skytrain’ monorail, have big fun in Little Beaulieu’s adventure play area, experience life ‘upstairs and downstairs’ in Palace House, walk in the footsteps of monks at Beaulieu Abbey, find out about special agents in the Secret Army Exhibition and saunter through the beautiful grounds and gardens. For tickets and details see www.beaulieu.co.uk or call 01590 612345.
See highlights of the 50 objects selection and join the conversation with #50objects on Twitter @Beaulieu_Hants, Facebook at /nationalmotormuseum or Instagram @national_motor_museum
