You couldn’t help but notice the advertising for last Saturday’s Appledore Vintage Classic Vehicle Rally and Village Fair. I was in the village and my curiosity got the better of me – what a fantastic display!
This well-publicised event was made even more enjoyable due to the sunny weather we all enjoyed throughout the day. This amazing spectacle is fast becoming the largest of its kind in the area and is growing year on year with more than 4,000 visitors and 450 exhibits of all shapes and sizes.
It was a vintage vehicle enthusiast’s dream, surrounded by Ferraris, AC Cobras, Bentleys, Jaguars, Rileys, Rolls Royces and classic and vintage vehicles of every description.
The site included a dedicated motorcycle enclosure complete with sidecars plus a large array of vintage buses, tractors, American muscle cars and auto jumble.
Another main attraction was the fantastic dog agility display, set to music and which proved that with the right training, any dog could be a joy to own. The canine performers were obviously enjoying every minute of their superbly choreographed display.
In addition to the wonderful vehicles there were a large variety of stalls, arena events, refreshments and displays throughout the day. The local cadet band provided a musical display and on an open-sided lorry an enthusiastic live band entertained everyone.
Home made ice-cream lived up to its fine reputation, while cream teas and refreshments just kept on coming. The atmosphere was one of good old-fashioned family fun and it was enlightening to hear so many conversations between experts and collectors discussing the intricacies of owning and restoring such beautiful vehicles.
The show is embraced by the whole picturesque village with shops, stores, teashop and a pub, all doing something special on the day.
Thank goodness for sunglasses, for not only did they protect our eyes from the sun but also from the gleam and glare of so many highly polished and lovingly presented classic vehicles.
What a day, what a spectacle and what a huge success. I have already marked the date in the diary for next year and I doubt if it’s possible to find a finer selection of vintage and classic vehicles in one easily accessible location anywhere else for many miles around.
Image Credits: Nick Forman .