For classic car owners, last year was anything but vintage. However, customers are growing more confident about the prospects of reclaiming this year’s car season, and this is reflected in our recent data – from March to April we saw an 11% uplift in quotes as laid-up owners returned to the market.
Just as exciting, from an enthusiast perspective, is the return of classic car shows and meet-ups. It’s been a long time since people have been allowed to organise vehicle-inspired get-togethers, and if your customers still have their classics stowed away in the garage, here are a few reasons why now might be the perfect moment to plan a return to the roads.
The return of the pub car-park meet-up
A few weekends ago I attended my first meet-up in almost two years, organised by Supercars of Essex at The Castle pub in Great Leighs. Despite having to enjoy our pub breakfast outdoors in the brisk mid-April weather, it was an amazing experience to be back amongst automobile royalty. In addition to the amazing Porsches, Ferraris and Astons on display, I got to see a McLaren Senna on the road for the first time – this alone was worth the price of my bacon and eggs.
Car-park meet-ups are usually organised by like-minded local enthusiasts and present an amazing chance to get close to a range of cars that you’d rarely see in a single location. Practically every car club or owners group has their own Facebook page, so if you’re looking for a chance to get out of the house and show off your vehicle in the weeks ahead, social media can set you off in the right direction.
Car shows are go!
Not only are informal meet-ups gathering momentum, but national car shows, fairs and festivals are also making a comeback. These shows have historically attracted thousands of people to venues such as race circuits and showgrounds, and it’s likely that the following events will all take place over the next few months, albeit with lower capacities than usual:
Classics
- London Concours – London – 8 June
- Players Classic – Goodwood – 19-20 June
- London Classic Car Show – Syon Park, London – 25-27 June
- Hotrod, Custom and American Car show – Peterborough – 2-4 July
- Warren Classic – Essex – 25 July
- Silverstone Classic – Silverstone circuit – 30 July - 1 August
- Classic and Sportscar Show – Helmingham Hall – 1 August
- Lancaster Insurance Classic Motor Show – Birmingham NEC – 12-14 November
- Salon Prive – Blenheim Palace – 1 September
Modified
- Broke Boys at the Farm – Telford – 27 June
- Modified Nationals – Peterborough – 2- 4 July
- Ultimate Street Car – Santa Pod, Northants – 7 – 8 August
- Ford Fair – Silverstone circuit – 8 August
- Japfest Silverstone – Silverstone circuit – 4 September
- Gravity Show – Stoneleigh Park – 19 September
- Trax Silverstone – Silverstone circuit – 3 October
As a modified car enthusiast and Ford owner, my personal highlight is Ford Fair, the biggest Ford show in Europe. It offers a great mix of old and new vehicles (4,000 of them), the chance to engage with multiple Ford clubs, visit all manner of trade stands and grab yourself bargain parts or memorabilia in the auto jumble. You can even take your Ford out on the legendary Silverstone F1 circuit.
But of course, the above is just a snapshot – you can find hundreds more events online, including plenty of local shows (important given enthusiasts don’t want to add too much mileage to their vehicles!). Finally, let’s not forget The Goodwood Festival of Speed on 8 July, which brings together Classics, Mods and Supercars in glorious harmony.
Keeping an eye on the timings
Many enthusiasts ended up spending 2020 getting their cars ready and prepped for the 2021 season, some of them opting to invest more than usual on upgrades and mods, due to the distinct lack of anything else on which to spend their disposable income. Now, as the season gears into motion, it’s important that drivers plan ahead given the likelihood that shows and festivals will have restricted numbers compared to previous years.
We must remember that these are still uncertain times – for show organisers, for drivers, for everyone. Whereas the classic car season is usually motoring from April onwards, this year things will only get underway in earnest from June, and there’s still the possibility that some organisers will postpone or cancel their events due to unforeseen future setbacks.
So, add these shows to your Twitter feed or subscribe to their newsletters for the latest information on show timings, as well as details of any safety measures required. The last thing any proud driver wants is to show up to a race track in their Aston DB6 only to find that they’ve forgotten their face mask – oh, and they’re three weeks early!
