Lancaster Insurance Classic Motor Show
The return of this event over the weekend of November 12–14th after it’s COVID related two year hiatus, was impressive in its scale, featuring much Jaguar related content. So much so that in a departure from its usual theme Wish You Were There? (p is a pictorial dedication to ‘what you missed’. Rather more than one day was needed to take it all in! When we unadvisedly chose to walk in towards the halls from a distant car park, the first thought was that we were woefully underdressed. Hordes of people impersonating comic book and movie characters were wandering the walkways of Birmingham’s NEC.
We wondered just how different this year’s Classic Motor Show would be on its homecoming! It transpired that the MCN Comic Con was sharing the venue added an entertaining culture mash-up. Thankfully, there was a reassuring normality about the show. Although things were a little more spaced out to aid social distancing, clubs, dealers, traders, motoring celebrities and a strong crowd of visitors could enjoy a triumphant return for the UK’s flagship classic vehicle event. The numbers certainly back that up. There were around 3000 cars on show across seven halls, with 270 car clubs celebrating various milestone anniversaries that occurred in 2020 as well as 2021. But the standout figure is the 63,328 enthusiasts who attended over the three show days, which given the circumstances, is a remarkable number. The next Lancaster Insurance Classic Motor Show will be held, again at Birmingham’s NEC from November 11-13th, 2022. Check the website www. necclassicmotorshow.com or sign up for the newsletter for the latest updates at www.necclassicmotorshow.com/newsletter. -We took the shuttle bus back to the car park!
In other show news: due to the ongoing ‘Omicron’ related uncertainties, Race Retro, scheduled to be held from February 18-20th at the Stoneleigh exhibition centre, has been cancelled. As has the NEC Autosport International show, planned for January 13-16th.
At time of writing, Classic Car & Restoration Show on March 18-20th at the NEC, is still going ahead and also promises to contain much of interest to the Jaguar enthusiast. We can only hope that the situation stabilises as we progress further through 2022.