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Another Classic Success
"By far the Best in Britain" and " The Friendliest Show Anywhere" were the frequent comments made by visitors to Shetland during the Classic Motor Show at the weekend. With well over 500 entries to delight locals and visitors alike, the Shetland Classic Motor Show was considered another outstanding success. At least 350 visitors came to Shetland with an enormous variety and diversity of vehicles and machinery to display and delight the audience. Every square foot inside and outside of Clickimin Complex was filled with a huge diversity of all types of vehicles and displays. Every section of display including cars, motorcycles, commercials, bicycles, engines and models had new and amazing displays to offer. The display area had to be extended this year to the north side of the running track to accommodate the steam engines During the weekend, at least 5,200 people came to see and enjoy the fantastic collection of all types of vehicles, engines, models and motoring memorabilia. This is almost a 40% increase on the record attendance at the last show. Highlight of the show for many local people were the display of 8 steam magnificent engines, lorries and waggons from the Bon Accord Steam Club in North East Scotland. In addition to the full-size steam engines were two smaller 3" scale machines recently completed by Mark Sawkins in Gulberwick and another from the West Coast of Scotland. Part sponsorship for bringing the vehicles to Shetland was provided by Northlink Ferries and the coal for burning while they were in Shetland was provided by Buildbase Hay & Company, for which the organisers are most grateful. Bill Davidson, Chief Executive of Northlink Ferries, the main show sponsors, opened the show and paid tribute to the quality of the exhibits, the show organisation and the thrill of transporting such exotic, extremely rare, and valuable examples of engineering excellence and motoring history to Shetland. Another new feature of this years event was the two coach tours which came for the show and exhibited their vehicles. Trips on the double-decker bus from Clickimin to the Town Centre were extremely popular and generally full to capacity. 16 very special cars from The Sunbeam Talbot and Darracq Register arrived at the show on Sunday morning to add to the already amazing collection of vehicles. The oldest of these cars was the 1903 Darracq and the 'newest' a 1936 Talbot Tourer. "Cruise in Company" guided tours were organised throughout Shetland for the various category of visiting vehicle and car club. These covered most of Shetland from Sumburgh Head to Sullom over an seven day period, were expertly guided by local enthusiasts and greatly appreciated by the visitors who saw and learned a lot about the islands. 21 local sponsors also supported and helped to make the event possible and over 90 local volunteers were needed to guide the tours and marshal the event and help to co-ordinate parking, etc. The organising committee offer grateful thanks to everyone who put so much effort and enthusiasm into the event. Speaking for the organising committee, Maurice Mullay said " Visitor numbers at this years event were well beyond even our most optimistic anticipation. Comments received during the show were entirely positive and congratulatory. So many repeat visitors now come to our show that it is much more of a reunion of old friends than just a display of vehicles. First-time visitors are absolutely amazed at the quality and diversity of the classic vehicles in the isles. Apparently, no other show remotely reaches the number of motorcycles that are on display in Shetland. The steam engines attracted a great deal of interest at the show and on their road runs. This was a unique opportunity for Shetlanders to see a selection of different types of engine, lorry and waggon and everyone seemed delighted with the sounds as well as the sight of the magnificent machines in full power. The show website (www.shetlandcms.co.uk) will be up-dated in the next few days and the next Shetland Classic Motor Show will take place on 2nd and 3rd of June 2012"
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Britain’s Most Northerly Classic Motor Show
Britain’s Most Northerly Classic Motor Show is takes place this weekend at the Clickimin Leisure Complex and expectations are higher than ever as the organisers hope to build on the success of previous events by gathering together an even greater range of exhibits and features. The Shetland Classic Motor Show is held every two years with growing numbers of cars, motorcycles, commercial vehicles of all kinds, tractors, stationary engines, bicycles, collections and memorabilia. Exhibits are always impressive and are shown to full effect at Clickimin where display facilities are excellent in the three indoor halls and the outdoor areas. Visitor attendance from Shetland and the UK has grown substantially as the reputation of this remarkable event has become widespread. Interest in the event from outwith the islands is tremendous and bookings already received have stretched the capacity of Northlink cabin spaces and deck space, hotels, guest houses and B&B's as well as the significant resources of the Clickimin Complex in accommodating the expanding event. For the first time, two tour groups will be visiting Shetland with classic vehicle and coach enthusiasts to take in the show. One is a double decker which will also be used to take people between the town centre and Clickimin during the afternoons and give them a historic trip in a 1955 AEC Regent 3 restored vehicle. Over 170 motorcars and 150 motorcycles of all types, spanning over 80 years of motoring history will be on show plus 20 commercial vehicles, 100 bicycles, 40 tractors, 14 Land Rovers and agricultural vehicles and 10 stationary engines plus literally hundred of models create a colourful visual and aural display. Scale model and archive photograph displays are particularly popular with local enthusiasts. For the first time, and potentially the highlight of this years event, is the arrival of 8 fully operational steam engines from the Bon Accord Steam Club plus three miniature engines, thanks to the sponsorship from Northlink Ferries and Hay & Company Buildbase. The full size steam engines will be located at the north side of the running track in full operational mode and the miniatures can be seen running along the track by the lochside. This will be the first time that this type of engine has been seen in Shetland in such numbers and should not be missed. The amazing sounds and smells of the engines is equally as impressive as the sight of the magnificent machines. 16 historic cars from the Sunbeam, Talbot and Darracq club will honour the show by visiting on Sunday before touring the islands until Wednesday evening. Sunbeams held the world Land Speed Record in the 1920's and the car which featured in the film 'Genevieve' was a 1904 Darracq. The oldest car at this years event is in fact a 1903 Darracq. ‘Cruise in Company’ tours for the classic vehicles have been arranged for participants from outwith the islands to enable them to view the spectacular scenery and to enjoy the natural history and visitor attractions. These take place immediately before and after the show so that visitors can make the most of their time in the islands. The Classic Foy of Shetland music and dancing has been arranged to let visitors appreciate a little of Shetland's culture on Saturday evening and a relaxing guided coach tour to Yell and Unst takes place on Sunday. Maurice Mullay commented: ‘The 2010 Shetland Classic Motor Show is again breaking new ground with new features and a hugely impressive collection of all types of vehicle which have travelled from all over the country to Shetland for this very popular event. The diversity and quality of vehicles is ever increasing, quite amazing and there is something to delight everyone. Come and enjoy this weekend in the company of enthusiasts, take a trip down memory lane with some of the historic vehicles on show or be amazed at the range and quality of the local and visiting exhibits on display. Clickimin is the place to spend this very special and enjoyable weekend.'
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Alvis a Plenty
Members of the Alvis Owners Club will be touring Shetland next week in a magnificent selection of classic Alvis cars for their first ever visit. One or two Alvis cars have participated in the Shetland Classic Motor Show in past years and the Owners Club hoped to visit the show in June but this clashed with the Alvis International Show in Windsor. So, undaunted, they brought forward their visit to explore the delights of Shetland and meet with classic car enthusiasts in the islands. Eleven cars arrive with Northlink Ferries on Monday morning and tour the islands from Sumburgh Head to Hermaness during their four day visit. During this time their itinerary incorporates many tourism highlights and visitor attractions. Many of the owners visiting Shetland are from Scotland but there are also enthusiasts from England, Belgium and the Cayman Islands. Alvis made cars from 1920 until 1967 competing in the upper end of the market, and were not produced in large numbers thus they are very exclusive. There is an air of quiet good breeding about an Alvis which expresses its owner's taste and the cars are now desirable classics, with an enthusiastic following. Several of the cars coming to Shetland are TD 21 or TF 21 saloons, the last cars made by the company. Many have coach built bodies and the 1939 4.3 litre Razor Edged Saloon is one of only four built. Maurice Mullay commented: ' We welcome the visit by the Alvis Owners Club and their magnificent vehicles and look forward to showing them as much of Shetland as possible. The Alvises will provide an splendid appetizer for the feast of automotive delights coming to The Shetland Classic Motor Show on the first weekend in June. The cars can be viewed at the south car park at Clickimin Leisure Complex from 3.00 to 5.00 pm on Thursday 27th May. ' [gallery]
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A Steaming Success
Highlight of the 2010 show is likely to be the collection of steam engines, lorries and waggons from the Bon Accord Steam Club in North East Scotland. In addition to the eight magnificent full size steam engines will be two miniature 4" scale machines recently completed by Mark Sawkins in Gulberwick and another from the West Coast of Scotland. Part sponsorship for bringing the vehicles to Shetland is provided by Northlink Ferries and the coal for burning while they are in Shetland is by Buildbase Hay & Company for which the organisers are most grateful. Mobile steam engines have never been in Shetland with the exception of a road roller very many years ago and the show committee have been keen to bring a steam engine of some sort north for the people to appreciate the power and magnificence of these machines. Bill Davidson of Northlink Ferries received the initial enquiry from the Bon Accord Steam Engine Club through RNLI connections and passed this on to Maurice Mullay on the show committee. The Bon Accord Steam Club hold an annual Steam Fair at Castle Fraser and, in June last year, the Shetland Classic Motor Show were offered stand space at the event. Maurice and Marcus Mullay took up the offer and persuaded the owners of the eight majestic machines to participate in the Shetland event this year, the steam club's 40th anniversary. The majority of the machines were produced during the 1920's and cover a variety of makes and types of appliance built for general and special purposes and all both individual and impressive. Prior to the show, they intend to tour the Central and South Mainland show which will be a unique and spectacular visual and aural experience. The miniature engines will also be in steam and travel around the venue and town. Approximately 9 tons of coal is likely to be consumed during the four days in Shetland. Maurice Mullay commented: ‘A hugely impressive collection of steam engines will be on show in Shetland for the first time. Most Shetlanders will never have seen this type of machine before, so this is a unique opportunity to see the engines in their full glory and in full operational mode. The steam, smoke and sound of the engines is equally as impressive as the sight of them.' [nggallery id=13]
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Excitement Building for 2010 Shetland Classic Motor Show
A huge selection of classic motors will again be on view in Shetland this year. Would love to hear your comments.
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