At our first classic car show four years ago, we had two lines of classic vehicles. "What a success!" we thought. However, on the 24th August 2008, over 400 motorbikes, cars, tractors, commercial vehicles, a fire engine and a steamroller all made the journey to Swainby in North Yorkshire, from all over the north of England. For the fourth year running, the sun shone for us again. There was plenty of positive feedback from our visitors, and all who attended the event thoroughly enjoyed it. Refreshments were provided in Swainby Village Hall at very reasonable prices and the volunteer helpers were kept busy all day. Food and drink was also available at The Blacksmith's Arms and The Black Horse public houses, who also reported an excellent trade from the show.
Funds raised this year were donated to Herriot Hospice Home Care and to the restoration fund for Swainby Village Hall . We invited The Butterwick Hospice to have a stall at the show again this year ( they were last year's nominated charity), and they did a brisk business and raised much-needed funds for their organisation. We had a diverse range of trade stalls, from wood turning demonstrations to model cars. They all seemed to be doing good business and we hope to see them all again in 2009.
Entertainment was provided by Osmotherley Brass Band, who played a good variety of popular tunes that were enjoyed by visitors and entrants alike, they have promised to return again for our next show.
As far as we know, only one car broke down, it was driven to the show but failed to start when the show finished. After several attempts to start it by classic motoring enthusiasts, it was decided that lack of compression was the problem. Unfortunately, the car had to be taken home on a breakdown recovery truck. An Alvis car belonging to Terry Peacock got stuck on the show field; a heavy car coupled with narrow tyres, it sank into the soft earth but we soon pulled it out by tractor, with no damage apart from a little wounded pride.
