Before l even start to report on the Classics on the Common here in the very upmarket Harpenden UK, let me assure you that our very own Sylvanvale Pre-WWII Vintage Car Show that we present to the public of Sydney & the Sutherland Shire every year to raise much needed funds to support our preferred Charity, the Sylvanvale Foundation, is way up there.
(Above) 1938 Lagonda LG6. Designed by W.O. Bentley after he joined Lagonda as Technical Director after leaving the Bentley company he founded. Meadows 6cyl. 4453cc engine. Originally bodied as a saloon, rebuilt over 30 years by the late John Batt.
Rest assured we can hold our heads up very high, l am allowed to give you my expert opinion & advice on this subject because l do have the experience when it comes to commenting on car shows through out the world, because l have been there & done that.
In March this year I was also backed up by Mark 'Fletch' Fletcher from Classic Resto’s TV fame when he attended our show to do a show for his TV Series. During the Trophy presentations 'Fletch' made it known to every one in attendance that our Pre-WWII Vintage Car Show that the quality of Vintage vehicles that were on display on the bitumen in the Sutherland Shire Car Park in sleepy old Sutherland, NSW, is up there with the quality of the vehicles displayed at Pebble Beach in California, USA.
In March this year I was also backed up by Mark 'Fletch' Fletcher from Classic Resto’s TV fame when he attended our show to do a show for his TV Series. During the Trophy presentations 'Fletch' made it known to every one in attendance that our Pre-WWII Vintage Car Show that the quality of Vintage vehicles that were on display on the bitumen in the Sutherland Shire Car Park in sleepy old Sutherland, NSW, is up there with the quality of the vehicles displayed at Pebble Beach in California, USA.
(Above) Three Austin Sevens. When my Mum & Dad were married my Dad owned one of these pure 'Gems'. They drove to Bundanoon in Dad’s Austin Seven to spend their Honeymoon.
Fletch should know because he also has vast experience & knowledge to make that comment exactly the same as l do. Needless to say l was overwhelmed & so proud with his comments & opinion to say the least.
OK. Yesterday’s vast display of so called 'Classic' vehicles in the very, very upmarket ritzy Harpenden can not really be compared to our Pre-WWII Vintage car show that we present to the public in Sutherland, Sydney, purely on scale & size alone.
Yesterday there were 1,400 vehicles on display covering many acres of grassy grounds in the massive Common here on St Albans Road in Harpenden, our display area on the bitumen in the Sutherland Car Park displays a tad over 100 Vintage vehicles, however to qualify to enter in our show all vehicles must have been built Pre the second World War, no exceptions, (1st September 1939) & this is what makes our show so unique, l believe.
l really had no idea what to expect before attending yesterday’s “Classics on the Common”. All that entrants needed to do was pay your entry fee of £17pounds (AUD$30.00) & rock up to exhibit your vehicle.
l really had no idea what to expect before attending yesterday’s “Classics on the Common”. All that entrants needed to do was pay your entry fee of £17pounds (AUD$30.00) & rock up to exhibit your vehicle.
(Above) Now were talking. 1928-1929 Model A Ford Speedster.
Spectators entry fee a gold coin, I found it hard to believe that they did not charge an entry fee for the punter’s considering that the event is organised by the local Rotary Club of Harpenden, can you just imagine if they charged a nominal fee of five pounds how much they could have raised for charity, it would be mind boggling (that’s cheap) AUD$8.50. You can’t even buy a pint of beer here for that much money.
The scale of this presentation here is absolutely massive, (1,400 vehicles at $30 a vehicle = $42,000 plus spectator entry)? These vehicles spread out over acres & acres of ground, l was completely taken aback with the amount of spectators that attended this event.
(Above) 1926 Sunbeam. Long 25hp. Tourer. One of only five remaining of this particular model. There are only two 'Landaulette' bodied cars that pre-date this car, (1) in Australia & (1) in New Zealand.
This car is the oldest of the four left remaining 'Seat Tourers' cars that are known to exist located in Saffron Walden in Essex & (1) located in Germany. So very rare in the UK being one of only two cars known to exist.
(Above) Now for some real class & distinction. 1923 Model T Ford.
Rolls Royces & Bentleys a dime a dozen, Lamborghinis, Audis, Mercedes, VW, mini’s Vauxhalls, Morris minors, Ferrari’s, Morgans, MGs, Porsches by the dozen, Jaguars, Singers, Austin Healeys, MGBs by the truck load, McLarens, Nobles, Jensen Interceptors, Humbers, Hillman’s, Anglia’s, Cortina’s, Bug eye Sprite’s, Ford Consul’s, Sunbeam Tigers, Fiats, Peugeots, Renaults, Triumphs, Triumph Heralds by the ton, very few American cars, the list goes on & on & on after all there were 1,400 vehicles on display.
Absolutely nobody was dressed in Period dress, I suppose that was because the vehicles were not old enough, there was no music being played, no trophies, the food stalls were very ordinary. Our ten fresh food outlets in Sutherland were in a different league, you could actually have a decent choice, instead of Fish & chips, Hamburgers.
(Above) Don’t you just love this Morris Minor 1000. As a young motor mechanic in the '60s I cut my teeth on these wonderful vehicles, could not get enough of them. I really wish that I owned one of them today.
I went there yesterday expecting to learn new ideas to enhance our Pre WWII Vintage Car Show & actually came away with nothing, as a matter of fact we could teach the Poms about how to run a more interesting car show for the spectators.
l truly believe that at our Pre-WWII car show that we present to the public back home in Sydney is in a totally different class & much more interesting because of the unique vehicles that we present to the enthusiastic spectator.
Where can you go to see 100 plus Vintage Vehicles all pre 1939 on display with out all of these other makes & models only making up the numbers. Very unique indeed.
That’s my report from the 'Classics on the Common' from yesterday.
Hope that you enjoyed your Squire's roving report from the bowels of ancient Harpenden, where the poor are poor & the rich keep getting richer.
My next critique will probably be tomorrow. This evening I am heading off to see Simply Red the British Soul & Pop band from Manchester perform in an open air concert at Bedford Park in Bedford which is only a short train ride away from Harpenden.
Stay safe.
Cheers for now,
Warbo
Thousands upon thousands upon thousands of people & l am not exaggerating streamed through the acres of vehicles that were on display all day long from 11am-9pm, remembering that yesterday was a week day (Wednesday) l commented to one of the organisers “Doesn’t anybody work in this place” to which his answer to me was “This is Harpenden”.
l must admit that l was very disappointed with the lack of older vehicles, I would say out of the 1,400 vehicles on display there would have been no more than 50 vehicles that would have be built before 1940. I was expecting to see many more older vehicles on display, after all this is England.
l must admit that l was very disappointed with the lack of older vehicles, I would say out of the 1,400 vehicles on display there would have been no more than 50 vehicles that would have be built before 1940. I was expecting to see many more older vehicles on display, after all this is England.
(Above) Now for some real class & distinction. 1923 Model T Ford.
Rolls Royces & Bentleys a dime a dozen, Lamborghinis, Audis, Mercedes, VW, mini’s Vauxhalls, Morris minors, Ferrari’s, Morgans, MGs, Porsches by the dozen, Jaguars, Singers, Austin Healeys, MGBs by the truck load, McLarens, Nobles, Jensen Interceptors, Humbers, Hillman’s, Anglia’s, Cortina’s, Bug eye Sprite’s, Ford Consul’s, Sunbeam Tigers, Fiats, Peugeots, Renaults, Triumphs, Triumph Heralds by the ton, very few American cars, the list goes on & on & on after all there were 1,400 vehicles on display.
Absolutely nobody was dressed in Period dress, I suppose that was because the vehicles were not old enough, there was no music being played, no trophies, the food stalls were very ordinary. Our ten fresh food outlets in Sutherland were in a different league, you could actually have a decent choice, instead of Fish & chips, Hamburgers.
(Above) Don’t you just love this Morris Minor 1000. As a young motor mechanic in the '60s I cut my teeth on these wonderful vehicles, could not get enough of them. I really wish that I owned one of them today.
I went there yesterday expecting to learn new ideas to enhance our Pre WWII Vintage Car Show & actually came away with nothing, as a matter of fact we could teach the Poms about how to run a more interesting car show for the spectators.
l truly believe that at our Pre-WWII car show that we present to the public back home in Sydney is in a totally different class & much more interesting because of the unique vehicles that we present to the enthusiastic spectator.
Where can you go to see 100 plus Vintage Vehicles all pre 1939 on display with out all of these other makes & models only making up the numbers. Very unique indeed.
(Above) 1950 Healey Silverstone. Just 105 Silverstones were produced (1949-50), 51 'D Types' & 54 'E types'. All Silverstones utilised Riley running gear including a 2.4 twin cam OHV Pushrod engine with twin SU Carburettors, producing 104bhp at 4,500 rpm. Despite considerable track success the company discontinued Silverstone’s production in favour of the profitable Nash Healey and from 1952 the company the fabulous Austin Healy.
Hope that you enjoyed your Squire's roving report from the bowels of ancient Harpenden, where the poor are poor & the rich keep getting richer.
My next critique will probably be tomorrow. This evening I am heading off to see Simply Red the British Soul & Pop band from Manchester perform in an open air concert at Bedford Park in Bedford which is only a short train ride away from Harpenden.
Stay safe.
Cheers for now,
Warbo
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