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LONDON’S MILE OF EYE-
CATCHING AUTOMOTIVE STYLE
Bike and F1 world champs top the bill as the record-breaking Regent Street Motor Show wows crowds in Central London
The traffic on Regent Street was at a total standstill today (Saturday 1 November) not, however, as a result of gridlock in central London but for the annual Regent Street Motor Show.
The capital’s world famous West End shopping street was closed for a very special ‘mile of automotive style’ stretching between Piccadilly to Oxford Circuses as the UK’s largest free-to-view motor show showcased a glittering display of more than 200 cars and bikes from past, present and future generations.
Last November’s captivating event attracted more than 400,000 visitors and this year’s was every bit as popular with enthusiasts, shoppers, London residents and tourists all relishing a huge variety of eye-catching machinery which embraced everything from motoring’s early pioneers to the latest electric cars.
Representing the dawn of motoring, and
right at the heart of the display, was a remarkable collection of 100
pre-1905 machines. As a curtain raiser to Sunday’s running of the annual
Bonhams London to Brighton Veteran Car Run, these were partaking in the
prestigious EFG International Concours d’Elegance. This year’s
star-studded judging panel included multiple-title winning F1 team
principal Ross Brawn and TV personality Edd China. The beautifully
original 1902 Arrol-Johnston of Alistair Hacking was awarded with the
overall prize (photo above).
“In many ways this is a dramatically new world for me,” admitted an intrigued Brawn, who is gearing up to participate in his maiden Bonhams Veteran Car Run having stepped down from the World Championship winning Mercedes team earlier this year. “Whether it’s early carburetion systems or steam cars, I’ve seen things I didn’t know existed! The passion and enthusiasm that the owners show is really impressive. They are facing such challenges just to keep these cars running properly. There’s almost an acceptance that something is going to go wrong and will need fixing!”
Further north on the packed street and close to Oxford Circus, the Top Gear Experience simulator was busy all day. Adjoining it was another power show: a mouth-watering display of Porsche 911 Turbos celebrating 40 years of the potent sportscar icon.
Top class motor sport was another of the huge crowd-pleasers. Former world champions Wayne Gardner, Christian Sarron and Freddie Spencer were revving up on Regent Street launching an exciting new World GP Bike Legends event which will be staged at Jerez in Spain next summer (19-21 June).
“It’s an incredible honour to be riding
some of my old bikes here on Regent Street in the middle of London –
it’s all a bit surreal, to be honest,” admitted ‘Fast’ Freddie. “For the
fans to see, hear and smell these 500cc bikes firing up and
accelerating right here on Regent Street is pretty cool.”
Further down the elegant Nash Curve and closer to Piccadilly Circus, the busy Manufacturers’ Zone was showcasing some of today’s most exciting and desirable machines as well as a glimpse of the future. Among a host of eye-catching models on show were the groundbreaking BMW i3; Renault Twizy, Captur, Twingo and Zoe; Infiniti Q50, OX70 and Q50 Hybrid plus three examples of Tesla’s luxurious Model S, the latter generating massive attention.
Further down the elegant Nash Curve and closer to Piccadilly Circus, the busy Manufacturers’ Zone was showcasing some of today’s most exciting and desirable machines as well as a glimpse of the future. Among a host of eye-catching models on show were the groundbreaking BMW i3; Renault Twizy, Captur, Twingo and Zoe; Infiniti Q50, OX70 and Q50 Hybrid plus three examples of Tesla’s luxurious Model S, the latter generating massive attention.
Other modern car marques on show included both Mini and Morgan while there was also a special tribute making 50 years of the iconic Ford Mustang.
“It was fantastic to see so many people in the sunshine enjoying such a wonderful display of amazing cars in the fabulous setting of Regent Street,” said Ben Cussons, Chairman of the Royal Automobile Club Motoring Committee. “Staged on the eve of the Bonhams Veteran Car Run, this truly unique motor show really had something for everyone from the earliest steam vehicles right up to the cars that will be roaming our city centres in the decades to come. Once again the Regent Street Motor Show has been a huge success and a great start to what’s always a fabulous and historic automotive weekend in London and I’d like to thank all those at the Regent Association for making this possible.”
This year’s visitor experience was further enhanced by the latest Regent Street app providing personalised information for all those attending via their smart phones.
For more information visit the official Regent Street Motor Show website: www.regentstreetmotorshow.com
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