Steaming On! Over 500 Classic cars start to prepare for the South West’s largest Extravaganza raising money for charity.
Annual Gloucestershire Vintage & Country Extravaganza
4th, 5th and 6th August 2017
South Cerney Airfield, Cirencester
4th, 5th and 6th August 2017 will see the Stroud Vintage Transport & Engine Club (SVTEC) stage their Annual Show at South Cerney Airfield in Cirencester, Gloucestershire. The show is widely regarded as one of the biggest and best Steam, Vintage and Countryside events in the UK and attracts thousands of exhibitors and visitors from across the county actively raising thousands of pounds for both national and regional charities each year.
A show within a show with over 500 classic cars will attend, spanning the majority of interest groups and eras. The largest of all sections at the show it covers many makes and models from English to French to American classics. Individuals and clubs are equally welcome to complete this impressive line-up.
2017 is the 150th Anniversary of RA Lister and Company and the show organisers would like as many RA Lister vehicles at the showground to mark this amazing 150-year history of vehicle production. So if you have an RA Lister vehicle and would like to attend please get in touch with the organisers to have it included as part of the featured display.
This year the Gloucestershire Vintage and Country Extravaganza will not only put a show on at ground level but in the air as well, with the Battle of Britain memorial fly-by on the Saturday and Sunday. On the ground, the popular Steam Arena will include non-stop steam demonstrations, and the opportunity to drive a steam engine and see the spectacular Showman’s Engines. The Main Arena which features parades and commentary of all the vintage vehicles on site from classic cars, tractors, commercial vehicles, vintage bus and coaches, motorcycles, scooters, traction engines, miniature steam, industrial trucks, military vehicles, caravans to emergency vehicles. Plus the Countryside Arena will feature the annual dog show, ferret racing, rare breeds, animal conservation, alpacas, shire horses, horse logging, falconry displays and children’s pony rides.
Diversity has long been a feature of the Vintage and Country extravaganza and there will be something for everyone in the show, making it a perfect day out for all the family.
Aside from all the vehicles, there are literally thousands of exhibits, curiosity stalls, trade stands, models tents, craft marques to keep the whole family entertained. Children always love the vintage fairground with the popular Fairground Organs, 'electric yachts', waltzers, big wheel, steam-driven 'gallopers' and traditional penny arcade games, and this year they can even have a ride on a model stream train.
The showground site is sprawling, with plenty of food and drink ‘pit stops’, a firm favourite is the vintage tea room with regular music and 1940s inspired Lindy Hop dancing on both days. 2017 will see the first visit from the beautiful Betsy Harmony, who sings a delightful selection of 1940s songs from the tight harmony of The Andrew Sisters to Vera Lynn, to right old knees up with singalong songs of the era.
Chairman of the Stroud Vintage Transport and Engine Club (S.V.T.E.C) Martyn Slater, said: ‘Our goal has always been to give the best value for money family day out in Gloucestershire, with something for all of the family to enjoy. The show has evolved allot over the past 40 years, but the mission remains the same - to inform, educate, entertain and celebrate our unique transport history and the preservation of historical vehicles. We actively encourage interaction between exhibitors and visitors, and have a nifty on-site Wi-Fi to enable visitors to find out more history and information about specific vehicles displayed. The dedicated Wi-Fi code can be obtained from the show program, and available for use on phones, tablets and laptops’.
The motorcycle section will feature well over 200 entries, representing manufacturers from across the globe. The marques on display will include Honda, Harley Davidson, Moto Guzzi, Royal Enfield, Triumph and more.
This year the Bus & Coach Section will feature approximately 80 vintage buses and coaches. Also after the great success of last year, we will be seeing the return of two open-top double-deckers which will be among several vehicles giving free rides around the showground on all three days. Come and enjoy a leisurely ride around the show from the vantage point of the upper deck of a vintage bus!
The classic car section will be accompanied by classic caravans. There will be over thirty vintage caravans dating from the 1920's to the 70’s plus homemade units and of very varied manufacturers that no longer exist. You will be amazed by the high standard of restoration that has shaped these vintage classics. Forget all mod cons, the owners of these exhibits prefer caravans as they were in the early days. The caravan and its offshoot, the motorhome, or camper van encompass the social spectrum from homemade to bespoke luxury.
Classic commercials haven’t been neglected either, with over 300 including a Ford Model T van and a Bristol HA6L on display. The Military section will be equally varied, with paratrooper bikes sitting next to Scammel tank transporter as part of a 100-strong display.
Central to the event is the steam festival. As well as a Steam Timber Arena, up to 60 full-size traction engines and steam rollers will partake in the Demonstration Arena where they will be used to power threshers and wood saws. There will also be winching and rolling displays at intervals throughout the event – it’s far from a static exhibition.
The Extravaganza is organised by the Stroud Vintage Transport and Engine Club. This non-profit making organisation raises money for national and local charities.sand up to 30 will be represented on site raising money and awareness of their respective causes. The rally is one of the largest events of its kind run entirely by volunteers. All section leaders strive to bring something different to this year’s event. With so much to see and do, one day just isn’t long enough
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