FIRST ANDY SAUNDERS’ AWARD AT BEAULIEU’S FATHER’S DAY HOT ROD & CUSTOM DRIVE-IN DAY

FIRST ANDY SAUNDERS’ AWARD AT BEAULIEU’S FATHER’S DAY HOT ROD & CUSTOM DRIVE-IN DAY

New show ambassador Andy Saunders presented his first award at Beaulieu’s popular Hot Rod & Custom Drive-In Day Father’s Day event, as 5,484 event-goers and 380 hot rods and customised vehicles gathered in the grounds of the National Motor Museum.

Getting the retro weekend off to a great start was Simply VW on Saturday, June 15th, with 528 Volkswagens and 1,280 show-goers joining the chilled-out show, as part of a retro motoring weekend with Vintage Village fashions, live music and dancing.

Renowned car customizer Andy Saunders picked Michael Castle’s Pro Street 1980 Ford Cortina as his car of the show at Hot Rod & Custom Drive-In Day, which is held in association with Solent Renegades club. Delighting show-goers with the roar of its brutal 8.2-litre V8 engine, Michael had driven this drag racing star down to the show from Middlesbrough.

Presenting a custom-made trophy and Autoglym valeting pack to Michael, Andy said: “It was tricky narrowing it down from my 32 favourites but this Cortina is fabulous and epitomises what we were doing on the custom scene in the late 1980s and early 1990s. It was built 30 years ago but has only recently resurfaced and the work that has gone into building the car is absolutely incredible... and road-legal. It doesn’t get any better than this!”

The award for Best Custom went to Chris Clemens, from Winchester, for his 1960 Morris Minor 1000. Andy, who presented trophies and Autoglym packs to all of the winners, said: “This car is so pretty with its cherry red paint. It is beautiful to see a custom car of this age where everything is correct, from the slot mag wheels to the twin-cam engine.”

The Best Hot Rod award went to Dave and Carole Sharp, who had driven from Kent in their stunning 1928 Ford Model A. Best Bike was awarded to Chris Head and Dave Hiles, from West Moors in Dorset, for their monster-engine trike, while the coveted Best in Show award was presented to Dave and Angie Owen, from Bournemouth, for their bright orange V8-powered 1955 Ford Anglia. Andy was joined to present the Best American award by Solent Renegades’ Dan Potter, who had chosen the 1951 Pontiac Chieftain owned by Barry Dunwoodie, from Ringwood.

For the first time in 2019, Classic American magazine held the regional heats of its Car of the Year award at the show, inviting the best unmodified American cars to compete. Earning a place in the competition final at the NEC’s Classic Motor Show in November was Brian Forsdike, from the Isle of Wight, for his 1957 Ford Thunderbird.

Andy, who arrived at the show in his 1937 Cord Westchester Tetanus, spent the day talking to fans and revealed his new project, a Riley RM. He said: “At International Autojumble last September, I bought a pair of wings for a pre-war Delahaye 135M, which have a wonderful shape to them but I needed to find a car to fit them to. I eventually found this Riley RM, which will be ideal for my next car build. I’ll restore the original chassis and keep the stock Riley running gear but I can make a whole new body for it, which will be lower and sleeker. I don’t know how long it will take . . . but I hope it doesn’t take 14 years like Tetanus did!”

Also wowing show-goers was the famous hot rod Coffee Grinder, one of the first American hot rods to be imported to England in the 1960s. It was brought over by celebrated pop-artist Gerald Laing and has recently been bought back by his sons. The impressive selection of cars on show included smooth low-riders, powerful pick-up trucks and stock American classics dating as far back as the 1920s. The event also included a special show of bikes, from retro scooters to choppers and monster-engine trikes.

At the Breeze Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles-sponsored Simply VW event on Saturday, the People’s Choice Award was presented to Russell Payton, from Newbury, with his restored 1964 Karmann Ghia. Runners-up were Sarah Walkey, from Portsmouth, with her pink wrapped 2013 Beetle and Brandon Hayes, from Wimborne, with his custom-style 2000 Beetle. They were both presented with Autoglym prizes by Stuart Hack, the sponsor’s Head of Business.

Across the weekend, Bows & Braces ran a colourful Vintage Village packed with nostalgic collectables, records, jewellery, luggage, kitchenware and retro clothing. There was a bigger than ever Vintage Tea Tent, while Bournemouth Lindy Hop Club gave dance demonstrations with Jitterbug Jive and there was live music on the arena stage.

On Saturday, Bows & Braces presented the Best Dressed Vehicle award to Sharon Drewell, from the Isle of Wight, who brought the impressive combination of her 1968 VW Beetle towing her 1963 Eriba Puck caravan. On Sunday, the Best Dressed Individual awards went to six-year-old Aylar Pashapour, from the New Forest, while the Best Dressed Group was Frank and Pam Annable, from Bournemouth, and Best Dressed Vehicle was the Mad Max-style 1993 Lexus of Rogan McGilp, from Hereford.

Coming next on Beaulieu’s events calendar is Simply Land Rover on June 23rd, Simply Jaguar on July 14th, Simply Japanese on July 28th and Beaulieu Supercar Weekend on August 3rd-4th. For tickets and details see www.beaulieu.co.uk/events.

“NELLIE”, THE EX-MAHARAJA 1912 ROLLS-ROYCE SILVER GHOST WINS THE ICONS AWARD AT THE LONDON CONCOURS

“NELLIE”, THE EX-MAHARAJA 1912 ROLLS-ROYCE SILVER GHOST WINS THE ICONS AWARD AT THE LONDON CONCOURS

“Nellie”, the ex-Maharaja 1912 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost

The 2019 London Concours Icons Award, sponsored by Footman James, in association with Azure, was won by the 1912 ‘Taj Mahal’ Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost of Katie Forrest.

In a category comprising 13 truly special vehicles, the iconic cars were all invited to attend the prestigious international concours held in the manicured and historic grounds of the Honourable Artillery Company in the heart of the City of London.

After much deliberation by the judges, the 1912 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost was awarded the trophy for its incredible condition, remarkable provenance and engaging back story. 

Ordered new by Rolls-Royce Bombay, it was built for the Indian market and was designed to withstand tropical climate and usage. Specified with additional features, including higher coachwork to protect occupants from wildlife and with upgraded wiring to survive the Indian heat, the Silver Ghost was named the ‘Taj Mahal’. It was purchased new from the dealership by the Maharaja of Nabha in 1912 and remained in his ownership until the 1990s when it was returned to the UK and purchased by its current owner for use on club events and rallies.

Sympathetically restored over two decades, the Silver Ghost has been regularly enjoyed ever since and has covered more than 75,000 miles in this time. Affectionately known by the owner’s family as ‘Nellie’, owing to its grey colour and elephantine proportions, the car was presented on the lawn of the HAC by the owner’s daughter, who has herself competed in motorsport events, in the vehicle, on many occasions.

Katie Forrest was presented the Icon award by Managing Director of Footman James, David Bond.

She said: ‘It is a great surprise and huge honour to win this award when up against such a collection of wonderful cars in this category. ‘Nellie’ is not usually shown at these sorts of events as she is used so often over the summer, but it’s a pleasure to display her for the public to enjoy. It’s also a real joy to share this moment together with my parents, as we have always enjoyed the car together as a family.”

David Bond added: “It is a pleasure to be able to present this award to a vehicle that is not only historically important but also wonderfully cared for and regularly used by its owner and his family. In a category that included many stand-out vehicles, the decision was not an easy one but we felt this vehicle was deserving of recognition as a true icon of the motoring world.”