Beverley Classic Car Rally Hits The Spot

 

Thousands of people descended on Beverley to appreciate the classic cars on display at the Beverley Classic Car Rally.

From Wednesday Market to Saturday Market, classic cars – predominantly made in Britan – lined the streets and attracted car enthusiasts of all ages.

The event, now in its 15th year, is quickly becoming, along with Armed Forces Day, the most enjoyable event of the year in Beverley.

Burger vans and ice cream sellers gave the event more of a ‘street’ feel, while the large amount of visitors seemed to be enjoying the town centre pubs and bars.

Event organiser Arthur Douglas, himself from Beverley and the owner of a 1956 Austin, told HU17.net it was the best, most varied and most popular Beverley Classic Car Rally yet.

He said: “This is marvellous – it is what Beverley is all about and it is the only market town in the East Riding that can host this sort of event.

“This is the largest number of people and car owners I have ever seen here.

“Everyone seems to know about it now and lots of people come here to exhibit their cars from a long way away because they know they can’t find a place like this to come to.”

Not surprisingly, the cars that drew the biggest crowds were the big name Jaguars, including E-Types, Rolls Royces such as the 20hp 1923 and the 1930 Phantom 11 Sedenca De Ville and American classics like the 67 Pontiac Bonneville and the world’s coolest car, the Ford Mustang.

However, nestled alongside their more renowned neighbours were dozens of British gems that touched the soul of many a more mature car enthusiast.

MGs and Triumphs – TR6s, MG Magnate ZA 1956, MG TF 1500 et al – were in abundance. There were Minis, Austins, Rovers and Talbots too.

Maybe the most memorable car there was the smallest, and certainly the most unusual.

Mark Fisher brought his 1961 300cc BMW Isetta to the show. He told HU17.net the tiny bubble car – front opening, rear engined and comfortably cramped – was the vehicle that saved BMW in the early post-war years.

He continued: “The Isetta was the first car BMW did. They were cheap to build and in the days after the Second World War petrol was scarce and these cars do a hundred miles to the gallon.

“BMW bought the car from Italy, built it in Germany and it was sold at a reasonable price so it was in the range of so many people.

“It’s the car that saved BMW.”

Among the visitors was Mayor of Beverley Pete Astell, who was delighted to see so many people enjoying themselves on a mellow night in the town centre.

“There must be thousands of people here, this sort of event can only be good for Beverley,” he said.

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