Lincolnshire Classic Car Show

Two of the PistonClick team went up to the Lincolnshire Showground last Sunday for the first ever Lincolnshire Classic Car Show. I must say, for a brand-new one-day show, they absolutely nailed the brief.

First impressions:

Well organised from the off. It’s a short run for me and getting in via the Horncastle Lane entrance was painless, more on this later. Plenty of marshals and flat smooth grass parking which helps if you’re in a car you care about. However, when we tried to get in there were lengthy queues for the prepaid electronic ticket holders. No problem it was open from 10am to 4pm.

The Showground is a proper venue for this type of event – huge, flat, with space to actually walk around the cars instead of shuffling sideways like you do at some shows. This was billed as a celebration of the very best of classic motoring, from vintage favourites to modern classics, motorsport legends to motorcycles and that’s exactly what they delivered. 

The cars – what stood out:

The club displays are the heart of any show like this and they turned out in force. Fantastic mix from pre-war Austins that looked like they’d just left the workshop, to 80s and 90s retro icons that are now proper classics in their own right. Classic cars, retro icons, competition machinery and commercial vehicles, plus dedicated areas for motor car and motorcycle clubs – there was something for everyone.

Lots of Fords Escort in particular – a really tidy row of Jaguars, MGs and a good turnout from the Bomber County Mini Club. There was also good smattering of American iron that you don’t always see this far north.

Checking out the show online there were two big draws and a few other attractions that caught my eye:

The Live Rally Stage with Group B cars.

Hearing a Metro 6R4 and an Audi Quattro at full chat on grass is something else. They ran a proper demonstration, not just a 20mph parade. Smoke, noise, pops and bangs – the crowd loved it.

The programme said a spectacular line-up of Group B rally cars in full flight and they kind of delivered. Yes there were some Group B but mostly it was standard rally cars with a few extreme off roaders. 

 Bangers & Cash – The Mathewsons. 

Dave, Paul and Derek were there all day doing Q&As and wandering about. No airs and graces, just talking old cars with people. 

They also had the street bike freestyle team and the RC truck display for the kids which kept families entertained. Clever programming – it wasn’t just for the petrolhead anoraks.

Traders & extras:

Good balance. You had your specialist parts and memorabilia stands, plus the bigger names like Witham Motorsport and Roose Motorsport. 

Facilities:

Food village was decent – not cheap but that’s every showground event now. Plenty of toilets, plenty of shade if you needed it. Queuing for the food outlets was a bit of an issue, it did take some time to get something to eat. The show was open to the public between 10am-4pm which was about right – enough time to see everything twice without flagging in the heat. It was a warm day. 

What could be better next year:

It’s a first year event so a couple of niggles. Signage on the way in could be clearer. It was there but if you are not a regular visitor to the show ground you would expect the main entrance to be the primary route in for the general public, it’s not. A few posts on social media would have helped. 

I would love to see a proper concours judging element with classes, that would lift the event. There were plenty of quality cars hidden in the display areas that should have taken pride of place.

Lincolnshire Classic Car Show – Verdict: 8.5/10

For a year-one show at £11 advance, it’s excellent value and has real potential to become the county’s big classic day out. It’s got the right mix – serious cars for the purists, live action and TV names for the casual visitors, and enough going on for the family.

If the Lincolnshire Classic Car Show keep the Group B live action and grow the club entries, I’ll be back every year.