It was with some trepidation that the committee decided to move to the larger venue of Scarisbrick Hall. Would we be able to fill it, would we be able to afford it? We needn't have worried - it turned out to be the best show to date, thanks to the efforts of all the club members but particularly to Jamie, Lisa and Tom.
On the eve of the show we had over 100 cars booked in for the run and over 250 cars ready to display. All that was needed on the Saturday was to set up the field and the day dawned with overcast skies and then heavy rain. Everyone set to putting up gazebos (with some difficulty it should be said - who lost the instructions?) and laying out the field hoping that the forecast for Sunday would be better. It wasn't - meteorologists predicted gales and rain. By Saturday evening the skies had cleared and many club members stayed on site, on the pretext of acting as security. Perhaps the fact that the beer tent was going to be open was the real reason. Anyway, the security guards had an excellent party, and the floodlights illuminating the Hall as a backdrop was a bonus. (Despite Paul saying it looked like something out of a Hammer Horror movie!). By 12.30am th security team decided the beer tent was safe to leave and everyone disappeared into their tents.
Tom was up at 6.30 am on his bike checking the field and by 8am everyone was at their stations as the first runners arrived. The met. office were proved absolutely wrong as the sun rose to make a beautiful morning.
By 10 am all the runners had been sent off by Lisa and the display cars were arriving and being shown to their stations by the force of stewards (club members). The public arrived in their droves and the gate crew were swamped at times. Several dogs got in despite the notices but the "dog squad" soon had them sorted.
Awards were given to pre war cars, postwar cars, 1960s, 1970s and 1980s cars as well as tractors and commercials. Best pre war car and possibly the best car in the show was the 1928 Morris Cowley of Bill Stephenson from the Wirral (he went home before the final judging). Dave Reeves took runner up in the post war class with a Jag XK 140 taking the honours. 1960s class was won by a Mk 2 Jag and the 70s was won by an E type. I think the judges liked Jags!.
Car of the show was judged to be the E Type coupe of John Gibbons of Burscough.
With over 1000 people through the gates an excellent day was had by all - here's to next year!!
7 blokes watch as Alison fixes the gazebo (or Alison polishes the gazebo as 7 blokes wait to finish putting it up!)
Paul finds Nigel's shower cap to be very useful in the rain.
The 1948 MG TC of David Reeves was runner up
Lisa spent all morning seeing off the runners
A traction engine was the slowest moving vehicle at the show
This lovely E type coupe of John Gibbons took Car of the Show award.
XK 140 takes the award over MGA, MG TF and MG TC
Tom and Jack Malyan enjoy the show!
Morris Cowley takes Pre-War Class award.
Perfect MG PA missed out in the pre war class.
"This aint no saint" said dog squad leader Paul as he escorted Bernard off the field!
This year's show survived the predicted gales and rain and we were lucky to have a relatively clear day with only a few spots of rain . Some of the public were obviously deterred by the bad forecast but despite this there was a very good turnout and it was a brilliant show ..
Below are some photos of the day taken by Chris Nelson, Andrew Dickenson, Tom Ford ,Nigel Malyan and and Ray Trivass .
Right - the view of the magnificent 19th century Scarisbrick Hall designed by Pugin - who also designed the Houses of parliament. (Now the home of the Kingswood School).
This photo was taken at last year's show and shows the Austin 7 club in front of the West Lancs MG stand
Photo - Andrew Dickenson
Our 4th show - Sunday September 7th - 2003
Photos - Nigel Malyan and Andrew Dickenson
Photo left
Some of the run cars on our stand at the show after their 60 mile drive.
Photo -Right
"Give us a kiss, Jamie" says Nigel as he takes the runner up award in the 1980s category .with his MGB.
Photo left -
"Professor" Barrington in full animated flow as he entertains the kids
Photo - Right -
Old and New together.
Preston Pheonix MG kept their promise and brought along their MG X Power SV super car - seen here next to Tom's TC
Photo - left
The line up during the MG category judging with the winning MGB in the foreground
Photo - right
Commercial vehicles line up with the award winning Atkinson truck on the end .
Photo - left
Bill and Olive's Tombola stall. They were kept busy all day - mainly trying to stop the gazebo blowing away! Not forgetting MURIEL AND GRANT who worked alongside Bill and Olive on Saturday and Sunday.
Photo - right
Club members relax as they await their turn for steward duty.
Photo- left
Richard Sherman with his newly restored ZB Magnette - this was taken before the arena event where the car went on to win the award for best 1950's car.
Photo - right
Cam had the chance to meet up with old school friend Harry Howard who went on the run with his recently acquired classic Rover instead of his Midget.
Photo - left
Beautiful PA Midget lines up ready for the start of the run
Photo - right -
Noel proudly displays his MG BEE
It is rumoured that he knitted it himself!
Photo - left
Lynn and Lisa stayed at the rally control desk all day.
Photo - right
Ray and Laura Coventry of the Baron's Rest Pub, Chorley provided the bar at very short notice.
Photo - right
Nice picture of the twins at the show .
Wow - come to think of it, the kids look pretty similar too!
