As lovely as a summer’s day: the Straftord-upon-Avon Motoring Festival
The calm of the quaint countryside town of Stratford-upon-Avon was rent by the roar of powerful engines. The motor show had come to this part of England, and what a show it was. Eighty classic and modern cars rolled in for the annual Stratford Festival of Motoring.
Stratford-upon-Avon is northwest of London, about two hours’ drive away. The town has a rich history as its founding dates back to 1196, making it more than 800 years old. It now thrives on the tourist trade, being famous as the birthplace of William Shakespeare. Nearly five million visitors visit each year. Shakespeare’s home has been preserved and restored, with nearby streets also looking like they might have circa 1600—minus the mime impersonating Shakespeare’s ghost. Nearby is the picturesque River Avon, on the calm waters of which glide boats and swans. On one bank is the Royal Shakespeare Company theater, which runs more than a dozen plays per year, as well as workshops.
The two-day motoring festival featured two fun runs through the surrounding Warwickshire and Gloucestershire countryside. The cars followed a route of about 100 kilometers, combining a rally and treasure hunt. Streets in the town were closed to other traffic and, after the cars were parked, the main roads were turned into pedestrian areas so that visitors could appreciate the cars up close. TV presenter and motoring writer Quentin Willson was on hand for the flag-off.
The assembled cars, comprised of 80 official entries, and many more driven by enthusiasts and spectators, were a sight to behold. The official cars were an eclectic mix of very rare vehicles and modern-day exotics. The modern cars included the likes of the Porsche Boxster, Ferrari 360 F1 Spider and Ford Mustang. Newer British metal was represented by the TVR Chimaera, still looking quite exotic; the Morgan Plus 4 and 3 Wheeler, oddly charming.
An Austin-Healey Frogeye Sprite Mark 1 greeted visitors who were walking onto Church Street toward the town square, flanked by several Triumphs and MG roadsters. There was an eye-popping Jaguar D-Type. The D-Type featured technology considered radical in its day, such as a monocoque chassis and windswept body panels. This helped it win the Le Mans 24 Hours three years in a row. The D-Type at the festival unfortunately was a replica.
True classics included a gamely running 1907 Friswell, a stately and muscular 1925 Bentley sports car and a beautiful 1934 Bentley Park Ward. On display at the town’s Bancroft Gardens was a 1955 Armstrong Siddeley Sapphire, one of the products of a premiere British luxury carmaker. Aston Martin was well-represented, with several V8 cars. These included a Series 3, similar to that used by Roger Moore, not as James Bond but in the TV Series “The Persuaders.”
Stratford’s mayor picked as his favorite of the event the 1997 Marcos Mantara Spyder, only one of 30 surviving cars out of the 137 produced. Meanwhile, sponsor Alscot Park Garage awarded The Cat’s Whisker’s prize to couple Ray and Suzie Coyte for their 1950 MG TD. The car was found in a barn in America and restored, then used regularly by all of the family, earning it the award.
Alas, pleasure and action made the hour seem short, and parting with the wonderful machinery and charming little town was such sweet sorrow.
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