5th, 6th and 7th August 2016 will see the Stroud Vintage Transport & Engine Club (SVTEC) stage their 42nd Annual Show at South Cerney Airfield in Cirencester, Gloucestershire. The show is widely regarded as one of the biggest and best Steam, Vintage and Countryside events in the UK and attracts thousands of exhibitors and visitors from across the county and actively raises money for both national and regional charities.
This year the Gloucestershire Vintage and Country Extravaganza will include the popular Steam Arena, with non-stop steam demonstrations, and the opportunity to drive a steam engine and see the spectacular Showman’s Engines. The Main Arena which features parades and commentary of all the vintage vehicles on site from classic cars, tractors, commercial vehicles, vintage bus and coaches, motorcycles, scooters, traction engines, miniature steam, industrial trucks, military vehicles, caravans to emergency vehicles. Plus the Countryside Arena featuring dog agility, ferret racing, rare breeds, animal conservation, alpaca’s, shire horses, horse logging, falconry displays and children’s pony rides.
One of the largest displays is the Motorcycle section which will feature over 150 entries already representing manufacturers from England, Italy, Japan, India, the USA and other countries. Among the marques on display are Honda, Yamaha, Harley Davidson, Moto Guzzi, HRD, AGS, James, Triumph, Royal Enfield, Rudge, Baker, BMW, Norton, Velocette, BSA, Panther, Francis Barnett, Matchless and Greeves. There will also be an abundance of Lambretta’s to celebrate the mods and rockers era. Section leader John Grange said ‘we always try to bring something of interest to all ages and interests, from Veteran to Vintage and Classic. From the smallest Brockhouse Corgi ‘Para’ bike to the HRD Vincent Meteor series B, from the Yamaha FS1E (my first bike!) to the Suzuki GT750, there will be something to suit everyone’s motorcycling interests’.
The classic car section alone features over 600 vehicles, from the dawn of motoring to veteran, pre-war, post-war, Pre-72 American, supercars to modern classics. Alongside regular exhibits are remarkable stories of barn finds, restoration projects and histories to be told. All the owners are knowledgeable and proud to show off their splendid vehicles.
Aside from all the vehicles, there are literally thousands of exhibits, curiosity stalls, trade stands, models tents, craft marques to keep the whole family entertained. Children always love the vintage fairground with the popular Fairground Organs, ‘electric yachts’, waltzers, big wheel, steam-driven ‘gallopers’ and traditional penny arcade games, and this year they can even have a ride on a model stream train.
The 2016 show will also pay homage to Land Rover with a special section dedicated to the marque. In January the last Land Rover Defender rolled off the production at the Solihull manufacturing line. It was an end of an era for one of Britain’s most-loved – and longest-lived – vehicles. During its 68 years of production, more than two million Land Rovers and Defenders have been sold since, with 308 model derivatives. To commemorate the iconic vehicle, the show has introduced a new section featuring Land Rover Series I, II and III models and variants (registered Pre 1980 only). For further details or to register a vehicle, please contact: enquiries.svtec@hotmail.com
This year the show organisers would like to commemorate the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II to celebrate 60 years of the Queen’s reign. If you own or know of a vehicle which has a historical link to the Queen, please get in contact.
Aside from all the vehicles, there are literally thousands of exhibits, curiosity stalls, trade stands, models tents, craft marques to keep the whole family entertained. Children always love the vintage fairground with the popular Fairground Organs, ‘electric yachts’, waltzers, big wheel, steam-driven ‘gallopers’ and traditional penny arcade games, and this year they can even have a ride on a model stream train.
The showground site is sprawling, with plenty of food and drink ‘pit stops’, a firm favourite is the vintage tea room with regular music, entertainment and 1940s inspired Lindy Hop dancing. Plus new for 2016 – The beauty box providing a rest haven for weary show goers – after miles of walking, you will now be able to pop into a converted horsebox and relax with a head, neck and shoulder massage, or even indulge in a beauty treatment from eyelash tints, brow shaping or facial to a tattoo!.
Chairman of the Stroud Vintage Transport and Engine Club (S.V.T.E.C) Martyn Slater, said: ‘Our goal has always been to give the best value for money family day out in Gloucestershire, with something for all of the family to enjoy. The show has evolved allot over the past 40 years, but the mission remains the same – to inform, educate, entertain and celebrate our unique transport history and the preservation of historical vehicles. We actively encourage interaction between exhibitors and visitors, and have a nifty on-site Wi-Fi to enable visitors to find out more history and information about specific vehicles displayed. The dedicated Wi-Fi code can be obtained from the show program, and available for use on phones, tablets and laptops’.
