VMR Pre-War Shuttleworth Weekend

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Ian Grace
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VMR Pre-War Shuttleworth Weekend

Post by Ian Grace »

Hot on the heels of the very well-received announcement in last month’s Newsletter that the Vintage Minor Register is now welcoming all pre-war cars, we are very excited to announce this month that in 2017, the expanding Vintage Minor Register will inaugurate a second major summer rally weekend. Pre-War Shuttleworth will take place over the weekend following Pre-War Prescott and will also be open to all pre-war cars in addition to Minors and M Types.

Here’s the provisional weekend itinerary:

Friday 28th July Informal reception at the Greyhound at Haynes, a charming village inn about three miles west of the village of Old Warden, Bedfordshire.

Saturday 29th July A Scenic Tour, starting at Old Warden, with a pub lunch at the Royal Oak at Barrington, Cambridgeshire. Parking on the expansive village green.

Saturday Evening Special function – see below.

Sunday 30th July A pre-war motoring and aviation vintage gathering at the Shuttleworth Trust, Old Warden, in conjunction with the de Havilland Moth Club’s annual Gathering of Moths.

Sunday Evening A farewell run to the delightful Hare & Hounds, Old Warden village. Great food and fine local ales for all.

The Vintage Minor Register was founded at VSCC Prescott in August 2000 and held its very first Summer Rally in 2001, starting from the Royal Oak, Barrington, Cambridgeshire on a Saturday morning and ending up at Old Warden to join in one of the Shuttleworth Trust’s sunset air displays. We concluded the day with a magnificent dinner in the Shuttleworth Mansion House, so the chosen location for our new annual rally could not be more appropriate.

Like Pre-War Prescott, the watchword for the weekend will be RELAXED! On Saturday, we will hold a Scenic Tour, very similar to the hugely popular tours that we have run around the Cotswolds for several years now. The Bedfordshire/Cambridgeshire area affords a multitude of opportunities for great vintage touring, with plenty of quiet byways and sleepy villages to explore, not to mention dozens of World War Two airfields and other fascinating places of interest.

On Saturday evening, we have the potential for something VERY special indeed – a formal Richard Shuttleworth Memorial Dinner at the Shuttleworth Mansion House. Arrangements are provisional right now and the evening will ONLY take place if we have sufficient numbers, but we have the option for a great evening with a reception in the main house, followed by a grand dinner, music, dancing, a guest speaker and annual awards in the beautiful Garden Suite Lounge. Right now, various options and corresponding ticket prices are being explored with the Shuttleworth management, based on a minimum of 80 guests and a maximum of 120. The ticket prices are likely to be in the region of £70 to £95 per head (including the dreaded VAT) depending on menus and other options. (Think upscale Wedding reception.) This would clearly be a considerable financial commitment for the club, so I am asking everyone who might be interested in attending to provide a provisional RSVP by the end of January. If we reach the magic number of 80 guests (or at least get close), then this will be a GO! So DO please send in your provisional RSVP’s to vintageminor@gmail.com as soon as possible so that we can firm up plans in the New Year. Thanks, and i will post a running total for the Saturday night and other event news as it emerges on this thread.

On Sunday, we will be joined by our good friends from the De Havilland Moth Club. Until this year, and for many years past, the Club has held their summer fly-ins at Woburn Abbey, but overheads and other complications forced a move in 2016 and the Club held its 2016 summer fly-in at Old Warden. The day was a great success and will become an annual feature of the Club’s calendar. Around 80 Moths of various types flew in for the day and were joined by several more from the Shuttleworth Collection, as well as some other visiting vintage aircraft. The general public are invited, but our pre-war cars will have FREE entry and pride of place in reserved parking - right on the flight line. We will also have an opportunity at lunchtime to inspect the aircraft at close quarters and chat with the crews on the flight line. The Collection, workshops and the adjacent Swiss Garden will be open all day and there is a restaurant and also an excellent gift shop onsite.

Arrangements will be firmed up over the next few weeks, and you can expect to see an Entry Form and much more news early in the New Year as this new event develops. But for now, please make a note of the dates and perhaps also let me know if you think you might like to join us, as this will greatly help me with detailed planning the weekend.
Ian Grace
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Joined: Sun Nov 19, 2006 12:55 am
Location: USA

Re: VMR Pre-War Shuttleworth Weekend

Post by Ian Grace »

The provisional web page for the weekend has been posted at http://www.vintageminor.co.uk/PWS%20201 ... 02017.html.
Ian Grace
Site Admin
Posts: 5035
Joined: Sun Nov 19, 2006 12:55 am
Location: USA

Re: VMR Pre-War Shuttleworth Weekend

Post by Ian Grace »

So far we have four Minors entered for this brand new event, and a total entry of 17, but that is expected to grow considerably - particularly as entry is totally FREE for pre-war cars!

All you need to do is let me know you plan to be there so I can add you to the entry list.
martinng
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Joined: Thu Oct 10, 2013 5:31 pm

Re: VMR Pre-War Shuttleworth Weekend

Post by martinng »

Ian we had a very pleasant day on Sunday. The weather was good and there were some wonderful cars displayed.
As you know 4 Minors, lots of MGs and a few Hornet Specials, as well as the aircraft.
A Dragon Rapide that made about 5 flights and the Nine Tigers display team that gave an impressive display of close formation flying.
I have added a few pictures to give an idea of the day.
Three Minors.
Three Minors.
IMGP3364vs.jpg (98.19 KiB) Viewed 4000 times
Dragon Rapide.
Dragon Rapide.
IMGP3342adj01vs.jpg (73.98 KiB) Viewed 4000 times
Flying Tigers.
Flying Tigers.
IMGP3374adj01vs.jpg (43.89 KiB) Viewed 4000 times
MGs and Minors
MGs and Minors
IMGP3358vs.jpg (107 KiB) Viewed 4000 times
Minor and Moths
Minor and Moths
R0014647 vs.jpg (123.43 KiB) Viewed 4000 times
Ian Grace
Site Admin
Posts: 5035
Joined: Sun Nov 19, 2006 12:55 am
Location: USA

Re: VMR Pre-War Shuttleworth Weekend

Post by Ian Grace »

Wonderful! I have had several good reports of the day. We now have a marker in the ground to develop this weekend in 2018 and beyond. The date for next year is Sunday 29th July.
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