There’s even more reasons than ever to visit the Isle of Wight International Charity Classic Car Extravaganza this weekend.
The show will be on Ryde Esplanade tomorrow (Saturday) and Sunday, from 11am to 5.30pm each day.
Scroll through the gallery of pictures above to see more...
This year the show comes of age and it is celebrating 21 years of bringing together fantastic displays of classic, vintage and custom vehicles from all corners of the UK and further afield — and raising a bit of money for Isle of Wight charities at the same time.
Entry to the show is free, but donations to the charities are encouraged — tomorrow the Isle of Wight Round Table will be collecting and on Sunday, the charity is Mountbatten.
The Ford Escort Mk2 1600 Sport which was imported from South Africa and belongs to Joe Crouch of Ventnor.
Organiser Vic Gallucci said: “During the past 21 years the classic car extravaganza has brought about 18,000 classic vehicles to the Island, together with their drivers and passengers, and it has introduced a lot of people to the Isle of Wight.
“It has become a prestigious event in the car show calendar — and long may that continue.”
This year’s event will be attended by Sarah Crabtree, who is best known for her role in the television series, Bangers & Cash, which she appeared in from 2019 to 2021.
She is now a director and brand ambassador of Evoke Classics and is delighted to be coming to the show.
Visitors to the 2022 event will also be able to meet Star Wars characters, courtesy of well-known costume group Vaders Raiders.
The Isle of Wight Bus and Coach Museum will also have its 1934 Dennis Ace on display and will be running a three-bus classic shuttle service between the esplanade, town centre and the bus museum in Ryde, so it will be possible to go off and visit the museum too.
Also as part of the event, Isle of Wight-based celebrant Elaine Cesar will be holding a wedding vows renewal at Ryde Superbowl at 2pm on Sunday, for a couple who won the competition — Ken and Jane Bloomfield.
But it’s the cars who are the stars and there is a bumper line-up of more than 800 vehicles expected this year.
Look out for members of the Middlebridge Enthusiasts Scimitar Set (MESS).
Only 79 Middlebridge Scimitars were made in approximately 1989 and Princess Anne still owns the fifth car made — she doesn’t drive it any more, but sometimes loans it to the MESS club for shows.
Another really unusual car is the 1939 Hanomag owned by Darin and Caren Frow.
Darin said: “The original was only produced for a year. Our car was built in 2014 from a complete basket case, and now has a full custom chassis and BMW 328i running gear.
“It’s a very unique hot-rod, but as far as we know it’s also the only Hanomag in the UK.”
WATCH: a short visit to the 2018 classic car extravaganza
Isle of Wight-based Joe Crouch’s Ford Escort Mk2 1600 Sport was imported from South Africa and rebuilt by him — he also restores Second World War aircraft at Sandown Airport.
A 1922 bottle car from the National Brewery Museum is also expected to be on display, as are a number of Armstrong Siddeleys including Brian Smith’s 1960 Star Sapphire, which is a regular visitor to the show.
The Armstrong Siddeley Owners' Club (ASOC) have been in attendance at the extravaganza from the very beginning and it has certainly become a “must do” event in their busy calendar.
This year they will have a wide range of Armstrong Siddeleys on display, including four Siddeley Specials, which are quite rare and were built between 1933 and 1937.
Brian Smith, who organises the ASOC display, said: "Vic’s unstinting efforts over the years have certainly turned the event into the Isle of Wight’s premier charity classic car show, which is certainly the view of the ASOC and no doubt many of the other car clubs attending."
Vic Gallucci said he could not hold the event without the support and help of many Isle of Wight businesses and organisations, including Ryde Town Council, Wightlink, the County Press, Gallagher Insurance and many more.
- NEXT YEAR'S DATES: will be September 9 and 10 and Vic already has plans for some exciting new attractions, so watch this space!
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