Kent Heritage Show at Kent County Show Ground, Maidstone - Saturday 28th March 2015
With the Kent Countys Showgrounds new Astor Pavillion Exhibition Hall and surrounding outside areas full to capacity with vehicles and exhibitors of all kinds from vintage, classic & prototype cars, motorcycles, pushbikes, tractors this proved to be a bigger and better show than lasts years superb one.
Speaking to Ellie Nicholl & Bernard Pike,who organise and help sort this show, and a great job they are making of it. Ellie said "There were about 150 more vehicles and exhibitors than last year. More space needed to be organise for next year show as inside halls were full to capacity. This is something we will be working on."
Rod ,Wendy, Conrad & Ken had the FFA Area set up friday evening and early saturday morning with their own and members tractors on display, information boards and merchandise out for all to see.
1960 Industrial Power Major fitted with a Cooke 2 speed winch & Cameron Gardener rear loader
Owner is Ian Prince, Billericay, Essex
Tea coffee and cake were on demand all day. Wendy and Lyn were kept busy by the many members old & newly joinned aswell as old friends who visited or exhibited at the show. That is the great thing about this show it is so relaxed, friendly and to have our FFA Area for the "Ol boys" to sit , relax and chat about old times. Listening to their stories is something that is really enjoyable.
.......... aswell as this superb Road working Roller display
1939 Triumph Dolomite14/65 Roadster Coupe. The present owner has owned it since 1964.
1960 Auto-Union 1000S Saloon with a 3 cyl 2 stroke engine, front wheel drive and 6 volts electrics. The Auto-Union is the forerunner of Audi and the now famous Audi badge can be ssen on the boot. A very original car that has not been welded or fully restored, only a respray and re-chrome in 1994.
This vehicle has the front running gear from a Renault = Gordinni with a cross flow 1400cc engine & 5 speed = gearbox. The deisgn is based on pre and just post war = period GP racing cars with details from Alfa Romeo,, Maserati, ERA and Mercedes Benz.
The chassis, body moulds, components like lights, = instruments clusters and steering wheel were all = homemade and took the owner nearly 4.5 yrs to = complete.
Austin Healey 3000 MK2...Awsome, best Vehicle at show for me. When I saw this i became a useless dribbling mess !!
A pair of Morris Ambulances and still owned by London Ambulance Service. These are fully kitted as if they had been parked up yesterday. Siren bell on the front together with Paraffin heater for the patients comforts in the rear !!
After the war London Transport obtained the contract to operate services between Central London and the various London Airports (at Heathrow, Croydon and Northolt) on behalf of British European Airways, the nationalised "local" airline. Initially they operated a fleet of Commer Commandoes, with classic "deck and a half" bodies, the rear portion of seating raised above the commodious luggage compartment.
These only seated 18 passengers, and the rapidly increasing size of postwar passenger aircraft soon outstripped them. By the early 1950s LT had persuaded BEA to buy a new fleet of coaches, and convinced them that a design based on the forthcoming RF might be rather more expensive in the short term but would be much more long-lived. Park Royal designed a new deck-and-a-half body, but to a mould-breaking shape: the large luggage compartment was still there, with seats above, but now the roof line was continued forwards to give a spacious, modern-feeling cabin.
This RF was being restored by the owner and had been used by British European Airways for London pick up's for Barcelona (Spain) Flights
Beadle-bodied East Kent Leyland coach FFN 446
This 1938 35-seater Beadle bus was the one I chose to ride around the County Showground area on
it's seats were very comfy, the inside was original and smelt of old and it drove like a dream.
On my way back I visited the model section and found a scaled version of the Beadle I had just ridden
Thanks to Rodney & Wendy Gibson, Chris Aust, Conrad Hopkins, Ken Bailey, Lyn & Ian Prince for all their help setting up and through out the day on the FFA Stand. Roll on next year.....
The Club got off to a racing start at the opening event of the year. Tractor World, at the Three Counties Showground at Malvern, held on 14th and 15th March, with what I'm sure was the Club's best ever display there. Even the judges agreed, for a change and awarded the Ford and Fordson Association's stand the first prize for the "Best Club Stand in the Show
At this point I must say that I cannot thank our ladies enough for the unstinting support that they give us, not just at Malvern but throughout the year at shows up and down the country, serving members refreshments and selling Club merchandise. Most are not committee members and without their unflagging support the Club and its members would be much the poorer. Make no mistake it is they who make the Club the friendly, family one that it is and that, I'm convinced, is the real basis of the Club's success.
Ford & Fordson Association - Winning Display Area 2015
Henry Dixon's 1922Fordson F
& Nick Bryn's 1944 Industria
3 of Tim Pearman's on the front of the stand
Peter Nutley's War time display
Tom Falconer's "Cut away"4000
Malvern was also another first for us this year as we held our Annual General Meeting during the event at midday on the Sunday. In the past we have held the AGM at various venues around the country as 'stand alone' events, but the cost of travelling resulted in falling numbers making the journey. Your committee felt that as many members either exhibit or attend Tractor World we should try holding an AGM there to gauge members response. Please do let us know what you think of the experiment, if you would like it to become a permanent fixture or not, its up to you.
There is a full report of the meeting on the website and I have to say that I think the financial statement speaks volumes for the progress that the Club has made over the last three and a half years. This is due in no small measure to your continued support and to the hard work that the committee has put in on your behalf.
Click here for FFA AGM Details
As usual exhibitors and visitors to the show judged members tractors and the results were as follows:
Best in Show:
Jackie Smith 1970 4000 Petrol S-O-S
Nick Bryan 1944 Fordson N Industria
Henry Dixon 1949 E27N P6
Best Unrestored:
Pat Pawsey 1961 Fordson Super Major Petrol Industrial
John Brunt 1966 Ford 5000 S-O-S
Jonathan Boaz 1952 Fordson Major TVO
Tractor I'd most like to take home:
Tim Pearman 1991 Ford 8830
I must also congratulate both Nick Bryne and Jonathan Boaz were also were awarded second prize in the overall show judging competition for best in show and best unrestored respectively.
At first glance this may seem a little strange but the Club's awards are judged by a different set of people and, as they say, beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
Yorkshire Vintage Association Tractor Fest 2015 on 6th & 7th June 2015 at Newby Hall & Gardens Ripon North Yorkshire HG4 5AE
Blown away by a brilliant Newby Hall (and so was the tent!)
Friday the 5th June arrived and so did the gales. Jane, Keith, George and I started to erect the FFA tent but the wind had other ideas!
After a struggle to put the tent up, "whoosh" a gust blew the tent up in the air and deposited it on top of Jane and George. Luckily without any injury to them but shattering it in a heap, so we abandoned the job until Saturday morning hoping the wind would have calmed, but it still blew. So with more help we finally achieved a result.
We then placed the huge FW 30 of Trevor Graham on the windy side of the tent and two Dexta's with ratchet straps holding the tent down, result it stayed put.
In between all this fun tractors were arriving on the stand so it was a hectic half day, finally normal service was resumed with an excellent stand of merchandise put together by the girls and cups of tea distributed to members and friends.
Luckily the weather calmed down and a lovely sunny weekend followed.........
Many new tractors soon filled the stand guarded over on either side by two huge FW 30s of Trevor Graham dwarfing the standard and E27ns tractors in between.
The high standard of presentation of the tractors on the stand was a credit to their owners, some absolutely stunning and some homemade conversions an engineering masterpiece.
The FFA stand was a picture bathed in sunshine and attracting huge crowds, after a busy weekend we signed many new members who were impressed by the Ford and Fordson hospitality and high quality presentation of their club stand.
The Newby Hall Show was once again a huge success, and a credit to the YVA team who put it all together. Huge thanks to our team and the members who helped put it altogether in the face of the gale, and who helped throughout the weekend, thanks also to the newby hall team for their help. We look forward to the 2016 show, thank you all.
The FFA Expo was held on August 31st to September 2nd
At the South Cerney Show the Stroud Vintage Transport and Engine Club we were made very welcome by Clive Osborne, the tractor steward, our own FFA Area Rep, David Ford and by John Kedwell, the rally field supremo. I have known South Cerney for many years
having spent 2 years at the Royal Agricultural College at Cirencester, as it was then known, a bit over
50 years ago.
There were over 80 Ford and Fordson tractors grouped together, which made a great display with
many fascinating examples. To pick out just a few that were my personal favourites is difficult but there
was a quite exceptional line up of industrial applications
A very original E27N P6 diesel County Full Track fitted with a blade owned by Colin Barber.
Another 1923 F fitted with a Weher 'Model K' roller, this one spent its working life at Joilet, Illnois, they were splendid
The real show stopper was a stunning 9 NAN complete with polished aluminium 'hood', only the first 700 to 800 tractors, there is argument about the exact number, were produced in this form before the steel bonnet was substituted. This one was also fitted with an auxiliary gearbox and was shown here for the first time by Julie Browning and Peter Smith. Looking at this tractor there can be no doubt as to the real pedigree of the 'Grey Menace".
South East Vintage Agricultural Club Sept 2015 Fun Day.
Rodney & Myself arrived at Townings Farm, North Chailey for the South East Vintage Agricultural Club's September Fun Day.
As we wander through the farm buildings to the fields we noticed Sheep Shearing, WI ladies knitting items from the wool and the Farm Butchers, who were showing throughout the day , how they produced the different cuts of Lamb meat, which were all available to purchase if you wanted to in the fully stocked Farm shop...
As we entered the Fun day field there was, wood-cutting machinery, wheat grinding and electrical stationary engines.
I liked the look of this set up .... 1916 Amanco "Hired Man" 2 1/4 HP open crank "Hit & Miss" Gasoline Engine
Imported from USA during WWI working together with a 1906 Corn Mill by Zacharia parkes Ltd, Birmigham.
Owned & Restored by Chris Page
Further around the field there were tractors of all models & makes, Harvest and general Agricultural machinery, aswell as Ploughing implements.
Ploughing took place futher down the field. The tractors ranged from a Holder AM2 pulling a single plough
To a Uni Mog pulling a 4 spade revesible plough, even though the Uni Mog didnt quite have enough hyaudralic lift to lift the plough setup clear off the ground, it still did a very impressive and powerfull plough and everyone enjoyed watching it.
SEVAC members were ploughing away through out the day and looked as if they were enjoying having a great relaxed Fun day
A 654 Super 4 County having a rest after working away...Superb Beast.
Rodney Gibson & Tony Patten - "Remanising" !!
Blimey Rodney I remember when I was......... ??
Words & Photos : Ernie & Rodney Gibson
Click Link below to view South East Vintage Agricaultural Club's Website. It is a good Club that has plenty of events and visits many show through out the year.
Dacorum Steam & Country Fair on 26th - 27th July 2014
This year's show was held at Potten End, Hemel Hempstead & attracted an entry of 80 tractors, of which 20 were Ford or Fordson. Entries were from within a 30 mile radius of the venue. The weather over the weekend was very hot, with a number of people suffering sunburn!
Each year the number of Ford or Fordson tractors increases. I would think now that this show is the premier show in Hertfordshire for the mark.
We look forward to next year, put the dates in your diaries: 25th & 26th July, 2015.
This year it is hoped to donate over £25,000 to the Hospice of St Francis from the weekend.
Kent Heritage & Transport Show held at the Detling Showground on Saturday 5th April 2014
Held in the east riding of Yorkshire, Driffield Steam and Vintage Rally is one not to be missed, it hosts a huge gathering of steam engines and their amazing scaled down models, a credit to the engineering genius of their owners.
The rally also has a huge displays of vintage lorries, cars, motorbikes, living vans, stationary engines, implements, and a very large display of vintage tractors.
Pictured are some of the ford tractors on display, some restored to a fantastically high standard by their FFA owners.
The three four and five thousand tractors of Alan Nicholson were just beautifully restored to nearly perfection.
Kieran Wall is a keen Ford and Fordson member and brought a selection of his fords, but his ploughmaster 95 certainly caught the eye - a credit to his enthusiasm.
There were many more tractors well worthy of a mention but here is a selection of just a few. If you look up next years Driffield Steam Rally it really is a two day show that ranks with the best
was held on 26th & 27th July at Crark Airfield, Flookburgh, Cumbria at the invitation of the Cumbria Steam and Vintage Vehicle Society Ltd.
The roads,well country lanes leading from the A590 to the showground were narrow & had many hills and small villages to pass through, but Lowloaders with the steam engines aboard, lorries with trailers all took it in their stride and through they all came. The traffic was organised well and there wern't hardly any tailbacks into or out after the show. I must think that the show has been held here for so long, that the lanes are no problem anymore.
The show was set up using the main old airport runway, which was kept clear during the whole show as it was the main way in & out for exhibitors vehicles, traders, emergency services and ring arena events.
I found a great variety of Clubs, vehicle types, Crafts and trader stalls here, maybe more than other Shows.
There was a 2nd hand parts section behind our Marquee. This proved to be very popular for myself and many of the public.
The main tractor area was to the front left of our marquee and set out well, leaving space for the tractor to manouver around while getting ready for their turn to parade around the shows ring area.
While having a wander around many things caught my eye, as they do !! dont they.....
Steamers
Vintage Vans & Campers
Commercials
Coffee Bug
It was time for a coffee when I see this really unique set up. It is all self sufficient and runs from either lesuire batteries or if possible mains when available & it all fits into the back of this Volkswagon Beetle.
The Couple designed this to fit this model of car and it was a one-off fabrication.
An Ice Mocha & Latte were ordered and tasted lovley.
Visit their website for more information and have this CoffeeBug at your next event.
1935 Hercules Tandem with a 1939 Watsonian Sidecar with details below
Owned by: D & S Sales
Statioary Engine Class: Winner 2014
Merlotte Butter Churn driven by a 1913 Amanco Hired Hand Engine
Restoered & Owned by Mr. Bill Abbott
Vintage Caravans
Recent build I know, but I thought it looked fantastic with all the building of, pinstripping paintwork
all done by the owners own hands.
1962 Fisher Holivan 8
Owned & beautifully restored by:Mr. W.S Winder
1964 Stirling Special
Owned by:T & E Mangnall
I was amazed with the original work & detail that someone has designed for the roof guttering. Nowdays water runs off roof and over caravans bodywork, here no messing about straight down to the ground.
Tractors Display
An absaloutly fantastic display of mainly Fordsons
FFA Expo Arena Time / Line up
Ford & Fordson Association Expo X Award Winners
These were judged by exhibitors and included any Ford or Fordson in the show
not just those belonging to FFA members.
Best In Show:
1st. Mr Bowman - 1930 Fordson N (Irish)
2nd. Eric Davenport - 1917 Fordson model T (tractor conversion)
3rd. Philip Ireland - 1919 Fordson F
Best Unrestored:
1st. Ian Strong - Ford 7000
2nd. Edward Woof - Fordson Major, T.V.O with 'Bale Slinger'
3rd. Pat Pawsey - Fordson Super Major (Industrial Petrol)
The one I'd most like to take home:
Mr J B Smith (Sonny) - 1970 Ford 4000 industrial petrol
A Big "Thank you" goes out tothe "Cumbria Steam Gathering 2014" organisors for this Superb event. It is a very large & full show with absaloutly tons of things to see, Steam, Commercials, Vehicles, Caravans or Tractors, you name it it's here - I've had a great time here & will be back in the future.
I would also like to Thank the FFA Committee Members who attended here and looked after our members in the Marquee with cups of T, cold juice and cake. I know some of them took 2 days to travel up to Lake district from down south with their lorries loaded with their tractors and pulling their "home form home " on wheels.
Kent County Show held at Detling Showground on 11th - 13th July 2014
I am finding that the Kent County Show is getting better & better as each year passes. The whole show is greatly pushing towards more of what is or has been going on in past / present & future of the Kent Area including superb local produce, local manufacturers and of course Our local Heritage.
This is resulting in more of the vehicles that are being shown in the "Heritage Area" of the show are of Kent Origin or have worked in the area.
Here are some of the vehicles in this years Heritage section that caught my eye.
A superb Ford Truck, Airstream and Harley set up that I really liked and hadnt seen here before
"Thank you" to All Exhibitors for making this years show the best I have seen at the Heritage section of a Kent County Show. I can not wait to see what next year and you Guy's will bring to exhibit here.
We all know that this show doesnt just operate on its own and there are many,many poeple that have worked hard to help put on a show like this. I would like to thank the Guy's that I know organise the "Heritage Section" here.
L to R : Bernard Pike - Show & Heritage Organisor / Steve Pike - Show & Heritage Organisor
Rodney Gibson - FFA Area Representative
& All of the Helpers / Marshalls that gave up their time freely to stage this event.
Thanks go out to the Sponsor of this year Heritage Prizes Winner awards: Hadlow College
Kent Heritage & Transport Show held at the Detling Showground on Saturday 5th April 2014
Organisers of the 5th annual Heritage Transport Show are delighted with the event that took place on Saturday 5th April 2014.
Lucy Hegarty event organiser, said "We had over 5,000 people on site during the event and there was a marked increase in the number of quality vintage vehicles. The South East Bus Festival welcomed exhibitors from all over the county with an impressive display of buses and coaches."
The free bus rides around the Showground were once again popular and were full of passengers enjoying both the ride and the trip down memory lane. There were over 120 buses at the event and many of them were able to participate, making it a dificult choice of which bus to go on next.
The South East Bus Festival team gave a special thank you to owners who made their buses and drivers available to provide a connecting shuttle service to get people from Sittingbourne and Maidstone into the show. I think this is a superb idea as it helps those that dont drive or get a lift from someone to visit this show.
The new layout for this year, due to the nearly completed Maidstone Exhibition Hall meant visitors were able to take a clear route through the many specialist sections of vintage vehicles.
The Show on Saturday 5th April, organised by the Heritage Committee of the Kent County Agricultural Society, raises funds for the Heritage Section at the main County Show in July.
Bernard Pike, Chairman said, "Every year we have been lucky with the weather and this year was no exception. The number and quality of the entries was brilliant and in particular we welcomed a larger military section and several new car clubs.
One of the liveliest areas on the Showground was the Kent Capri and Ford Club. This group formed in 1986 as the 'Kent Capri Club' and later incorporated other Ford vehicles. Paul Holland from the club said, "The Heritage Transport Show is the club's first show of the year and we really enjoy the fact that we get to talk to the public. Owning and restoring vintage cars is not a hobby to be taken lightly but is hugely rewarding. Everyone in our club has a love for Fords and it will be the same for every other individual who has bought a vehicle here today."
I just had to take this photo . . . . mmmm well what can I say??
The Kent members of the FFA came along and well supported our stand, with Wendy working flat out sorting the refreshing Cup of T for the members aswell as selling the merchandise, while Rod enjoyed himself chatting with old & new members about future shows / events & times good times gone by.
The New Kent FFA sign made by Rodney looks fantastic as does our Mascot "Arkwright" on his Major
Conrad Hopkins & Ken Bailey Loaded up with their Fordson ready for home.
See you all and more at the Kent County Show
on 11th - 13th July. Wendy says " Kettle's on Boy's"
