On Sunday 2nd April we will be returning to the streets of Bromyard to celebrate the annual Bromyard Speed Festival.
Every year, over 5000 spectators travel from all over the country to watch more than 140 vintage and classic cars and motorcycles drive through the picturesque market town streets of Bromyard.
As part organisers of this charitable event, Holden Vintage & Classic join The Morgan Motor Company, Brightwells Classic Vehicles and a wealth of partners and volunteers to coordinate one of the most exciting events in the classic car calendar.
As you may already know, Bromyard has a rich motoring history. As the birthplace of Morgan Cars and with a manufacturing history dating back to 1910, it couldn’t be a more appropriate setting for a classic car enthusiast to spend the day.
Last year’s festival was a triumph and featured one of the most incredible cars in motoring history – the Sunbeam 350hp ‘Sunbeam Bluebird’, which broke the land speed record in 1924 at 146.16mph. The car was originally driven by Sir Malcolm Campbell, who later went on to improve his record in 1925 by reaching an impressive 150.76mph.
You may be interested to know that Lord Montagu, conservative MP, activist and founder of the British Motor Museum, purchased this car in 1957 in poor condition. After spending many years shelved in a museum without a working engine, the car underwent over 2000 hours of reconditioning before taking to the streets again in 2014.
A real hit with spectators, ‘Bluebird’s’ thunderous engine echoed through the market streets of Bromyard stirring excitement and curiosity from all corners and creating quite a spectacle for both the eyes and ears.
This year we’ll be spending some time with ‘Babs’, the land speed record holder driven by John Parry-Thomas in 1926 that reached an outstanding 171.02mph. The car was restored in 1969 by Owen Wyn Owen and will be causing quite a buzz in Bromyard this April. Furthermore, we’ll be joined by Malcolm Campbell’s ‘Napier Bluebird’, which achieved the world land speed record in 1927 at Pendine Sands. A re-engineered version then recorded over 200mph at Daytona Beach the following year.
As well as these land speed record holders, we’ll be celebrating the legendary Laverda motorbike. The first Laverda model (the Laverda 75) was introduced in 1950 and went on to have great success in Italian Championship Motogiro. Following this success, the Laverda 1000 and Laverda 650cc were born, with the company going from strength to strength from there onwards. It’ll be exciting to see a number of Laverda motorbikes on display as well as the Laverda Owners Club in April and we’re very much looking forward to it.
The Bromyard Speed Festival, as well as being an opportunity to showcase and view a range of classic vehicles, is a fantastic family day out.
The cars run in batches throughout the day starting in the town square on Broad street and returning via Rowberry street. Ordinarily the running starts with Morgans and Austin Healeys as well as a mix of other classics, then moves on to racing and rally cars and concludes with a series of stunning motorcycles. Each batch drives for approximately 15 minutes and is accompanied by a running commentary from the public address system. With the offer of both morning and afternoon sessions, there’s no reason for you to miss out on any of the festivities.
When stationery, the vehicles are held in paddocks that are open to the public for £3 per person. That means you can get up close and personal with some of the most famous and sought after cars in the world. Excited? We certainly are!
But that’s not all. Trade stands and entertainment will also scattered around Bromyard, as well as plenty of places to grab a hearty lunch, a snack or a cool drink. You’ll also have the opportunity to meet a wealth of likeminded enthusiasts and industry experts that share in your passion for classic and vintage cars.
So don’t delay! Head over to www.bromyardspeedfestival.co.uk now for more information.
