The Sywell Classic event at Sywell Aerodrome brought together over 350 classic cars from 35 clubs across the country. Visitors were treated to demonstrations of historic race cars, dragsters, and hot rods performing on the runway. In addition to the extensive automobile showcase, the event featured aerial performances and a chance to explore the aerodrome's aviation heritage. By capitalizing on its location and blending nostalgia with horsepower, the inaugural Sywell Classic provided a diverse celebration of both cars and planes.

1. 10 | CLASSIC CAR WEEKLY | Wednesday 2 October 2013
EVENT NEWS
INSET RIGHT: The
Grady family, from
Northamptonshire,
piled into their 1928
Fiat 501 for the short
trip to Sywell!
Tony Wildey, from Leicester, has
owned his 1974 Ford Granda 3.0
Coupé for the past 23 years
John Milicevic’s Mini van carried the 1950 Austin J40
his son John, 5, campaigned at the Goodwood Revival
and finished a very creditable fifth
John White’s 1957 Land Rover S1 fire engine is still a reserve
emergency vehicle in Northampton. Originally, it earned its
living protecting torpedo workshops at Portsmouth
Chris Mann’s 1961 Jaguar Mk2, which graced the Jaguar
Driver’s Club, is fitted with automatic transmission, a rare
option for the 2.4-litre version
Spalding racer Pat Thomas
brought along his Lotus Elan
26R and his Lotus 47 for a
spot of fun in the sprint area
SYWELL CLASSIC – PISTONS & PROPS
SYWELL AERODROME, NORTHANTS, 28-29 SEPTEMBER
If the wing-walkers dared to look down as they
performed death-defying stunts, they would have
caught a glimpse of the diverse collection of classics.
This inaugural event, held at the Sywell
Aerodrome in Northamptonshire, brought together
both a sizeable showing of club stands, featuring
cars from across the country, and 13,164 visitors
enjoyed the chance to catch historic racers, dragsters
and hot rods among other machines strutting their
straight line speed on the site’s runway.
As the name suggested, the event’s emphasis was
on the aeronautic as much as the automotive, with
flight demonstrations being held in the skies above
Sywell throughout the weekend. Thanks to the
wealth of vehicles on show there was plenty worth
checking out firmly on terra firma, with 35 different
clubs bring more than 350 cars along. The paddock
included everything from 1950s racers to 1990s F1
machines, while a dedicated classics-only parking
area attracting dozens of cars in its own right.
With the event taking full advantage of the
aerodrome’s heritage, the Sywell Classic revelled in a
blend of nostalgia and horsepower.
DAVID SIMISTER
Jaguar E-types formed just one part of a massive collectionof amazing cars and planes that make up this event
The Triumph Sports Six Club was among the clubs which
lent its support to the inaugural event, and brought
along its 1962 Herald Courier van
Pistons & Props gave showgoers
the chance to see these
mouthwatering historic racers at
full throttle on the sprint stage
INSET RIGHT: Singing group
Elle and the Pocket Belles
provided a tuneful
accompaniment on both days
Romer Adams, curator of the Sywell Aviation Museum,
brought his 1953 Austin A40 Somerset along
David Gidden normally uses his Lotus Type 23 for
hillclimbs, but gave it a rare spot of sprinting at Sywell
MGB Roadster, 1972 MGB
GT and 2004 MG TF among a
collection of cars brought
along by the Kilsby MG Club