What better way for petrol-heads to reignite their passion than with a feast of more than 500 fabulous classic cars enhanced by some of the greatest classic car movies – and all set in a Covid-compliant drive in experience at one of the UK’s most iconic and accessible motoring destinations.
• Brand Events launches The Classic Car Drive-In Weekend
• September date for motoring and movie fans at Bicester Heritage
• 500+ classic cars in action, on display, on sale and on screen… and all in Covid-compliant surroundings
• Attractions also feature live on site Bonhams MPH auction
• Early Bird registration now open – but ticket numbers are strictly limited Â
Start your engines: The Classic Car Drive in Weekend is GO!
Redesigned for these challenging times and launched today (Thursday), The Classic Car Drive In Weekend is an all-new and exciting car-themed event designed specifically to provide enthusiasts with an outstanding outdoor, socially distanced visitor experience.
The ground-breaking show – the very first drive in dedicated to cars – is the brainchild of Brand Events, the award-winning team behind a raft of innovative experiential successes including The London Classic Car Show, Top Gear Live, CarFest and a new series of Drive & Dine events, and will be staged at Bicester Heritage, the Home of Historic Motoring, in Oxfordshire over the weekend of 18-20 September.
All show-goers will be treated to a drive in movie plus the added pleasure of savouring the sights and sounds of some of the world’s finest classic and competition cars performing live in thrilling and evocative action.
Films already confirmed include some of the best car movies ever to hit the silver screen. Lovers of epic car chases can choose between blockbusters such as The Italian Job, Gone In 60 Seconds, Fast and Furious 7and Baby Driver while the billing is equally impressive for motor sport fans with Rush, Senna, Le Mans 66 and Days of Thunder all on the line-up. With two drive in cinemas and three screenings each and every day, no fewer than 18 different viewing options will be available.
As well as the memorable drive in cinema experience, visitors also will be offered a full day’s entertainment topped by dramatic demonstration runs on a specially constructed on Bicester Heritage’s existing track, which will also stage colourful motoring parades. Other highlights will include gatherings of more than 25 of the UK’s leading car clubs, eye-catching displays by top dealers, a host of car-related traders and retailers plus a live Bonhams MPH car auction hosted on-site. Adding to the spectacle and magical atmosphere, classic car owners are also being encouraged to drive into the event and display their own personal pride and joy to the world.
Bicester Heritage is the perfect home for the first major new Covid-compliant classic car show. Located on the UK’s best-preserved WW2 RAF Bomber Station, it is one of the UK’s most significant motoring destinations and home to the first Centre of Excellence for Historic Motoring. Moreover, the huge event location, comprising 444 acres not only provides extensive airfield perimeter roads for eye-catching automotive action but also acres of outdoor space for this exciting new socially distanced event.
Daniel Geoghegan CEO of Bicester Heritage commented: “The Classic Car Drive In Weekend is the perfect excuse to throw open the doors again at Bicester Heritage and to share the vibrant spirit here, we look forward to welcoming enthusiasts to our Centre of Excellence for Historic Motoring.”
All the elements add up to the ground-breaking show for which the classic car community has been eager ever since the lifting of lockdown regulations and the arrival of the summer season. It is also a welcome boost for the entire classic car industry.
“With so many of our traditional motoring attractions being postponed, cancelled or run behind closed doors, we were determined to create a wonderful event for the new normal – and, with The Classic Car Drive In Weekend, we have done just that,” enthused show director Bas Bungish. “In these challenging times our priority will always be to provide a safe and secure environment for all our visitors and exhibitors but that doesn’t mean we can’t all enjoy a fabulous day out with friends and family if the right precautions are in place. Indeed, that’s exactly what so many of us have been yearning for.”
The birth of The Classic Car Drive In Weekend also endorses Bicester Heritage’s ambition to create the UK’s principal destination for anyone who wants to experience motor cars from all eras.
“This exciting new partnership with Brand Events certainly furthers our ambitions to share our passion with the wider motoring community,” said Shaun O’Hara, Event Director at Bicester Heritage. “Clearly launching a new classic car show in the current climate isn’t without its challenges, but we believe that the team at Brand Events have created something really special and safe, which many car enthusiasts and movie buffs will relish after so many months of relative inactivity.”
Further details of The Classic Car Drive In Weekend including news of stunning static and demo display cars, a full schedule of epic drive in movies, listings of notable cars being auctioned by Bonhams MPH plus all the latest news of other mouth-watering attractions will be announced in the next few weeks via the www.theclassiccarshowuk.com website and associated social media platforms.
The website also provides full information on all the Covid-compliant procedures being put in place to provide all-comers with a secure environment.
Show tickets – priced at just £25 for adults and £15 children (aged 5-15) – will automatically give visitors access to one drive in film of their choice. For those looking to drive in, park up and just enjoy a film, a movie screening ticket is also on offer priced at £10 for adults and £7.50 for children.
With visitor numbers restricted to a maximum of 10,000 across the weekend to guarantee social distancing, showgoers are advised to put their pedals to the metal without delay to avoid missing out. Tickets are on general release from Friday 14 August but fast starters registering online from today (Thursday 6 August) are being offered the opportunity to guarantee their tickets via an advance Pre-Sale commencing 48 hours earlier on Wednesday 12 August.
Report by theclassiccarshowuk.com
