future event 40th Scottish Borders Historic Motoring Extravaganza, Thirlestane Castle, 10/06/2012

[David I]

I wonder if any Forum members would be interested in attending our event,the 40th Scottish Borders Historic motoring Extravaganza, on Sunday,10th June 2012 at thirlestane Castle, Lauder

 

This is principally a car show, which is organized by the Borders Vintage AutomobileClub, of which I am a Committee Member. This years show will be our 40th,and seventh at Thirlestane Castle. Previously our event was held at Mellerstain House.

The show has grown from around twenty exhibitors in theearly years, to over a thousand entries in 2009 when we hosted theScottish Vintage Vehicle Federation's Champion of Champions. However, althoughwe have no problem in getting classic cars to attend, many other vehicle

classes were dropping away. One of those was Military Vehicles, to the extent

that in 2006 we only had one Austin Champ at the show.

As I am a Military vehicle enthusiast, and do a bit of WW2 re-enactment, I volunteered to see if I could increase the number of

ehicles attending our event. I was quite lucky in that the owner of the Champis Alistair Smith, who is an Area Liaison Officer for the Scottish MilitaryVehicle Group, and who lives within a couple of miles of the show. BetweenAlistair and I we have been able to increase numbers with 20 - 30 vehicles attending last year.

We did not just want a row of vehicles as in the car classes, so the Military display area has vehicles parked as if they might have set up camp for the night, with tents,nets etc. Our club have been very pleased with the results so far, and are

quite happy to further extend the display. My thoughts are that I would like to see a Military show in its own right within the main show. Situated as we arein the Borders, it would be a great place for clubs from Scotland and NorthernEngland to meet up. So far members of Scottish Military VehicleGroup who last year brought their club shop, and collected for BLESMA, Berwick& Borders Military Vehicle Club, and the Ex Military Land Rover Association

also attended.

From2010, we added a Re-enactment/Living Historydisplay and 4th Indians Living History group attended (collecting for Ghurka Welfare Trust), as did Kampfgruppe Schottland, and Western Desert Recce group.

 

We have plenty of space, and the Committee is fully behindthe idea, although sadly, there is not a budget to specifically develop thispart of the show. Having said that, ourshow does not have any entry fee so it will not cost you to attend our show(apart from the cost of fuel!)

I hope that this event will grow. It is still fairly small,but the few who have attended seem to have liked it, and we are always lookingfor ways to improve it. Although it is part of a car show, I would like to seeit develop in its own right.

Thirlestane castle is situated by Lauder, and is sandwiched between the A68 and A697, so is easily accessible from SouthernScotland and Northern England.

The show is open to the public on the Sunday, but there is a road run on the Saturday(I must admit that the Military Vehicles tend to skip this. Access is available from the Friday with camping available on your pitch on Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights (military tentage) or if you prefer modern tents you can pitch them nearby for a small fee. Facilities are basic, with portaloos and a standpipe for water. Alternatively, there is a fully serviced caravan and camping site adjacent to the show field, but this is run as a business, so you would have to pay their rates for that.

We are having entertainment in the marquee on Saturday nightand a barbeque (food and bar are not free). If you don't fancy that, we arenext to the village

of Lauder with its hostelries, and a Fish & Chip shop.

 

For your interest, Thirlestane castle is owned by the Maitland family, who have a strong military background. One, Field Marshall SirHenry Maitland-Wilson originally coined the phrase "Any damn fool can be uncomfortable". Sadly, one of the family, Viscount Ivor Colin Maitland, died during the North Africa Campaign while serving with theLothian and Borders Horse Yeomanry. The castle itself was used as aMilitary hospital for British and Commonwealth troops during World War 1.

 

I hope that this might be of interest and that some of you mightwant to attend. If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact me

 

David Irvine

Borders Vintage Automobile Club

 

evelyn@birth.plus.com

 

http://www.bvac.org.uk

[Roof Over Britain]

Hi Davie,

Missed the show this year due to other commitments, but will hopefully be ok for 2012.

We'll see what we can do in the way of a diorama or display.

Cheers

John

 

Some of the 2010 MVs

[David I]

Hi John,

 

Good to hear from you. hope you are all well. It would be great to see you back in 2012. I'll be happy whether its a display or diarama. We'll make the space for whatever you need.

 

Thanks also for all of your suppport in prevous years.

 

Dave.