ORGANISERS say they were overwhelmed by the response to the second Barnard Castle Classic and Retro Car Meet.
Staged at Barnard Castle School, the event attract double the number of vehicles compared to last year’s inaugural show, raising about £1,750 which will go to Barnard Castle Christmas Lights and the Teenage Cancer Trust.
There was much to enjoy for the hundreds of enthusiasts present, from the quirky 1970s Bond Bugs displayed by Keith Bradley and Ian and Sheila Thornton, from Cockfield, to the luxurious custom built 1965 Excalibur SS, made to order for Hollywood star Tony Curtis.
One of the bugs was a traditional three-wheeler, while the other had been modified to four wheels.
The Excalibur was brought to the Barney show from Harrogate by Sue Heaton, who had only take delivery of it a fortnight ago.
She explained it was the sixth of just 37 that were made for the rich and famous who wanted to drive something a little different to what was available.
It was the creation of the designer Brooks Stevens, who based it on a 1929 Mercedes SSK.
Other stars to own one include Steve McQueen, Rod Stewart and Arnold Swarzenegger.
There was the very old, such as Andrew Robertson’s 1927 Trojan three-door tourer, which features a four cylinder, two-stroke engine under the seat and the tank under the bonnet.
Mr Robertson, from Winston, said the car only had two forward gears and a chain drive to the back axel. It can travel at top speed of 38mph.
He said he latest project is to restore what was once a Wall’s Ice-cream van.
Others on show included motocycles, vintage tractors and military vehicles.
John Butterworth, from Bedale, brought his 1943 BSA WDM 20, a despatch rider’s motorcycle.
“As far as I know, it was with the 71st Royal Field Artillery regiment – a Sheffield regiment – which went into the desert in 1943 and finished the war in Italy,” said Mr Butterworth, from Bedale, who has previously taken part in Barney’s 1940s weekend.
“I have had the bike for nearly 30 years and been all over Europe with it.”
The show featured a run through the town and surrounding countryside, with organiser Jonathan Wallis’s 1975 Rolls Royce Silver Shadow leading the way.
Mr Wallis said it had been an excellent event, helped by the good weather.
“I am overwhelmed. There is more than double what we had last year and an awful lot of effort has gone into it.
“I was really surprised at the interest in it. We had to turn people away.”
Mr Wallis thanked sponsors Stonebridge Homes, McGarry & Co and TESS, along with his own chartered surveyor’s firm.
He also lauded the efforts of Morrisons, Artisan Corner, Chocolate Fayre, Star Flowers, McFarlane Butchers, John and Maggie Rhodes, Judith Rodwell, Paul and Pam Wilson and Jonathan and Louise Privett for donating raffle prizes.
Finally, he paid tribute to all of the stewards, with a special mention to Helen Pressley for arranging all of the bookings.
