18 replies to this topic

[Tanya]

As many of you know, for various reasons Gaydon are no longer hosting a Mini show, although they say that they are prepared to look at one for next year, if there is enough interest.  However, this thread is not about that (so please debate it elsewhere), but it is about the new show.  

 

Although the title gives you a clue, the show also included Austin Rover Group and Rover Group vehicles as well as MINI.  If you are interested in the heritage side of Austin, Morris, BMC, BL, ARG, RG and MINI, then this will interest you.  Gaydon currently have their 'Morris; the man' exhibition celebrating 100 years since the first car left Cowley.  From the Mini perspective the 1959 Register, Traveller and Countryman Register and 500 Cooper Sport Register will all be there and all have interesting stands, with Registrars and owners who can tell you everything and more about these cars.  There are also going to be three Austin Ants there (hopefully a fourth can make it) which will be the most of these vehicles in one place since they left Longbridge (I think there were only ever 24 built - but I may have that figure slightly wrong).  There is the usual Mini/MINI concours and for MINI fans, the GPs are having a stand.  More details of the show can be found here - http://www.bmcandleylandshow.co.uk/

 

The Cowley Convoy will be organising the convoy from MINI Plant Oxford to the show.  MINI Plant Oxford are kindly opening their Centenary Exhibition for people to look round before we leave.  Stuart Watson, aka surfblue63 has agreed to film the convoy.  here is his last convoy film - 

 

 

The convoy is entirely free (obviously you need to pay to get into the Gaydon Show) but there will be optional run plaques and car flags to buy at cost price.  However, convoyers are free to use their own flags etc.  Cowley Convoys are always good fun  Please register for the convoy here - http://cowleyconvoy....show/4576314813

 

If you have any questions, please ask

 

 

 

 

[surfblue63]

Here's a pic of the Pride of Longbridge Cowley Convoy. As you can see there is a wide variety of old rust buckets BMC/BL/Austin Rover stuff to look at.

 

 

 

 

PS By the looks of it I will be in my silver car as I have replaced the old black thing with a big red one.

[cradley-heathen]

weather permitting i will be at this......

[nev_payne]

I'll be there on the Cooper Sport 500 stand along with 3 other LOEs first reunion of the cars in 13 years.

[surfblue63]

Nev I spotted you at Beaulieu the other day, I though I recognised the plate when I took the shot.

 

[1984mini25]

As this is no longer a mini show will there be any mini traders/autojumble?

[nev_payne]

Cheers buddy Fantastic shot

[Tanya]

Here's the run plaque for those joining the Cowley Convoy.  We are leaving the Plant at 9.30am, but the Centenary Exhibition will be open from 8.00am.  We need people with us by 9.15am at the latest, and we do need people to register in advance (it is free to join).  Optional run plaques are £5.

 

 

 

[surfblue63]

See you at 8:00am then.

[nev_payne]

Bump - who else is going?

[Sam14]

I've come but dissapointed by the camping not as it was two years ago I came

[l_jonez]

There was literally a few tents this year which is terrible compared to previous years. Show was ok but not as busy as previous years. Seems to get that little bit worse every year but it was nice to have a bit more variety car wise this year

[mab01uk]

Events : Report – BMC and Leyland Show, Gaydon

"Stars of the show came from the 1959 Mini register, who displayed a collection of early Minis by the front of the museum. Right next to them were some of the cars from the Cooper Sport 500 register – the final few cars off the line. Cars from the Rover SD1 Owners Club, the Maestro and Montego Owners Club, and www.leylandprincess.co.uk were also there, showing off some truly lovely examples. In the main area, you’ll see from the gallery, that there were smashing cars on show."

Full AROnline report and photos here:

http://www.aronline....nd-show-gaydon/

Edited by mab01uk, 07 July 2013 - 10:48 PM.

[Tanya]

That's my Milly in the top photo of the AROnline report!
 
With the camping, my understanding was that this year camping was just straight camping, no food, entertainment etc, just somewhere to pitch your tent.  Possibly this wasn't well enough communicated to particularly those who had come to the show when it was a Mini show.
 
We had a great convoy from Cowley, taking around 50 cars.  I do love a show that starts with a convoy  I'm sure surfblue63 will stick some photos up in due course.
 
For me, this is my perfect type of show and I think will become my second favourite show of the year after Pride of Longbridge, which nothing can touch!  I love the heritage of not only Mini, but both Cowley and Longbridge and the cars that they have produced.  The Motor Heritage Centre holds some truly unique cars and it was great to see some of their reserve collection outside, however, it was a pity that JOP with not with the Cooper Sport 500 Register on their stand, although they did have a cracking line up.  As usual, a wonderful display by the Mini Traveller and Countryman Register and the 1959 Register not only had a great display of early cars, but had John Sheppard on their stand and no less than five Austin Ants opposite them!  If you are into heritage, this is definitely the show for you.  I just hope Gaydon can keep it up and progress the show further.  
 
While I'll probably be shot down in flames for saying this, but this was a big improvement from the former Mini show which this has replaced/incorporated.  The majority of that show was made up of regional Mini clubs with broadly the same Minis on each club stand.  If I am honest, once I've seen one regional Mini club stand, it feels like I've seen them all.  I enjoyed being able to see the various Mini registers with interesting (from a heritage point of view) Minis on them and also registers from other marques with some interesting cars on them with knowledgeable owners.  I wish that I had more time to speak to them.  
 
While this was no longer a Mini show, there was a strong Mini presence and some great Minis in concours.  It was good to take concours Minis to a difference audience.  
 
Anyway, here are a few of my pics, but hopefully surfblue63 will be along at some point with some decent shots!
 
The Five Austin Ants together

 
The RSP formerly owned by John Cooper, now owned by the RSP Registrar, Roger Hunt with our Mk3 S

 
Cars from the Motor Heritage Centre's reserve collection  


 


 



 


 


 


 


 
My Milly with the prototype LC10

 
Milly

 
Looking across at the 1959 Register

 
The Cowley Convoy parked up 

Edited by Tanya, 08 July 2013 - 11:06 PM.

[surfblue63]

An excellent event and convoy. As Tanya says, if you are into the history and heritage of BMC, BL, AR and MG Rover then this is a show for you.

 

The day started off at MINI Oxford with 50 odd cars gathered for the convoy. After everyone had signed on and attached their plaques and flags it was off. From my video you will spot that I went off-piste (again), ending up being the last to arrive. So much for my plan to get their before everyone else and film the arrival at Gaydon. I might cheat next time and just blast up the M40. Any way enough of me rambling on, here's my video.

 

 

 

 

Here's a few stills from MINI Oxford

 

 

 

 

 

 

And here's some stuff from Gaydon

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here's a link to my Photobucket Album

 

http://s710.photobuc...n BMC Show 2013

 

and here's a link to a slide show

 

http://s710.photobuc...n BMC Show 2013

Edited by surfblue63, 09 July 2013 - 12:00 AM.