Volunteering and our own classic car show

Whilst restoration work and data collection has been our staple diet of voluntary work at the Heritage Motor Centre (HMC), other interesting and rewarding opportunities have come our way.

Over the last few years the museum has become a lot more active in attending shows and exhibitions, whilst also arranging and hosting a whole range of motor related activities and shows within the HMC grounds. These events have rapidly grown in size and popularity, so the opportunity to help and take part in them has now come our way.

The first opportunity came last November when eight of us were selected to help man the HMC stand at the NEC Classic Car Show. This was particularly rewarding as our first restoration project, the 1958 MGA Twin Cam, was one of the exhibits.

Volunteers manning the HMC stand at the NEC Classic Car Show

Last weekend ten of us helped out at the Club Expro event. This is a gathering for car clubs and groups and the theme this year was  “The Young Generation” and how to encourage the younger generation to car clubs.

On 12^th April the HMC Archive Department will be attending the Pride of Longbridge event in order to promote their heritage certificate and archive service. They’ll be exhibiting the last Mini off the Longbridge production line and two lucky volunteers will be in attendance.

We’ll also be helping to supervise the display of the museums vehicles that will attend the annual Stratford upon Avon Festival of Motoring on 4/5 May.

However, the event we’re all now looking forward to is the May Spring Classic on Sunday 18th May. The reason? Well, alongside the main show, the volunteers will be arranging their own classic car display and rally.

Chatting over our morning coffee sessions, it quickly became apparent that many of us owned some very interesting old cars, which we were all interested to see. So, the idea of our own show was discussed and thanks to the efforts of Sonja, our volunteer coordinator, this will now take place at the Spring Classic.

Vehicles already promised to make an appearance are as follows;  1934 Morris 10/4 saloon, 1938 MG TA, 1955 Standard 10, 1955 Oldsmobile 88, 1965 Fiat 500, 1964 Mk11 Jaguar, Ferrari 308 GTB, 1971 MGB and a 1972 Triumph 2000 Estate. In addition, we should also see the appearance of what is surely the most modern of classic cars - a new 475bhp Porsche 911 (991 series) GT3, complete with the latest trick four wheel steering.

Details of the May Spring Classic and all other events taking place at the HMC can be found on the HMC website.