KILBRONEY VINTAGE SHOW - 16TH JUNE 2012

This event is organised by Newry and Mourne District Council and Newry Lions Club.   It is probably one of the largest shows in Ireland with approximately 1,000 vehicles proudly displayed.   

It is eagerly anticipated by everyone because of it location and because there is always a wide selection of vehicles on display, including old farm machinery, tractors, lorries and cars.  There is also a huge selection of traders selling food, tools, specialist equipment etc.  Then there's the live music, the funfair and the demonstrations put on by the fire brigade.  A huge show with something to keep every member of the family entertained.  

In the run up to this years show the weather was terrible with heavy rain virtually every day and there was much speculation that the show may be cancelled, but on Thursday it was posted on their Facebook page that the show was going ahead.   

Saturday morning came; we were up out of bed at 7.00am, looking forward to our day out.  My husband, son and I packed up the boot of the car with our waterproof coats, my wellies (the men decided they wouldn't need theirs), food and gas barbecue (in the hope that it would be dry in Kilbroney).  We left home at 8.10am, in our SD1, in the rain and made our way to McDonalds at Sprucefield where we were meeting up with some of the other club members. 

We were the first to arrive at McDonalds, quickly followed by the Rover 100 and the P6B.   We headed inside, had breakfast and were back into our cars and on our way to Kilbroney by 9.10am. 

There was a fine drizzle most of our journey, as we approached Rostrevor the skies darkened and it began raining quite heavily. At this point we were wondering why on earth we'd decided to come out. 

Despite a few wrong turns in Rostrevor, which resulted in us getting an unplanned tour of the town, thanks to our convoy leader getting lost, we arrived in Kilbroney Forest Park at 10.15am. 

At the entrance we received our show guide and complimentary bottle of water and were directed to our club stand.  We made our way up the already muddy path to the club stand, which was located about one third of the way up the hill. At the club stand, we were greeted by rather wet members who were already there.  When we parked up our line up consisted of a P4, a P5, 2 P6's, our SD1 and a Rover 100 and a Rover 75 tourer (this was the tourers first out and it certainly was being well christened).   As I got out of the car I did wonder if we'd all taken leave of our senses and if any of our other members would be mad enough to come out a morning like that.   

By this time it was lashing down, we changed into our wellies, hats and waterproof jackets, before heading off around the auto-jumble stalls in search of a bargain and an umbrella (can't believe we left home without ours).  The only purchases made at the stalls were made by our son who purchased 2 Corgi Rovers to add to his rapidly growing collection and an umbrella. 

When we returned to the club stand another member had arrived in his father-in-laws P5, this brought the total number of cars on display on our stand to 8, down on last year but still a good turnout given the conditions.  

Classic Rover Club Line up at Kilbroney

At lunchtime, instead of hitting the burger stalls we decided to go to the cafe to eat and to get out of the rain for awhile.  The walk up to the cafe nearly killed me!  The cafe was packed; there was only one free table over by the window.   From here we had a view down over the exhibition area; we could see that some people were leaving already.   The path into the field was badly churned up and the ground staff were putting down stones in an attempt to keep access. 

Of course, while we were eating the rain started to ease and finally stopped; give us hope that we were going to get a dry afternoon.   We watched one proud and very enthusiastic owner drying off his Ford Cortina, just as he finished, it started to rain again.

When we left the cafe at 1.00pm, although it had stopped raining, it was clear to see that quite a few people had given up and gone home.   

The view down over the exhibition area at 1.00pm

At this point my husband and son headed back to the auto-jumble stalls and I browsed around the vehicles still on display.   On my travels, the following vehicles caught my attention: 

Ford Cortina 

Audi with trailer

1926, Austin 7 Chummy

Originally exported to Penang, Malaya in 1926. Found in a rubber plantation in 1958 in a derelict state. Restored by an enthusiast who was a pilot with Malayan Airways. The body was rebuilt by fitters at Singapore Aero Club. Shipped back to the UK in 1962, as freight on a Royal Fleet Auxiliary vessel.

JCB 1

Manufactured between 1962 and 1966. Around 700 were built. Used by local authorities and worked in cemeteries, where the earned the name 'Gravedigger'

It is thought that there are only 15 to 20 remaining today. The first one built still sits in the hallway of JCB Headquarters.

This 1942 Canadian Dodge, was is an Ex Army lorry.   

The top picture shows the condition it was in when it was 

found in 1995 and the bottom picture show it full restored.

Vauxhall Cresta

This brought me back down the field to our club stand.  The first thing I noticed was that the Rover 75 tourer and one of the P5's had left our stand, obviously the owners had taken enough of the rain for one day. My husband and son were already back in the car sheltering from the rain and taking a rest.  I practically feel back into our car, my hips were aching.  A few pain killers and a rest of an hour or so eased the pain enough to allow me to be out on my travels again.   While we were resting we noticed the club banner being removed and rolled up, another 2 members were calling it a day.  

On our way over to the stage to see the "wee man from Strabane", local radio broadcaster, Hugo Duncan, we passed 2 stunning Rovers, a P4 100 and a P5 

We also passed the Ford Anglia Club stand, they had put on an impressive display to celebrate their 30th Anniversary.

Ford Anglia Club Stand

Over at the stage, Hugo was keeping the crowd entertained with his singing and banter.  We stood and watched and listened to him for awhile as he interacted with the crowd, then I left my husband and son watching and listening to Hugo and I headed back to our car.   I made my way past the food stalls, past the cars that the firemen had cut up during their demonstration of what the do at the scene of a traffic accident, and past the funfair, where people were enjoying the rides despite the conditions.

On the way back to our car the following vehicles caught my attention

By 3pm it was pouring down, the mountains had completely disappeared under the heavy rain clouds, the wind was getting up and there was a steady flow of cars out of the field and one of our members suggested lightening the barbecues.  At first we thought he was kidding, it took us quite awhile to realise that he was being serious.

With the rain pouring down and with us holding umbrellas over my husband, he set about putting the gas barbecue together.   At the same time the member that had suggested the barbecue produced a portable barbecue and a bag of coals, he set about trying to light it as his wife tried to shelter him from the rain.  With the rain and the wind gaining strength his task was virtually impossible, by the time our barbecue had heated up and the food was cooked his was still struggling to reach cooking temperature.   The food was tossed on to the gas barbecue and all attempts with the portable barbecue were abandoned.   

As we cooked and ate under the cover off umbrellas, we got some strange looks from the other exhibitors as they drove past us on their way out of the field, but we didn't care, we were having great craic and we weren't going to let the weather hamper our plans.  With our bellies filled and soaking wet we packed the barbecue back into the boot and headed for home at around 5pm.   Spending the last couple of hours barbecuing meant that we were able to get out of the park without any delay.

On our way home we travelled though the Mournes, a pretty uneventful trip, the upside being that the deep puddles washed the muck and grass of the bottom half of our car.  We didn't see much of the scenery thanks to low lying clouds but at least it kept us out of the traffic congestion.   When we got to Banbridge the rain stopped and a few mile further up the road the roads were as dry as a bone - it had obviously been dry all day long!

Despite the horrendous weather there was still a good turnout of exhibitors, however the auto-jumble stalls were down in number.   Everyone did what we do best - we made the best out of a bad situation and didn't let the weather dictate to us.  All in all we had a great day and are looking forward to next year’s show, hopefully it'll be dry next year!