Classic Car Convocation at Blenheim Palace

Classic Cars

Calling all classic car fans! Blenheim Palace is hosting the Pre-50 American Auto Club ‘Rally of Giants’ on 27th July. This superlative gathering offers a rare opportunity for collectors and admirers to see the finest and most valuable examples found anywhere in Europe.

                     

There will be more than 400 classic American vehicles attending, including some of the best examples of motoring history and the most valuable. Dating from the early 1920’s through to the 1970’s the Rally of Giants is a must visit for those with a passion for American motorcars. For those with only a passing interest in motoring avocation expect your interest to be piqued with this remarkable collection of American motorcars, trucks, military vehicles and bikes.

Collectors from the UK and continental Europe will congregate to celebrate this amazing display in Blenheim Palace’s iconic landscape. The laid-back and friendly atmosphere is perfect for admiring, dreaming of buying, purchasing and selling. The rally offers a fabulous backdrop to a really good time at Blenheim Palace.

Enjoy a full day out in Blenheim Palace’s house and gardens with delicious food and refreshments available in the wonderful eateries.

To find out more information about the Pre50AAC and the ‘Rally of Giants’ visit the Pre '50 American Auto Club website: pre50aac.com

www.blenheimpalace.com/whats-on/events

WHAT:            The Pre 50 American Auto Club ‘Rally of Giants’

WHEN:            27^th July

WHY VISIT:    A must visit for classic car enthusiasts and collectors.

ADMISSION:  Park & Gardens ticket required: Adult £13.50/ Child £6.60 (5-16 yrs)/ Concession £10.20/ Family £36 (2 adults, 2 children)

WEBSITE:       www.blenheimpalace.com for more information

INFO LINE:     0800 849 6500           

Custom and Hot Rod Festival - Father's Day, Sunday 15th June

Custom Car

Custom vehicles in Beaulieu Arena

Victory Wheelers

On Father’s Day, Sunday 15 June, bring Dad to Beaulieu for a fun-filled family day out at the Custom & Hot Rod Festival. This popular event, in association with Victory Wheelers, the South Coast’s leading Custom, American and Hot Rod club, features colourful displays of hundreds of custom cars and motorcycles, live music and entertainment, as well as all the features of the Beaulieu attraction.

Buy your tickets now to take advantage of the fantastic Earlybird discount rate for visitors - but hurry, as these heavily discounted tickets are only available until 5pm on Friday 16 May at www.beaulieushop.co.uk

Anyone owning a Hot Rod, Custom or Classic American car or motorcycle can drive to Beaulieu and display their vehicle alongside hundreds of others in the beautiful grounds of the National Motor Museum.

Admire some of the quirky and unusual designs that can only be found on the colourful custom scene, and enjoy some great entertainment, as well as free rides on the fairground dodgems*. You can also browse a number of trade stands selling clothing, Americana memorabilia, merchandise, accessories and the latest custom magazines.

Visitors will have the opportunity to vote for their favourite vehicle in the People’s Choice Award, sponsored by Willydog Hotdogs, with the winner receiving a special trophy in an afternoon prize-giving ceremony. Prizes will also be awarded in a number of categories to include Best In Show and Best In Class.

Admission to the Festival includes entry to the whole Beaulieu attraction, which features the National Motor Museum with two new displays for 2014 – For Britain & For The Hell Of It and The Motorcycle Story, World of Top Gear, Beaulieu Abbey, Palace House and the grounds and gardens, plus unlimited rides on the high-level monorail and open-topped veteran London bus.
The show opens to the public on Sunday from 10am, with entry at 8am for those participating in the event with custom vehicles.

All-inclusive advance event admission tickets are available to buy at an Earlybird rate until 5pm on 16 May (visitor tickets only) and at an advance discount rate until 5pm on 14 June (visitor and participant tickets) online at www.beaulieushop.co.uk or on Ticket Hotline 01590 612888.
On the day ticket prices for participants with Custom vehicles are £10 per adult and £5 per child**. On the day ticket prices for visitors are priced at normal on the day Beaulieu attraction admission rates.

Whether you are bringing a custom car or not, you are welcome to join Beaulieu for the whole weekend, to enjoy camping on the Friday and Saturday nights, live music and entertainment. Those with custom cars can also enjoy the Saturday Cruise Out. Weekend tickets must be booked in advance by submitting a booking form available to download from www.beaulieucustomfestival.co.uk

For more information about the Custom and Hot Rod Festival, visit www.beaulieucustomfestival.co.uk or join the conversation with @Beaulieu_Hants on Twitter using #customfestival

Simply American 2012 Round Up

A gathering of stunning American vehicles glinted in the sunshine at the inaugural Simply American event held last weekend at the National Motor Museum, Beaulieu. Owners drove through the beautiful New Forest to Beaulieu and displayed their American vehicles in the grounds of the museum, enjoying the all-American atmosphere, the warm weather, and all the delights of the Beaulieu attraction.

Admiring the American cars

All major American marques and models could be spotted in the parkland, from sporty Chevrolet Corvettes and Ford Mustangs to luxury Cadillacs and Buicks. There were even a few American police patrol vehicles!

Event sponsor, Chevrolet, brought along a range of beautiful motors to display, from an eye-catching red Camaro with black racing stripes, and Chevrolet World Touring Car decked out in its racing colours, to one of the manufacturer’s newest products, an electric Volt, winner of the 2012 European Car of the Year. Visitors also tested out their skills on a Scalextric track.

On the Chevrolet stand by the Beaulieu Arena, the American Barndance Band played sets throughout the day, driving home the theme of the event.

American Barndance band

Throughout the day, Beaulieu’s visitors had an opportunity to vote for their favourite American vehicles in the People’s Choice Awards. The winning vehicle was a cream 1950 Mercury led-sled owned by Teri Smith from Christchurch, who had won the Best in Show award at Beaulieu’s Custom and Hot Rod Festival only the week before. Teri was presented with the Simply American People’s Choice Award and a bottle of Beaulieu Bubbly by the attraction’s Managing Director, Russell Bowman.

The runner-up was Paul Parker from Andover, with his 1993 Ruby Red Corvette – a special 40th anniversary edition. Paul, who has owned the vehicle for two years and is a member of the Corvette Owners’ Club, received a Beaulieu Trophy and bottle of Beaulieu Bubbly from Russell.

Visitors were treated to a rare sight of the top 12 stunning American vehicles taking part in a cavalcade around the picturesque parkland with their engines thrumming.

The next Simply American will take place in 2013 and information on this event will be available at www.beaulieuevents.co.uk nearer the time.

Simply American at Beaulieu

Sure to be a showstopper, Simply American is a brand new event kicking off on Sunday 24th June in the grounds of the National Motor Museum, Beaulieu. This fabulous themed rally celebrates all things American in the motoring world and is set to be a great day out for both families and motoring enthusiasts alike.

All those who own a vehicle “born in the USA” are invited to motor on down to Beaulieu and live the American dream for a day; joining the colourful display of American vehicles in the parkland, meeting other like-minded enthusiasts and enjoying all the features of the Beaulieu attraction. All American marques are welcome, from everyday American produced cars, to Classic American vehicles, to the true American muscle cars.

Twenty cars chosen from all rally entrants will take part in a cavalcade and display in the Beaulieu Arena, and one of these selected vehicles will be the winner of the coveted People’s Choice Award and Beaulieu Trophy.

As event sponsors, Chevrolet will be showcasing a stunning range of their vehicles at the event, including a beautiful 60th Anniversary Corvette, Camaro, Captiva, new Aveo, Cruze and Volt. They will also be bringing along a Scalextric track for everybody to play on for free.

Adding to the all American atmosphere, musical entertainment will be provided by the American Barndance Band playing sets throughout the day, and visitors can stop for a bite to eat at a number of American-themed food stands in the parkland.

For entrants arriving on the day in their American vehicle and joining the event on the Beaulieu parkland, individual ticket prices are £10 per adult and £5 per child. Advance tickets are available from www.beaulieushop.co.uk or by telephone on 01590 612888, which you can also call for information on group and club entry. If you buy in advance you will also receive a 10% discount voucher for the Beaulieu Gift Shop.

For all enquiries regarding American marque-related trade stands, telephone 01590 614614. There is still time to take advantage of our early-bird offer – buy one trade stand and get the second one free if bought before 25th May 2012.

Entry into the Beaulieu parkland with your American vehicle is from 9.30am when catering will be available.

All other visitors who wish to see the event, but not participate in an American vehicle should enter Beaulieu via the Main Reception from 10am, at normal attraction admission prices.

Admission to the event includes entry to the whole Beaulieu attraction; the National Motor Museum and its exciting BOND IN MOTION exhibition showcasing 50 original James Bond vehicles, World of Top Gear, On Screen Cars, Beaulieu Abbey, and Palace House and gardens.

Simply American is one of the latest additions to a growing calendar of Simply rallies which has rapidly expanded to include a wide variety of themes covering many makes and models. All Simply rallies are run and organised by Beaulieu and take place in the grounds of the National Motor Museum. Other new additions to the Simply rallies for 2012 include Simply 4x4 on 12th August and for this year only, a one-off Simply Bond rally on 29th July.

For more information please visit www.beaulieuevents.co.uk

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