Organisers delighted at record turnout for 14th Classic Car Show

Record numbers of people turned out to see Shetland’s 14th Classic Car Show at Clickimin during the weekend. There were 5,200 visitors – up 40 per cent on two years ago.

The wide variety of vehicles on display included a host of classic and vintage cars, as well as a good number of motorcycles from over the decades.

The much-anticipated steam engines also provided a flavour of a bygone age, while toys and models proved a tempting proposition for younger classic enthusiasts.

The bi-annual event has proved increasingly popular over the years. Organiser Maurice Mullay said he was delighted by the turnout at the 2010 event.

“It went really, really well. It looks like record attendances,” he said.

Given the extensive range of exhibits it was difficult to pick one out worthy of mention, but Alan Gibb’s 1954 Swallow Doretti may well be near the front of the queue.

Mr Gibb, of Aberdeen, was proudly displaying one of only 182 Dorettis left in the world.

His was a works press car from 1954. However 20 years later it was scrapped.

Mr Gibb, who was extremely knowledgeable of the company behind his car, bought it for £90 in 1974.

Since then he has spent much time and energy bringing it up to show standard, although he is keen to see it used on a regular basis.

This was Mr Gibb’s third visit to the show. He said the friendly atmosphere helped keep him coming back.

“It’s one of the best shows around. It’s nice and friendly. There’s no concours judging. There’s no pressure. You see nice, useable classic cars.”

Rupert Battersby had travelled from further afield. He had come up from Cheshire with a horsebox and two Italian motorcycles.

One of those was a 1977 Moto Guzzi, which he admitted to buying “unseen” off e-Bay.

“If you were a teenager in the seventies this was one of the iconic bikes to have,” he said.

His other bike was slightly newer, being a 2004 Ducati ST3, which he described as a “superb tourer bike”, despite the company being better known for its sports bikes.

“Riding motorbikes in Shetland is great, ” he said, “as long as you don’t fall foul of [Sheriff] Graeme Napier.”

Setting a slightly slower pace were brothers Hamish and George Barrack from Aberdeen.

Their Fowler seven horse road locomotive has been in the family for more than 65 years, and has just had a major rebuild.

“This would have been working from 1914 to the 1940s when my grandfather was still working with it,” said George Barrack.

“They were fairly multi-purpose vehicles. They could tow trailers, winch. We’ve been working with them all our lives. It’s just what we know.”

For full story and lots more photographs, see this week’s Shetland Times.