Mechanical marvels
T he West Country's biggest festival of transport will see thousands of people descend on Kemble airfield in Gloucestershire.
The Gloucestershire Steam and Vintage Extravaganza is now in its 35th year and more than 12,000 visitors are expected from Friday, July 31, to Sunday, August 2.
The show was originally conceived for steam enthusiasts, but the range of exhibits has grown year on year. It now boasts a huge array of vintage transport, including buses, coaches, motorcycles, military vehicles, classic cars, tractors, aircraft, commercial vehicles, traction engines and historic caravans.
There's also a live action arena, interactive demonstrations, rare breeds, shire horses, trade stands, a vintage fun fair and hundreds of curiosity stalls ranging from Victorian memorabilia, antique sewing and knitting machines, folding accordions, model doll houses, petrol pumps, vintage garden tools and 1940s-50s homewares.
John Keedwell, director of the extravaganza, said: "Each year we make the show bigger and better and for 2009 we've surpassed ourselves.
"Kemble is definitely the best historical transport show in the South West."
This year's steam section will be the largest ever with more than 60 full-size traction engines, steamrollers, showmans' engines and steam wagons.
Many of the machines will be put through their paces in the live demonstration area. These spectacular displays always prove to be entertaining and are not to be missed.
The military section will also be of interest, with more than 100 unusual vehicles on display. Highlights will include the Swiss-made Saurer 6M signal van along with a very rare 1984 ex-RAF Scammell and 1965 Commer TS3 Cargo 1, one of only three built to military specification. Now one of the largest classic car shows in the UK, the car section is set to showcase more than 700 motors in six themed groups, mainly based on age, covering the dawn of motoring age through to collectable cars of the future.
The oldest of the group consists of vintage and pre-war models, but other sections include classics from the end of World War II, post-1972 collector's cars, American cars, and two special 50th anniversary displays for both the Daimler Dart and the Mini.
For those who prefer two wheels, the huge motorcycle display area will contain more than 150 models – the most ever assembled at Kemble. There will be motorcycles from England, Italy, Japan, India and the USA with all the great makers represented: Honda, Yamaha, Harley Davidson, Moto Guzzi, HRD, AGS, James, Triumph, Royal Enfield, Rudge, Norton, Velocette, BSA, Panther, Francis Barnett, Matchless & Greeves.
Caravans are also becoming more popular at the show, rising from only a few exhibitors two or three years ago to more than 30 last year.
The bus section has also grown from humble beginnings to become one of the biggest bus and coach gatherings in the country. 2008 saw the event break the world record for the amount of Bedford OBs gathered in one place.
A vintage bus service will be operating to and from Kemble railway station throughout the show and a courtesy bus will shuttle guests to the Bristol Aero collection, which records 95 years of Bristol aviation and space heritage. For more information and details of the bus schedule, visit www.steamextravaganza.com or call 01453 890891. Tickets for adults cost from £5 for a day to £12 for the weekend. Concessions are available.
Advance tickets are available from Tourist Information Centres in Stroud, Cirencester, Chippenham, Swindon, Malmesbury, Gloucester, Cheltenham and Tetbury.
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