Minor gathering set to be a major event

A charity classic car show in Exmouth is expecting to attract over 200 cars when it opens the gate on Sunday 20th August, writes David Morgan.

The annual Exmouth Classic Vehicle Gathering is staged by the Devon Branch of the Morris Minor Owners Club (MMOC) and takes place on the Imperial Recreation Ground, next to Exmouth Rugby Club, between 10am and 4pm.

Local members from the MMOC organised their first gathering at this venue back in 2004 and decided they did not want to follow the same format as other organised shows in relation to vehicle exhibitors having to pay an entry fee or arrive and departing at set times. Nor did they impose an age-related cut-off date for vehicles on display as they recognised the appeal of more recent cars in both standard and modified form.

More than a decade on the annual gathering attracts in excess of 250 classic and more recent cars and motorcycles of interest from across the region. Further support also comes from a number of local vehicle clubs which include the BMW Car Club Devon Region, Crash Box & Classic Car Club, Mazda MX 5 South West Region, MG Rover South West Owners Club, Torbay Mods and Torbay Old Wheels Club.

Spokesperson Nickie Tilley said: “Many of the vehicle exhibitors who support our show say how much they enjoy it because of its informal atmosphere and the fact they can turn up and depart when they want to.  As we don’t require exhibitors to book in advance, we usually get some very interesting vehicles turning up out of the blue!”

The Exmouth Classic Vehicle Gathering will also be looking to collect donations for the Devon Air Ambulance Trust and Cancer Research. Anyone attending can make a voluntary donation to their chosen charity on the day in one of the collecting buckets.

For further details contact Nickie Tilley on (01395) 225614 or Lorna Moggridge on (01823) 672693.