Bringing in the New Year in fine style, the first Bicester Heritage Sunday Scramble open day of 2019 welcomed over 7,000 visitors among an incredible mix of machinery.
As the gates opened at 9am, the crisp and tranquil setting of former RAF Bicester was soon filled with the rumble of engines and excited conversation as the cars and crowds assembled. In typical Sunday Scramble style, the selection of cars in the same site was varied and inclusive, with the latest supercars rubbing shoulders with vintage rarities and everything in between.
Stand out cars from the day included the incredible ex-Gilles Villeneuve FW19 F1 car proudly displayed at Sports Purpose, a thoroughly well-used and battle scarred Jaguar C-type, 199mph Porsche 964-based RUF RCT EVO, stunning Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing which sat outside the Heritage Skills Academy and the instantly recognizable ‘Hairy Canary’ AC Cobra in the ‘Blast House’ showroom of Pendine Historics.
As always a selection of car clubs put on a tremendous number of displays, with the car park itself proving a treasure trove where the likes of a Ferrari F40 were simply parked up amongst the vast selection of vehicles brought by passionate visitors keen to attend the show.
British watchmaker and event partner, Bremont, manned their Nissen Hut-style bunkers on the Main Drive, showcasing their latest beautifully made timepieces whilst Bicester Heritage’s insurance partner Hagerty Insurance UK managed a fully booked Valuation Arena, assisting classic vehicle owners with face-to-face up-to-date values for insurance purposes.
Whether enjoying the buzz overhead from the Finest Hour Experiences Tiger Moth, a pint of on-site brewery Wriggly Monkey’s latest creation or simply the juxtaposition of patinated Land Rovers and immaculate Italian classics, the intrepid ‘season opener’ had plenty on offer for the 7,000-plus visitors.
The next Sunday Scramble will take place on the 28th April, with a new ‘Super Scramble’ recently announced for the 23rd June 2019. Save the dates!
Commenting on the event, Dan Geoghegan, Managing Director of Bicester Heritage, said:
“The January Scramble is always a highlight of the year for us, not just to see who is out in their classics but also to get the first New Year Sunday off to the best possible start. We were taken aback by the attendance and support, not least to see so many families and fabulous motorcars: the classic car world is clearly in excellent health.”
“It offers a superb opportunity to get behind the scenes at Bicester Heritage, not to mention visit Britain’s best preserved pre-war bomber station come to life in such a dynamic way. We are avidly planning for the Drive-it-Day Scramble on Sunday 28th April.”
