Classic Cars, Crop Over Festival provides good mix of entertainment

Vintage vehicles and Crop Over proved to be a good mix last Sunday when the Barbados Association of Classic Cars held its latest event at Content, St. Thomas.

Hundreds, including several families, came out for the show, where more than 50 Classic vehicles were exhibited on a sunny and breezy afternoon in an event staged in the heart of the island’s biggest Crop Over Festival.

Car enthusiasts , motorsport fans and visitors were among those present and were taken back in time during an exhibition which provided history lessons, an opportunity for old friends to meet and chat, while also featuring a number of cars that were no longer in production.

Among the first-time visitors to such an event were the Belle family from St. Philip (which included mother, Katharine, daughter, Khalia and son, John) and they seemed thrilled to view the range of historic vehicles from close-up.

“We were planning for another event but then we opted for this one and we are glad we came. It is very educational and a good event for the whole family,” said Katharine.

Some of the stand-out vintage vehicles at the exhibition included MGB’s, some 1950’s British-made Morris Minors, a 1954 Ford Popular, a 1965 Ford Shelby Cobra, a 1960’s Triumph, French Citroens, a 1968 Morgan 4x4, and a Mercedes Benz G-Wagon.

Along with the range of vintage cars, the event, which was sponsored by Courtesy Garage and Sagicor General Insurance, also featured music, food and drinks, a jumping tent for children and some thrilling, lime and spoon races, that tested the balancing skills of excited children.

Sagicor General used the occasion to promote its Key Protector Classic & Retro Motor Policy, which Vice-President of Marketing Mark Blakeley, said, was specially created to protect the assets of classic car owners and potential collectors.

“We can say for a fact that our new policy has stimulated the market and there is greater interest in restoring cars and securing insurance for these prized possessions,” said Blakeley.

Courtesy Garage, one of the main sponsors of the show, also used the occasion to showcase a number of sleek-looking Hyundai, Nissan and ZNA vehicles, as well as GoodYear tyres and Tropical batteries.

General Manager, Nicholas Mackie, said his company was proud to continue its support for the show and partner
with Sagicor General, and coordinator George Ullyett, in staging such an event which has become a good educational outing for families. (BB)