Car fun at Sandwell and Himley shows

May 12 2008 By Dale Williams

GLORIOUS sunshine brought car fans out in their thousands to two major events over the weekend.

Nearly 40,000 people poured into Dartmouth Park in West Bromwich for the 30th anniversary of the free Sandwell Historic Vehicle Show.

Due to poor ground conditions on the regular showground at Sandwell Valley Country Park yesterday's event was moved to Dartmouth Park in Lloyd Street.

One of the star vehicles causing a stir was the eyecatching Delorean from the 1980s classic movie series Back to the Future.

Organisers said the sunshine was a welcome return to form after rain lashed last year's event, causing attendances to be well down.

More than 600 vehicles were on show dating back to the 1920s, including a 1923 Vauxhall and a Clyno Royal Tourer.

They were joined by a display of West Bromwich-produced Jensen cars and an impressive line-up by the Jaguar Enthusiasts' Club.

American cars, commercial vehicles, buses, motorcycles and fire engines were all competing for the 48 awards on offer.

Other attractions included arena shows with the Piston Ring Youth Motorcycle Display Team, a stage with jazz band, a collectors' toy fair, auto-jumble, craft fair, market, trade stands and the popular Pat Collins Fun Fair.

Elsewhere in the region petrolheads flocked to Dudley as fans of the cult Mini car in its past and present guises descended on picturesque Himley Hall for a mass rally.

The British Mini Club organised the annual Mini Day at the Dudley Council-run venue. Around 6,000 Mini owners and enthusiasts turned up at the grounds of the stately home yesterday with the event kicking off at 10am and running until 5pm.

Enthusiasts could find spares at the auto jumble, talk to specialist dealers for advice and there were competitions for the best and worst kept Minis in the show. There was even an area set aside just for red Minis.