Yesterday, Sunday 3rd July, we attended the West Cumbria Vintage Rally at Hayes Castle Farm in Distington. We hadn't been before so weren't sure what to expect, but it exceeded all my vintage tractor dreams, and the only thing that would have made it even better for me would have some 'proper' traction engines, preferably from Garratts of Leiston, where my grandad worked in his youth, as well as earlier generations of the family before him.
There was one Suffolk connection though, in the shape of a 1940 MG 2 crawler tractor produced by Ransomes of Ipswich. A fascinating miniature workhorse that ran on caterpillar tracks, they were mostly used by market gardeners rather than farmers .
We had a brilliant day in spite of the ferocious heat, and I will post some pictures which sum up the wonderful sights, smells and sounds, and the friendly family atmosphere of this brilliant event. The vintage vehicles, and all the other attractions were marvellous, but for me it was largely about the people, and we met some real characters and some lovely folk.
Look out especially for the Little Grey Fergies, the beaming drivers of the RAF David Brown aircraft tug, the fully working scale model (one sixth, I think) of the last ever Showman's Engine made by Burrells of Thetford, the wonderful vintage cars, the Airstream Safari space-age trailer, the OXO van, the buses and so much more!
It wasn't our cheapest ever day out, but it constitutes part of this year's 'Holidays At Home' campaign, so I guess the £23 or so we shelled out was not too bad, as it covered the following:
Admission charges for the two of us,
An ice cream each,
A beeswax candle and a scented wax tart (mango and mandarin, irresistible!),
Three greetings cards from the Craft Tent,
A couple of tools ( a long chisel with a protective grip for breaking up boulders, and an extension for a hex drive), and
A Heuchera 'Silver Scrolls' plant in a 2litre pot.
So we really did have a Grand Day Out for a very reasonable cost I think you'll agree.
Now enjoy the pictures, and soak up some of the atmosphere of this wonderful day!
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| In the Parade Ring |
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| Note the ad for next year's Vintage Tractor Road Run! |
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| The Ransomes MG 2 Motorised Garden Cultivator from Ipswich, like me! |
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| The scale model Burrell of Thetford Showman's Engine (built in 2010) on the left |
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| Tractor Heaven! |
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| This tractor is not smoking... |
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| I just happened to capture these shots... |
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| as they passed the Burrell's smokestack! |
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| These gentlemen were having a wonderful time in the RAF David Brown aircraft tug, and it was a joy to see! |
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| It had all got too much for one man and his dog...! |
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| The fabulous Airstream Safari ! |
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| I am suffering from caravan envy for the first time in my life! |
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| A closer look at the Ransomes MG 2 crawler tractor |
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| Some of the Prize Winners |
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| The presentation of prizes |
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| Donkey Rides, and yes, it's that Fair again! |
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| A look at the stream that runs through the farmland. |
