Families and petrol heads mix at motorsport event

MORE than 250 classic and sports cars took part in this year’s Stoke Row and Nuffield motorsport day on Sunday.

Fifty-nine of the exhibitors also took part in the 12th annual Maharajah’s Tour in the morning.

This began at the Cherry Tree pub in Stoke Row at 9am and the drivers had to collect clues and signatures from marshals along the 60-mile countryside route, which ended at the showground in Nuffield.

Liz Properjohn, 53, and her mother Victoria Pearce, 76, from Nettlebed, travelled in Mrs Pearce’s 1953 Fiat Topolino, which was a wedding present from her husband.

“I got him a trouser press,” she said.

Mrs Properjohn said: “My father was a complete petrol head. He renovated the car. We store it in the winter and in the summer we take her out on Sunday for a pint and then back. There’s no key, you just pull a cord.”

Matt Mannall, from Benson, drove his 1972 Land Rover Series 3 to the show.

He said: “It’s the same age as me. It has been eight years since I got it. I had the engine and chassis restored but I didn’t want the bodywork touched as I love it.”

In the back were his children Evie, nine, Bertie, 11, and Freddie, 12, and their cousins Harry, 10, and Tom Anderson, 14.

Mr Mannall said: “The kids love it. We take it to the beach and camp with it. It’s a part of the family.”

Dave MacDonald, 58, from Henley, drove his 2009 Caterham 7 sports car with David Spruce, 47, from Stoke Row. It was the fifth year he had entered.

The rain in the morning had prevented them from taking part in the tour in the open-topped car but Mr MacDonald said the car was always received with interest wherever they went. “We do get quite a few waves,” he said.

A Morris 7 with a Wolseley front end, which had belonged to Lady Nuffield and is now owned by the National Trust as it forms part of the Nuffield Place Estate, was on display at the show.

It was a birthday present from Lord Nuffield in 1939 but due to the war his wife only received it in 1946.

The car was driven from Nuffield Place by trust volunteers Anita Lightstone and Phil Grinham.

It is the only vehicle owned by the National Trust that is still on the road.

Mr Grinham, from Benson, said the car had stopped on the short journey to the showground and had to be given a push start by three passing cyclists. He said: “It’s nice to be able to use it for things like this. We avoid Gangsdown Hill and use the back roads. It goes out for a short run every couple of months. We replace bits as and when we can get hold of them.”

Albie Hemmings, three, was enjoying the show with his parents Chris and Claudia Hemmings. He had brought his toy cars with him and said his favourite vehicle on display was an “orange truck”.

His father, Chris, who runs his own car cleaning business in Barkham, said Albie shared his interest in cars and loved “anything with four wheels”.

Mr Hemmings’s wife Claudia said: “Anything like this is good for Albie. It’s local, there’s lots to do and it’s very interactive.”

The event raised money for local causes, including the  Ways and Means Trust in Peppard, Stoke Row Primary School, Nuffield Church, the Nuffield community project and the Thames Valley air ambulance.

Georg Bleimschein, one of the organisers,  said: “The day went very well. It started off wet and looking terrible but as many people came as the previous year.

“I don’t know yet how much money we raised but expect it to be similar to the £4,500 we raised last year.”

The Friends of Stoke Row School ran a barbecue and a cake stand to raise money for a refit of the school library.

Karen Dougherty, 42, one of the organisers, said: “We’ve supported the event for many years and we’re delighted to be here.

“All the cakes were made and donated by the Friends of Stoke Row School.”

Sanchia Perkins, who is a member of the parent teacher association, was selling cakes.

She said: “It’s great fun and we have more cake than we need.”

The refreshments stalls took £2,041 across the day and Ms Dougherty said: “We’re absolutely delighted.”