By Ian Cushway
February 08, 2018

5 'Must Go To' Events in 2018
Add these top events to your 2018 diary to guarantee yourself a fun,
action packed year ahead!

If you’re left twiddling your thumbs at weekends or simply want a break from the spanner spinning, then check out the following car-related attractions. And there’s no reason to go it alone – pack the sarnies and take the whole family so you can share the experience!

1. International MG & Triumph Spares Day, Stoneleigh Park, Warks - 11th Feb

When the cold, grey wintry weather’s sapped your enthusiasm, top it up by getting along to this early season automotive extravaganza. Rummaging through the autojumble and chatting to experts on the various trade stands will prove the perfect anecdote for those off-season blues. Meanwhile, you’ll get inspiration from the various club displays and if you’re in the market for a new project, then you can check out the cars in the ‘for sale’ area. In fact, the timing couldn’t be more perfect. Best of all, we’ll be there too – so come over for a chat, pick our brains and order the parts you need – we’d love to meet you. Find out more by visiting www.mgandtriumphsparesday.co.uk

2. Classic Car & Restoration Show, NEC, Birmingham - 23rd-25th March

We all love gazing in awe and getting inspiration from other peoples’ classics, and at the NEC there will be over 1,000 stunning classic cars on display to allow you to do just that. But what sets this show apart – and makes it really worth going to – is the live, practical demonstrations. From lead loading, wheeling and panel work to make your body look beautiful again to engine rebuilds and mechanical know-how, relish the opportunity to learn new skills to help you complete your own project when you get home.

What’s become one of the UK’s fastest growing classic car events will also feature a 200-car auction, over 150 club displays, a Trader Village and Autojumble. You will also be able to rub shoulders with a whole host of celebrities such as Mike Brewer (who came to visit us last August to collect parts for his MGA restoration) and Salvage Hunters Drew Pritchard and Paul Cowland. It’s in our diary, too, so don’t forget to come and say ‘hello’. Visit www.necrestorationshow.com for more details.

3. Simply Jaguar, National Motor Museum, Beaulieu – 8th July

Three things go to make a show a success; the cars, the venue – and the weather. Sadly we can’t control the latter, but in terms of location it doesn’t get much better than the National Motor Museum at Beaulieu, set in the heart of the New Forest. As for the cars, well, that box will be ticked if you go along on the second Sunday in July for the Simply Jaguar event. Owners are invited to park up within the complex itself and with over 400 Jaguars in attendance last year, 2018 promises to be just as popular. Because there’s a special ‘People’s Choice’ award where visitors get to vote for their favourite Jaguar, you might even come away with a trophy.

You can also enjoy all the various other attractions, so if you haven’t been to Beaulieu before, make this a definite date in your diary. For information about entry and advance tickets, visit www.beaulieu.co.uk for more details.

4. Goodwood Revival, Goodwood, West Sussex – 7th-9th September

Don your tweeds and step back in time to the golden era of motor racing at the Goodwood Revival meeting. Visitors flock to the Sussex event to celebrate the sights and sounds of the 1948-’66 period, the highlight, of course, seeing priceless and totally iconic classics thundering around the historic Goodwood Race Circuit. But if you’ve been, you’ll know there’s so much more to the Revival meeting than just the racing. It’s more about style and history so you go there to soak up the atmosphere - made all the more vivid if you make the effort to dress in period clothing.

The first Revival was in 1998, so this year marks its 20th anniversary - and the festival of all things automotive is likely to be better than ever. If that’s at all possible. The thing is, numbers are limited to 150,000 - which means tickets for the three-day event always sell out in advance so you need to get organised. Visit www.goodwood.com/flagship-events/goodwood-revival/ for more details.

5. MX-5 Owners Club National Rally, Ragley Hall, Warks – 30th September

A brand new venue has been chosen for what’s generally considered the UK’s biggest and best MX-5 event, so we’re expecting good things for 2018. The magnificent Ragley Hall is set among 450 acres of Capability Brown landscaped parkland, with the breath-taking vistas making it the ideal venue for a car show. The fact that visitors can take time out and explore the house and gardens is an added bonus.

Last year over 2200 MX-5s were in attendance, and with all the usual attractions – such as Show & Shine competitions, club displays, extensive trade presence, technical workshops and a host of celebrities – this year is likely to be even more popular.

The full programme of events is yet to be decided, but we’d suggest you put the date firmly in your diary now so you don’t double-book. Visit www.nationalrally.co.uk from the spring onwards to keep updated. This is another event that we at Moss Europe have already penned in, so we’ll see you there!.

Keep up with all the latest from Moss Europe on our social pages.