International Charity Classic Car Show Extravaganza

A passion for vintage vehicles and a resolve to raise money for two of the Islands most deserving charitable causes brought fellow classic car enthusiasts together once again this year for a spectacular display of magnificent motors in both Newport and Ryde.

Organiser Vic Gallucci triumphed in his annual pledge to make the Classic Car Show bigger and better than ever by delivering an exquisite exhibition of vehicles that stretched as far as the eye could see. Circling around the quayside in Newport on Saturday and all the way from Ryde’s Eastern Gardens to the Inshore Rescue Centre and Appley Café on Sunday, the array of cars on display was truly breathtaking.

Back to the Future replica was a sure-fire hit with the crowds

In an attempt to emphasise the sheer spectrum of exhibits from every corner of the globe, the classic car show’s title was elevated to the status of “International Charity Classic Car Show Extravaganza" in 2007. This year the event took on a whole new dimension as it was astutely renamed as the “2008 International Charity Classic Car Extravaganza 2 – Back to the Isle of Wight” owing to the number of De Loreans in attendance.

For anyone who has seen the Back to the Future films, this was a real treat – especially because one of the De Loreans on display had been completely transformed into an exact replica model of the fictional time travelling machine synonymous with the legendary movie trilogy.

Proud owner Brian O’Neill of Bognor Regis has spent the past four years painstakingly transforming the De Lorean to mirror the car used in the award winning films and anyone fortunate enough to see his creation during its time on the Isle of Wight all agreed that his attention to detail was absolutely magnificent. From the flux capacitor, which was the core component of Doctor Emmett Brown’s fictional time travelling De Lorean DMC-12, to all of the wires and cords, a screwed up letter from the doc and the video recorder on the front passenger seat, nothing was overlooked inside this incredible machine.

A limitless assortment of extraordinary motoring marvels

Other hotshot cars to steal the limelight over the classic car weekend included a stunning red 1963 Rolls Royce Silver Cloud III commissioned by Hollywood film star Mario Lanza, who enjoyed considerable success in the late 1940’s and 50’s. It is now owned by Caroline and Tony Perris from Worthing who have restored it beautifully, having shipped the car back from the USA. A 1954 Riley RME that belonged to children’s writer Enid Blyton also proved popular with curious onlookers.

A series of motorbikes from the Island’s Towrags Trike & Bike Club were present along with the Isle of Wight Classic Ford club, mini mokes, the bond bug, Inspector Moorse-type Jags, Triumph Spitfires, the Morris Oxford and the Austin Ruby. An awesome display of big Amercian muscle cars included beefy Buick’s and a stunning pink Cadillac.

A mark 1 rally-prepared Ford Escort and the Rothman’s rally car made way for the BMW Isetta (bubblecar) , the Lotus Cortina, the Countach Lamborghini and Ford Mustang. There was even a striking three-wheeler fold-away caravan made of plywood at the show presented by Graham Hitchcock from Ryde, which attracted hundreds of visitors.

A two-day assembly of automobile addicts

Although admission to the show was free, there were charity collections on both days; the beneficiaries being the Riverside Centre in Newport on the Saturday and the Earl Mountbatten Hospice on Sunday.

The Earl Mountbatten Hospice is the only hospice to care for 75% of all cancer patients and several other terminally ill patients on the Island whereas the Riverside Centre provides an ever-increasing range of services for disabled and non-disabled people whist working with a range of voluntary, statutory and independent organisations. Both of these very worthy causes are extremely grateful to the generous-spirited motor devotees, many of whom travelled across from the mainland to display their cars, and to the big hearted admirers who supported the two shows.

For the owners of the vintage vehicles the weekend was a prime opportunity to get together with like-minded enthusiasts from all over the country and to share stories of rallies and social gatherings, as well as a chance to showcase their treasured motors and answer questions from fascinated spectators.

Each of the cars were hand-picked especially for the Extravaganza, which is now in its seventh year, with only the very best vehicles being chosen to appear as part of the jaw-dropping line-up.

Please click here to view our Charity Classic Car Show Extravaganza photo gallery, the images from which were captured when the convoy of cars visited Ryde Esplanade on Sunday 14th September.

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