Full speed ahead for Stratford Motoring Festival

Buy photos » This replica of the 1955 Le Mans winning Jaguar D-Type, belonging to Steve Hannaford, will be one of the rare and specialist cars on display at the Stratford Festival of Motoring. (s)

A DREAM ride awaits visitors to the first ever Stratford Festival of Motoring in May.

The Sporting Bears, a dedicated group of classic and sports car enthusiasts, will be offering visitors to the festival a ten-mile ride in any one of up to 20 classic or sports cars in return for a donation to charity on Monday 6 May.

While participating models are yet to be confirmed, members’ cars range from Morris Minors to Maseratis, Fords to Ferraris and Austins, Triumphs, MGs, Jaguars, TVRs and MX5s, plus rare kit cars.

The Sporting Bears was formed in 1989 and since then, the club has raised more than £1 million for children’s charities in the UK.

Those buying a dream ride at the Stratford Festival of Motoring will be supporting the locally-based charity, Jennifer Trust, which works to support families and individuals affected by spinal muscular atrophy.

Event organiser, Adrian Grubb from Stratforward, welcomed the club’s support.

He said: “With such an amazing array of exciting vehicles within the club, the Sporting Bears are sure to wow festival goers and the chance to ride in the cars brings an extra dimension.

“I applaud the guys from the Sporting Bears too as each car owner gives his or her time and car for free.”

The news of the Sporting Bear’s participation came in the same week as confirmation that a number of rare vehicles will be on display, with many participating in Sunday’s challenging 80-mile Test Hills Run.

Tony Merrygold, managing director of Shakespeare Country and co-organiser of the festival, said, “Interest in the event is high and we’ve a good number of vehicles confirmed, including more than seven TVRs, whose owners are keen to test their torque among the Cotswold hills.

“Other popular marques such as MG, Triumph, Riley, Porsche and Jaguar are also well represented but our real stars - so far - are a 1964 Ferrari 330 GT that was previously owned by Le Mans winner Duncan Hamilton, a replica of the 1955 Le Mans-winning Jaguar D-Type and a 1948 MG TC.”

More than 200 classic vehicles are expected to be on display throughout the town during the two-day event which will take place on Sunday and Monday May 5 and 6.

Anyone with an historic or unusual vehicle who would like to participate in the festival and runs should contact Adrian Grubb by email at adrian@stratforward.co.uk or enter online. Entry fees cost t £15 per day – or £20 for both days.

More information and online application forms can be found at

www.shakespeare-country.co.uk/Stratford-Festival-Of-Motoring.aspx

This replica of the 1955 Le Mans winning Jaguar D-Type, belonging to Steve Hannaford, will be one of the rare and specialist cars on display at the Stratford Festival of Motoring. (s)

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