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Section Event Gallery
MITCAR - Midlands Italian Car Day, Arbury Hall, Warwickshire
26 August 2018
Photos by John Griffiths and Craig Percy
For the 18th edition keeping up the tradition of a new venue for every MITCAR was becoming ever-tricky, however an enquiry with the not-often-open-to-public Arbury Hall proved successful, however it was to be the August Bank Holiday weekend which has pluses and minuses. A plus for the volunteers and organisers being you get the Monday off, the key potential minus being – the usual British Bank Holiday weather! And BOY, did we get it. 13 degrees and a monsoon from 10am.
Arbury really is a delightful venue. Set in acres of parkland, it has been the seat of the Newdigate family for over 400 years and is the ancestral home of Viscount and Viscountess Daventry. The beautiful Elizabethan house was built on the site of a 12th century Augustinian Priory, and was transformed in the 18th century to become the finest example of Gothic Revival architecture in the country. Happily it was also a great source of shelter, especially around lunchtime.
Our display field was across the site’s lakes, and after some last-minute visits we switched to an area near to one of those which can often be a tad boggy. Well it certainly wasn’t that after 3 months of driest and hottest summer in many years, and thankfully the rain just passed through the top layer without any bogs ensuing!
There are a great many opportunities for Italian car owners to attend shows these days, but we were very pleased by the number and variety that attended again, the rotten weather forecast happily did not deter too many. Our end count was over 230 Italian cars, remarkable – well done to all for turning out and making it happen.
Huge thanks to our marshals on the day, all from AROC East Midlands Section, a bit of Dunkirk spirit there! Thanks also to Stoneacre Group for the sponsorship and proving 5 stunning display cars, including a great catch in the first Alfa Stelvio Quadrifoglio RHD in the country and an absolute stunner in Misano Blue. Thanks and well done Paul Jones!
Thanks to Adam and Desma from the Hall’s events team too who helped make everything so straightforward.
Here are the MITCAR award winners – a very hard job to select.
Italian Exotic – Maserati MC GranCabrio – T Lum
Italian Rarity – Fiat Tempra Estate - Owain Davies
Organiser’s Award – Fiat/Abarth 750 – Mike Foster
Special Award – Fiat Panda 4x4 – Keith Potter
CAR OF THE DAY for the Camshaft Trophy – Alfa Romeo 2600 Sprint – Tim Courtenay.
MITCAR is expected to return next year – hard standing has a sudden major appeal though!
John Griffiths
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