Heveningham Hall, the 18th Century country estate in Suffolk, has announced a stunning line-up of cars taking part in its inaugural Concours d’Elegance

• TMW Will be at the event on the Sunday, expect to see pictures, reports and more on Monday, this is going to be an awesome weekend for motoring nerds.
• Car heaven as Heveningham Hall confirms it's line-Up at the inaugural Concours D'Elegance, plus Bonham's antique valuations announced for the Country fair.

Heveningham Hall, the 18^th Century country estate in Suffolk, has announced a stunning line-up of cars taking part in its inaugural Concours d’Elegance on Saturday 2^nd and Sunday 3^rd July - plus antiques roadshow-style valuations by auctioneers Bonham’s which will take place at the Grade I listed Georgian mansion’s 20^th annual Country Fair.

Around 50 pre and post-war star cars have been announced as part of celebrations to mark the milestone in the Country Fair and Capability Brown’s Tercentenary.

The Concours, which will take place in the 5,000 acre estate’s Capability Brown parkland, will see specially-commissioned bronze trophies designed by renowned local sculptor Laurence Edwards awarded for best car in both pre and post-war categories.

Commenting on the Concours, Andrew Hall, speaking on behalf of Heveningham Hall, said: 

“The inaugural Concours d’Elegance has attracted huge interested and, as a result, we are pleased to announce a line-up of spectacular cars dating from 1904 to 2014 – many of which enjoy an illustrious racing history - from Alfa Romeo to Vauxhall and everything in between. 

Whether you like vintage models from the likes of Aston Martin, Bentley and Mercedes-Benz or prefer modern supercars from marques such as Ferrari, McLaren and Bugatti, there really is something for everyone.”

It has also been announced that specialists from the international auction house Bonham’s will be offering free and confidential valuations at their stand during the Fair. 

One of the longest established auctioneers in the country, Bonham’s has more than 50 different departments and its specialists will be able to offer advice on a whole range of subjects ranging from Chinese Art, Motor Vehicles and Cycles to Jewellery and Fine Art.

The annual Heveningham Hall Country Fair typically sees around 15,000 visitors descend on the 18^th Century Estate and each year the Heveningham Hall Country Fair Trust distributes all proceeds to the local communities for village and school projects, church repairs and individual cases of need.  

A 10km run on Sunday 3^rd July also specifically raises money for ‘Get Kids Going’, a national charity that provides disabled children and young people with the opportunity to participate in sport. 

The confirmed cars in chronological order:

• 1904 Wolseley Twin Cylinder
• 1925 Vauxhall 30-98 Velox
• 1927 Bentley 4.5L Tourer
• 1928 Frazer Nash Owlett
• 1931 Talbot 105 Tourer
• 1932 Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 Supercharged 5^th Series Grand Sport
• 1933 Rolls Royce Phantom II Drophead Coupe
• 1935 Lagonda M45 Saloon
• 1935 Bentley 3.5 Derby Drophead
• 1936 Maserati 6CM
• 1936 Aston Martin Sports Tourer ‘Red Dragon’
• 1937 Bentley Peterson 4.5L Blower Le Mans Replica
• 1951 Ferrari 212 Export Barchetta
• 1951 Jaguar MKV Drophead Coupe
• 1953 Jaguar C-Type
• 1953 Frazer Nash Le Mans Replica
• 1955 Jaguar D-Type
• 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Aluminium Gullwing
• 1956 Bentley S1 Continental Park Ward
• 1957 Jaguar XKSS
• 1958 Mercedes-Benz 190 SL Roadster
• 1959 Rolls Royce Silver Cloud
• 1961 Ferrari 250 GT California Spyder
• 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO
• 1962 Ferrari 250 SWB
• 1963 Shelby Cobra AC 260
• 1963 Ferrari 250 Lusso
• 1964 Porsche 904 GTS
• 1964 Ferrari 275 GTS
• 1965 Aston Martin DB5
• 1965 Ferrari 275 GTB
• 1971 Aston Martin DBSV8 Grand Tourer
• 1972 Ferrari Daytona Spyder
• 1973 Porsche 911 2.8 RSR
• 1984 Lamborghini Countach 5000 S
• 1985 Ferrari 288 GTO
• 1987 Ferrari F40 GT
• 1988 Ferrari 288 GTO Evoluzione
• 1990 Ferrari F40 Le Mans
• 1991 Ferrari F40
• 1994 Bugatti EB110 SS
• 1995 McLaren F1 GTR
• 1999 Ferrari F50
• 2003 Ferrari Enzo
• 2013 Bugatti Veyron Grand Vitesse Sports Tourer
• 2014 Ferrari La Ferrari

2. Heveningham Hall dates from 1778–80 and incorporates work from an earlier 18th-century building. It was designed by Sir Robert Taylor for Sir Gerald Vanneck, 2nd Baron Huntingfield. The interiors of circa 1781-4 were designed by James Wyatt.

3. The Heveningham Hall Country Fair Trust is a registered charity (number: 1095403)

4. Since its launch, the Heveningham Hall Country Fair Trust has raised over £500,000 for charity

5. Satellite navigation for the event is IP19 0PN.

New Kidston Trophy attracts world’s largest field of pre-war racers at the Silverstone Classic.

• New Kidston Trophy attracts world’s largest field of pre-war racers
• Bentley Boy Glen Kidston famously won Le Mans in 1930
• 12 classic Bentleys to compete at inaugural Silverstone Classic event

The largest field of pre-war race cars ever assembled will compete at the Silverstone Classic this weekend in the inaugural Kidston Trophy – named for legendary Bentley Boy and Le Mans winner, Glen Kidston.

Among the 57 competitors will be 12 of the rarest and most valuable Bentleys in the world. This stellar ensemble includes several Bentley 3 Litre models, and a collection of 4½ Litre racers including a legendary Supercharged ‘Blower’.

Apologies for the quality of the pictures, they are rather old, and of not good size and initial quality.

Glen Kidston and Bentley Chairman, Woolf Barnato, famously won the 1930 Le Mans 24-Hour race in the Bentley Speed Six ‘Old Number 1’. This was the second year in succession that the Speed Six had taken the chequered flag and the fourth year in a row that a Bentley was victorious.

Richard Charlesworth, Director of Royal Relations & Heritage, said: “For one of Bentley’s most famous characters to be honored like this, at such a major classic car event, is wonderful. Kidston lived to race and his triumph at Le Mans alongside Barnato in 1930 will forever be remembered as the crowning glory of the Bentley Boys era.”

The Silverstone Classic takes place 24 to 26 July, with the Kidston Trophy contested at 12:00 on Saturday 25 July.

Glen Kidston: Bentley Boy

Adventurer and aviator Glen Kidston was one of the original Bentley Boys. A former Lieutenant Commander in the Royal Navy, he was famously torpedoed twice in the same morning during World War 1.  He later became a submarine commander but when not at sea he set records as an aviator and motorcycle speed trialist.

Kidston died less than a year after his Le Mans win when the de Havilland Puss Moth he was flying crashed during a dust storm over the Drakensberg Mountains in southern Africa. A memorial to him stands at the crash site – an aluminium propeller set in stone designed to warn passing aviators.

Silverstone Classic – 25^th Anniversary

The annual Silverstone Classic is firmly established as ‘The World’s Biggest Classic Motor Racing Festival’. The packed weekend event features more than 20 races covering the full glittering spectrum of motor sport history, full scale live music concerts, aerial displays and interactive driving activities.