Friday, 8 July 2016

Flywheel Festival

Hi all,

Hope this post finds you all well and enjoying the sunnier weather out on your bikes! I got back from uni on Saturday (exams and post-exams was a bit hectic so I didn't get a chance to write a post - sorry about that), and the weather was lovely on Sunday so I went out on my bike.

So normally, most people would do a nice gentle ride just to get back into the swing of things after not riding at all for 3 months, but I didn't do that. I instead rode a 160 mile round trip to the Flywheel Festival at Bicester Heritage Site in Oxfordshire.

As we were riding along, we passed through Long Itchington where some sort of car meet was happening at the Long Itch Diner so we stopped to have a look because it would've been rude not to!
This was probably the longest car I have ever seen that wasn't a limo
After the brief stop at Long Itchington, we pressed on to Bicester and the Flywheel Festival. When we arrived it seemed relatively busy but another guy who had pulled in just after us said the numbers were down from last year.

We went into the show and had a look through the cars and then onto some of the planes which occasionally took off and flew around. A glider came into land as we were stood there and he did a great job, possibly the smoothest landing I've seen for a glider!
MG anyone? There was rows upon rows of these things!
A small selection of some of the planes that were there

There was a mix of everything at the show, except there was a bit of a lack of bikes. As it was at the Heritage Site, there was a lot of old army things there, like planes, tanks, ambulances and auxiliary fire service trucks.
Old school ambulance, I can't decide if those beds look comfy or not though
Auxiliary Fire Service with a couple of their Green Goddess
A really lovely Triumph TR3
It was these that made me sad to be 20 - I wanted a go!
I generally avoid pink like the plague but even I've got to admit this pink Cadillac was cool
Although, the colour of this was stunning
Don't think this tank is going very far anymore...
Stirling Moss was also there with some of the cars he used to race in there classic blue with the white nose stripe although I didn't actually see him in person. His cars were driven around the track though.
Stirling Moss' Ferrari 250 SWB
The inside of the 250 SWB in an incredible condition
The fuel cap has been engraved with the trophies this car has won over the years
To fit in with the army trucks and things, there was WWII era music playing and stalls selling all sorts of vintage trinkety type things.

The highlight of the show for me though was definitely the air display from the biplanes at the show and they even demonstrated some dog fight manoeuvres but unfortunately, the pictures I got weren't that great so I haven't got any to show you - you'll just have to take my word for it.

Overall, the show was good but it was a little bit pricey to get in which was probably why the attendance numbers were down but it was a good ride out and it was a lovely day so I can't complain really.

There will be a smaller gap until the next post, I promise!
Until then, ride safe
TFB