CLASSIC vehicle enthusiasts from Crediton and across Mid Devon will be helping to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Historic Vehicle Gathering at Powderham Castle on Saturday, July 12 and Sunday, July 13.

Organised by the Crash Box and Classic Car Club of Devon, the annual event is a must-see event for enthusiasts of veteran, vintage and classic vehicles, ranging from two wheels to ten. The event also helps raise funds for various local charities.

“We start planning the Historic Vehicle Gathering in the previous October and then spend five days leading up to the weekend of the rally setting up the rally field and camping site in the castle’s parkland,” said Mike Overfield-Collins of Crediton, who is the Historic Vehicle Gathering rally chairman and a member of the Crash Box Club.

“It is a massive task, over the weekend many of the club’s 300 members, and other volunteers, will be involved to ensure the smooth running of this event.”

The first Historic Vehicle Gathering was held on Saturday, July 6, 1975, in the courtyard of Powderham Castle and attracted nearly eighty cars. Today, it is one of the largest two day-long rallies in the South West, attracting over 1,500 vehicle entries.

This year’s special anniversary Historic Vehicle Gathering will see a special display of some of those cars that attended the very gathering in 1975.

To date, these include a 1926 Bentley 3 Litre, 1933 Morgan Vee-twin three-wheeler and a 1934 Morris 10/4 Tourer. The Morris is owned by David Nation of Crediton who purchased it from a local enthusiast in 1972, and it has attended every Historic Vehicle Gathering.

This year’s event will be looking to raise funds for Hospiscare, Sidmouth Living with Cancer Support Group and StarterMotor.

For more information, visit the Historic Vehicle Gathering Facebook page or historic-vehicle-gathering.info.