MPH & Classic Car Show 2009 Review

‘Recession my ass’. I must have thought that a dozen times during the time I spent at the MPH&Classic car show. I know for a fact that at the NEC, all Live Arena times were sold out for the weekend, but I’d already nearly shouted that out of the car window as I’d pulled into one of the already full-to-bursting NEC car parks. Thankfully I was able to control the outburst.

It does me good to know that even though we’re still officially ‘in recession’, people have the time, money and will to go to a show that centres on the worlds most expensive cars. See, no matter what the Government does, it can put up tax on cars, tax on fuel and tax on just about anything else they can think of to do with owning a vehicle. but there’ll always be a (very large) hardcore group of devoted Petrolheads and I’m proud to say that that show was truly an excellent example of this.

There’s always a real buzz in the air from excited car enthusiasts going nuts at being able to get up close and personal with exotic cars such as the Bugatti Veyron, Ferrari Enzo or Pagani Zonda and todays show was no exception as maniacal fans crowded around them, there eyes taking on an alien-esque look as they widened to take in the sheer beauty of these vastly expensive exotics.

No matter how busy the NEC’s halls get though, there’s never any pushing or shoving to get to the cars, and it’s a great place to train your young kid in the art of the Petrolhead (in a Yoda stylie of course).

Off to the Live Arena for the Top Gear Live Show now. This is one of the highlights for me, and the lads from Top Gear don’t let us down. There’s the usual ribbing of each other, some mad (but weirdly ingenious) inventions in the way of garden furniture being made into vehicles of some form or another, throw in some great car driving stunts courtesy of The Stig, a race with some 3 wheeled Robin Reliant’s (which pirouetted beautifully over onto their sides no less than 13 times) and you’ve got yourself a hugely entertaining hour or so of quality show.

One thing that is highly appealing about the MPH&Classic Car Show are all the trader stands which line the halls. You can buy anything from Steve McQueen posters to model cars and racing suits to actually buying a real car (Audi R8 V10 anyone?), and usually you can get what you want cheaper than even the internet will provide. See, there are still non-eBay bargains out there.

Although the MPH show is good, the Classic Car show next door is also excellent. Whatever you’re into whether it’s old Leyland-built cars (that’s just plain strange though right?), pure American Muscle cars, Porsche’s or Lancia’s – there’s something for everyone to enjoy and drool over and again there are the traders selling stuff like original log books for nearly any car, to oils and cleaning products.

I really can’t think of a much better way than to spend a day with some of the world’s most revered and cool cars. The MPH&Classic Car Show gives you that glorious Petrolhead high by the bucket load.

I’ll definitely be going again next year. See you there then?