Hundreds of classic cars were on show at Haynes Motor Museum

Hundreds of classic cars on show at first John Haynes Classic Car Rally

Paul JonesSeptember 9, 20250 Comment0

THE first ever John Haynes Classic car meet took place last weekend.

Celebrating 40 years of the museum – and the life and legacy of the founder from whom it takes its name – the rally welcomed car lovers to the Sparkford attraction on Sunday (September 7).

Haynes Motor Museum welcomed more than 3,000 enthusiasts, families and visitors to the event, which boasted five zones for petrolheads.

Hundreds of classic cars and a live stage line-up were on offer, alongside an Owners’ Car Zone, which showcased more than 300 classic cars and 11 car clubs.

Highlights included the MG SV car club and 1959 Aston Martin DB Mk III.

The Best in Show award went to a unique and meticulously-restored Volvo Amazon Estate.

The dedicated Motorcycle Zone generated extra excitement, with The Vintage Japanese Motorcycle Club, Riders Motorcycles of Bridgwater and Maeving Electric Motorcycles creating an engaging display of two-wheeled history and innovation.

Speakers on the stage included Edd China, Jon Bentley and Danny Hopkins, who shared stories and inspirational insights from the motoring world.

Meanwhile, the work of Mr Haynes was celebrated in the Machines and their Manuals zone, which featured dozens of vehicles paired with their Haynes Workshop manual.

Among the star exhibits were a Datsun 240Z, Ford Cortina Mk2 1600E and the judges’ favourite, the Morris Marina 1300L.

Elsewhere, the Outdoor Market hosted food stalls and traders offering everything from alloys to jewellery, alongside live music from the band Hopeville.

The Discovery Zones combined hands-on activities, educational displays and restored cars from the Haynes Heritage Engineering workshop.

A range of zones were on offer at Haynes Motor Museum

Organisations such as Automotive Youth and Ariel Motor Company played a key part, sharing knowledge and showcasing engineering innovation.

Chris Scudds, CEO of Haynes Motor Museum, said: “It was an absolutely fantastic day. We’ve celebrated a shared passion for the motorcar and motorbike, automotive history, John Haynes’ life and legacy, and the museum’s anniversary in a brilliant way.

“It’s been relaxed and friendly and everyone has had a great day. We are grateful to all who braved the weather – it was wonderful to see so many people inspired by the event, and we are already looking forward to next year.”

The John Haynes Classic will return on Sunday, September 6, 2026. For more details on the museum and the rally, call 01963 440804, or visit www.johnhaynesclassic.co.uk.