Thousands of visitors poured into Bicester Heritage on 2-3 July to experience the venue’s second Flywheel Festival, with many drawn to the event’s star visitor, Sir Stirling Moss.
The legendary racing driver treated crowds to fascinating tales of his motorsport exploits, as well as taking part in four autograph signing sessions. There was also the opportunity to get up close and personal with a selection of his race-winning cars from the 1950s and ‘60s.
A wide variety of classics turned out for the event, ranging from an incredible 1901 Toledo steam car and pre-war Bentleys through to priceless Jaguar C and D-types, with many taking to the runway for a series of demonstration laps.
There was also a huge turnout of club cars, with more than 230 members of the Mercedes-Benz Club turning up in their cars. They were joined by 45 MG T-types from the MG Car Club T Register, plus a strong showing from the Bentley Drivers Club, Ferrari Owners’ Club, Morgan Sports Car Club and Vintage Sports Car Club.
The action on the ground was supplemented by a superb display of vintage aircraft, many of which tool to the skies during the show. They included a Tiger 9, P-51D Mustang, YAK-50 and Supermarine Spitfire IX, while one of the highlights was a flypast from the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight.
“It was fantastic to see so many people on the site over the weekend,” said organiser Richard Grafton. “There was a real buzz to the event and we were thrilled at the combination of avid motoring and aviation enthusiasts alongside the families who were able to enjoy a fantastic day out. We are already starting to plan for next year’s Flywheel and look forward to delivering something even bigger and better!”
