30th - 31st May, 1998

The 1998 Tatton Classic Car show again proved popular with the members of North West Region and guests from other regions of the club. The display promoting the MR2 Drivers Club, was provided and manned by members from the club's North West Region, and they are to be commended on being awarded “Best Club Stand” beating off competition from over 80 other car clubs.

First job on arrival at Tatton Park was “harvesting” the extra long grass which engaged Regional Co-ordinator Phil Morris for some three hours whilst “knocking” his patch into shape. This was considered highly desirable in view of the fact that the region had secured the services of Toyota’s “hospitality” vehicle for the duration of the show.

Local members arrived during the course of Saturday and eventually there were fifteen cars on the stand but, sadly, even more gallons of water as the heavens opened up at regular intervals. Fortunately, the weather cleared later in the afternoon just in time for everyone to make their way home!

The Tatton Show is famous for the many items to be found in the large auto jumble as well as providing onlookers with much fun and amusement as devotees dive into assorted boxes searching for that exclusive and elusive missing speedometer, wing or motif for their classic cars.

Hospitality for the members included a constant stream of tea or coffee on tap while members dried their cars with one eye skywards in fearful anticipation of yet another downpour. 

The club stand proved to be the talking point of the show and looked resplendent with the recently acquired regional banner, flags and bunting.

Sadly, Sunday turned out to be even wetter but it did not diminish an excellent turn out of more than 30 cars that made the effort very worthwhile.

Cars on display were evenly split between Mk1 and Mk2’s, all of which were constantly dried off after every shower. Again the hospitality unit proved to be a boom - as the members of the other clubs all looked like drowned rats we were well protected from the elements and able to relax watching videos and drinking coffee in the comfort of the hospitality unit.

At the awards ceremony we duly received our trophy for “Best Club Stand” and more to the point it’s for keeps!

The region certainly succeeded in bringing both Toyota and the MR2 Drivers’ Club into the public gaze and we have been invited back again this year. As soon as the dates are published this will be notified in “Mainbeam” so that members from other regions can come along and enjoy the show and our hospitality.

Very many thanks to all the club members who braved the weather at the show despite my firm prediction that the weather would be “sunny”! Oooops sorry!