We made our first ever visit to the Norfolk Motor Show at the Norfolk Showground – an annual two-day event organised by Wroxham & Hoveton Lions Club, raising funds for charity. The event took place on Saturday 10th and Sunday 11th August, and we attended on the Sunday.
Parents Review
Now, I’m not exactly a petrol-head, but I do appreciate classic cars so I was in my element. Over 200 cars on show, glinting in the occasional sunshine, the sound of engines revving filled the air and (probably like most men at the event) I was filled with the sudden desire to go out and buy a rusting 1970s Austin Princess and restore it to its former glory! The problem is wandering up and down rows of cars with a couple of boys and Mrs NorfolkPlaces means I get urged to appreciate these fine motors quicker.
The boys were competing to find “awesome” cars for me to photograph and poor Mrs NorfolkPlaces was trying to keep tabs on the little blighters. As a result I guess I was a little rushed and disappoited that I couldn’t spend more time trying to get arty shots of the curves, bonnet ornaments and chrome details.
There wasn’t just cars on show. To encourage greater fund-raising there was a selection of kids rides, bouncy castles, tombolas, and other sideshows. My boys spent a fair bit of time observing (at a safe non-exterminating distance) the Daleks and a Cyberman, and even more time hanging out with the Norwich Star Wars Club.
I love this picture below – the long arm of the law are replaced by different type of force entirely!
Speaking of the law, the police (no, not the 1980s popstars) were present. I’ve always fancied getting behind the wheel of a Lotus but the police’s Lotus made me realise getting in and out of one was probably better suited to small people (I’m not exaclty tall either!) and wearing a pair of their beer goggles whilst driving a racing simulator inside the Lotus was a hell of an experience. I’m going blurry eyed just thinking about it!
Overall it was a fun way to spend a couple of hours whilst donating to charities, and it was great to see so many lovely old cars, particularly some corkers from the 1970s and early 1980s.
Kids Review
9 year-old:- My Dad loves old cars. I think he wanted to swap our one for one of the classics. Probably because our car doesn’t work very well. I think he said our car is a conker and the cars at the show were older than conker trees (er, not quite. The NorfolkPlaces-mobile is borderline conked out, not a conker – Dad). My favourite thing was the Star Wars people. We got our picture waving lightsabres in their faces. Now that’s what I call classic, Dad!
5 year old:- I got to sit in a police car and the police lady should’ve taken my brother to jail cos he’s sometimes a bit naughty. I am too, but I’m cute! I sat in all the cars that could be bought (yep, he did – Dad) but they didn’t have keys in so I made my own noises like “brmmm brmmmm” and “beeeeeeep!” and “gnaaaar peow peow” (I can’t explain that one- Dad). The bouncy assault thing was fun and I managed to get around it probably 11 times. I asked a Dalek who his favourite football team but he said Daleks don’t like football because they haven’t got any legs. I forgot to ask the Stormtroopers who they support.
