International Charity Classic Car Show Extravaganza

A unique and spectacular collection of hand-picked classic cars made their way across to the Island for two days of charity fundraising over the weekend of the 15th and 16th September.

The International Charity Classic Car Show Extravaganza, which is now in its sixth year, is organised by Vic Gallucci and is a firm favourite amongst Island residents - just one of the reasons being because it is completely free to attend! This year the show opened at Newport Quay with the vehicles moving further east to set up camp along Ryde Esplanade on the Sunday. All that was asked of the thousands of enthusiastic spectators who traveled to these locations to view the cars on display was that they donate a small sum of money of their choosing to the designated charity of the day.

All for the good of the local community

On Saturday, volunteers were present at the mass exhibition of vintage, luxury, sporty and just plain unusual vehicles spread out around the quayside in Newport to collect money for the Earl Mountbatten Hospice. A similar set-up transpired on Sunday along Ryde's North Walk and canoe lake, where representatives wearing dry-suits could be seen shaking their buckets in aid of Ryde Inshore Rescue. Those responsible for bringing the incredible collection of cars to the Island are keen to emphasise that all of the money collected went straight to the two charities concerned.

The Earl Mountbatten Hospice provides free care for people with life-shortening illnesses, including cancer, motorneurone and heart disease. The hospice is unique in that all of the money it generates through fundraising remains on the Island for the sole benefit of other Islanders. Likewise Ryde Inshore Rescue is entirely self-funded and covers the large stretch of water between St Helens Fort and Osborne Bay. The team, which has no connection to the RNLI, attends up to 60 call-outs per year.

A radical array of rare and revolutionary appliances

With nearly 900 cars on display throughout the weekend, the International Charity Classic Car Show had the word 'extravaganza' tagged onto the end of it this year in a bid to both inform and prepare would-be visitors of the fact that the 2007 event was no ordinary run-of-the-mill classic car show. Variety was indeed the high on the agenda, with organiser Vic Gallucci having previously dedicated a huge amount of time scanning the length and breadth of the country in order to find the very best vehicles to appear as part of the prestigious line-up. From Aston Martin's to Austin's, Hunter's to Dodge Vans and Morris Minor's to Lamborghini's they were all there to be admired.

The Island's Classic Ford Club which was founded in 2000 for drivers of all rear-wheel drive English and American classic Fords and the Rolls Royce Enthusiasts Club were both present at the shows, as were the Vectis Historic Vehicle Club, the Jaguar Enthusiasts' Club and a stunning selection of innovative custom motorbike designs by Nike Gale Custom Cycles. Souped-up contemporary cars created by a group of young people who go by the name of The Ignition Blasts represented modern-day motoring, as did Lee Day, a car artist who transforms everyday engines into modified automobiles way beyond the norm, yet still within the realms of UK law.

Everyone's a winner!

This year's event was sponsored by Wightlink ferries, the County Press and the Isle of Wight Council. It was responsible for bringing nearly 3,000 exhibitors including their friends and family, over to the Island from various parts of the country. Not only did the International Charity Classic Car Show present classic car owners with a welcome opportunity to meet like-minded enthusiasts whilst introducing more would-be tourists to our shores, above all its presence on the Island helped to reward and preserve the work of two charities, both of which are imperative our local community. The unremitting torrent of spectators had a fantastic time too! A big thank you to everyone involved for your sterling generosity.

Please click here to view our 100-strong photo gallery, the images from which were captured when the International Charity Classic Car Show Extravaganza visited Ryde on Sunday 16th September.

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