The sun was shining and the streets of Ryde were packed with people and hundreds of beautiful cars for the 20th Isle of Wight International Charity Classic Car Extravaganza last weekend.
Organizer Vic Gallucci was overjoyed with the involvement and support from locals and organizations, as well as longtime sponsors and supporters of the event, including Wightlink, the Isle of Wight Council, Ryde Town Council and the County Press.
Scroll through our image gallery above for the other winners …
Ryde Mayor Cllr Michael Lilley was on hand to assist with the judging process and present a number of awards including Best in Show, Best Group, Best American Car and his own Mayor’s Choice Award.
Best in Show went to this 1967 Gilbern GT. Mayor Michael Lilley is pictured with owner David Burgoyne. Image by Pamela Parker.
David Burgoyne from Southampton was awarded Best in Show for his Wales-made Gilbern GT Coupé, which was the last of its kind to be built in June 1967.
David bought the Gilbern GT in 2005 and it had to be completely rebuilt as it was launched in 1982.
He did much of the work himself and the project was completed in 2019.
About six years ago David was already on the Extravaganza with a Lotus Elan + 2 while the Gilbern was being restored.
He said: “Both visits to this fair were excellent – the presentation is good with lots of space and more visitors than I saw at a fair before. Of course, the weather plays a big role in the success of a show, but may this event go on for a long time. We will make an entry in our calendar for next year.
“For the best win on the show, we didn’t know there were prizes, so this is a great honor as there were many beautiful cars that were also worth an award.
“The Gilbern Owners Club will be delighted that this little-known classic appeals to so many people.”
The best group award went to the Armstrong Siddeley Owners Car Club, which competed in this year’s show (main picture above).
Brian Smith, who organizes the auto club’s exhibition, said that since the extravaganza began 20 years ago, Armstrong Siddeley’s have been present and their popularity has increased within the club.
He continued, “It has surely become a must-see on the busy calendar as members looked forward to familiarizing themselves with the island again during these troubled times.
“This popularity is due in no small part to the commitment and hard work of the organizer and the support of many organizations, including the IW Council and Island Roads.
“The wide variety of cars Vic assembles each year is incredible, and Armstrong Siddeley owners always look forward to the huge collection on display.
“Vic’s relentless efforts over the years have made the event the IW’s premier charity classic car show, which is certainly the opinion of our club and undoubtedly many of the other auto clubs that are participating.”
Armstrong Siddeley has a connection to the Isle of Wight as the Needles’ big guns are Old Battery Armstrongs.
Armstrong Siddeley was a British mechanical engineering company founded in 1919 and best known for manufacturing luxury vehicles and aircraft engines.
Many of the cars are named after aircraft, including the Hurricane, Typhoon, Lancaster, and Whitley. Other models are the Siddeley Special, 346 and the last model produced, the Star Sapphire 1960.
The award for Best American Car went to Richard Kerger’s sky-blue 1948 Chevrolet Fleetline, while the car that caught Michael Lilley’s attention and won the mayor’s election award was a distinctive three-wheeled Reliant Girder Fork Van.
Lots of money was raised for charity – the Isle of Wight Round Table reported they raised £ 2,655.26 for local charities, and Mountbatten raised funds at Sunday’s extravaganza too.
- The dates for next year’s extravaganza are September 10th and 11th. It will take place on both days on Ryde Esplanade and car bookings will be open from mid-January.
SEE MORE PICTURES: Pictures from the International Classic Car Show on the Isle of Wight
