Click on
the camera for images from the 2010 Pageant
Click on the newspaper
to read the 2010 Pageant article from the Museum
Newsletter
The 33rd Enfield Pageant of Motoring will take place over the late Spring Bank Holiday Weekend of 29th, 30th & 31st May 2010. More than 2000 classic vehicles of all ages will attend bringing together an impressive show of cars, motorcycles and steam engines. We have extended the classes for 'Classic Vehicles' to include pre 1973 cars - the Historic Vehicle Tax Class. Over 60 car clubs will be attending featuring classics such as Jaguar, MG and Triumph - together with 500 autojumble and general interest stalls selling all types of automobilia, obsolete parts and collectables. The Enfield Pageant of Motoring will once again be one of the biggest and best events in the UK.
We are delighted to welcome back the exciting 'No Limitz Motorcycle Display Team' who will be thrilling audiences each day with their spectacular tricks and stunts. As part of a great day out for the whole family there is also an Old Time Fun Fair of the kind seen in the 1950' s - all the fun of the fair for children and adults of all ages.
Entry forms for vehicles and autojumble stalls can be obtained from the Whitewebbs Museum of Transport, Whitewebbs Road, Enfield, Middx EN2 9HW Telephone 020-8367 1898, fax 020-8363 1904 or downloaded here:
Booking Forms: Individual Entry , Club Stand , Autojumble Stall .
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This year our theme will be "The Quest for Speed" - a celebration of man's endeavour to achieve the maximum from his machines.
Customised '57 Chevy burns out before the start, and 'Storm' two staged turbo charged competition bike burning out with rider Lorcan Parnell on board. You can see the display of drag racing cars and motorcycles in front of the Quest for Speed marquee at the Pageant.
It is generally accepted that British Motorcycle Speedway started locally at a disused oval cycle track located behind the Kings Oak Public House, High Beech, Epping Forest on the 19th February 1928. It was organised by the Ilford Motorcycle Club jointly with Baxters Metropolis Club. During the 1930s until the late 1960s speedway bikes used 500cc single cylinder engines. These were made by J.A. Prestwich of Tottenham, North London who started manufacturing first-class engines as early as 1903. Representing this era will be The National Speedway Museum which is based locally at the Paradise Wildlife Park, Broxbourne, Herts. The Museum will be bringing a display of bikes from 1960s onwards. You can see the display in front of the Quest for Speed Marquee.
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The double engined supercharged drag bike "The Hobbit" will be on display at the Pageant. This bike was built in 1974 by John Hobbs and raced by him at National and International events until his retirement in 1979. John held numerous National, International and World speed records. "The Hobbit" is the last remaining of the many bikes designed, built and ridden by him during his 15 year racing career. It achieved a record-breaking 8.07 sec 176 standing start 1.4 mile run in 1979. The bike is still ridden by John at classic sprint events.
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History of The Enfield Pageant of Motoring
The first
Enfield Pageant of Motoring came about in 1978 due to Beer and Rain!
For many years the Enfield and District Veteran Vehicle Society held
small events in and around the Enfield area. The Society was formed in
1961 by a group of like-minded people interested in saving and
preserving old vehicles. In the early 1960s three vehicles were saved 
from the
scrapyard. So many early commercials were being scrapped it was a
tribute to the early members that these were saved. The cost of owning
and preserving the vehicles was high and to meet the expense small
events were staged. Through donations at fetes and public entry fees at
rallies a small fund was built up to help restore the club vehicles.
Fund raising was always a problem, there was never enough in the bank!
The club
decided to hold a rally on a farm in Buckhurst Hill, Essex. Rain
fell
and fell and fell! The takings were small and the farmer who owned the
field decided to sue the club for severe ground damage. The solicitors
involved advised the club that the members and officers were liable.
Settlement was reached and the club formed a Society, constituted under
the Friendly Societies Act, to protect its officers. The Society took
over the running of the events but with a major disadvantage. The
members and officers could no longer be held liable, but the taxman
wanted 45% of the profit! Every year a cheque was raised to pay the
tax, but members felt they paid enough tax at work and did not want to
pay more tax on the back of their hobby. In the mid 1970s the Society
had reached an all time low. Every year rain fell on every event it
organised and funds to keep the vehicles going were not sufficient. A
figure of £100 was difficult to raise for tyres, repairs, etc. 
For the
Society to continue more funding for the vehicles was paramount. Dry,
safe storage was also vital as the vehicles were stored under
tarpaulins. A new committee emerged at the Society's AGM in November
1976. The need to increase funding and provide adequate vehicle storage
was at the top of the agenda. But, the taxman was still demanding 45%
and the rain was still falling at every event. A proposal to create a
museum by funding a bigger new event was adopted. The status of the
Society was enhanced by the formation of a Charitable Trust to operate
alongside. The tax problem was solved charities do not pay tax!!
A bigger
event needed more funds to stage it. No funds were available in the
Trust. It was decided to appeal for funds through a Grand Draw (a
raffle). A recently discovered Armstrong Siddeley 20hp Limousine was
put on a trailer and taken to Alexander Palace. A beer festival was in
progress and CAMRA, the organisers, were kind enough to allow the
vehicle (with its door hanging off) into the hall where tickets were
sold in a draw. Huge support was given by the public and a profit of
£685 was made after the prizes were paid. With £685 in the
bank, the Enfield Pageant of Motoring and Collectors Bazaar was
launched. The London Borough of Enfield were very supportive and
granted permission for the Enfield Playing Fields to be used for the
Pageant. The only condition imposed was that the event must be held in
May and have the word "Enfield" in the title. Advertisements were
placed in all of the national magazines and local press.
Around 500
vehicles and 50 stalls were expected to attend the first two-day event.
Stalls were £7 for one day and £10 for two days. Over 100
stallholders booking in and more turned up on the day. 600 exhibitors
turned up, with vehicles ranging from a steam engine to a Rolls Royce.
The weather was very hot and the public attended in huge number. At the
end of the weekend the first Enfield Pageant had taken more money and
made more profit than the previous twenty years of the old Society. No
rain, no tax and a good event, now established that the prospect of a
future museum was now more than just a dream.