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. The cost of owning and preserving the vehicles was high and to meet the expense small events were staged and a small fund was built up to help restore them. The club decided to hold a rally on a farm in Buckhurst Hill, Essex.
Rain 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. A settlement was reached and the club restructured to form a Society to protect its officers. In the mid-1970s the Society had reached an all-time low as incoming funds to keep the vehicles going were not sufficient.
To continue, more income was paramount, as also was dry safe storage. A new committee emerged at the Society's AGM in November 1976. 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.
A bigger event needed more funds to stage it so it was decided to undertake a Grand Draw. An Armstrong Siddeley 20hp Limousine was put on a trailer and taken to Alexandra Palace where a beer festival was in progress and CAMRA, the organisers, were kind enough to allow the vehicle into the hall where tickets were sold. Huge support was in evidence and a profit of £685 was made. With this 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.
Around 500 vehicles and 50 stalls were expected to attend the first two-day event. Over 100 stallholders booked in and more turned up on the day. 600 exhibitors attended, with a wide range of vehicles. The weather was very hot and the public attended in huge numbers. At the end of the weekend the first Enfield Pageant had taken more money and made more profit than the previous 20 years of the old Society. No rain, no tax and a good event now enabled the dream of a museum to become a reality.