CarFest North – Friday 26th/Sunday 28th July 2019

Words & Pictures by Ken Graham

This was our 6th year running displaying our Figaros at CarFest North from 26th to 28th July. CarFest is the brainchild of Chris Evans, raising funds for UK Children’s Charities. There were a few changes, as Chris had moved from the BBC to Virgin Radio the monies raised were no longer exclusively for Children in Need, but 5 other UK children’s charities would now also benefit. We had 6 cars on show, our largest number, and, for the 1st time at CarFest North, a Figaro of each ‘standard’ colour including 2 Topaz Mist and a Custom Colour!

Ken and Sandra Graham, who coordinate the event for the club, and Bruce and Christine Crowe decided, as they both hail from ‘Bonny Scotland’ (Ken from Glasgow and Bruce from near Aberdeen), that they would travel down on the preceding Wednesday to get set up in the campsite. This helped to get prepared for the other 4 Figs, 2 camping and 2 off site, who were arriving between Thursday and Friday morning. Both Ken and Bruce braved the Scottish rain down through the borders, but after a brief refuelling  stop (both Figs and humans!) at Leyland, it was ‘Tops Down’ all the way to the venue, the Bolesworth Estate in Cheshire!

Given the 30+ deg C temperatures that week Ken was grateful for his Figgy air-con, and Bruce realised he definitely needs to look into getting his sorted!!

Setting up camp was easy given the weather and a pleasant meal out a local pub topped off the day. Thursday, was, by all accounts just TOO hot and setting up the Figaro stand was exhausting, requiring a return to the pub that evening! Ken also realised he had made the correct decision hiring a gazebo for the event as clearly the Figaro owners were going to be in dire need of shade from the sun during the festival weekend.

Friday morning arrived and everyone set about preparing for the onslaught of the public in Vintage CarFest – the temperature had dropped a bit, but a lovely sunny day set everyone up for the first evening of music. A unique CarFest experience of Tony Christie finishing his set with ‘Is this the way to Amarillo?’ Followed by him standing at the side of the stage to watch the superb Jonny Marr (ex Smiths) perform a wonderful set! The headliners’ were the legendary Jacksons, preceded by Beverley Knight who’s set was superb, but the night ended on the most wonderful note when Chris Evans asked her to close the evening with an a cappella version of ‘I will always love you’ from her current West End show, The Bodyguard!

Ken’s early delight at his decision to have a gazebo was certainly borne out on the Saturday and Sunday, unfortunately not because of shelter from the sun, but the heavens opened overnight on the Friday to Saturday and, the rain simply didn’t stop till overnight on Sunday/Monday morning!

The benefit (for those of us camping) of good equipment became clear as there is something really therapeutic lying cosy and dry in a secure tent just listening to torrential rain battering down on your tent. Sadly, the 4am trip to the campsite toilets is less therapeutic!! CarFest became almost ‘Glastonburyesque’ over the next two days (as you’ll see from some of the photos!) the Vintage CarFest area we were located in was actually closed to the public due to Health & Safety until 1pm on the Sunday so straw could be laid to soak up the mud. Whilst one member, with his wife and young children with him, decided (quite literally!) to ‘bale out’ (with a few shoves from fellow Fig owners to negotiate the mud), on the Saturday night, the rest made it through to Sunday.

Saturday’s music from Ziggy Marley, Jools Holland, All Saints and the amazing Kaiser Chiefs made the rain just that bit more bearable.

The number of members of the public was a little down as some day trippers probably chose, given the weather forecast, to stay at home, and other weekend attenders who were totally soaked decided to head home early.

Sunday, after the public gained access to our area, was a typical CarFest day with the truly stoic amongst the ‘CarFesters’ and the Figaro Owners braving the rain to do what we do best – talk about Figaros! Around 6pm with a little more effort pushing and guiding, another 3 Figs made it out from the quagmire – leaving Ken and Bruce, our intrepid Scotsmen (and their wives!) to ‘party down’ through the evening. They were delighted to have received an invitation as a gesture from the organisers for sticking with the event throughout the bad weather, to pop along to the ‘Guest Tent’ at the side of the main stage for a complimentary drink and to meet some of the CarFest team. This also provided Ken, Sandra, Bruce and Christine with some very welcome shelter from the continuing downpour. Although, strangely, Ken and Bruce ended up dancing in the mud to Clean Bandit and Hacienda Classical!

Monday morning dawned with blue skies and a drying wind. Many vehicles, cars, camper vans etc were well and truly stuck in the mud and a team of 4×4 drivers and tractors from the local area had been recruited to assist. Ken and Bruce headed off to the Vintage CarFest area to collect the Figs, and, following their experience assisting folk on Sunday, drove out with no difficulty! In fact, one abiding memory of the weekend is one of the CarFest staff saying on Monday morning..

“There’s one thing about your wee cars, they coped better getting out of this mud than any of the others!”

Back to the campsite and having parked beside the exit road to avoid getting stuck in the deteriorating muddy conditions on site, the cars were loaded up and they all headed for a well deserved full buffet breakfast at another local pub! What could well have been the worst CarFest North ever, actually turned out to be strangely satisfying for all participating and one of the best! It’s never been more true that ‘there’s no such thing as bad weather, just the wrong clothes’ (or, indeed, the wrong camping equipment).

Everyone just got on and enjoyed themselves. And, if evidence were needed, even though the dates, venue etc for CarFest North 2020 haven’t even been mentioned we have FIVE ‘Expressions of Interest’ already in for next year’s event. So, given there isn’t a ‘Club Rally’ in 2020 if you fancy a wonderful Figaro Experience why not ‘Express Interest’ with Ken at ken.graham@talk21.com yourself? Once details are confirmed Ken will be in touch. This year the limit was 8 cars, so, assuming similar next year any interest in excess of that will be placed on a waiting list.

Also, the Club have struggled to get interest in CarFest South (usually at Laverstoke Park Farm) for the last few years, so if you would be interested in taking on the coordinating role for this, as Ken does for North just get in touch with Ken at the email address above who can explain what might be involved.

Grateful thanks to Ken and Sandra Graham, Bruce and Christine Crowe, Alan and Sheena Harvey, Darren and Lisa Samuels (and family), Anne and Nigel Tyson and Katherine Clarke and Steve Paget (and family) for sticking with the weekend and representing the Figaro Family so well!!

Here’s to CarFest North 2020!

Related posts:

CarFest North – Saturday 29th/Sunday 30th July 2017 Festive Figgy Run – Sunday 11th December 2016 CarFest North – Friday 29th/Sunday 31st July 2016 CarFest North – Friday 31st July/Sunday 2nd August 2015 CarFest South – Friday 22nd/Sunday 24th August 2015 CarFest North – Friday 22nd/Sunday 24th August 2014 InCarNation Brighton – Sunday 6th April 2014 CarFest South – Friday 27th/Sunday 29th August 2013