Classic Car & Restoration Show

Not so long ago, many people would have considered attending an indoor car event as slightly less dangerous than being locked in a tiger's cage. It is somewhat remarkable, therefore, that attendance of the Practical Classics Classic Car & Restoration Show, with Discovery+ (AKA, 'Restoration Show') did not drop more than 12%, compared with its last prepandemic outing in 2019.

While some visitors thought it should have been bigger, the show spanned three halls at Birmingham's NEC, in which skills, techniques, memories and ambitions were shared. A huge variety of cars were present, from chod to charmers. Clubs also flexed their tools, many of whom put on imaginative displays and demonstrations. Sadly, a few groups simply could not be bothered, parking their shiny examples up and not even attempting to do anything practical. One hopes that the show organisers strike them from their invitation lists next time.

Even so, the event did not fulfil the stereotype of being full of elderly men, mumbling into their beards about Austin A35 dwell angles, or bored girlfriends/wives, trying to stifle their yawns and feign interest, while being dragged around the show by their partners. The UK's classic car industry is worth over £18 billion and is becoming more confident at promoting itself as a viable career path. The presence of younger owners, apprentices and restorers at the show was especially noticeable this year.

Rather than spending the event photographing, I also put on a display, working with very limited tools. While attempting to resurrect a Triumph Dolomite after a decade in storage, I was approached by several young female enthusiasts, who were looking for advice on resurrecting their stored classics. While YouTube's 'Brown Car Guy' (www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tyo23UK839k) did not stop for a natter, at least he uploaded a small reminiscence

video. Perhaps epitomising the comradery of the entire event was when Daniel Moore, a renowned early postwar Rolls-Royce and Bentley specialist, offered his clean hands to help lever out my partially-seized Girling Type 14 calliper piston callipers. Apparently, beating them out of the casting on the NEC's floor with a hammer and screwdriver is hardly best practice! Daniel, incidentally, is well used to technical training, as he hosts two-day long technical seminars at his premises in Peterborough.

A smattering of stardust also helped to draw in the crowds. Richard Hammond, Mike Brewer and Marc ‘Elvis’ Priestley, Ant Anstead, and Fuzz Townshend engaged in amusing interviews and were put to work as judges. After much deliberation, they settled on a 1967 Jaguar S-Type barn find for their Celebrity Choice Award. Practical Classics magazine's staff also worked valiantly throughout the weekend on the main stage, on their Reliant Rebel.

Even if you are tired of working on cars during the week, we still think that it is worth sucking up the NEC's extortionate car park charges (although the train remains a viable option) and pencil Friday 24th to Sunday 26 March in your 2023 diary. With more classic cars entering professional workshops, it is easy to not just forget old repair techniques but also not be aware of new ones.