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Classics on the Common 30th July 2008 |
"Harpenden's Award Winning Classic Car Meeting" |
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History
‘Classics on the Common’ has been hugely successful. An impromptu ‘pub
meet’ for local enthusiasts has grown over the last 10 years to the
position where the event won
Classic and Sports Car
magazine’s award for the overall 'Best Event 2003'
(Classic and Sports Car Magazine January 2004 p12). To read the full
article about this award click on the following link
'The Greatest Hits of 2003'
The accolades had been flying for sometime. In 2002 ‘Classics on the Common’ was mentioned in dispatches in the same periodical. The 2003 commendation is the culmination of years of hard work by the principal organisers; Peter Madden and John Tibble. John was until recently the landlord of the nearby local ‘The Carpenters Arms’ which has a thriving Classic Car Club and organises a number of classic car runs throughout the year. In 1994, 25 cars turned up for an evening’s picnic. The power of ‘word of mouth’ advertising cannot be ignored as 125 rolled up the following year and, despite not publicising the event, by 2002 this had grown to well over 1,500. Finding room to lay out the picnic was now the issue!
Success The event is run for the enjoyment of the participants and the people of Harpenden. Whilst somewhat incongruous, it is interesting to watch commuters, returning from a day in the City, dawdle amongst the cars paraded on the common as they wend their way home from the railway station. The event is run entirely as a non-profit making exercise. All funds raised are donated to local charities and local schools in a rotational manner. The Carpenters Arms Classic Car Club, the Rover P5 Club and the benefiting charities are always most grateful to Harpenden Town Council for their ever continued support and to Hertfordshire Constabulary for their forbearance on a Summer’s evening.
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© 2006 Classics on the Common, Harpenden |