2004 Show report

SUCCESS FOR NEW SHOW AT BELVOIR CASTLE

TWO days of glorious sunny weather welcomed the first Belvoir Castle Steam Festival which was held on May 22/23.
Rising from the ashes of the old Tallington-based rallies, the organisers made the most of being able to spread the exhibits out - a nice change from having to shoe-horn everything in at the previous Tallington site.

Taking centre stage was Graham Atkinson’s huge Oktoberfest organ and his three showman’s engines The Iron Maiden, His Lordship and Princess Maud. Ian Howard put together a classic mix of rides and side stalls for the vintage fairground, based around Frank Lythgoe’s Savage Gallopers of 1882.
Along with 30 full size engines, a special single cylinder tractor display was organised by Andy Watson, compiler of the Lanz Tractor Register.

Needless to say, 15 of the ‘singles’ were early Lanz products including a very rare example of a 1923 Lanz Bulldog Model HL, recently imported from Germany by Stephen Brett. Basically a stationary engine on wheels, it is an example of the first ever German Lanz Bulldog tractor to be built, with a 12hp hot-bulb engine. The tractor has no reverse gear, but must be stopped and run in the opposite direction!

Old Glory’s editor Colin Tyson presented Tom Hodgkinson with Best Engine of Show, which was given to Aveling & Porter agricultural locomotive No. 1995. The 1884 engine was the oldest at the show and its team of four owners/restorers were not afraid to take part fully in the rally and the road run - the team are also restoring an ex-LMS traction engine dray from a complete wreck, which they towed constantly behind the engine - a dedicated young team indeed!

The Best Tractor award went to Terence Taylour of Co. Westmeath, Ireland, for his SF Vierzon Model FV1, built in France in 1947. The 44hp hot-bulb engine machine was in glorious working clothes and a delighted Terence had brought it over especially to atend the Belvoir Rally line-up of single cylinders.

"Special thanks go to the show's main sponsors, Old Glory, Heritage Commercials and Tractor & Farming Heritage magazines".

- Paul Appleton, Show Founder