2010 news: Glorious sunshine for Belvoir Castle Rally
Updated: 26 May 2010 • Story from Old Glory magazine
Sponsored by Old Glory Magazine THE 2010 Belvoir Castle Steam Festival & Family Show, was held on 22/23 May amid glorious sunshine (for a welcome change!)
Thousands of visitors attended over the two days of the event, which included the additional special attractions of Ken Fox's Wall of Death, a single-cylinder tractor display, Marshall tractors and John Deere themes.
• See the on-line gallery from the show on the Old Glory website >>>
Updated: 17 May 2010 • Story from Tractor magazine
THERE will be two special tractor displays at the Belvoir Castle Steam Festival (22-23 May) this year.
John Deere will be featured for the first time, and the Single Cylinder Display will return, as it does on alternate years. The latter will include Marshall, HSCS, Landini, SF Vierzon and of course Lanz, including the Lanz copies. There may even be some less well-known single cylinders from Italy.
There is of course a link between the two displays, in that Lanz was taken over by John Deere in 1956 and many of the tractors built after this date were badged John Deere- Lanz and painted in JD colours. From 1960, the Mannheim factory began building John Deere Models 300 and 500, followed by the Models 100, 700 and 3010. A special invitation is offered to owners of any of these tractors built during the last years of Lanz and first years in Germany of John Deere.
Tractor section steward, Andy Watson, adds: “Last year we had over 400 tractors on site, boosted by the Ford and Fordson Association's EXPO 5. This year we have 332 tractors booked in, including 31 John Deeres ranging from a 1928 GP through to modern day tractors. Over 50 single cylinders are booked in, of which about half are Marshalls. The others are Lanz, Ursus, HSCS, Landini, SF Vierzon, Orsi, OTO, Allgaier and Deutz. The main tractor line includes very early models from Wallis, Allis Chalmers, Case, Fordson, McCormick Deering, Ford, Minneapolis Moline, Caterpillar, Farmall, Massey Harris, and Bristol". The photograph above shows one of the last Lanz Bulldogs, correctly painted in John Deere colours.
Well-known tractor expert, Michael Hart, has agreed once again to be the parade commentator. Michael, assisted by Ian Burgin, will also judge the tractors to determine who wins the Mortons Media prize. There will displays put on by the Rutland Group NVTEC, Nottinghamshire Group NVTEC, David Brown Club (Lincolnshire Branch), Vale of Belvoir Machinery Group (including threshing) and AJB Engineering Group's rack sawbench and also Chris Collier will be present with his dynamometer.
Additionally, there will be Tractor Pulling presented by the Peak Vale Tractor Pullers and there will two arenas with a dedicated tractor parade ring. On Saturday evening, there will be a road run for tractors, incorporating the picturesque private roadways of the Belvoir Castle Estate and local villages including Woolsthorpeby- Belvoir.
Anyone wanting to display a tractor at the show should write to Andy Watson, Willow Corner, Main Street, Marston, Grantham, Lincs NG32 2HH, tel: 01400 250840 or email: watson.andrew@virgin.net
• Story from Tractor magazine
2010 news: Show on!
26 January 2010
Plans are now at an advanced stage for 2010 and the same part of the Belvoir Castle Estate will be used as for the last two years. The organisers have the option to switch to either of the sites previously used but feel that the current site is a much better venue, able to deal with wet weather better, due to the metalled roads that cross the site and that it drains much better. Access is also much easier through three main gates and the site is much more level and easier to lay out.
Tractor themes for 2010 include John Deere and also the return of the Single Cylinder Tractor Gathering. Examples of the various makes, including Lanz and the many Lanz copies are being sought by section organiser Andy Watson (details in contact list) especially very early examples.
There will be around 30 full size steam engines with at least two making their debut following restoration, and at least the same number of replica half size and miniature engines.
Two organisations are using Belvoir Castle for their official 2010 events; the Road Rescue Recovery Association (triple RA) will once again display a wide range of regular and customised recovery vehicles, including a special arena with vehicle recovery demonstrations. The other is REVS East Midlands group who will have their own dedicated display area to include ERF and Foden lorries.
Attractions are being added all the time, but so far it is expected to have tank rides once more in the off-road arena, tractor pulling, a display of locally built steam and diesel rollers and associated equipment by the Road Roller Association and for the second year, back by popular demand, a dog agility show over the two days.
A full programme of arena attractions is being planned including some novel entertainment and these will be posted on this site once confirmations have been received.
Lists of steam engines, tractors and military vehicles will also be posted by the relevant section stewards once more details are known.
Admission Prices:
Held for the third year. Adults £7.50, OAPs £6.50, Child £3.50, Family (2+3) £20.00
Early bird booking discounts:
Tickets ordered and paid for before 8th May are available at a discount as follows; Adults: £6.50 OAPs: £5.50 Children: £3.00 Family (2+3): £17.50
Send cheque payable to Arrow Management & Marketing together with your name and address and clearly stating your ticket requirements to; Belvoir Castle Steam Festival, Foundry Road, Stamford, Lincolnshire PE9 2PP.
At present we are unable to accept credit cards for payment, although this may be possible during April. Please check web site for updates.
Opening Hours:
9.30am until 5.30pm (5.00pm Sun). last admissions 4.00pm.
• Camping/Caravanning available from Thursday 20th May until Monday 24th May
• Access for exhibitors from Thursday 20th May, 10.00am
Belvoir rally in new deal with castle
15 October 2009 - NEWS ITEM FROM OLD GLORY MAGAZINE
HOPES were raised in early September that the Belvoir Castle Steam Festival & Family Show will be able to run for a seventh year in 2010, after the show’s landlords stepped in to reverse the earlier decision not to run.
Following yet another year of adverse weather, organisers Phil Wing and Paul Appleton suffered another big four-figure loss, which followed closely on from a five-figure loss in 2006.
Phil Wing told Old Glory: “Our finances simply couldn’t take any more. There were no cash reserves and once again the two of us are having to dig deep to pay the debts.”
The show is held in beautiful parkland and is extremely popular with exhibitors and has gained a reputation as one of the best early season rallies, staged the weekend before the Spring Bank Holiday. A good turn out of exhibits this year included over 300 vintage tractors, boosted by the visit of the Ford & Fordson Association’s annual Expo event.
“There is no shortage of exhibitors and traders wanting to attend the show,” Phil explained, “but that doesn’t pay the bills. The ground is excellent on this new site and those that did brave the wet conditions were treated to an excellent show, probably the best we’ve staged. Possibly memories of the quagmire at the site we used until 2006 has put visitors off, but really they need not have worried about conditions underfoot.”
Officials at Belvoir Castle have offered the show organisers a rebate on their rent of the site for the 2009 show and to peg the 2010 rent at the same price. “This makes a huge difference to our finances,” Paul Appleton said, “along with some of the exhibitors, such as the Tractor Pullers and the Il’son Crushers, who generously returned a sizeable proportion of their appearance money. Their combined gestures have made all the difference.” As a result, Paul and Phil have agreed to give it one more go, on 22-23 May next year, and will then decide whether the show has a long-term future.
“We’re looking for sponsors,” continued Paul, “but rumours that we intend to charge all of our exhibitors to attend aren’t true. We do have at least one sponsor, for the model tent, so things are looking better for us.”
The message is clear to Old Glory readers and supporters of the show; use it or lose it.
• Anyone interested in helping Phil and Paul either financially or practically is invited to contact Paul on 01780 484630 (day) or 07887 922415 (mobile).
