Hot rods and Vee Dubs head to Beaulieu

Hot Rod & Custom Drive-In Day and Simply VW are returning to Beaulieu for Father’s Day weekend, where a host of magnificent cars and bikes will take centre stage against a backdrop of live music.

To kick the action-packed weekend off, “Vee Dubs” of all kinds are invited to join Saturday’s Simply VW show on Saturday 17 June, where Volkswagen owners and clubs will showcase their cars and be invited to camp in the grounds of the National Motor Museum.

The show offers a great chance to meet like-minded enthusiasts and show off air-cooled icons such as the Beetle and Karmann Ghia, as well as modern classic including Golfs, Polos, Sciroccos and even camper vans at the Breeze Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles-sponsored event.

Free camping will be offered to those displaying a VW at Saturday’s event. This will be the case for pre-1980 classic vehicles attending Sunday’s Hot Rod & Custom Drive-In Day. Camping will be available at £10 for all Simply VW participants who would like to stay for the next day’s show.

The two-day motoring celebration continues with Sunday’s Hot Rod & Custom Drive-In Day where more than 500 hot rods and customised vehicles will make for a smashing sight. The event, held in association with classic American car club Solent Renegades, will show all manner of weird, wonderful and colourful machines, from stripped-out hot rods and mega-powered monsters, to cool customs and “slammed” cruisers.

Returning this year is crowd favourite Hard Up Garage with a dramatic display of flame-throwing hot rods and rat rods.

If you love two and three-wheelers you will also be spoilt for choice by the multitude of bikes and trikes on display, which range from traditional classics to monster-engine trikes.

All the family will love the great features running throughout the weekend. A two-day Vintage Village by Bows & Braces will be packed with nostalgic collectables, records, jewellery, luggage, kitchenware and retro clothing from the 1920s to the 1980s. Meanwhile, visitors can enter the spirit of both shows by dressing in vintage clothing, with prizes for the best dressed individuals, families, groups and camper vans.

Refreshments will be served in the Vintage Tea Tent and entertainment will include acts on the main stage as well as 1940s-style swing dance with Company B UK and Jitterbug Jive dance demonstrations.

You can also head into the National Motor Museum to see the new Automotive Steampunk exhibits with imaginative costumes created by Arts University Bournemouth students to complement some of the most iconic vehicles in the collection (as part of the Keep Calm and STEAM Ahead project supported by the Arts Council England Designation Development Fund).

During both shows, visitors can vote for their favourite vehicles in the People’s Choice Award and the winners will lead a cavalcade of the most popular cars through the attraction grounds each afternoon. The winners will be presented with a Beaulieu trophy and an Autoglym car care prize package.

If you own a relevant vehicle and would like to join either show, you are requested to email details of your car or bike for consideration by the events team at [email protected] or call 01590 614614.

Tickets can be bought in advance online or on the door. For participant and visitor tickets visit www.beaulieu.co.uk/events.