Run by the Classic & Vintage Motor Racing Club, there is a full programme of events for touring cars and motorcycles and the largest static motor show in the Channel Islands featuring motor and ancillary trade stands and exhibits from all Jersey motoring clubs.
The essence of the weekend is to create a friendly and relaxed atmosphere and offer opportunities for car and motorcycle enthusiasts to use and display their ‘pride and joy’ whether this be a veteran, vintage or classic, touring or competition car or motorcycle.
Entry to all of these events is free (with the exception of a charge for the Wall of Death), and spectators have a wonderful opportunity to enjoy these vehicles either up close at the static displays on the People’s Park or at the three motor sport events.
The hill climbs and sprint are open to cars manufactured prior to 1975 and motorcycles prior to 1979. The first event is the famous Moonlight Sprints along Victoria Avenue on Friday night. The sprint is held over a quarter of a mile on the north carriageway of Victoria Avenue from east to west and is timed from a standing start, which provides plenty of action for spectators and competitors alike.
Prior to the competitive element, there will be a display of Porsches to mark the 50th anniversary of the 911 this year. The sprints will feature a wide range of cars and bikes competing in classes as well as for the overall best time of the day on four and two wheels. Included in the field will be a number of Austin-Healeys as the Jersey International Motoring festival has been included in the Healey Sport, the motor sport centre of the Austin-Healey Club UK, calendar, along with other venues including Goodwood, Silverstone, Harewood, Brands Hatch and Wilscombe. Competitors will have a practice run and two or three official runs during the evening.
On Saturday the focal point of the action switches to the People’s Park with a tremendous spectacle of static and active attractions. With the hill climb starting from the bottom of Westmount Road adjacent to the People’s Park there is a wonderful opportunity to see the cars and bikes as they leave the start line. Further up the hill on the grass verge just below the bowling green there is another good vantage point for watching the competitors take the corners where time can be gained or lost.
On the Park there is a static display, which also runs on the Sunday, of motor clubs and trade stands. Many of the Island’s enthusiast clubs are taking part. After the fantastic reception given to the Messham Family by all who saw the Wall of Death last year, they are returning once again to provide a real fair-ground feel to the event. Crowds flocked to see the Wall of Death in 2012 to watch stunts performed on old Indian motorcycles riding the vertical wooden wall, with as many as three riders taking part at one time. And this year the Messhams are also bringing the Globe of Death – a five-metre diameter steel latticework mesh globe, built from Scottish milled steel at the Harland and Woolf shipyard in Belfast, which takes stunt riding to a whole new level.
The Messhams, vehicle displays and trade stands will all be available again on the Sunday, while the motor sport action switches to Mount Bingham in the morning. This hill poses a different challenge to Westmount and spectators can enjoy the action from the Glacis Field. Running only on the Sunday is the Active Arena which is a circuit around Victoria Park.
Once again spectators will have the chance to see every kind of motorcycle, kart and different types of vehicle in action – including the Hesketh and Surtees Formula One cars. One of the highlights on the Sunday will be a display of Porsches on the Lower Park. All Porsche owners in Jersey are invited to take their cars along.
The Guernsey Classic Rocker Club or ’66 Club’, will be demonstrating their motorbikes of the 1960s, mainly British machines such as Triumph, BSA and Norton.
The touring cars will be at the People’s Park at various times, but can also be seen around the Island as they follow their own programme. On the Friday they will be going to The Mansell Collection and the Glass Church and on the Saturday they will be visiting Noirmont Point, Moulin de Lecq and Samarès Manor.
