Anniversary event recalls the era of stylish motoring
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| The Mayor of Lisburn, Councillor Allan Ewart looks over the smallest car in the event, a 1934 Austin 7 owned by Ken Irwin and his wife from Hillsborough. | Chairman of The Ulster Pre-War Austin Club, Stanley Cassells welcomes the Mayor of Lisburn, Councillor Allan Ewart to the event. |
VINTAGE car lovers were out in force across Lisburn last Saturday as the city hosted one of the biggest vintage car runs in Northern Ireland when The Ulster Pre-War Austin Club, the oldest vintage car club in the country, chose the city as the base for their 40th anniversary run.
The Ulster Pre-War Austin Club was formed in 1969, initially to cater for only pre war Austins.
However, it was so successful that people with non pre war Austin cars requested to be allowed to take part, so now any vintage or classic cars are welcome.
The group met at Cargacreevy Presbyterian Church on the Ballynahinch Road, before the cavalcade of 35 cars was flagged off by the Mayor of Lisburn, Councillor Allan Ewart.
This was the start of a 50 mile tour of the Co. Down countryside with a number of stops. The first of these was at the Harry Ferguson memorial garden to view the bronze statue. The club are indebted to Eric Forsythe who gave a brief history of Harry Ferguson.
Climbed
From here all the old cars climbed up into the hills south of Dromara, stopping at the famous Windy Gap view point, then they were off to Tom Herron's museum to see his wonderful collection of old cars, steam engines and model cars. From there the tour made its way back through Kinallen and Hillsborough to the finish at Gowdy's restaurant for a meal.
The Mayor of Lisburn again joined the celebration, where he said he had never seen a more exciting collection of cars and that the club were very welcome to return for future runs.
A special presentation was made to founder member, 81-year-old George McCaig and his wife Sadie. George drove the event in his 1933 Austin 12, a car he has owned throughout the life of the club, having bought it in 1962 for £15.
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| Glenavy man Denis Wilson in his 1927 Rolls Royce Tourer. He was accompanied on the run by his wife Gill. | Secretary of the club Ella McLouchlin from Lisburn is chauffeured by Des Ballantine in his 1929 Austin 16/6. |
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| 81-year-old George McCaig, a founder member of the club, with his 1933 Austin 12, a car he has owned since 1962 and which he bought for £15. | Waiting for the start from left to right is Ken Irwin (Hillsborough), Wilfie Patterson (Lisburn) and George McCaig (Glengormley). |
Ulster Star
14/08/2009
