Bexhill 100 Motoring Club’s August Bank Holiday Car Show was blessed with good weather for the first time in three years, and was made all the more special by a surprise guest appearance from Eddie Izzard, who generously gave up his time to help Michael Ensor (Chairman of East Sussex County Council) open the Show, which produced a magnificent display of vehicles ranging from a 1925 Bullnose Morris right through to the latest 2016 Ford Mustang and the BMW i8, together with custom and American cars and many other classics.  Every owner had the same goal – to show off their pride and joy!  Show Committee member Chris Speck said ‘There’s not many shows that can match the variety of cars on display here today!’

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The trophy presentations were:

• Best in Show went to David Hows for his 1934 20/25 Rolls Royce Open Tourer 

• Best Classic went to Andy Sill for his early E type Jaguar

• Best Custom Car went to Dave Cannon for his 37 Chevrolet

• The youngest prize winner was 10-year old Carys Allen whose Toylander won the prize for Best Commercial Vehicle

• Best Motorbike was presented to Paul Stieblitz for his Coventry Eagle barn find

• Best Bexhill 100 Club Car went to Alan Hodges for his Sunbeam Rapier

• The Peter Nowak trophy was presented to Chris Hall for his 1958 MGA

• The Mayor of Bexhill – Cllr. Simon Elford presented a special prize to Peter and Jane Gurl for their Rover P6

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The weather for the two previous year's shows had not been kind to us and as a result, this year’s had to be meticulously planned to cover almost all outgoings before the commitment was made to go ahead.  The show programme was self-funded by the sponsors who advertised in it; the revenue from the advance car bookings paid for the largest expenditure; that being the additional toilets, and last year’s performers - the Starlite Duo, donated their services free of charge. Rother District Council generously allowed the club to use the Polegrove at no cost to the club, all of which allowed us to hold this year’s show.

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Good fortune with the weather, together with the surprise appearance of Eddie Izzard means that the four charities, Homecall (home visiting service to the visually impaired);  Bexhill’s Golden Marigold Club;  SERV Sussex (providing transportation of blood and urgent medical items), and Bexhill’s Gateway Club could look forward to receiving generous donations.

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Russ Green, of SERV Sussex said: ‘Thank you to all of the Bexhill 100 members for choosing SERV Sussex as one of this year’s local charities, and for the invitation to be at your show today.  We met lots of lovely people who have been on the receiving end of ‘what we do’ and also some of the staff from the hospitals we serve who wanted to say thank you. You have done yourselves, and of course Bexhill proud yet again.’

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Leah Norman of Homecall said: ‘Thank you to everyone at Bexhill 100 for choosing Homecall Home Visiting Scheme for the Visually Impaired as one of this years local charities - what an amazing day we have had meeting people, spreading the word about our service and making vital funds with our sweetie Tombola.  Many congratulations to all - it was truly Bexhill at its best.

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Club Treasurer, Charlie Rowland said: ‘Many thanks for all members, volunteers and others who helped today at what appears to be our best ever show – special thanks to our main sponsor, Drays of Bexhill, and to Michael Ensor and Eddie Izzard for opening the show and to show committee member Pauline Forward for all her efforts in arranging for Eddie to attend.’

The good weather brought in approximately 4,000 visitors to the show, from Bexhill and further afield throughout the day, together with a total of some 500 vehicles and 40 trade stands.  The general consensus was that it was a brilliant day for all.