The Classic Motor Hub (CMH) more than ‘blew the bloody doors off’ at its inaugural classic car Drive-In Movie Night last Saturday, 10 June, with a sell-out crowd enjoying a full-size screen showing that great British film classic, The Italian Job from the comfort of the vehicle’s interiors.
With a full house of around 120 classic and interesting modern cars venturing out to CMH’s country base near Bibury, Gloucestershire, the drive-in movie goers were also treated to live music, free popcorn and a fine choice of great food, plus a lively bar, as well as the opportunity to inspect the many amazing, rare and highly-sought classic cars on display and for sale at CMH’s stylish rural premises.
To reinforce the Italian Job theme, CMH staged a roll call of the classic British movie’s all-star car cast members, with a Lamborghini Miura, Aston Martin DB4, Alfa Romeo Giulia Nuova Super ‘Polizia,’ plus of course an early Mini Cooper, awaiting the keen movie goers. 1950s-uniformed usherettes were on hand to assist.
The weather was frustratingly more British than Italian, with the initial light drizzle just as the iconic opening sequence of the film began, turning into heavier rain by the time the Minis were avoiding the traffic mayhem in Turin. This didn’t dampen the spirits of the film-goers through, cosy in their comfy cars with the wipers occasionally swiping, and the movie soundtrack played through a dedicated in-car radio frequency (or a branded ear-piece radio for the older classics that didn’t have a wireless).
A wide range of classics lined-up in front of the giant screen to watch the film, ranging from a pair of pre-war Austin Sevens, to an elegant Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud, an all-American Studebaker Silver Hawk, an Aston Martin DB2/4, Riley Elf, Lamborghini Espada, Caterham Seven, Ford Escort Mk I, Alfa Romeo 8C, plus a number of early Porsche 911s.
At one point, CMH proprietor cheered some of the movie-going crowd by distributing prizes from sponsors Fat Face, Laurent Perrier Champagne, Hagerty Classic Car Insurance and RK Harrison to various lucky winners. With a free Hagerty goody bag going to each attendee, everyone felt like a winner.
CMH will be staging three more classic vehicle Drive-In Movie events over the summer, the next one being held on the evening of Saturday 15 July, from 19:30 onwards, when the fun American rock ‘n’ roll classic Grease will be screened. Later dates are 5th August (Chitty-Chitty-Bang-Bang) and 30th September (Casablanca).
The cost to attend is £15 per car (not per person), so cram plenty of family and friends into the old Cadillac, Cortina or Countach for a bargain fun evening’s entertainment. With capacity for around 125 vehicles, CHM expect interest and demand to be high, so for visitors to guarantee a parking slot, they should email [email protected] as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.
