More than 100 vehicles of yesteryear took part in an annual road run last weekend as part of the evergreen Upper Eden Easter rally.
“There were people everywhere waving and smiling and the number of photographers all over the place was unbelievable,” said the rally’s organiser Paul Richardson, who is chairman of Kirkby Stephen Town Council.
“It really is worth going on,” Paul said of the road run event, which takes a couple of hours to wind its way from Kirkby Stephen towards Asby via Newbiggin-on-Lune, before heading back to the town through Soulby.
First organised by the Hamer family, who run Cumbria Classic Coaches, the inaugural Easter rally was held in 1999 and since then it has gathered quite a following.
“People come because they know the people. It is a gathering. They get to know everyone, they like to see the vehicles,” said Paul.
“There are always new vehicles for them as well.”
The great weather this year really brought the families out, as well as older vintage vehicle enthusiasts.
The Stainmore Railway Company volunteers welcomed well over 3,500 visitors to their site at Kirkby Stephen East Station where there were also some military vehicles promoting the town’s first 1940s weekend which is set to take place from 23rd to 24th September.
In total, Paul said it was estimated that between 11,000 and 12,000 visitors had come to Kirkby Stephen over the weekend.
Paul said: “Sunday was great and Saturday was absolutely fantastic.”
There were well over 300 exhibitors spread over several sites in Kirkby Stephen as well as displays at Warcop, Brough, Winton and the Fat Lamb, near Ravenstonedale, which had several more cars this year.
Taking part were about 50 buses, over 50 wagons, nearly 50 cars and 30 tractors, but organisers didn’t get as many motorbikes as they wanted and plan on improving that for next year.
There was also entertainment for children in the form of hook a duck, test your strength machine and a giant trampoline.
In addition, there were more trade stands this year selling everything from automotive memorabilia and tools to clothing and fudge — anything that a visitor might want to buy during their stay, said Paul.
