MANY people will have heard of the Classic and Specialist Car and Bike Night, the monthly gathering of the weird and the wonderful of the local motoring world at the Red Lion in Shobrooke.

The event is fortunate enough to be very well attended and has a core of regular supporters, but one pair of enthusiasts recently took things further.

Anna and Colm Fay from Wembworthy, regular attendees of the Shobrooke event, have started their own version at their local pub, the Lymington Arms.

Anna and Colm’s event is so new that it doesn’t yet have a name, being billed as simply “A Gathering of Vintage Vehicles and Vehicles Of Interest”.

This gives the event a very broad appeal and certainly resulted in the first meet, held on Wednesday, August 7, being attended by a hugely varied selection of vehicles.

Classic cars from such as Morris, Riley, Austin-Healey, Daimler and Jowett were present.

Different eras of Volkswagen were represented by a classic Beetle and an almost new Golf R, the pair by complete chance sporting near identical shades of metallic blue paint!

Other newer cars included a BMW Z4M, Ford Focus RS and a Ferrari 488. At the other end of the age scale were a very nice late 1940s MG TC and a pre-War Austin 7.

Finally, causing a huge amount of interest, not least because it was huge, a Lincoln Town Coupe brought a touch of Las Vegas to rural Devon!

As at Shobrooke, motorcycles are very much welcome at Wembworthy, although on this occasion only one appeared, a Honda NVT650. Hopefully more will turn up in future.

In the meantime, the two-wheeled cause did have a couple of quirkier representatives, with a vintage motorised delivery bicycle on show, while also peddling hard was a very young enthusiast who brought his newly recommissioned 1970s Raleigh Chopper.

Finally, perhaps as a result of Wembworthy’s rural and remote location, there was quite a strong agricultural contingent in evidence.

Several Land Rovers were present, along with three tractors, the latter including an example of the famous Ferguson TE20, more commonly known as the “Little Grey Fergie”.

Overall, the first time out for this new event was a great success. While it was certainly similar to the Shobrooke meet, it had its own distinct atmosphere and character.

It was also well received by the Lymington Arms team, with landlady Kate eagerly commenting: “It’s been excellent! Bring on next month!”.

It is intended that the event become a monthly occurrence, taking place on the first Wednesday of each month.

For more information on future developments contact Anna or Colm on 01837 83731, or keep an eye on the Lymington Arm’s “Facebook” page at: www.facebook.com/thelymingtonarms .