Shuttleworth Race Day Airshow Review 2024
In 2023 Graham Hill arranged for CKGB to have a static display of our Cyclekarts at the Shuttleworth Collection Autumn Race Day. For 2024 we returned with 8 Cyclekarts and took part in the Shuttleworth Sprint.
The Race Day is a combined motor vehicle and aircraft show for vehicles from the period up to World War 2. Consequently, the Cyclekarts certainly looked the part amidst the great variety of inspiration cars. The cars were also joined by many motorbikes and aircraft of that era. The show celebrates the passion Richard Shuttleworth had for racing (both on the ground and in the air). He was known for his skill at racing horses, motor vehicles and aircraft which saw him win many accolades including the Donington Park Challenge Trophy in 1935. He was also an avid collector of veteran cars and aircraft, which he painstakingly restored to create the amazing collection that exists today at the Old Warden grass airfield.
During the morning, the great variety of Edwardian, vintage and veteran cars and motorbikes fired up their engines and from out of the plume of engine exhaust (including the intoxicating aroma of Castrol R) the cars and bikes took to the track. This was a 650yd sprint along the grass runway, returning through the lines of classic aircraft onto the hangar straight before heading back onto the
airfield. The cyclekarts finished off the morning with a 15 minute session lapping the airfield. In the afternoon the aircraft took to the skies to perform some stunning aerial displays. The Cyclekarts were adjacent to a stunt show, so when that had finished mid-afternoon, the opportunity was taken to have a bit more action on the grass arena.
This was a fantastic day of nostalgia in a glorious period venue. The Cyclekarts were very well received by the owners of the original inspiration cars and also the general public (many of whom mistakenly believed they were original cars). Hopefully, we can build on this success and return for 2025.
Ian Fletcher
CKGB Events
