The Ultimate Car & Truck Show has become an enduring favourite for car enthusiasts, raising a mountain of money for charity and now in its thirteenth year, moved to Lisburn for the first time.
Kevin Haveron, one of the main driving forces behind the show along with a reliable team of friends and volunteers, accepted the offer of a vast warehouse on the outskirts of the city and as such, moved the show from the great outdoors in Larne, and indoors for the first time that I can recall.
Having suffered poor attendances in the past due to weather, as well as the fact that this great show seemed to always clash with at least two other events, it was great to be able to see this show under cover, with no care as to what the weather was doing outside.
It was a much more enjoyable show today also, in the knowledge that I wasn’t scheduled to cover a couple of other events, with the only other thing happening being The Cannon Run which was due to hit Belfast after the halls of The Ultimate Car & Truck Show had emptied.
It’s hard to believe that this ‘anything goes’ event is now a teenager, I am pretty sure I attended the very first one that was hosted all them years ago, a sign of old age for me I guess, though it is refreshing to know that the event is still very much alive and well, despite the demise of many others like it.
Cars ranged from incredibly well preserved modern classics to on-the-floor modified machines, whilst the race and rally fraternity was well represented alongside some off-road motorsport machinery and an eclectic mix of vintage steeds was a welcomed sight.
The E30 //M3 of Ralph Jess…
The best thing about these type of gatherings are the little gems that just happen to be parked up, some of those that caught my eye included Ralph Jess’s racing car, an E30 BMW //M3 which, as it happens, I saw being stripped some five years ago in his workshop before being turned into what was presented today, it is only just finished after an extensive build.
A Vauxhall Nova Sport, which can be described as nothing short of factory fresh, attracted a serious amount of attention during the day whilst a Toyota Glanza finished in black with gold wheels really was the full package, offering big power along with a racing inspired interior and reworked exterior.
A Chevrolet pick-up truck finished in light blue over white, not only caught my eye, but brightened up the show, while a yellow E36 BMW and bronze Toyota Supra both got a nod of approval as I walked past along with a couple of old Volvo’s that had received some slammed stance.
For truck fans, there was a couple of vintage lorries in attendance and inside the hall, a few airbrushed masterpieces sat as clean as any other vehicle there on the day, a testament to their owners considering these big rigs are working machines that will do ten times the mileage of most well used cars.
The day was held in aid of the Northern Ireland Children’s Hospice and I am pleased to report that an amazing £3,150 was raised to help those in need at a difficult time in their lives.
Words & Photos: Graham Baalham-Curry
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