The second POP was run over the weekend of July 18/19th in the grounds of the 7,500 acre Cholmondeley estate on the Cheshire/Shropshire border.

Headline sponsor was again nearby Crewe based-Bentley Motors, who were in the second of their three year commitment to the event and displayed an original ‘20’s "Blower", alongside an ’03 Le Mans spec EXP8. Bentley partner Breitling, provided  watches for class winners and overall FTD and publicised the brand, with a Saturday lunchtime aerobatics display, whilst Sunday’s flypast, was provided by a Spitfire from the Battle of Britain memorial flight.

With 80 cars and 40 bikes taking to the 1.2 mile track, there were plenty of runs for all over the weekend and although it was about demonstration, rather than competition, Justin Law added to his recent success at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, by achieving FTD, in Staffan Svenby’s Lister Jaguar Prototype.

Ferrari’s included Sir Anthony Bamford’s, Jim Stokes-built D50 replica, driven by Willie Green, Ben Cussons 250SWB and NWAG member Tony Worswick, in his rally spec 308. Maserati was represented by event patron Alan Minshaw in his ’59 Birdcage and Lancia by Morgan Jenkins’ Fulvia and Andrew Ferguson’s Stratos Stradale.

Always a crowd pleaser, as last year, Chris Williams had the stub exhausts of the Bentley Napier singeing the paddock grass on warm up. Bentley restorer Donald Day, proudly displayed the history of his ERA R14B, which he has owned for 51 years and the ‘70’s special saloon category, was celebrated by the presence of  Baby Bertha, the Repco engined Vauxhall Firenza silhouette (raced to considerable success by the late Gerry Marshall), Steve Hill’s DAF Oldsmobile and the Mick Hill-built, Formula 5000 based, VW Beetle.

Single seaters were also part of the entry – Lorina McLaughlin drove her ex Michael Schumacher Benetton B192, Lancastrian Andrew Wareing his Williams FW06 and BRM P261, whilst the ”Blue Oval” was represented by Alan Watkins Escort RS, Andy Lloyd’s ex Dick Johnson RS500 and Mark Finburgh’s GT40

Incidents were thankfully minimal and with informed commentary from Neville Hay, there was definitely something for everyone on both two and four wheels.

For those more marine minded, there were rounds of the RYA Formula 4 Catamaran and Hydroplane Championships on the Deer Park lake, whilst adjacent to the track, was a broad spectrum of privately owned helicopters. With several car club displays on the outfield, supported by trade stands within, including the globe’s fastest earth mover, the 100mph Chevrolet engined JCB GT, the second POP was a distinct success, despite the indifferent weather. More needs to be done to resolve access and egress issues and widen the event’s appeal, but with 11,000 tickets sold in advance and healthy attendances over the weekend, it’s clearly a learning curve for all concerned.

Congratulations to all and with dialogue over the potential of Ferrari to be next year’s celebrated marque ongoing with Shell, hopefully the NWAG can help raise the profile of this event further in 2010.

There have been many automotive anniversaries in 2009 –  75 years of the Silver Arrows, 80 years of Bentley and 60 years of its Drivers Club - their forthcoming annual visit to Silverstone is a fitting location for a birthday party….see you there!  

[roll mouse over pic for caption, click to enlarge]