Bicester Motion swore in the centenary of the former RAF Bicester with a sun-soaked and sold-out Scramble on Sunday 26 April.
Honouring the site’s creation in 1926, 14 cars from the period fanned out around a Bristol Scout aeroplane in the centre of Hangar 113, including the remarkable 1920 Rolls-Royce Pattern tank. The local cadet band, from 2507 Squadron ATC, marched up Main Drive to crown the celebrations.
The BAR Honda 006 Formula 1 car that took Jenson Button to third in the standings in 2004 starred in the vees celebration on Orchard Lawn, yards from an early V4 Ford Transit and Mazda MX-3 – the world’s smallest production V6. A NASCAR truck, Iso Grifo, works Triumph TR7 rally car, Ford hot rod and Aston Martin Elva represented the V8, while a Morgan and Moto Guzzi flew the V2 flag. A Dodge Viper and Audi RS6 Avant added more V10s, and a limited-edition Aston Martin Zagato for the V12.
Maserati celebrated its own centenary, 100 years to the day since the brand’s first car launched at the Targa Florio in 1926, with an early single-seater 6CM paired with the track-only MCExtrema among a colourful group of cars.
Bring a Trailer launched its online auction partnership with the Scramble via a vibrant display in tandem with Sports Purpose, its lead Local Partner in the UK. A Goodwood-winning Chevrolet Camaro Z28 joined existing and forthcoming auctions in the MT Yard, surrounded by people all day.
Across the MT Yard, Escapade announced its arrival at Bicester Motion with a British Touring Car and Tuthill Porsche 911K, while another newcomer, AMCI, packed all manner of machinery in and around its Main Stores headquarters. Aero experts Sabe, further along Western Avenue, met Scramblers to introduce its new home in the Parachute Store.
Bar 101 @ Sky Wave and 27 Works presented the Encor, a fully carbon Esprit, while The Intercooler interviewed David Richards, Mark Blundell and later Daniel Geoghegan at Motorsport UK and David Brabham led the talks at ROR Creative.
The forthcoming Renault Twingo stole the show at Top Gear in the Paddock, while Honda’s new supermini, the Super N kei car, made its debut with its 1980s predecessor, the City Turbo II. The ID Polo GTI, complete with camouflage livery, hid among a 50th anniversary GTI display ranging from the first-generation Golf to the GTI Edition 50 at Hagerty Clubhouse.
Tickets to the next Scramble, on Sunday 4 October, went on sale at 10am on Monday 27 October. Visit bicestermotion.com/scramble to book.
