21st Anniversary Year
This year marks the 21st anniversary of the formation of the East Riding Engine Club, which has as it's main purpose the organisation of the Driffield Steam and Vintage Rally. Over the years the Rally has raised thousands of pounds for local charities.
The club itself continues to go from strength to strength and is now the custodian of a rare 'Crossley' stationary engine which was originally used to pump water at Beverly Beck. The Club has risen to the challenge of it's custodianship, and the engine is now in the process of restoration by it's members.
To help celebrate the 21 year milestone, the Club has invited the Steam Car Club of Great Britain, who are also celebrating their 21st anniversary, to join them at this year’s rally which takes place on the 14th and 15th August. This raises the exciting prospect of over ten steam cars being displayed at the event including some notable rarities. Amongst these, making its debut appearance this year, will be one of the few very advanced Doble Model E22 cars which was owned from new by the American multimillionaire recluse, Howard Hughes.
Another car with a very interesting history is the 1922 Stanley 740D which was involved in the infamous 1929 St. Valentines Day massacre in Chicago with Al Capone. This car is presently undergoing restoration and it will be it’s first UK public appearance. There will also be the unique Morriss Steam Car, (not built by the well known Morris spelt with one ‘s’), and the only Stanley Model M in the UK. This model was described in the 1908 Stanley brochure as “the epitome of the coffin nosed Stanley”, it is a five seat 30HP car capable of 70mph!
Not only is this is a rare opportunity to see so many steam cars together on one rally field, but the cars will also be taking part in a couple of tours before the rally weekend to a steam museum near Scarborough, and a trip to Honeysuckle Farm, Hornsea, arranged for them by the East Riding Engine Club committee. So keep a look out and you may catch these wonderful machines zooming by!
Another welcome visitor to this year’s rally will be the first appearance in Yorkshire of Dave Maris’s 1926 Sentinel Super Tractor which was supplied new to an Australian gold mine. From first finding the machine it took Dave 14 years to get it repatriated, followed by another 4 years of restoration.
A Sentinel S4 nearing it’s completion after 30 years in storage will also be visiting the rally.
There will also be the now traditional road run into Driffield and charity collection on Saturday night, but this year there will be fancy dress to mark the 21st anniversary - it's sure to be a great spectacle!.