FAST cars, live music and family fun was enjoyed by thousands of people who were treated to three days of non-stop entertainment at a summer festival held in North Hampshire.
Families descended on Laverstoke Park Farm over the Bank Holiday weekend for the fifth annual CarFest South, held to raise money for BBC Children in Need.
It was in the spring of 2012 that BBC Radio 2 Breakfast show host Chris Evans first dreamt up the concept for a perfect family festival, and since then CarFest has been held each year, offering a host of entertainment including cars, food and music.
This year, festival goers enjoyed a jam-packed programme of entertainment at former Formula One champion Jody Scheckter’s farm.
Mr Schecker, who was the title winner in 1979, took the chance to blast several of his F1 winning cars along a hay-baled hill climb, as well as a new acquisition, a 1956 Porsche tractor, wowing the crowds with a series of impressive high-speed runs.
The story of motoring was told via The Time Tunnel, where 40 iconic cars from the decades were on display, from a classic turn-of-the 20th century Oldsmobile right up to a present day Aston Martin Vulcan hypercar, valued at more than £2million.
BBC Children in Need’s loveable mascot Pudsey Bear wandered around the site, high-fiving enthusiastic festival goers and cheerfully posing for pictures.
There was also all the old favourites which returned for another year, including the popular JCB Dancing Diggers and food fair demonstrations with celebrity chefs Tom Kerridge and James Martin.
New for 2016 was a drive-in cinema, offering the chance to relax and watch a film in the sunshine, a Shetland Pony Grand National, camel racing and dancing workshops with Strictly Come Dancing stars Kevin and Karen Clifton.
A few famous faces could be seen mingling amongst the crowds over the weekend, including Grand Prix team boss Ross Brawn, double Olympic gold medal rower James Cracknell, BBC 2 Radio broadcasters Jeremy Vine and Vassos Alexander and BBC Breakfast weather presenter Carol Kirkwood.
Local groups also helped entertain the crowds, including Basingstoke Wolverines who ran workshops in a big top circus tent before performing on the main stage in front of an audience of 50,000.
In the evening, families found a spot in front of the main stage to watch an impressive line-up of musical acts including Ronan Keating, Will Young, Rick Astley, Stereophonics, the Military Wives Choir and Status Quo, who closed the show to a rapturous reception on Sunday night.
Mr Evans said: “I know we’ve said it before and I hope we’ll say it again, but these CarFests just get better and better.”
Since its launch, CarFest has raised more than £6m for BBC Children in Need, a figure which is set to rise significantly following this year’s sell out festival.
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