Paignton's Classic Car Show cancelled

The Torbay Old Wheels Club has announced that the 2024 annual Classic Car Show on Paignton Green is cancelled.

The event usually takes place at the end of July as a part of the Torbay Community Carnival. The cancellation is due to excessive rainfall over the past few months, which has adversely affected the ground's condition. As a result, Torbay Council has been unable to allocate a suitable section of the green for the event or provide a new layout plan.

Without a confirmed layout, the club says it cannot implement the necessary safety measures for exhibitors, vehicles, and visitors. Given the limited time remaining and the high costs of organising the show, the club decided that cancellation is the most prudent course of action to avoid a last-minute disruption.

In a statement, the Torbay Old Wheels Club said: “It is with great regret, after much discussion, the Torbay Old Wheels Club have taken the decision not to hold their annual Classic Car Show on Paignton Green as part of the Torbay Community Carnival this July. Due to the excessive rainfall experienced over the last few months, and its effect on the ground’s surface, Torbay Council have been unable to specify a suitable allocation or location of a section of Paignton Green to the club and, thus far, a new proposed layout plan has been unavailable.

“This presents the club with a difficulty in putting together the necessary safeguards to ensure the safety of the exhibitors, their vehicles and the visiting general public. In view of the limited remaining timescale, the cost of organising the show, and the number of people involved, the members, therefore, believe the above decision to be the right one, rather than being forced into cancelling the show further down the line.

“The club is very disappointed at this outcome and is particularly sorry for the loss to the local charities, who usually benefit from the show’s profits. Our apologies and thanks to everyone who has worked so hard to try and make the show a success, including 70+ TOWC volunteers who started working on the show almost as soon as last year's was over, the hundreds of classic car owners who enter every year, and the thousands of visitors who make the show worthwhile. Last but not least to the Torbay Community Carnival Committee for their usual hard work facilitating the Show every year. We are, however, hopeful we can work with Torbay Council to ensure the event can go ahead in 2025.”