Paul Jolly: Historic vehicle gathering raises £16,000 for charity

At their special cheque presentations meeting held recently, representatives from the Crash Box Club donated £3,000 to each of the three headline charities of Hospiscare (Exeter), Sidmouth Living with Cancer Support Group (Sidmouth Area), and StarterMotor.

Additional donations were made to the various other local charities that had a presence at the Historic Vehicle Gathering. 

Held over the weekend of July 12 and 13, this year’s Historic Vehicle Gathering attracted 1,800 vehicle entries and approximately 6,000 visitors.

Many of these cars, motorcycles and commercial vehicles were displayed by seventy clubs supporting the event. Adding further appeal was a display of over fifty full size and miniature steamers. This really is Devon’s most significant classic vehicle family event of the year and should not be missed in 2026.

Mike Overfield Collins, the rally chairman, said: “Our Historic Vehicle Gathering held in the grounds of Powderham Castle was our fiftieth rally and it attracted a record entry of vehicles of all types. The display included a few vehicle entries which attended the first event in 1975 as well as a few that were brand new in that year.”

“Thank you to all our visitors, exhibitors and unpaid volunteers involved with the show this year who made this possible, we could not have done it without your support.”

To date the amount raised and donated to charities by the Crash Box Club from running the Historic Vehicle Gathering has exceeded £250,000.

The Club has confirmed that the 51st Historic Vehicle Gathering will take place on Saturday, July 11 and Sunday, July 12, 2026. 

For further details about the activities of the Crash Box Club, visit www.crashboxclub.co.uk