Cars a plenty at Stormont – DMC wins hands down as the best represented manfacturer

The Stormont Car Show is making a strong case for it to be one of the “must go to” car shows in the annual calendar with another stunning display of vehicles in the Stormont Estate on Saturday 8 June 2024.

The weather was generally kind with long spells of sunshine and only the occasional light shower and the Dollingstown Club had pulled out all the stops to secure the attendance of well over 50 Delorean cars, some of which had travelled far and wide to be there (I’m told there were 59 but I confess that I didn’t count them). There were nearly as many Deloreans at Stormont as there are MLAs!!  It was an impressive sight to see them lined up from Carson’s statue to the plateau at the front of Parliament Buildings. Most of them were as they left the factory with the raw stainless steel body panels proudly on show but there were a couple of painted examples – my favourite one was the Alfa Red one! It was reported that a mad professor was seen in the grounds of the Stormont Estate but I am unable to confirm whether it was in fact Dr Emmett Brown from Back to the Future!

The variety of cars on display was breathtaking – from the ordinary to the exotic.  It was good to see a number of cars that, whilst not exceptional in their day, were well preserved and much loved examples.  When was the last time you saw a Mitsubishi Colt Celeste, a Renault 17, Vauxhall Nova saloon or a Skoda Rapid? There was also a strong presence of cars from different motoring clubs – from Porsche, Rover, Vauxhall, TVR, Audi and of course our line up from NIIMC – we had 15 club members cars on display and there was plenty more stylish Italian machinery dotted throughout the show. Everyone loves to see Ferraris and Lamborghinis so the spectators weren’t disappointed with a number on display but seeing the likes of Ken Smith’s Fiat 128 3P or the original Fiat Uno 45 also brought a smile to many enthusiastic folk attending the show.

As in recent years Pamela Ballentine was there to award prizes but evidently she did not appreciate the beauty of our Italian line up as the prizes for best in show went elsewhere – not that we minded as I am sure the prize winners were thoroughly deserving (or else they’d bribed Pammy!!)

Everyone had a great time talking to others and exchanging motoring stories and we all came away a little more knowledgable about something relating to cars by the end of the day. A special shout for Tom and his fifteen traybakes  – he brought some and shared them round the club members and they were delicious. It has now been written into the club’s constitution that Tom must bring traybakes of his choice to all shows that NIIMC members attend.

So, another memorable show and long may its success continue. We are already looking forward to the the next Stormont Show in 2025.

Tim Logan

Club Chairman