Peter Lyon
March 4, 2025
Only in Britain, the home of car culture and motorsport could you hold an ordinary yet spectacular event like The Festival of the Unexceptional. It all started in 2014 as a collection of ordinary cars in a field and has now expanded to become Britain’s largest celebration of bangers.
That’s actually unjust because all 2000 of the cars that are part of this festival have been loved and cared for by their owners, who appreciate the mundane far more than the money.
Gary Axon, a judge at the Concours de l’Ordinaire, is in his ninth Festival and participates in some very posh auto shows, but he claims that FOTU fans are the best for genuine excitement. “Of the seven cars that were entered at the Bugatti show, only two owners bothered to show up, and you definitely wouldn’t find them polishing and cleaning their vehicles.” They have someone to take care of that for them.
A passion for car nuts and pedestrians was clear all across the extensive lawns of Grimsthorpe Castle in Lincolnshire. Here, the l’Ordinare aficionados shared their memories about Triumphs and Toyotas, as well as Saabs and Skodas.
The inaugural appearance of the Hagerty Drivers Club’s hospitality unit and an extended entertainment program with Jonny Smith and Richard Porter—Smith and Sniff—the country’s favourite automotive podcasters—were new for 2024. As Jonny and Richard filmed an episode of their show and conducted their Wheeltrim of Misfortune trivia question, a pungent stench of brut filled the main stage. The two were impressed by the FOTU audience’s fervent cries of “Fords” and deep understanding of motoring minutiae.
Many readers may be questioning the presence of Hagerty. What is this brand all about? Well, according to its site, “Hagerty began as a niche insurance agency offering coverage for collector cars. We’re now a global automotive enthusiast brand and the world’s largest membership for car lovers. All of this is driven by our love for cars.”
“I think it’s a beautifully curated event,” enthused Smith. “I’ve always liked the juxtaposition between the surroundings and the cars within it—the grand surroundings and cars that aren’t grand at all, the tidal wave of nostalgia that people get out of it, and the pride—the pride in a car that’s rare, but nobody cares. This however is a place where they do care.”
Another highlight was the pub quiz led by Paul Cowland, a contributor to Hagerty. Additionally, Sustain, Hagerty’s partner, was present to dispel myths about sustainable energy, and numerous other businesses were present to sell goods and services to the more than 4,000 fans of the dull.
In the grounds were literally thousands of very ordinary cars that would have rusted and fallen apart were it not for the passion for preservation shown by the owners. Among the rarities were cars like a very last Austin Montego, poverty-spec Protons, and de-contented Cavaliers, Reliant Robins, Renault 5s, and Rovers.
CARLIST THOUGHTS
Trust the Brits to stage an event paying homage to ordinary, unexceptional cars. What a great idea! Going for 11 years now, this event brings together stock standard, everyday cars that real drivers pilot and polish, many for decades. This year’s winner, an unrestored 1982 Toyota Hilux was a fitting victor, picking up the Concours de L’Ordinare to be crowned the much coveted 2024 Hagerty Festival of the Unexceptional Champion.
