• Home
• News
• 2024 Annual Show in James’ Park
• Club Events 2024
• Gallery
• Contact

ROYAL IRISH AUTOMOBILE CLUB ANNOUNCES THE RIAC NATIONAL CLASSIC CAR SHOW.

The Chairman of the Royal Irish Automobile Club, Cecil Sparks, today announced the Club’s plans to run a The RIAC National Classic Car Show in 2013. The Show will be held in the Royal Dublin Society Simmonscourt Hall on Saturday and Sunday February 9th and 10th 2013.
AXA Insurance, the market leaders in classic car insurance, will support this first National Irish Classic Car Show, together with other show partners, the Irish Veteran and Vintage Car Club and Irish Vintage Scene magazine.
Cecil Sparks commented, “ It is entirely appropriate that the Royal Irish Automobile Club should organise this show, given its unrivaled motoring heritage and also the fact that it organised Ireland’s first Motor Shows, also at the RDS, in 1907 and 1908. The Club promises an unparalleled line-up of all types of classic, post-vintage, vintage, veteran and antique cars as well as motorcycles and tractor displays. In addition, the Club intends to invite selected car clubs to participate by mounting club stands and will also have feature stands ranging from Classic Supercars to a unique display of historic Irish racing and rally cars.”
“The Club is delighted to welcome AXA Insurance as the prime supporter and partner of the event. Their expertise and knowledge of the classic car movement in Ireland will prove of invaluable assistance in preparing and organising the show. We are also very pleased to have as partners the Irish Veteran and Vintage Car Club, the umbrella organisation of the old car movement in Ireland, as well as Irish Vintage Scene magazine, the publication which has done so much to draw together all the various strands of interest in the different forms of old transport in Ireland.”

Myles O’Reilly, from AXA Insurance commented;” We are delighted to be supporting as main sponsor the The RIAC National Classic Car Show. As Irelands leading classic car and private motor insurer we warmly welcome the initiative of the Royal Irish Automobile Club in organising a major event which will showcase the very best of Irish motoring, with support from clubs and enthusiasts all over Ireland. With show partners, Irish Vintage Scene Magazine, and the Irish Veteran and Vintage Car Club, we look forward to working together to make this a memorable event”.
Tom Farrell, President of the Irish Veteran and Vintage Car Club said: “The Irish Veteran and Vintage Car Club are delighted to be associated with this exciting event as we set out on our Golden Jubilee year – as a club, we have had a long association with the RIAC and in fact it was to the RIAC that our first president Knowles Stokes turned for advice on the formation of the IVVCC. We intend having a number of iconic cars on our stand with such diversity as the Irish entry in the 2010 Mille Miglia, a 1932 Alfa Romeo 8C to a one owner Austin Cooper. We also look forward to being joined at the event by a number of our affiliated clubs at this not to be missed spectacle.

Thomas Heavey, Editor & Managing Director of Irish Vintage Scene, said; “There has been a strong appetite for a show like this among Irish vintage and classic vehicle enthusiasts for a number of years now, and at last someone has taken it on board. We are delighted to be official partners to the RIAC in the hosting of this event, and will work tirelessly to put on a show that will match the best of equivalent events across Europe. The involvement of AXA insurance and the IVVCC will also add greatly to the professionalism that the event deserves. Having seen the plans and proposals for the show, I am sure it will be a huge success right from the off. I am personally genuinely excited about this event, as we enthusiasts deserve a national show where we can showcase the best old vehicles that this country has to offer”.
Bob Montgomery, who is leading the project on behalf of the Royal Irish Automobile Club said; “This is a wonderful opportunity to highlight the many different strands of interest in old vehicles that exist in Ireland, but most of all this will be a Show for everyone with an interest in old vehicles. It will not be a Show filled with ultra expensive exotica – although there will be some examples of such vehicles there as well – rather it will reflect the interest that exists with enthusiasts throughout the country. I’m happy that we can mount a Show that will send everybody that visits it away happy and inspired by what they have seen”.
“It is hoped that invited clubs will provide displays and these together with themed feature stands will provide something for everybody. The history of Irish Motoring; Historic Irish Racing and Rally cars; Classic Supercars and cars from some of Ireland’s great car collections, many of which will not have been seen publicly before are just some of the attractions already confirmed for the show.”
“Another feature of the Show will be a free car park on both days for the first 250 pre-1980 cars to arrive – something that will in itself no doubt provide an interesting attraction. There will be special awards for the Best Club Stand, Best Club Car and Car of the Show’. Tickets to the Show will also be available to Car Clubs to purchase in advance at a significant discount.”
The RIAC National Classic Car Show will be a two-day event, taking place on Saturday 9th February and Sunday 10th February 2013.