Derby's Great Northern Classics to host exciting weekend of planes, trains and automobiles
The former Rolls-Royce heritage centre, now Great Northern Classics, is getting ready to host a double bill of events next weekend. The first weekend of October is a busy one for Great Northern Classics, as Saturday, October 5 will see a ‘Planes, Trains and Automobiles Day’ followed by 'Italian Car Day' on Sunday, October 6.
Saturday’s event will include firing up a working Merlin Aero engine, as the venue houses one of the Merlin engines that may have taken the late Queen back to London from Kenya, after learning of her father's death in 1952.
Despite the uncertainty of the engine's original use, the event’s organizers are hoping that budding history enthusiasts will have knowledge surrounding the serial numbers of the engines that flew the late Monarch.
READ MORE:10 of the Derby pubs named in CAMRA's Good Beer Guide 2025 as 94 Derbyshire pubs make the cut
READ MORE:Long-serving East Midlands Airport worker in Derby Telegraph funeral notices this weekend
Shaun Matthews, founder and director of Great Northern Classics, said: “Whatever the weather, we’ll be firing up that beautiful Merlin engine in our car park four times during Saturday, which will be a real treat for everyone.
"We’d also love to discover some more information about the Merlin engines that ferried the Queen on her first flight as monarch. We’re hoping someone out there can provide the missing link.”
The open day will run from 10am until 3pm and will see a host of different activities such as engine-building challenges, Scalextric racing, slot-car racing, a model railway, and refreshments at the centre’s cafe. Both of the weekend's events are also free of charge, excluding the £1.50 an hour parking charge.
However, the fun at Great Northern Classics doesn’t stop there, as an Italian car gathering will be hosted at the Osmaston Road motoring destination. Hoping to attract Italian car enthusiasts to come and show off their vintage Italian cars.
While Great Northern Classics will be putting a few of their own cars on display, the event is tailored to let the public really take the spotlight. With Italian cars parking for free at Sunday’s event.