Coventry has many claims to fame, but one of the strongest is its place in Britain’s automotive history. From Daimler and Standard to Jaguar and the modern JLR era, the city has long been associated with car manufacture and engineering innovation. Each year, Coventry MotorFest celebrates that heritage by bringing vehicles, enthusiasts and the public together in the heart of the city.
This year’s MotoFest Classic took place over the weekend of 6–7 June and the city centre was transformed into a showcase of classic vehicles, motorsport action and family-friendly entertainment.
A particular highlight this year was the 40th anniversary celebration of the Jaguar XJ40. Owners and enthusiasts gathered in University Square with an impressive display of these distinctive vehicles, offering a reminder of one of Coventry’s most significant automotive success stories.
Photographs show some of the vehicles on display as well as the old cathedral ruins where our exhibition was held. These are curtesy and the copyright of Rafferty Jones.
For those looking for a little more action, a round of the Autotest Championship took place in an arena beneath the Ring Road near Gosford Street. Visitors could also take advantage of special activities at the Coventry Transport Museum, home to the world’s largest collection of British road cars.
Motorfest gave us an opportunity to showcase our documentary photography project undertaken by Christine and Günter Starke, photographers from Coventry’s twin city of Dresden, Germany (see earlier blogs). A booklet has been prepared showing photographs and personal stories from fifteen participants connected to Coventry’s automotive industry, selected from a wider project involving forty-eight people. This project explored connections between Coventry, Jaguar and Germany, making it a fitting addition to a weekend that celebrates not only vehicles but also the people and communities behind the motor industry. (A 44-page booklet accompanying the exhibition is available for £5 and we also intend to stage a future exhibition featuring all forty-eight participants involved in the project.)
MotorFest is not simply a display of old vehicles or an excuse for a weekend of nostalgia. It is also a reminder of how deeply the motor industry shaped Coventry’s identity and the lives of generations of local people.
For more on Motorfest the official page is at https://www.coventrymotofest.com and the Facebook page is https://www.facebook.com/coventrymotofest/?locale=en_GB
You can find out more about the memories project at these earlier blogs
Coventry Association for International Friendship 