England, the greatest place on Earth? Don’t panic. Yes, outgoing Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said as much – but then here is a man who has long had a troubled and imaginative relationship with the truth.
During his years playing the funny, shorts-like Prime Minister, he’s also played his part in failing to make Britain the greatest. But so many other people and negative factors – from bad politicians to badly damaged public transport ‘systems’ – have also held us back.
Other big problems – collapsing economy, ongoing energy and environmental crises, NHS destruction, housing disasters, policy issues, continuing social injustice, grassroots Bad infrastructure, poor labor relations and output – are also accused.
Our ‘clean, green, pleasant’ label is in danger of being downgraded to ‘dirty, brown, nasty’. And the recent £90m fine for Southern Water for dumping sewage into ‘protected’ waters and rivers proves that our waters can be even dirtier than the ground we walk through.
That said, we’re still very good at some things in GB. And thanks to our warm, bright summer months, few countries host motorsport-related events as well as Blighty. Arguably we are the #1 country in terms of great variety of motorcycling occasions.
There is no better premium example of our world-beating uniqueness than non-stop Good wood gatherings, followed by the increasingly busy Beaulieu baths (celebrating the National Motor Museum’s 50th birthday, by the way). Meanwhile, Silverstone’s Grand Prix has just delivered the best and most dramatic Formula One race of the year, with the help of summer showers that enhance the quality of the famous global race of the year. Older brother!
This month in Poole, Dorset, Quay For My Car (geddit?), The Stranger’s Festival is no exception in Lincolnshire and other exotic gems. In September, more affluent car enthusiasts will join the Concours of Elegance at Hampton Court Palace, where admission costs up to £460pp!
For the less affluent, the Auto Ego Car Show and Carry on Campout bash near Haywards Heath, West Sussex, sounds like a big bang but is affordable for campers happily paying £25 for a two-night stay in a private house, van, car or tent parked at the gallery. And for the penniless, there’s a Wadswick Green classic and sports car show. Admission is free, but it’s only open from 10am to 2pm. And one or two of those four hours should definitely be spent on a leisurely lunch outdoors. So this might just be the world’s shortest car show. How quintessentially English is that?
Before, British Motor Show from 18-21 August at the Farnborough International Exhibition Centre, with a little help from official supporter Auto Express. This is not just a car show. It boasts loads of vehicles, stunts, TV stars, career information, passenger trips and even the chance for kids to be supervised on their own.
Honestly, an adult day ticket of just £18.50 (prices a couple of gallons) to THE British Motor Show has the ‘bargain of five cars’ written on it.
Do you agree with Mike? Let us know in the comments section below…
