Biggest gathering of All American vehicles returns to Kilbeggan
The biggest gathering of All American vehicles on the island of Ireland makes a welcome return to Kilbeggan on Sunday, April 21 next.
The show gets underway at 11am at the Midland American Auto Club showgrounds opposite Kilbeggan Racecourse and this will be the 23rd year of the hugely-popular event.
The Midland American Auto Club (MAAC) in Kilbeggan opens its gates to all American cars, pick-up trucks, big rigs, vans, fire engines, huge RVs and bikes in Ireland, the UK and abroad. Some attendees have confirmed they will be travelling from the UK and staying for the week to tour Ireland in their Classic Americans.
The show is the largest All American show in Ireland and only open to American vehicles, no others. Some 300 plus American vehicles regularly attend from Harley Davidson motorcycles to monster Big Rig Kenworths, Peterbilts, Internationals, Macks and Freightliners, American Fire Engines and pick-up trucks old and new. Ford, Dodge and Chevy pick-up trucks are a perennial favourite of all. Of late, Chevrolet and Dodge vans have become more popular, in addition to the many Mustangs from the sixties to the new teens, Camaros, Firebirds, Buicks, Pontiacs, Chryslers, Chevrolets, Cadillacs and Lincolns will be on the show field.
The three American fire engines are always a big draw, especially the 56 foot long turntable ladder engine from New York that was actually involved in 9-11 with it’s 100 foot long ladder.
There is always lots to do at the show – this is not a static show – apart from the American themed music playing all day there are muscle cars frying their rear tyres on the burnout pad and demonstrations on the amazing American fire engines which will be at the show.
This year the show is going all artistic and creative; there will be drawing classes for the kids to draw a whole or a detailed part of an American vehicle The club is encouraging vehicle owners to make a show board for their Classic American explaining about the vehicle. Show T-shirts will be available for sale.
The drawing classes really get kids thinking about the uniquely styled lines of the many wonderful vehicles on show. The club is lucky to have the services of a trained professional art teacher to coach the kids to capture what they see on paper, and there will be a prize for the best drawing.
A prize will also be awarded to the best-designed show board explaining the various aspects of the cars and trucks on display. High-quality colour show boards are very popular in the USA, so the organisers of next month's Kilbeggan Show decided to introduce them to as part of this year's programme. Design templates for show boards to showcase vehicles can be found on the internet, and the creator of the best show board will be rewarded with a prize for all their creative hard work.
There will also be both and indoor and outdoor auto-jumble in the big sheds to help restorers find that elusive part or pick up some Americana for the kids, and a great selection of food and coffee trucks will also be dotted across the large site.
Show vehicles are free and no pre-registration is needed. Kids under 14 also go free if accompanied by an adult. General admission for adults is €10 and payment can be made at the gate. Parking is free for all visitors and gates open on Sunday, April 21 next at 11am.