New-build housing estates to my right, Porsche 911s in front of me and a bright yellow sign on my left that reads: 'Bicester Scramble pre-bought tickets only'. I must be en route to Bicester Heritage's first event of the year.
That sign really means 'sold out: don't waste your time unless you've already bought a ticket'. I've been to one Scramble before: the very first one. That had around 300 people at it. Today, it's more like 7000.
A few things have changed, other than the queues to get in and out. For one, there's new stuff. Previously, it was bunker this, hangar that, but now manufacturers such as Alpine and Polestar have big showings. You can even take a Polestar 2 for a test drive.
The largest and most palpable difference, though, is the age of visitors. There's a torrent of young people in every direction, a cascade of zoomers in baggy jeans and mullet haircuts with their phones out (naturally held in portrait format), snapping away for Instagram, TikTok and BeReal.
I have been to hundreds of classic car shows in my time, and this isn't generally how things are done. A typical Sunday morning run involves middle-aged men, fried food in a roll and deckchairs.
How has Bicester substituted panama hats for Crocs? If anyone knows, it's CEO Dan Geoghegan.
He is the mastermind behind the Bicester Heritage site and was responsible for acquiring this former RAF base and transforming it into the 444-acre car theme park here today.
When I sit down with him in the central clubhouse, he attracts people like Twitter users to an EV fire-well-wishers, colleagues and irritating journalists alike. It brought memories of the often-spoofed West Wing TV series featuring Martin Sheen walking through a corridor with a fleet of people vying for his attention.
This story is from the January 24, 2024 edition of Autocar UK.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the January 24, 2024 edition of Autocar UK.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
MCLAREN ARTURA
Finally, sunshine after the rain - but not before some of it got inside our supercar
AUDI S3 SALOON
Warmed-up version of A3 sets out stall with more power and RS3-spec driveline tech
MERCEDES-BENZ CLE CABRIOLET
Convertible follows coupé to complete newly consolidated two-door range
AUDI A3 SPORTBACK
Four years later, Audi moves to address criticisms of its swanky family hatchback
PORSCHE MACAN ELECTRIC
New platform, different motive power, more weight: can the electric version really behave like a Macan should?
DACIA DUSTER
With a more sophisticated platform, design-savvy look and fresh tech, has this all-new version lost sight of the model's value appeal?
Car clubs at mercy of insurers
Soaring insurance costs now pose an 'existential threat' to community car sharing
Vauxhall reinvents the Grandland
New version is bigger, sleeker and available as a 435-mile EV, mild hybrid and PHEV
Volvo on the cusp of a production revolution
Radical new mega-casting production method will cut complexity while boosting flexibility
Alfa to politicians: forget car names and save industry
Boss Imparato speaks out after minister compels Milano rebrand