CarFest 2024: Thousands flock from far and wide for weekend

CarFest 2024 took place from Friday, August 23 to Sunday, August 25 and provided a nice 'brake' from reality for thousands of attendees who got to experience musical talent from acts like Sam Ryder and Scouting For Girls, and the smell of burnt tyres on the track.

Despite a lot of rainfall on Saturday, for those who stayed around on Sunday, the bad weather was in the rearview mirror - a spectacular sunny day in the picturesque fields of Laverstoke Park Farm made for an "absolutely brilliant" weekend - as described by Heidi Crawley, and partner Kevin Leach, who attended the event as part of the Nissan Figaro owners club.

The pair, from Woodstock, Oxford, dressed for the occasion, both in Wackey Racers costumes - complete with Muttley the dog.

Kevin Leach and Heidi Crawley dressed as the Wacky Racers (Image: Newsquest)

Heidi said: "This is our third time here and it is brilliant, absolutely brilliant.

"We're here to showcase our pink Nissan Figaro, and we are having a really good time."

One group of friends that travelled some distance were couple Bobby and Charlie Walkden, who live on the Isle of Wight and bought special hats for the occasion, and their friends Michael Mullin and Lucy Brandon, who came from Hertfordshire.

Bobby and Charlie Walkden and their friends Michael Mullin and Lucy Brandon (Image: Newsquest)

Bobby said she "really enjoyed" Sam Ryder, "he's the main one we came to see."

"Him and UB40," Charlie added.

Becks Martin, Catherine Stratton, Sarah Lawford, Alex Lawford all came from even further afield - the group, who looked snazzy in their matching silver bucket hats - racked up the miles in their journey to Overton as they are all based in Lincoln and Cheshire.

Becks Martin, Catherine Stratton, Sarah Lawford, Alex Lawford (Image: Newsquest)

Catherine said: "We're all just here to enjoy it, there isn't anyone in particular we came to see.

"Last night was good fun."

One woman who went from 0 to 60 on the scale of happiness, and pictured visibly enjoying herself, was Katherine Burton, from Tonbridge.

Katherine Burton was visibly enjoying herself (Image: Newsquest)

Alongside her family, she has been attending CarFest since 2017, and was in her element dressed in butterfly wings.

She said: "I love it, I love coming here, it is really good.

"Deacon Blue were great and I'm really looking forward to seeing Scouting For Girls, it's great because there is something for everyone.

"We all watched Judge Jules, who I would say is not proper music, but the others enjoyed it."

Pete and Rory Thomas, Pete's costume is a tenuous link to Japan (Image: Newsquest)

Father and son, Pete and Rory Thomas, travelled from South Wales to attend the festival.

Pete is also part of the Nissan Figaro owners club, who all attended in costumes - he opted to dress as a Roman Emperor.

He said: "I'm a Roman Emperor, I figured as Figaros come from Japan, and Japan has an Emperor, I could get away with it as a tenuous link."

He explained how he planned to take a pit stop for a snack while he was out and about, he said:  "We are loving it, other than showing off the car I think we will maybe have an ice cream here later on and just enjoy what we can.

"We're here for a bit of everything, really."