Standard International Rally 2025 - Full Report

David Shadbolt, writes:

One of the best yet?

Despite being the only committee member not to turn up in a Standard for the club’s 65th annual International Rally (my Phase 1 Vanguard is temporarily indisposed so my 1967 MG 1100 deputised), I’m pleased to have been asked to write a few words about the occasion.

Day 1: Friday

The proceedings kicked off at midday on Friday June 13 – unlucky for some, but not for us – at Foxton Locks, near Market Harborough in Leicestershire. Foxton Locks is a Grade II listed site, and home to the longest staircase flight of locks in Britain. These locks have been an essential part of travel, trade and leisure for over 200 years. The site also includes the remains of the unique Inclined Boat Lift, itself listed as a Scheduled Ancient Monument, which was a relatively short-lived attempt at speeding up the ascent or descent of the gradient.

We were blessed with hot sunshine as the cars parked up in a large grassy area very close to the site. Members were then able to visit the museum, the Foxton Locks Inn, Bridge 61 licenced café, a second-hand bookshop or just picnic and watch the boats.

From there it was just a couple of miles to Lubenham, home of the Triumph Sports Six Club, who had extended a very kind invitation to visit their fascinating museum. Their club headquarters are Tardis-like, looking quite unassuming from the main road outside, but opening up to house a large lawn, shop, offices and an amazing museum, packed with rare Standard-Triumph cars and assorted artifacts.

Back on the road, the route took our procession of cars through leafy Leicestershire lanes and over the border into lovely but potholed Northamptonshire. A brief pause at the monument commemorating the Battle of Naseby was possible, affording beautiful views across the site of the First English Civil War battle which took place on 14th June 1645 – just one day short of 380 years earlier – when the Parliamentarian New Model Army, commanded by Sir Thomas Fairfax and Oliver Cromwell, destroyed the main Royalist army under King Charles I and Prince Rupert.

The journey through to Daventry, and the Mercure Daventry Court Hotel, completed our driving schedule for the day, and everyone was glad to check in to their rooms, say hello to friends old and new, and sit down to an excellent buffet dinner.

After our meal we were treated to a lavishly illustrated talk by Paul Robins, covering his visit to Normandy to commemorate the D-Day Landings.

Day 2 of the International Rally: Saturday

Saturday dawned warm, sunny and clear, and from about 10 o’clock cars started to depart on the road run to Sywell Aerodrome, situated between Northampton and Wellingborough.

Once clear of roundabout-riddled Daventry, it was back into the network of lanes criss-crossing some of Northamptonshire’s finest countryside. At one point the route had us skirting the Althorp Estate, ancient home of the Spencer family, and site of the grave of Diana, Princess of Wales.

Sywell Aerodrome dates back to 1927 and was subsequently very important during the Second World War. The Wellington Hangar on the Holcot Lane was erected in 1939 as an RAF Repair Depot for Wellington bombers. This also included the two large hangars by the main aerodrome entrance and the Bellman Hangar to the south, which was used for the assembly of engines. In 1942 the top-secret Lancaster factory was erected at adjacent Hall Farm. Nearly 100 Mk II Lancaster Bombers with Bristol Hercules engines were built at Sywell between July 1942 and November 1943 - a third of the total production of the Mk II fleet.

This rich heritage is preserved and celebrated at a fascinating free museum, and members were also able to enjoy the sumptuous Art Deco-style Aviator Hotel.

More beautiful countryside and stunning views across Pitsford Water were enjoyed on the next leg of our journey, as the party progressed to Holdenby House. Once this was Elizabethan England’s greatest House, then a royal palace, and a prison to King Charles I, but for us it was an opportunity to visit the Great British Food Festival, being hosted there that weekend, and visit the historic house and gardens. Foods of all kinds were there to be sampled and bought, and there was live music playing on one of the lawns. The original house was completed in 1583, but it was bought by the Clifden family now back in 1709, and their descendants, the Lowthers, live there still. We were lucky to be allocated parking in the Estate Office yard, saving our members a long walk from the field serving as a general car park. It also meant that all the other visitors could admire our cars as they queued to enter the event!

The final leg of Saturday was a drive back to Daventry, and then there was time to freshen up, don our glad rags and assemble in the bar for our Gala Dinner. The hotel did a magnificent job – an excellent meal with three choices for each course and efficient service, and the evening was topped off by a most entertaining talk by James Walshe, deputy editor of Practical Classics magazine. He recounted a number of amusing tales, including the story of ‘Bluebell’, a very lucky little Standard 8 which was quite literally snatched from the jaws of a vehicle crusher, and brought back to health and glory, aided and abetted by our very own Bob Alexander.

Day 3 at the International Rally: Sunday

On Sunday a hazier start met us at breakfast but, other than a few spots of rain mid-morning, the day soon cleared to be yet another glorious scorcher. Cars already present shuffled themselves into their class judging positions as a steady stream of additional exhibits rolled in to join us, and we soon had a packed field.

Graham and Sally Hart’s Cornish Raffle, where you can choose the prizes you want to be entered for, was a huge success – no longer necessary to endure the Bath Cubes when it was the Bacardi you really wanted! The whole process was completed in just 20 minutes and a magnificent £457 was raised. The Bring & Buy stall had a fine display on offer, not least being no fewer than three Standard 8 moustaches. Most of the vehicle classes were self-judging, while chief judge Peter Lockley and Brian Parkes ranked the others.

Here are examples of Standards that attended:

By the end of the afternoon the process was completed and we were delighted to have James Walshe present all the winners with their third, second and first prizes: a triumphant finale for a most excellent weekend. Here are the prizewinners.

We hope that everyone enjoyed themselves and record here a huge round of thanks to everyone who played a part in the planning and delivering of such a huge and successful event.

Whether or not you were able to join us this year, please put next year’s date in your diary… we’re aiming at Friday to Sunday 26 to 28 June 2026, based at the Cheltenham Chase Hotel, equidistant from Gloucester and Cheltenham. We hope to see you there!

Text and photos provided by David Shadbolt