It was a beautiful sunny day in Trimley St. Martin, I just got back from a run on the local footpaths to the sight of a bright yellow Mk1 Ford Capri driving through the village.

​I remember waiting in anticipation this past bank holiday weekend, the first Sunday in May. Just a few short hours the historic vehicle run will be passing through my quiet little village.

Hundreds of vehicles assemble at Christchurch Park in Ipswich from 8:30am, engines humming and chugging before leaving the park at 11:00am covering approximately 10 miles, winding their way through Suffolk streets before arriving at Felixstowe Promenade.

After a quick shower and recharge of the batteries in my camera, I took a short walk up the road to pick my spot for photographing the vehicles as they passed through the village.  The high street already filling with people, young and old, standing in small groups, sitting in deckchairs and on picnic blankets, excitement starting to fill the air.

I picked my spot, a small area of damp grass in the shade and lay down awaiting the first of the vehicles to pass. I didn’t have to wait long for the first car to come through; a Triumph Stag, closely followed by a cluster of old Motorbikes and a small group of well-presented gents on Penny Farthings.

More and more vehicles came through - the sounds of horns and cheers from the street fill the air, people smiling, waving, cheering and the smell of oil lingering.

I continued to snap away, smiling from behind my lens, excited to see such a variety of vehicles that continue to sound their horns with passengers waving, many of them holding Ipswich flags and scarves after the football team’s promotion to the premiership the day before!

At almost 2:00pm and the last of the vehicles came through, 600 photos later and a smile on my face I pick myself up off the floor and strolled back down the road to my house, passing the vehicles all lined up on Felixstowe promenade for people to walk by, admire, all with their own story to tell.

The Ipswich – Felixstowe Historic Vehicle Run isn’t just about machines; it’s about the people who cherish them, it’s about the enthusiasts who lovingly restore these vehicles and keep them running for you and I to see.

Article and Photography: Gavin King – Gavin King Photography

Thank you Gavin! Your photos are superb!!! 

To view more of Gavin's photography, click here.