Bexhill 100 Motoring club support National Drive It Day

Starting from the Sea Angling Centre at the bottom of Galley Hill, the cars proceeded to parade in a slow cruise around the town lead off with a 1960 A35 van, ending with a static display at the sailing club.

Town Mayor Cllr Paul Lendon and Mayor's consort Libby Powell attended the event and were asked to judge two very different 'Spring Bonnet' competitions.

Cllr Lendon had the difficult decision of choosing the best car bonnet, eventually deciding on Ernie Eldridges original 'spring scene', set on the bonnet of his 1978 MG Midget.

Cllr Lendon said: "It was very difficult to choose a winner but I particularly liked Ernie's farmyard scene, he's clearly put a lot of thought and hard work into it and it depicts spring."

Libby picked Fiona Hemsworth as the winner of the best spring bonnet, of the headgear variety, because she said she felt it really was, "A spring Bonnet."

The winners each received a prize of a Bush radio.

Fiona described the reasoning behind her extraordinary bonnet: "It's a spring bonnet parade, this sprang to mind - but I think I sprung to the wrong conclusion."

After presenting the prizes the Mayor said: "This event really epitomises the heritage of Bexhill, which is something that I am very keen to develop further.This town really is unique as we were the birthplace of motor racing."

He added: "Today has been lovely and the towns moto of 'sun and health' has really come to the fore. You couldn't ask for anything else today."

A new addition to the club has been the anonymous donation of the A35 van which lead the parade.

Club chairman Digger Brodrick said that they plan to take the van, which has been lovingly restored to it's original blue colour by one of the clubs members, to future displays and shows as their promotional vehicle.

In the past three years the club has raised over 9,000 for local charities which Digger said, "is all thanks to the efforts of club members, trade organisations and members of the public who support us."

For information on either joining the club or forthcoming events visit the website at:www.bexhillmotoringclub.mysite.wanadoo-members.co.uk