Kilbeggan will rumble to sound of American V8s on Sunday
Image 1 of 16
Club PRO Nick Stratta of Dublin owns this 1965 Cadillac DeVille convertible.Image 2 of 16
A huge 1975 Cadillac hearse, built on a 135 inch wheelbase commercial chassis. This one is owned by Patrick Mellon of Bohernabreena and was imported from California some eight years ago.Image 3 of 16
Ireland’s American car! The De Lorean has a strong following here. The factory was in Belfast. One of these is owned by Shane Christie of Meath, who runs the De Lorean club in Ireland.Image 4 of 16
Two late model Dodge Challengers. The one on the left owned by Thomas Parker of Rathowen. It has a 5.7 HEMI engine.Image 5 of 16
A 1979 Ford F150 pick-up truck owned by Philip Jacobsen of Galway.Image 6 of 16
The 1963 1/2 Ford Galaxie 500XL fastback coupe. "The lower fastback roofline was introduced halfway through the 1963 model year to give Ford and extra 2-5mph top speed on the NASCAR superspeedways in the States (approaching 185mph). It worked, and Ford won the NASCAR series that year. This one is a replica of the race car campaigned by John Wilment on the European sports car circuits in the sixties. It has a 7 litre competition engine, manual gearbox and straight exhausts. It’s fast and loud and shakes a lot, but not 185mph fast, though it has embarrassed a few Porsche 911s at Mondello over the past 10 years." Club PRO Nick Stratta is the owner.Image 7 of 16
A mid-80s Ford van in black with painted flames all down the side.Image 8 of 16
Philip Jacobsen of Galway also owns this 1960 Chevrolet Impala sport coupe.Image 9 of 16
An Indian motorbike, much rarer than Harley Davidsons.Image 10 of 16
The Ford bodied Monster Truck owned by Richie Lavin will be back again this year giving rides to people. There was a queue all day last year.Image 11 of 16
"We always get a lot of late model (2005 onwards) Ford Mustangs from the Simply Mustangs NI club. It’s always great to see them and of course they are lucky not to have to pay big road tax and insurance on them."Image 12 of 16
A Peterbilt semi truck Owned by Thomas Lacey of Laois.Image 13 of 16
The club will have 25-year anniversary T-shirts for sale this year. All sizes. €20 each and €10 to club members.Image 14 of 16
Image 15 of 16
People enjoying last year's show.Image 16 of 16
There will be a life size replica of Lightning McQueen from the Disney Pixar film Cars. It’s currently touring Ireland and will be at the show in Kilbeggan.Kilbeggan will again rumble to the sound of big V8 engines as the All American Car Truck and Bike Show rolls into town on Sunday next, April 26.
It’s bold and brash and full of fun and Americana, as this year the Midland American Auto Club celebrate their 25th show.
It is the biggest (only!) gathering of American vehicles on the island of Ireland and it’s taking place opposite Kilbeggan Racecourse.
Some 300 plus American vehicles regularly attend, from Harley Davidson motorcycles to monster Big Rig Kenworths, Peterbilts, Internationals, Macks and Freightliners, American fire engines and pick-up trucks old and new.
Ford, Dodge and Chevy pick-up trucks are perennial favourites.
Some UK attendees have confirmed they will be travelling and staying for the week to tour Ireland in their classic Americans.
Lately, American vans have become more popular and there are more and more of that peculiar American tradition, the Day Van visiting the show. A Day Van is a large van with a plush interior and comfortable swivelling seats – not a camper van, but a luxury van purely for everyday outings, relaxing in and chatting to friends at a social event like a car show.
There will be many Mustangs from the 1960s classics to modern versions, Camaros, Firebirds, Buicks, Pontiacs, Chryslers, Chevrolets, Cadillacs and Lincolns at the show field.
Entry for adults is still only €10 and accompanied kids under 14 are free.
Gates open at 11am. American show cars, trucks, vans, pickups and bikes and occupants get in free from 9.30am.
This is not a static show. There is American themed music playing all day and each year the playlist changes. This year 70s American rock is featured; tunes you haven’t heard for a long time, or even ever.
Other features are the American fire engines including the turntable ladder engine from Glen Cove in New York, which saw service at 9/11 in 2001. The ladder extends to 30 metres and the pumps can shoot water a similar distance into the air.
A star feature this year is the full size Lightning McQueen from the Disney Pixar films Cars.
Other TV and film cars such the KITT car, the General Lee from the Dukes of Hazzard, and the Starsky and Hutch and white Ford Torinos will also be on show.
The drawing classes for the kids returns with a professional art teacher to bring out their creative side to draw a whole or a detailed part of an American vehicle. That keeps kids (and parents) entertained for hours, and they take home their art to put on bedroom walls as a mementos of a great day out.
There will also be an autojumble to help restorers find elusive parts or to pick up some Americana. There are automotive related vendors too.
There will also be a selection of food and coffee trucks to cater to most tastes.
Non-American vintage vehicles are invited to park in a reserved area in the public car park near the showfield entrance so owners of non-American classic cars can also take their older cars, lorries or vans out for a run. There is parking for those with limited mobility near the showfield entrance.
About Midland American Auto Club
Founded in 2001 and based in Kilbeggan, (opposite the Kilbeggan Race Course), the Midland American Auto Club (MAAC) members meet every Thursday 7.30-10pm in the summer and every other week in the winter. All are welcome, members and non-members.
More information is available on the club Facebook page or by contacting Joe Keenan (chairman) 087 238 8400 for trade stands, Noel Dillon (secretary) 087 226 7070 and Nick Stratta (PRO) 085 828 9922 for general information.
Links
• TikTok
• YouTube