The Doddington Vintage Rally returned in 2010 after a year’s absence with pretty much the same layout that seemed to work back in 2007. Unfortunately, we could only attend on Saturday because we’d already booked Euston Rural PasTimes for Sunday before we knew Doddington was back on. Exhibitor attendances didn’t appear to have suffered too much from a year’s break and for a Saturday, there was a commendable attendance of punters.

Stationary engines returned to their natural home across the back edge of the field, with cars lined up in front facing towards a row of models and bygones, themselves backed up to a row of trade stands facing the ring. Across to the left the tractors were lined up in a shallow horseshow with the classic caravans and campers facing the Kart club and motorcycles.

Away to the right, the few commercials were lined up facing diagonally across the corner with some horticultural and animal husbandry stalls behind. Moving up the field, a few different vehicle club displays faced the trade that bordered the ring with the exhibitor camping behind. Next up was the small military vehicle section leading up to the steamers close to the gate.

With three different-sized full-size steamers to look at, Doddington was as well-blessed as Holbeach turned out to be a week later on. The local tractor club seem to prefer classic diesel power, predominately International, Ferguson, Fordson & Nuffield, so a host of grey, red, orange & a bit of blue, but there was the odd splash of other colours in the shape of Minneapolis-Moline, John Deere, David Brown, Massey Harris & Renault.

It is almost certain that both classic cars and commercials would be augmented by extra exhibits on Sunday, so our few pictures from Saturday are only a selection of what would be on show. However, most of the stationary engines were weekenders so the Bamford Tulip-top, Petter acorn-top, Ruston carrot-hopper (spot a theme yet?) should all have been seen, as well as the pair of Maytag washing-machine power units.

All-in-all not a bad effort and hopefully we’ll be back next year, dates to be confirmed.