The 13th annual Holbeach Vintage Rally went ahead despite the best efforts of the weather to put a dampener on the event. Heavy rain on the three days leading up to the event and constant showers on Saturday did little to dampen the spirits of the organisers, helpers and exhibitors, and everybody mucked in and pulled (and pushed) together to keep things moving along until the weather brightened up on Sunday.

In spite of the weather, the public came out and supported the show in enough numbers so the threat of a financial disaster was averted. The theme of the show this year was "Made in Lincolnshire" and a separate report on this aspect of the event can be seen elsewhere on the site. A secondary theme in the main ring in recent years has been "Agricultural Antics" which has included the Hay-rake race, the Bale race and this year, the focal point was the tractor balance kit and tractor driving skills.

A stop watch had been provided in the expectation that someone would be able to balance their tractor on the seesaw for at least a few seconds, and there were two prizes of a bottle of whiskey and a socket-set for the pair judged to have held it the longest. However, the kit was very free moving and finely balanced, so much so that only a few came close but no one managed it with a tractor. Alan Thacker showed it could be done by standing on it himself, but whether he got a prize, I'm not sure!

Elsewhere around the site, both steam rollers eventually made it into position and a couple of the heavy military vehicles were kept busy helping their commercial vehicle friends in and out of the field. The lorry line-up was even better than last year and one or two different vehicles were on show, but unfortunately the roping and sheeting demonstration of a traditional load didn't come off on the day.

The tractor section here is never particularly outstanding in content compared with some other Lincolnshire events but it does make up for it in enthusiasm. There are several young men who are very keen and there was never a shortage of volunteer drivers, both for the tractor games and also for towing duties when vehicles were stuck. However, most light vehicles such as the classic cars just needed a push to keep them moving.

The landowner supports the show by providing a selection of his current crop of farm machinery, all of which paraded in the ring with demonstrations of the equipment where possible. Star of the show this year was the huge DeWulf potato harvester but the versatility of the grass-cutting equipment was perhaps the most amazing. That machine could virtually do pirouettes, all controlled by a single joystick in the cab of the tractor. These machines contrasted nicely with the petite horticultural machinery parked in front of it.

Our own section of the stationary engines was hit by a number of no shows on the weekend with just one apology by email, so much so that we ended up with two separate compounds and a large gap in the middle. Several exhibitors turned up for Sunday despite the need to be towed into position and I thank all those people who did attend for coming. One couple who had deserted us for another show actually turned up on Sunday, having been let down by the competitor, asking if they could come back next year.

One thing that did come out of the weekend was evidence that the show is put on by the community for the community. As mentioned earlier, everyone mucked in together and nowhere else have I known local engine, tractor, lorry and car people to work together in harmony to lay straw over virtually all the roadways and walkways on the field. Also, the youngsters of the event, Thomas, Alan, Jonathon and Raymond were always on hand to provide support and help wherever and whenever it was needed. It was this community spirit that stirred one lady exhibitor to state that she considered it a privilege to have taken part and attended. With spirit such as this, the weather was not going to beat us and I urge all exhibitors who stayed at home because of the rain to attend next year.