The weekend of 12th-13th November was very mild for the time of year and I feel the show benefited from a lot more and wider variety of trade stands because of it. Featured marque this year was John Deere incorporating Lanz who John Deere took over in the 1950s, but I was disappointed with the lack of machinery as opposed to tractors on show, given the prolific output of the John Deere company. Perhaps the cramped marquee last year, which was then filled to capacity with David Brown & Case, had put people off but this year there was loads of space available.

It was noticeable to me, however, that there didn’t seem to be so many tractors on show in the various halls and sheds, but there was an extra row down the middle of the George Stephenson Hall and others outside including a good display from the newly-formed Blue Force Club which seemed to be much more prominent than the Ford & Fordson Association at the show.

Massey Ferguson & Massey Harris tractors had their own marquee opposite the GS Hall with the Ferguson Club having a separate club display inside the latter. However, inside the Ferguson marquee there was an excellent gathering of Ferguson Brown tractors with 8 or 9 on display.

Stationary engines as always are scattered far-and-wide across the site. Our own local NVTEC stand had three from last year’s cup-winner placed down across the front (for Saturday only for some reason) but as there is no real thought put in to where engines will be placed they always looks as though they are an after-thought. Yes, I know – it is a tractor show, but we are members of a combined tractor & engine club. However, the East Anglia Group came home with two major cups, Best Vintage Tractor and Best Vintage Tractor owned by a NVTEC member.

This year, I’d decided to show my engine alongside the other NVTEC member-owned engines that were not part of a club display only to find that there weren’t any this year, or so it seemed, so perhaps next year I’ll abandon the NVTEC marquee all-together to go in the Eastwood pavilion with what other engines there were on show. What solitary engines there were, were in the main John Deeres scattered around that end of the tent.

Things were better this year for later i.e. after-dark arrivals as at least there was easier access to the camping area (so no broken rear lights this year) and camping plots were marked out with little yellow flags, which was good. However, why with all the various bits of paperwork you’re issued with on the gate as you arrive, why can’t that include your exhibit number? With lots of yellow jackets wandering around as per Newark “law” when you unload, it’s not easy to spot who might be a steward even if there are any on duty after tea-time so I never ever did get to put a proper exhibit number on either machine. If you’re not been ticked off by the steward, does that count against you another year? I hope not.

Elsewhere, the commercial vehicles show slow but steady growth in numbers and there were a handful of classic cars and even a few classic caravans on show. Some motorcycles shared an area with the rest of the stationary engines, but like a few of the engines elsewhere, seemed to have disappeared on Sunday. The rare breeds and country collections area at the far end of the site seemed to have more visitors this year as more and more people become aware of its presence.

I know there is a move to try and get more working displays on the main field but for stationary engines owners the lack of having basic facilities close to your display is a bit of a limiting factor, after all, it is November, but that policy doesn’t hold water when part of the horticultural contingent seem able to camp in a long line behind their non-working exhibits. Other than the rough corn-mill and Wolseley engine, the only other working engine was placed close to a marquee where the owner was able to duck in and shelter alongside other dairy-based displays. If the “open aspect” is to be maintained across the field, I’m sure there are areas currently occupied by trade at the top of the camping field that could be used to provide a working area without it spoiling the show, which could form a continuation of the Ilkeston Crushers display.

The auction seemed to have a bit of a renaissance this year and the Sort-out on Sunday also offered plenty of stock and was well worth a root around. The showground seemed to have more of a catering presence on the field this year and the Tastes bacon butties in the Joe Hallam pavilion and elsewhere are worth searching out. Next year’s theme is Perkins engined machinery, which will be a challenge to stage successfully as it could just look like any line-up of tractors, unless Perkins Engines themselves can add some input to the display to illuminate and educate us all next year.