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The first weekend in June should herald the onset of summer; however, no season can be taken for granted in Northern Ireland. The weather forecast was typically grim for Ballee, home of Ballymena CarFest: warnings of torrential rain, hail and a plague of locusts all flashed up on my phone weather app at some stage. However, surprisingly (after a brief monsoon) the clouds parted, the sun broke out and somehow I managed to get slightly toasted at one of the most understated, but utterly brilliant automotive events around.

Ballymena CarFest 2017

Ballymena CarFest is a haven for anybody that just likes cars, vans and trucks. There are no criteria. Turn up in anything with wheels and an engine and put it on display. The end result is an incredible variety of vehicles that no other event seems able to equal. I can’t think of too many shows where aired out machines hit the deck, whilst three rows away, the vintage enthusiasts break out the wicker picnic baskets – all united by the love of cars.  

Ballymena CarFest 2017

This big gigantic mechanic pix ‘n’ mix means with every turn, there’s something new to discover. A car you always lusted over in your childhood, that car your Dad raved about from his childhood or something you didn’t know existed.  The Vauxhall Viva Brabham might tick all three boxes. The car was produced in very limited numbers between 1967 and 1968 and was tuned by Formula One racing champion Jack Brabham. Using the SL90 Viva as a base, Brabham squeezed 78 bhp from the 4 cylinder engine. Big numbers for 1967.

RMS Motoring Ballymena CarFest

This Honda Civic had stance by the bucket load. The beautifully polished, fat dished rims accentuated the low-slung ride height. Upfront, carbon parts complemented a very tidy and neat engine bay. 

Ballymena CarFest 2017

A popped bonnet is a sure sign that something interesting going on and this Vauxhall Cavalier didn’t disappoint. Yes, that’s a Saab turbo engine.

RMS Motoring Ballymena CarFest

I’m not sure if the AA are plying their trade from a Volvo V40 SE these days, but are those very early three spoke rims from a Dodge Viper? If so (a) where do you get Dodge Viper rims? and (b) how the heck did the owner know they’d fit a V40 wagon? Either way, kudos!

RMS Motoring Ballymena CarFest 2017

You could dismiss this Beetle in a cursory glance as just another well presented classic. But it’s the little details that you take a while to properly notice that make this car. The mad, banded rear wheels show that this Bug means business. The engine is a total mechanical masterpiece. 

RMS Motoring Ballymena CarFest 2017

Alfa Romeos from the early 80’s are very pretty cars, with a pretty chequered reputation. But the GTV was used by James Bond to save the world from nuclear armageddon. So, if the GTV was good enough for Bond, it’s good enough for me. 

RMS Motoring Ballymena CarFest

Alongside the trade stands and static displays, CarFest also hosted a live action arena. World renown stuntman, Paul Swift, who pulled off all the tricky bits of driving for Top Gear, parallel parked with precision, using only a hand brake. Donuts, j-turns, flicks and spins were brought appreciate applause from the crowd. If that wasn’t enough, Drift Queen of Europe launched into a drift demo, doing her best to drown onlookers with as much tyre smoke as she could muster.  

RMS Motoring Ballymena Carfest

The truck section has always been an integral element of CarFest and it’s mindblowing how clean and pristine vehicles that work every day, can become for an event like this. Chrome is polished to a mirror finish, trims and tyres have a black, glossy shine. Paintwork perfect. Not a mark! Yet less than 24 hours previously, some were hitched up and pounding the motorway. Some of the trucks are like mobile art galleries, covered in wonderful airbrushed freezes. Themes range from pop stars to sports or even seminal moments in history. My love of motorbike racing meant I gravitated to this beautiful dedication to the late Marco Simoncelli, sharing a cab with his friend and mentor – Valentino Rossi. 

RMS Motoring Ballymena CarFest 2017

Ballymena CarFest made a welcome retun to the calender and just works on so many levels. The relaxed atmosphere, the depth and variety, and live action on tap. Throw in indoor displays and loads of stalls to buy more detailing products to gather dust on the shelf and you have a very enjoyable day to celebrate the joys of the motor world. 

For more pictures of cars, trucks and even four wheel drives, check out the complete gallery below.

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Chris, known as Cess on the forums, is a long time RMS member. He is a fervent motorsports enthusiast and lover of all things automotive. He can be found on the ditches of most Irish rallies, at Mondello watching drifting or in front of the TV watching motorbike racing.