RollHard x Bicester Heritage - 06/08/23
Words and Images by Mitcham Media
A total change from the mucky, muddy weekends rallying, todays trip out was to Bicester Heritage for RollHard 4.0.
Attending more and more of the car shows like RollHard makes this slightly less out of our comfort zone than before, but still a huge contrast to days spent at circuits and in forests capturing racing carnage.
Having spent the previous day getting soaking wet on a test day in Wales the intermittent sun was a refreshing sight and along with the fresh rain fall gave the whole Bicester Heritage site a moody vibe.
Keep scrolling for some highlights from the day.
Up first as you arrive you meander through the green which acts as forward parking spread out as an aperitif for the main event.
The diversity filling the field was insane, from super clean statements like the green 964 placed against the green doors and red brick work of the building, through to odes to Tokyo Drift with low, wide and lary liveried JDM machines like Lexus IS200’s.
It’s great to see these contrasting cars next to each other with zero prejudice from anyone along the spectrum of attendees.
In front of the hanger were some gems too although it was difficult not to be drawn into the 90’s and early 00’s saloons and coupes with Audi 80’s and A4’s, and BMW E36’s and E46’s stealing the show. One A4 had been built as a homage to the touring cars of the day complete with the stance and livery to match.
The E46 coupe is a car I’ll always have a soft spot for, and hopefully we’re now past the Tesco car park era for the chassis. With some epic builds around such as the super clean 318Ci you can see here.
Passing over the threshold of the hanger, between the two sliding doors towering above us, we were greeted by the red sea filling the centre of the building.
It was difficult not to be further drawn into the Bavarian brutes which were smattered throughout the crown. The G80 M3 you can see here represented the latest of the field, potentially controversial one but the Voldemort nostrils are starting to become less obscene…
Personal highlights included a candy red E30, a bagged E36 and a Japanese import Mini Cooper which was scrapping it’s little belly against the hanger floor.
Heading into the main site there was a curated collection spread through out pitched against the historic airfield, weaving through the trees and buildings.
The builds here took attention to detail to a whole new level. You’re first greeted by the Live To Offend E36 with it’s vast hips, splitter and diffuser laying resting on the floor showing off the phenomenal design.
Further through the range includes turbo flat four VW Beatles, multiple Silvia S15’s, Porsches of every variety and some gangster spec 60’s and 70’s Mercedes saloons all pointing towards the 80’s legend 190E on the central strip which featured the most ornate engraving across the whole engine including the mounts.
Ever since first seeing Nakai San setting to a 964 with a reciprocating saw to create the non-Japanese RAUH-Welt Begriff (RWB) Porsches I’ve been eagerly anticipating seeing one at an event, and RollHard did not disappoint with two 964’s and a 993 huddled together.
The way these super wide 911 sit looks so poised and ready to attack, and seeing the width of the rear wheels it’s abundantly obvious the bite will certainly match the bark.
It’s certainly a goal to one day complete a shoot and article with an RWB.
Quite possibly the most rare vehicle spotted was a Toyota Century, a Japanese icon featuring a plush interior rivalling a Rolls Royce and a smooth and wafty V12 under the bonnet.
The ornate details with the hardwood trims, deep pile cloth seats and carpets, right down to the intricate gold details of the badging and wheel centre caps.
A fantastic way to spend a chilled Sunday, surrounded by passionate people, cool cars and good food.
Thank you to RollHard for organising an exceptional event, and to all the attendees who were displaying their cars having no doubt put in bloody sweat and tears along with sleepless nights to get prepared and ready for the show.
Check out more photos from the day below, and keep an eye out for more posts soon with a busy few weeks coming up throughout August and September.
If you have or are building a show car, race car, off roader or anything unique, get in contact via our contact us or through our instagram, it would be great to do a post and some photos.
