Great Dorset Steam Fair 29th Aug - 2nd Sept '12

[Manky Monkey]

Near Blandford Forum, Dorset
"widely recognised as the leading event of it's kind in the World", as their flyer says.
600 acres of steam traction engines, vintage vehicles of all types, steam fairground rides, organs, animals, autojumble & trade stalls, as well as live music, food & beer tents... if you've never been, it's well worth a visit.
Camping available.

www.gdsf.co.uk
tel/fax 01258-860361

[BikerGran]

But if camping don't leave ANYTHING in your tent!  Hell, don't even leave the tent up, just put it up when you want to sleep!

[Manky Monkey]

Yeah, it does attract every travelling family in Britain.
Garden sheds & lock-up garages all over the South of England will be burgled for weeks beforehand -gotta fill the jumble stalls with something.

[BikerGran]

What I remember most from my days with Dorset Police is getting totally fed up with inputting yet ANOTHER crime where the solen property is Generator, Honda, Red.......... - always wondered what they did with all those gennies?  Sold them to people who'd had theirs nicked probably!

Shouldn't put folks off though, it's a fantastic event but too big for me now, still I went for years and years when I first came to Dorset!

[Manky Monkey]

Yeah, the travellers do seem passionate about the vintage country scene & vintage machinery, so they turn out in large numbers, but as you say, a great show. You'd struggle to see it all in one day.

[JayJay]

Well we went, we got very wet, we didn't see a lot (most outside exhibits were covered up, stalls covered their wares with plastic sheets or tarpaulin and all arena events were cancelled. Not quite sure what we paid our money for.  Saying that, I did laugh a lot, you had to otherwise you would have cried. The best moments were watching someone do doughnuts and some drifting on a mobility scooter (and it wasn't me!).

Ended the day, well half a day, in a quagmire of a car park. Both my scooter and my car well and truly mired. We only got out thanks to 2 very helpful visitors who like us ended up covered in mud. And to cap it all when I got home I noticed part of my car door handle was missing (the bit that goes over the lock).  Hey Ho.

Goodness knows what tomorrow will be like because I don't think that mud is going away soon. I am sure loads more got stuck there, churning the ground up even more.

So, if you are going there, definitely take your wellies (waders might be better) and a four wheel drive or even a tank might be your best mode of transport!

Have fun...

JJ 

[Manky Monkey]

That's a shame Jay. Another victim of the lousy weather. So many shows have been either cancelled or washed out this year.

[BikerGran]

The Steam Fair has historically been victim of bad weather - they've changed the location, and altered the date several times, in search of a better draining surface and better weather - the rain just follows them around!

[Manky Monkey]

The last time I went, maybe 3 years ago, it rained. I kinda liked it -it added to the grimey, "trouble at t' mill" kinda atmosphere!

[JayJay]

We were there too that year. Chevy Rick usually goes on the first day but the weather was so bad we went on the Friday. My scooter did well and people kept joking that is was four wheel drive. It was very muddy but at least that day it was not raining so everything was on show and we were in a Transit so even though it was bad in the car park we got out okay.

Like most events, where the weather is against you, people tend to treat the problems it creates with a smile (albeit a wry one) and if needed, a helping hand. Comradeship in adversity! 

I just hope the organisers have brought in loads of straw to help out. I am not that far away, and we had high winds and even more heavy rain last night.

JJ   

[Chevy Rick]

Today the radio are saying only the south car park is open

[Manky Monkey]

Loony's parents are going tomorrow, so I'll get a report when they come back.