Roverfest 2025
2. August @ 9:00 – 3. August @ 17:00
The first Roverfest evolved as a platform to celebrate the 50th Anniversary in 2017 of the legendary Rover V8 engine, used in P5, P6 and SD1 models as well as many Land Rover products. A rally was organised by the Joint Rover Clubs (JRC), held at Wroxall Abbey in Warwickshire. This event proved very popular, with probably the largest turnout of Rover products – ranging from the earliest bicycles and cars produced in the various Meteor Works the company had in Coventry to the very last cars produced by MG Rover at Longbridge before the company’s demise in 2005 – probably ever seen together (1970s British Leyland stockpiles aside!).
The JRC committee decided to follow up this success with a second Roverfest, originally planned to take place in 2020 at Sywell Aerodrome in Northamptonshire. Of course, world events got in the way, with the rally being initially postponed to 2021 and, in the event, not actually happening until 2022. By that time, the original venue was unable to host the event, so at the eleventh hour it was re-located to nearby Weston Underwood, in the North Buckinghamshire countryside. Turnout for the second Roverfest was not as large as before, due to the lingering effects of Covid and the last minute change of venue and facilities. Nevertheless, those that did attend were very enthusiastic, with the stunning views from the rally field and idyllic location of Weston Underwood being much admired. The JRC committee therefore had no hesitation in choosing Weston Underwood as the venue for the third Roverfest, which will be held on Saturday 2nd and Sunday 3rd August 2025.
The Saturday is mainly taken up with a choice of one of two optional road runs during the day and an optional Gala Dinner during the evening, although there is nothing to stop you gathering on the rally field and having a natter with your Rover friends. The main show day is on the Sunday, when we expect in excess of 500 Rovers (and other classics) to be on display. We are also being joined by the MG Car Club’s Zed Register, who will be holding their annual ‚Post Abingdon Weekender‘ at Roverfest. The rally field will be open from 9.00am on both days, with the Gala Dinner starting at 7.30pm on Saturday evening.