Tag Archive for: Newark

Vintage machinery memories to light up Newark Showground

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Vintage machinery memories to light up Newark Showground: Rare exhibits and landmark anniversaries will take centre stage at this weekend’s Newark Vintage Tractor & Heritage Show. 

Event organisers the Newark & Notts Agricultural Society (NNAS) is calling on enthusiasts and families to book their last-minute tickets ahead of what promises to be one of the standout heritage events of the year.

Vintage machinery memories to light up Newark Showground

Vintage machinery memories to light up Newark Showground

Over 1,000 pieces of machinery are being shown by enthusiasts to a crowd exceeding 10,000 people.

Alongside the diverse array of tractors, commercial vehicles, and stationary engines will be a whole host of trade stands and food stalls.

Vehicles, implements, and parts will be sold off as part of Saturday’s auction, and a Sunday Sortout will give owners the opportunity to buy and sell parts which are too good to scrap.

Remembrance Day will also be marked with a traditional service on Sunday morning.

A show full of celebrations

This year’s show is packed with milestone celebrations, from Caterpillar’s 100th anniversary to 80 years of the Fordson Major E27N and the Field Marshall Series One.

It’s also 60 years of Cummins engines and six decades since the first imports of Zetor equipment into the UK.

The show will reflect on one of the most defining moments in tractor industry history: the 40th anniversary of Case’s takeover of International Harvester.

Philip Ponton, who worked for International Harvester at the time and later continued his career with Case IH, says the significance of the change cannot be overstated.

“The main feeling at the time of the takeover was shock. It was a buyout with worldwide consequences,” he said. “Our immediate thoughts were about what was going to happen to the Doncaster factory where the International Harvesters were made. It was eventually divested as part of the takeover to Landini, which went on to produce McCormick tractors there.”

He expects many former IH and Case staff and supporters to gather at Newark. “There are lots of people involved in the Case IH Club who will be coming down to Newark this weekend and I expect there will be some good stories about the history of the company. There will be no shortage of machines for people to see on the stand too.”

Eye-catching commercial vehicles on show will include a rare Ford D Series Chinese Six, marking 60 years since its launch.

Believed to be the only original surviving example of its type in the UK, the 1980 twin-steer lorry belongs to Hertfordshire enthusiast Brian Gardner.

Originally used by Tetley Brewery in Hull, the lorry had passed through several owners and was in poor condition when Brian acquired it in 2017. Rather than settle for patch repairs, he and his family stripped it down to the chassis and rebuilt it piece by piece.

“It had been partly done, but I wanted a full restoration,” says Brian. “I stripped it right back to the chassis, rebuilt the engine, replaced the body, brakes and tyres, and fitted a new cab that I sourced from Dorset. My boys, my wife and my father-in-law all helped. It’s really been a family restoration.”

The result is a striking and authentic survivor that will appear on the Fordson Club stand and is expected to be one of the talking points of the weekend.

The NNAS says the show’s appeal lies not only in the machines but in the community and stories behind them.

CEO Simon Eccleston said: “If you want to experience mechanical history up close and hear first-hand stories from those who lived it, Newark is the place to be this weekend.”

Gates open both days at Newark Showground. Children aged 16 and under enter free. Tickets sales are online at www.newarkvintagetractorshow.com

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113 machines travel to Newark Vintage Tractor & Heritage Show

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113 machines travel to Newark Vintage Tractor & Heritage Show: The Newark Vintage Tractor & Heritage Show returns next month with one of its most ambitious programmes yet. 

In an incredible show of dedication to Caterpillar, more than 110 individual machines will be brought to Newark Showground to mark a century of the iconic yellow brand, alongside a host of other major engineering milestones.

113 machines travel to Newark Vintage Tractor & Heritage Show

113 machines travel to Newark Vintage Tractor & Heritage Show

Enthusiasts from across the UK are set to gather on 8 and 9 November, where a weekend crowd of over 10,000 people will witness exhibits which have been brought from all over the country by enthusiasts.

With a vast array of diverse machinery being celebrated in 2025, visitors are being encouraged to purchase discounted tickets before the special offer expires at the end of October.

Adult tickets just £16 until the end of the month, and the event promises to be one of the best displays of vintage tractors, stationary engines, commercial vehicles and trade stands found in the UK.

Caterpillars old and new to catch the eye 

The show will host the largest-ever gathering of Caterpillar machines seen in the UK, with 113 exhibits spanning a century of tracklayer development, from early Holt crawlers of the 1910s to modern-day giants.

Among the headline attractions will be the Caterpillar D10, brought by Ash Croft on behalf of Cat Plant. At up to 77 tonnes, the D10 is one of the largest dozers in the company’s range, designed for quarrying and coal mining and sure to be a showground showstopper.

While the D10 commands attention, many enthusiasts will be drawn to the historic machines that tell Caterpillar’s story. Highlights include the Holt 75, built in the 1910s and described as the oldest surviving example in the UK – the Caterpillar 60 – first introduced in 1925, with a fully restored 1929 example owned by Tom Balls. Caterpillar’s RD8, a diesel-powered crawler from the 1930s used on major construction projects and in military service during the Second World War, will also be on show.

Tom, whose family business J C Balls & Sons is sponsoring the Caterpillar class, said: “We’ve got collectors coming from all over. To have more than a hundred Caterpillars in one place is something that’s never been done before in this country. It will be a once-in-a-lifetime sight.”

Simon Eccleston, CEO of the Newark & Nottinghamshire Agricultural Society (NNAS), which organises the show, added: “We are absolutely thrilled to mark the centenary of Caterpillar at our show. These machines are symbols of innovation, persistence, engineering and community, and it’s a privilege to bring together owners, restorers and admirers under one roof.”

Alongside the Caterpillar celebration, the 2025 show will spotlight several other landmark anniversaries including 80 years of the Fordson Major E27N and Field Marshall Series One, 60 years of Zetor imports into England sponsored by Chantry Agricultural Engineers, 60 years of Cummins engines, and a major tribute to Gardner Engines sponsored by Stamford Shepherd Huts.

There will also be celebrations for the Ford D Series lorry, launched 60 years ago, and for Ransomes, Sims & Jefferies. Heritage potato implements, handling equipment and a wide range of club displays will add further depth to the show.

Among the personal stories on display is one particularly touching restoration. “Old Sodbuster”, a 1948 Fordson Major E27N owned by Kate Hodgson from North Yorkshire, was the first tractor restored by her grandfather Ray Worley nearly 40 years ago.

Decades after he sold it, Kate rediscovered the same machine for sale, still bearing his hand-painted nickname. “It felt spooky but also meant to be,” she said. “Restoring it with my partner Joshua has been a real labour of love, and showing it at Newark during the Fordson’s 80th anniversary feels like the perfect tribute.”

Another standout is Nottinghamshire’s Paul Hird with his Series One Field Marshall – one of the earliest survivors of its kind. Bought on a whim at auction, Paul later discovered its history through another enthusiast at Newark. “I like originality,” he said. “Something that’s lived a life and carries its modifications tells a story – that’s what I look for when I’m judging other exhibitors’ machines too.”

The stationary engine section will once again offer a working display of the power sources that once drove rural life, with many engines in full running condition throughout the weekend.

Beyond the exhibits, the showground becomes a marketplace for collectors and restorers, with hundreds of traders offering parts, tools, books and memorabilia, as well as expert advice for ongoing projects.

The Newark Vintage Tractor & Heritage Show runs Saturday 8 and Sunday 9 November 2025 at Newark Showground, Nottinghamshire.

Discounted advance tickets and camping passes are available until 31 October, and children aged 16 and under can enter for free. All tickets can be booked at www.newarkvintagetractorshow.com.

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Newark GC note improvements in reliability

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Newark GC note improvements in reliability: Newark Golf Club are one of a growing list of UK courses discovering the many benefits that Aspen Fuel brings to the operation of their petrol-powered equipment.

It’s been three years since Course Manager Alex Clarricoates made the switch to Aspen 2 and Aspen 4 for a selection of their machinery and hand tools – including seasonal equipment which now starts first time, every time, even after significant periods in storage.

Newark GC note improvements in reliability

Newark GC note improvements in reliability

“We were familiar with Aspen and decided to give it a try during COVID, when we started to encounter difficulties in accessing pump fuel” explains Alex, who has been at the 18-hole parkland course for 15 years. “It’s not until you incorporate it into the day to day operations that you really begin to appreciate the improvements that an ethanol-free alkylate fuel can have for both the operators and the equipment. The biggest benefit for me is the shelf-life of Aspen, which has seen us get equipment out of the shed which has been dormant for a year and starts again with no trouble at all.”

Together with damaging plastic and rubber components, ethanol binds moisture which then acidifies, causing the issues commonly experienced with ‘gummy deposits’, reliability issues and reduced storage life. Being free from ethanol as well as benzene, sulphur and many other harmful substances, Aspen Alkylate petrol offers a clean alternative for both 2 and 4-stroke engines – available in a range of pack sizes and bulk ordering available, which includes safe and convenient delivery to site.

“We use roughly 400 litres of the 4-stroke Aspen, and 200 litres of the 2-stroke each year, both delivered in 200 litre barrels and stored exactly where we need it. Another benefit we’ve found is the Aspen 2 being pre-mixed which has eliminated issues we’ve experienced in the past where incorrect fuel to oil ratios have resulted in faults with some of our 2-stroke engines.”

Along with reduction in service time and the associated costs, Alex notes that improvements have also been observed to the operator working environment. “The cleaner burn results in a big reduction in noxious fumes so, when you’re working with a chainsaw in dense woodland for example, you’ll notice that come the end of the day you don’t have headaches.” These qualities have also been well received by the club. “Like a lot of venues we’re looking at sustainability and ways of reducing the impact we make on our surroundings. Aspen Alkylate powering our petrol equipment is a great step forward in us being more environmentally friendly.”

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New approach for Newark Golf Club

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New approach for Newark Golf Club: Established in 1901, Newark Golf Club in Nottinghamshire is an 18-hole parkland/heathland golf course with a driving range and practice facilities maintained by a greenkeeping team of six led by course manager Alex Clarricoates.

Alex joined the club from school on work experience 13 years ago and was then offered a full-time job. Since he became course manager three years ago, a new club board took the opportunity after the first Covid lockdown to restructure the running of the golf course and make some necessary improvements. By outsourcing the pro shop and clubhouse to franchise operators, this freed up extra money to spend on the club’s main asset, the golf course.

New approach for Newark Golf Club

New approach for Newark Golf Club

“The club was very supportive and happy to make the investment I thought was necessary to improve the course quality, rather than simply making do with what we had,” says Alex. “I was therefore encouraged to put together a list of the machines we needed to get us properly equipped. For example, we used to hire in a contractor to do the vertidraining, but we now have our own machine which gives us much more flexibility and costs the club less money in the long run.

“Having bought our first John Deere package in 2017, the old fleet needed upgrading. There was a mix of deals on different terms with and without maintenance agreements, so essentially we emptied the shed and replaced the fleet, with the help of our local dealer Simon Fountain at Adamson’s Langworth depot.

“In particular, we decided to invest in new mowers dedicated to the rough, semi-rough and fairways, to give us more flexibility with the cutting regimes. We can now mow the roughs, aprons and tees more regularly, whereas before one machine had to do two jobs, and we also have a specialist amenity turf sprayer, which we didn’t have before.

“Another benefit is that one of my assistants, Jim North, used to work with Simon at the previous John Deere dealership, so he’s familiar with the kit and can look after all the service and maintenance.”

The new John Deere fleet (pictured on the 8th hole) includes three 2550E hybrid electric triplex mowers with two spare sets of 7- and 11-blade reels, a 6700A PrecisionCut fairway mower, 9009A TerrainCut and 1600T WAM Series 3 rotary rough mowers, a 4066R compact tractor with 440R front loader and 4-in-1 bucket, a ProGator 2030A utility vehicle with HD200 sprayer and cargo box plus TH 6×4 and TE electric Gators.

Ancillary equipment bought as part of the John Deere Financial five-year finance lease package deal includes a Charterhouse Redexim Top-Brush and Verti-Drain 7416 aerator, a Campey Turf Care Vredo DZ 214.07.5 compact seeder and a Tru-Turf RE50 greens roller.

“After the course was shut during the last lockdown, it took the team about a month to prepare the course ready to open again, using the new equipment, and it was in mint condition straight from the off,” says Alex.

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