How about a different treat for fathers on their day?

SOCKS, books, magazines, a pint or two… the usual fare for fathers on their annual day.

Why not try something a little different this year and break the mould?

Instead of buying Dad the usual suspects, why not treat him to a day out at Beaulieu’s fun-filled Custom and Hot Rod Festival on Sunday, June 16? A great day out for all the family, this fantastic festival features the Custom Car Show, in association with Victory Wheelers, as well as the Custom Motorcycle Show, also taking place over the weekend.

On the Sunday, anyone owning a Hot Rod, Custom or Classic American car or motorcycle can drive to Beaulieu and display their vehicle alongside hundreds of others in the beautiful grounds of the National Motor Museum.

Admire some of the quirky and unusual designs that can only be found on the colourful custom scene, and enjoy some great entertainment, including live music from The Mad Bones as well as free rides on the fairground dodgems. You can also browse a number of trade stands selling clothing, Americana memorabilia, merchandise, accessories and the latest custom magazines… something for all fathers.

In another exciting feature at the 2013 show, Europe’s first dragster, Sydney Allard’s 1961 Allard Chrysler, will be on display in the grounds alongside Andy Robinson Race Cars’ Pro Mod 1969 Camaro and both will be firing up at intervals throughout the Festival to demonstrate their engine power to visitors.   The Allard Chrysler, which is owned by the National Motor Museum Trust, has been fully restored by a group of enthusiasts, the Allard Chrysler Action Group (ACAG), in a lengthy, but very successful five year project.

All custom vehicles at the Festival will have the opportunity to win one of the Beaulieu awards up for grabs in categories including Best Hot Rod, Best Chopper, Best American and Best in Show. Each winner will receive a Beaulieu Trophy in the afternoon awards ceremony, before taking part in a cavalcade around the attraction’s grounds. There will also be a People’s Choice Award, given to the owner of the vehicle voted for the most by Beaulieu’s visitors that day. The winner of this category will receive an exclusive trophy from Willydog Hotdogs.

The Custom Motorcycle Show taking place on Saturday and Sunday, a “World Class” event promoting engineering excellence and celebrating the wonderful world of custom and modified motorcycles, will be making a welcome return to Beaulieu as part of the Festival. This show gives visitors a rare opportunity to view a unique collection of stunning custom bikes and check out the bike-related trade stands in and around the Grand Marquee. As part of the show, a UK affiliate round of the AMD World Championships will be taking place, with the winner being invited to attend the Grand Finals of the World Championships in Essen, Germany in May 2014.

Admission to the Festival, for fathers and everyone else, includes entry to the whole Beaulieu attraction, which features the National Motor Museum, Bond In Motion exhibition, World of Top Gear, Beaulieu Abbey, Palace House and the grounds and gardens, plus unlimited rides on the high-level monorail and open-topped veteran London bus.

On the day ticket prices for those participating in the Sunday Drive-In with a custom vehicle are £10 per adult. One child will receive free entry when accompanied by a paying adult, and any additional children will be charged £5 each.   All those wishing to visit the Sunday event as spectators should buy normal Beaulieu attraction admission tickets on the day from Visitor Reception.

Or why not take advantage of a special discounted rate for advance tickets for both participants and spectators, available online at www.beaulieushop.co.uk or on ticket line 01590 612888.   For those arriving in a custom vehicle on Sunday, entry is from 8am, when catering will be available. The show opens to the public from 10am.

If you fancy making a weekend of it, camping tickets for the whole Festival weekend are also available. These weekend tickets give access to the whole Beaulieu attraction and on-site camping all weekend, and entry to the Custom and Hot Rod Festival, with the opportunity for custom car or bike owners to take part in a Saturday Cruise Out in the surrounding New Forest.

Each day, evening entertainment and catering will be available from 7.30pm, with a pub-style atmosphere and background music in the Brabazon Restaurant on Friday night and on Saturday night a DJ and karaoke in the restaurant plus a live set from The Mad Bones near the Beaulieu Arena.

To find out more about weekend tickets please visit www.beaulieucustomfestival.co.uk

1931 Ford Model A