A full-day event schedule has been announced today with many special guests
Hagerty’s world renowned Festival of the Unexceptional celebrates its 10-year anniversary at Grimsthorpe Castle, Lincolnshire on Saturday 27th July, with thousands of mundane motors on display, and a Concours de l’Ordinaire selection of the UK’s finest base-model cars.
The 2024 Festival of the Unexceptional will be the most entertaining ever, with a spectacular schedule of activities on the main stage and in the glorious grounds of the Castle. New for 2024 is an earlier opening time with gates opening at 7.30 am, and the first 50 arrivals will receive a special Festival Birthday surprise.
Britain’s favourite motoring podcasters Smith and Sniff (Johnny Smith and Richard “Sniff Petrol” Porter) take to the stage with a range of activities where members of the audience will be the stars.
The duo first take to the stage at 10am to host the first round of their quirky quiz game Wheeltrim of Misfortune. Here, Smith and Sniff will be testing FOTU fans’ knowledge of all things unexceptional in a brilliant battle of the car bores. FOTU guests can register to take part here.
At 11am Smith and Sniff open the Superchod Swap Shop where banter meets barter as the duo connect car enthusiasts looking to trade. Perhaps you’re looking for some seat covers for your SEAT, or wheeltrims for your Wagon R? Maybe you’ve got a set of Mini mudflaps or a Maxi manifold you want to get rid of? Then register now for the Superchod Swap Shop and Smith and Sniff will aid with the exchange.
At 11.30am motoring journalists Jeff Ruggles and Chris Pollitt join Wayne Scott for a FOTU Flashback to discuss the highlights of ten unexceptional years of Britain’s most ordinary car show.
Then at midday Smith and Sniff will be back for a live recording of their award-winning podcast. Frankly we have no idea what they’ll talk about or how long this will last – and, true to form, neither to they. All we do know is that it will be as eclectic and entertaining as always.
Johnny and Richard will follow this with a Superchod Swap Shop update and then the FOTU house band will hit the stage.
Wheeltrim of Misfortune returns for round two at 2pm and there’ll be a final update on the Superchod Swap Shop at 3pm.
Paul Cowland hosts a Completely Unexceptional Pub Quiz at 4pm where he will be giving away a plethora of prizes including a £200 detailing and valeting kit courtesy of Dodo Juice for the quiz winner.
At 5pm comes the moment that enthusiasts of the ordinary have been waiting for – the Festival of the Unexceptional Awards. Chief Judge Danny Hopkins and his panel will reveal the winners for every class of mediocre motor.
The grand finale will be a Disco of the Unexceptional, with top tunes from the Eighties and Nineties and your chance to bust a move before the show closes at 7pm.
To participate in this packed programme enthusiasts are encouraged to grab the last remaining tickets here. The entry price of £35 is per car, so if you can pack a Previa that’s just £7 per person for a full day’s fun.
Timetable at a glance
7:30am Gates Open
8am: FOTU Birthday Surprise
9am: Stage Opens – Wayne Scott welcomes you to the 2024 Festival of the Unexceptional
10am: Smith and Sniff Present: Wheeltrim of Misfortune
11am: Smith and Sniff open the Superchod Swap Shop
11:30am: FOTU Flashback with Jeff Ruggles, Chris Pollitt and Wayne Scott
12pm:Smith and Sniff, Podcast LIVE
1pm: Superchod Swap Shop Update!
1:15pm: Live Music, courtesy of RIOT
2pm: Smith and Sniff Present: Wheeltrim of Misfortune 2
3pm: Superchod Swap Shop Update!
3:15pm: Live Music, courtesy of RIOT
4:00pm: Paul Cowland’s Completely Unexceptional Pub Quiz
5:00pm: 2024 Festival of the Unexceptional Awards
5:30pm: FOTU Photos – A chance to snap your car in front of the iconic Vanbrugh Hall
5:30pm: The Disco of the Unexceptional
7:00pm: Close of Show
Launched in 2014, Hagerty’s Festival of the Unexceptional is a show dedicated to great everyday classic cars that has earned its place as a must-attend event in the automotive calendar. Showcasing much maligned and long-forgotten ‘ordinary’ classic cars of the 70s, 80s and 90s, it remains the only event to celebrate the everyday cars we all know and love.
