Pageant of Power – exclusive slide show

An eclectic mix of cars, bikes, helicopters and even boats were in action in the stunning grounds of the 19th century castle. Trackside’s Keith Collantine was there to witness the action.

See our pictures from the Cholmondely Pageant of Power

Boats blasted around the lake at 50mph, a 24-litre Napier Bentley was fired up in front of Cholmondely Castle, and a Ford RS200 rally car thrilled the crowd by getting seriously sideways between the trees.

The first ever Cholmondely Pageant of Power was not short on spectacle.

The Pageant of Power was inevitably going to invite comparisons with the hugely popular Goodwood Festival of Speed – although the Pageant takes place 200 miles further north.

For a first-time event the Pageant of Power put on a very diverse show. Much of the attention was centred around the cars and bikes racing around a 1.2-mile loop in the shadow of Cholmondely Castle.

The star attractions included two examples of the Bentley Speed Eight which triumphed in the 2003 Le Mans 24 Hours – one of which was driven by Britain’s five times Le Mans winner Derek Bell.

Bentley, which employs many locals at its nearby Crewe site, brought a wide selection of cars but few as spectacular as the 24-litre Napier which mated a 1929 Bentley chassis with an engine from a Napier Sea Lion aeroplane.

Bike fans were very well catered for with a wide selection of classic motorcycles – although heavy rain on Saturday morning meant they had to take it easy as they navigated the Cholmondely course.

This inaugural event was put together in just ten months and the organisers hope it will be the first of many. See our pictures from the Pageant below:

See our pictures from the Cholmondely Pageant of Power

See our pictures from the 2008 Goodwood Festival of Speed

Is the Pageant of Power as good as the Goodwood Festival of Speed? Have your say in the Auto Trader Blog