As many as 132 cheeky Smart cars motored into Beaulieu for Simply Smart with a colourful line-up as a fitting finale to a successful year of Simply rallies.
The popular gathering of much-loved city cars saw examples of the sought-after Smart Roadster park-up alongside the iconic For Two and family-friendly For Four, in the grounds of the National Motor Museum.
With many of the cars on show resplendent with wild graphics, zany colour schemes and fun accessories, the autumn sun shone as enthusiastic owners met to compare their highly individual motors and talk about all things Smart.
The last of nine Simply rallies for 2018, Simply Smart rounded off Beaulieu’s event calendar in style, following the super-sized Simply Ford and Simply Porsche, glamorous Simply Aston Martin and Simply Jaguar, and Simply Land Rover with its Rummage autojumble. Next year, Simply Smart will return on November 10th as part of a line-up which includes brand new Simply Mercedes on August 18th. For the full calendar click here.
Simply Smart traditionally takes place on Remembrance Sunday and a two-minute silence was observed at 11am on November 11th to mark the Armistice Centenary. A reading was given by retired Royal Navy CPO and Smart owner Mr Tod Sloan.
Throughout the day, show-goers cast their votes for their favourite Smart car of the show in the People’s Choice Award. The biggest hit with voters was winner Richard LeMarquand, who had travelled from Northamptonshire to display his 2005 Smart Roadster. The immaculate Roadster in deep red paintwork had been in Richard’s possession for just nine months. He was presented with a Beaulieu trophy and an Autoglym car care pack by Beaulieu’s Deputy Visitor Services Manager Richard Simmonds.
Runners-up were David Yakes and Fran Terry. David, from Andover, had also only recently bought his 2004 Roadster in a unique satin green paint finish. Fran had affectionately nicknamed his 2004 For Two ‘For Fluff’, owing to the blue and purple spotted fur on its panels, reminiscent of one of the characters from the family film Monsters Inc. Travelling from Cornwall for the show, Fran is no stranger to long-distance drives in his Smart, having already participated in a charity rally to Gibraltar earlier in the year. Both David and Fran were presented with special Autoglym prizes.
