Centenary celebrations of the Monte Carlo Rally and 50 years of the E-type were the focus of Race Retro, filling four halls of the National Agricultural Centre.

A line-up of rally cars from featured marque Lancia spanned winners from the Aurelia to Delta S4, while former Integrale star Miki Biasion performed outside on the live rally stage, joining former rally heroes ‘Jumping Jeff’ Williamson and Russell Brookes wheel-twirling in period steeds. The Monte display featured actual competing cars, cars from Donald Healey’s winning 1931 Invicta to the Sunbeam Talbot 90 that Stirling Moss drove to sixth in 1953.

Celebrating the E-type’s half-century, Jaguar Heritage’s stand featured its motorsport legacy with brethren from XK120 ‘Montlhery’ coupe to the Silk Cut XJR-9 1988 Le Mans winner. Guest speakers on the interview stage by the Ace Café included Richard Attwood, Russell Brookes, Barrie Williams and Norman Dewis, now 90, who warmly greeted his old mate, motorcycle legend Giacomo Agostini, and then went on to remember his adventures with the E-type, one of 25 cars he helped develop in his 36 years with Jaguar, including delivering the second car to Geneva in 11 hours – mostly in the dark – in 1961. The crowd also had a rare opportunity to hear about his hitting 172mph in a streamlined XK120 in Belgium, and rolling the XJ13 into a cabbage field.

The motorcycle display had expanded, with a rare treat in the form of the Moto Guzzi V8. As ever, the aisles were packed with suppliers, specialists, event organisers, clubs, artists and memorabilia dealers – with a whole hall given over to the autojumble, where the rarest find was an Elva sports-racer still with original body and chassis.

In better shape was the ex-Dennis Poore Dodge race transporter making its post-restoration debut; Poore hillclimbed and raced an ex-Scuderia Ferrari Alfa 8C-35 and this RAF surplus 1940 hauler was a regular sight in the paddocks in the post-war years. Next to it was a battered Lancia Aurelia, well hammered on the recent Monte Carlo Historique rally and ironically described as ‘concours original’ on the stand of Jim Stokes Workshops, better known for its exquisite restorations and recreations that was also displaying a perfect Alfa 6C 2300. Top sale in the H&H auction just across the way from the main halls was a restored 1967 Jaguar E-type roadster, fetching ￡89,100.

Post-show, organisers claimed visitor numbers over the three days of 28,300, up 1300 on last year