June 2003, and it was time for the annual pilgrimage to Registration Numbers Club's Number Plate Rally. The 2003 RNC Rally was held at Stanford Hall, in Leicestershire.
Most of the vehicles that attended had been pre-booked in for the event, so that the organisers could split them into their different classes (as above), although late entries are always welcomed on the day, (please note, a few of the cars at Stanford Hall on the day were not actually at this event, we just photographed them anyway, because once you've got a private registration you're not safe anywhere, as we all know!). Some photo entries were allowed, although we have only included the vehicle entries in this site.
Every entrant was directed to a parking spot, then on entering the marquee was greeted to a friendly welcome and a voting form. Voting at this event is more for fun than anything else, as the RNC was set up in 1977 to protect the right to assign and transfer a reg number and as such is geared more towards a gathering of like-minded individuals who treasure their registrations for their own reasons (off first vehicle, area of issue, name plates, etc.).
Owners are asked to arrive by midday, but most are usually on site between 10 and 11am, giving everyone a few hours to look around the cars, their plates, and Stanford Hall. The weather was glorious and a lot took advantage of this by sitting by the river bank enjoying the swans and a good show from several herons in the trees opposite.
By the time the votes had all been counted, everyone had had a good opportunity to see some of the new as well as the more familiar faces at this event, and the prize giving was the ideal way to round up the occasion. Enter the thunder (well it usually does at this point) but nothing came of it, except the opportunity of promoting the RNC umbrellas over the tannoy!
1st, 2nd, and 3rd prizes were awarded in each class as well as an award for the oldest registration, the furthest distance travelled to the event and a few other special awards given to people who had helped out on the day. For These additional winners CLICK HERE.
Registration Numbers Club welcome anyone with a registration to join, regardless of your vehicle, and there was everything from a Reliant Robin to a Limo on the day. The most popular cars there were Rover 800's, Ford Escorts, and Vauxhall Astras. Some good numbers missed out on trophies due to their none arrival, including PER 50N, 1 ANS, and DRE 55, maybe next year? You know the saying "you've got to be in it, to win it".
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