The previous Rossendale Model Truck Fest was held on Saturday 27th February 2010, and on Easter Saturday at the Longholme Methodist Church Hall just behind Rossendale Models shop.

The last meeting was quite well supported considering it was over the Easter holiday break, and we have ben asked to arrange another meeting.

We have also bee asked if we would support the formation of a new Rossendale Model Truck Club, and of course we would be more than pleased to do this and welcome everyone to join.

When we have some more information about this, we will display it here, but the important point is that this club will be open to everyone, and will include all r/c truck owners who would like to join and will include r/c model trucks of all types and all scales.

We will have some meetings in the church hall as we have done already, but we will also include some outside meetings during the better weather as well as providing a specialist area for those who own and would like the chance to operate their plant equipment - so expect a lot more digging and tipping oportunities.

The next meeting will be after the Harrowgate Model Engineers Show as some of our "local" ( North West) model truck enthusiasts will have a display there that we hope you will all be able to come along and visit sometime over the weekend ( Friday to Sunday inclusive).

Several of our own Wedico models will be on show, including the very rare Fulda Show Truck along with our own Cat models, so it is well worth a visit to see them all and to support and have a chat with Barry Taylor who organised this for us all to enjoy.

Although there were other model truck meetings arranged at alternative venues on the same day as our meeting on 27th February and in the same region (!), we pressed on with this original event and were surprised to see just how well attended it was - probably our best event yet!

If the other events had as many trucks as we did, then it just shows how strongly supported r/c model trucks have become, and how many modellers have now started making r/c model trucks in the North West.

All of the trucks present were of Tamiya and Wedico origin, but as there were so many trucks on display, the joint organisor of this event (Barry Taylor) did not even take any of his models out of his car, and I only took one from the King Cobra fleet as we had so many interesting models to look at and drive there was no need to add yet more models to the event.

A reversing area was quickly "knocked-up" for drivers to practice their "articulated" reversing skills, and a slalom course was laid out along the centre of the hall so everyone could practice ( or show off) their driving ability - both of these got a lot of use.

We also had some Wedico owners come to the event without their trucks - "just to see what it was like", but as they liked what they saw, they are going to bring them to the next event, so this next event should be even better supported with trucks that this one was!

Other drivers were asking if they could make and bring warehouse buildings etc to future meetings to add to the fun - naturally this would be welcomed as it will give us all more things to drive around and enjoy.

For the first time we were asked to make this a regular event as everyone who came enjoyed it so much, so there will be another meeting in 5 weeks time on Saturday 3rd April.

Drivers travelling any distance should note that this is a whole day event, and not just a half day event............read more.

The entry fee will be £3 per person which helps towards paying for the hire of the hall - but we include free hot drinks after 1.00pm for all those who pay their entry fee and can show their ticket.

The church hall is open all day, but we do not get "exclusive" use of the main hall until mid-day 12.00 as a small section of this area is used as a "coffee morning" until then. However.............anyone arriving early can still go into the hall and unload and get "set-up" for the day.

The two rear rooms of the church hall are ideal for this as there are plenty of tables and chairs to use ( something the helicopter club members do twice every week) and make an ideal area to "pit" and work from giving the main hall even more floor space for driving.

Most of the truck drivers enjoy showing and talking about their trucks, as well as looking at and talking about all the other trucks, so there is as much time(or more) spent "enjoying the event" than there is actually spent driving, so getting a place in the rear rooms extends the day and is a great additional feature for most to enjoy. It also makes space for a lot more drivers and trucks!

Anyone travelling will find the coffee morning a great additional benefit, as they can spend few pence on a nice hot cuppa, and can also have some toast, cake and biscuits etc for a modest fee. Quite a nice way to start the day infact, and it helps with the whole days entertainment for those that have to travel to get here.

We have the church hall untill 5.0pm, but this can be extended in the future if people wants to stay longer. But - we have found by 5.00pm, everyone seems to be ready to head for home in any case, so everything seems to work-out very well just the way it is.