Mayday Spectacular

Yesterday and today Bakewell Showground was host to the Mayday Spectacular.
Whilst not being the most spectacular day I've ever been too it was to say the least eclectic.
Festivities included a very impressive Fun Fair with a great selection of rides for kids and adults. A prestigious selection of classic and exotic cars from Ferrari's, Lamborghini's, Porsche's, Maserati's, and this year even a Ford GT40. There were also Race cars, Rally Cars, and Motor Bikes. WOW!!!
Also a live auction of farming equipment and rusted metal! proved popular with a large crowd (me included) following the auctioneer around the field as he auctioned it all off in rapid time.
There was a demonstration from Peak Vale Tractor Pulling, this was something I'd never witnessed before and involved lots of high powered tractors dragging on the strip. Different!
Further entertainment included, Live Music, Hot Air Balloon Flights, Children's Activities, Bouncy Castle Games, Punch & Judy, Clowns, Face Painting, a Prize Draw, Animals from across the world, and much much more.

The Circus Mondeo was also present, I really like this circus even though it has animals including camels and zebras, nothing untoward happens you just see them parading around the ring. Nothing spectacular but good innocent fun.

Food involved the usual show delicacies ranging from traditional Hog Roast, Paella, Burgers, German Sausages, Licensed BAR for Adults, Crepes/Pancakes, Doughnuts and Sweets.

The sun shone and the wind gusted around with speeds approaching 25mph creating the odd dust storm.
Here's a picture of 2 girls enjoying the swirls or as i've just found out 'The Twist'.

Here is a low down on their history:-

An American innovation and a development of the wheels within wheels concept.
Known in the UK as The American Twist, or Cyclone Twist, it is an open-top machine with an elevated 4-arm spider frame. Revolving shafts are suspended from each arm carrying smaller spider frames, each mounted with four cars.

Introduced into the UK in the early 1960s, the Butlin's Amusement Parks were among the first to operate these rides. Known to Butlin's holiday makers by the quaint sounding name of the Merry Mixer, they were soon being produced by a wide variety of British manufacturers. A further development of the Twist was the Sizzler, or Twister.
Fairground showfolk found these to be both profitable and easy to transport and many show families have since specialised in travelling these machines.
Although an enduring and popular ride, found on almost every fairground, it seems that the first decade of the 21st century has signalled a waning in its popularity.

So there you have it.