The Festival of the Unexceptional 2025

We met with Richard, co-founder of Vauxhall Cavalier Drivers to recount The Festival of the Unexceptional 2025!

For the Festival of the Unexceptional 2025, I decided for the first time to not take one of my Cavalier Mk1’s but to take the newest addition to my fleet my Daewoo Matiz.

My Daewoo Matiz is the S.E Model and is the M150 version of the Daewoo Matiz as mine is from 2004, mine has just covered 54,000 miles from new and is the 800cc version.

The Daewoo Matiz whether it be the M100 or the M150 version is now very rare almost to a point they have simply disappeared over night without hardly anybody taking any notice.

It was strange for me to not take one of my Cavalier Mk1’s as that is what I have always done when attending the Festival Of The Unexceptional whether it be that my Cavalier Mk1 was taking part in the concours section or with the Classic Cars Parking Area gracing the lawn but my Daewoo Matiz did get quite a lot of attention from people who was saying “Where Did These All Go”.

I love the location of the Festival of the Unexceptional being Grimsthorpe Castle it’s a great backdrop for all the Unexceptional Cars not to mention a great place to walk around and look at the splendour of the Castle to which sadly doesn’t open during the event, but you can walk around the grounds and the garden.

My partner Lynne Hill to which this was her first year attending the Festival of the Unexceptional and most definitely won’t be her last especially enjoyed the Castle grounds and gardens and of course all the Unexceptional Cars to which there was many.

My partner Lynne Hill especially enjoyed the picnic we took and had at the back of our Daewoo Matiz using a picnic blanket as a base for us to layout and relax and chat over a scotch egg and a sausage roll.

Sadly, this year no Cavalier Mk1’s attended but there was a few of the Cavalier Mk2’s and Cavalier Mk3’s that was gracing the Classic Car Parking area and there was also a Cavalier Mk2 in the concours section.

The concours section never disappoints and for 2025 the choice really was exceptional and very hard to choose a winner so full credit to the judges for making what must be difficult decisions in choosing the winners.

All in all, the Festival of the Unexceptional is simply one of those Events once a year that you cannot miss as after all where else is your Unexceptional car most looked at and discussed amongst other like-minded people.

All The Best for the Festival of the Unexceptional 2025, I decided for the first time to not take one of my Cavalier Mk1’s but to take the newest addition to my fleet my Daewoo Matiz.

My Daewoo Matiz is the S.E Model and is the M150 version of the Daewoo Matiz as mine is from 2004, mine has just covered 54,000 miles from new and is the 800cc version.

The Daewoo Matiz whether it be the M100 or the M150 version is now very rare almost to a point they have simply disappeared over night without hardly anybody taking any notice.

It was strange for me to not take one of my Cavalier Mk1’s as that is what I have always done when attending the Festival Of The Unexceptional whether it be that my Cavalier Mk1 was taking part in the concours section or with the Classic Cars Parking Area gracing the lawn but my Daewoo Matiz did get quite a lot of attention from people who was saying “Where Did These All Go”.

I love the location of the Festival of the Unexceptional being Grimsthorpe Castle it’s a great backdrop for all the Unexceptional Cars not to mention a great place to walk around and look at the splendour of the Castle to which sadly doesn’t open during the event, but you can walk around the grounds and the garden.

The price for 2 people to attend in their chosen Unexceptional car is £25.00 for the driver and £25.00 for the passenger and other passengers are charged at £25.00 also so not a cheap event to do when thinking about your petrol costs and food and drink costs but for me the Festival Of The Unexceptional is a very unique event and you will and do see cars that you will simply not see at an average Classic Car Show.

My partner Lynne Hill to which this was her first year attending the Festival of the Unexceptional and most definitely won’t be her last especially enjoyed the Castle grounds and gardens and of course all the Unexceptional Cars to which there was many.

My partner Lynne Hill especially enjoyed the picnic we took and had at the back of our Daewoo Matiz using a picnic blanket as a base for us to layout and relax and chat over a scotch egg and a sausage roll.

There is a nice area for the Hagerty Drivers Club Membership to sit and relax as well as allowing you to join up to the Hagerty Drivers Club during the event, Hagerty was also selling merchandise to which appears popular and my personal favourite item the Classic Car Price Guide to which you can purchase.

Sadly, this year no Cavalier Mk1’s attended but there was a few of the Cavalier Mk2’s and Cavalier Mk3’s that was gracing the Classic Car Parking area and there was also a Cavalier Mk2 in the concours section.

The concours section never disappoints and for 2025 the choice really was exceptional and very hard to choose a winner so full credit to the judges for making what must be difficult decisions in choosing the winners.

All in all, the Festival of the Unexceptional is simply one of those Events once a year that you cannot miss as after all where else is your Unexceptional car most looked at and discussed amongst other like-minded people.

Thanks to Richard co-founder of Vauxhall Cavalier Drivers Club for report and pictures.