WITH bodywork gleaming from the love and attention lavished by enthusiastic owners, the vintage cars of yesteryear are to take to the road again.Organisers of the Ipswich to Felixstowe Historic Vehicle Run expect the 500 places on the rally to be taken up fully – so if you want to enter your pride and joy, you had better be quick.

WITH bodywork gleaming from the love and attention lavished by enthusiastic owners, the vintage cars of yesteryear are to take to the road again.

Organisers of the Ipswich to Felixstowe Historic Vehicle Run expect the 500 places on the rally to be taken up fully – so if you want to enter your pride and joy, you had better be quick.

The annual road run and parade on Felixstowe's prom is one of the resort's biggest and most popular events of the year and around 15,000 visitors are expected to flock to the seaside with many more lining the route.

It's a great memory-jogger with the cars, motorcycles, buses, military and commercial vehicles coming from all over the country and providing a snapshot of the history of motoring.

The rally – the 33rd annual – is being organised by Ipswich Transport Museum with the support of Ipswich Buses Ltd and will take place on Sunday May 4.

Rally director Colin Norfolk said the vehicles would assemble in Christchurch Park, Ipswich, during the morning and leave at midday for Felixstowe, where they will be displayed and judged on the prom in the afternoon.

The run is open to all vehicles built on or before April 30, 1973. Entry forms can be obtained from the museum's web site or from the Museum at The Old Trolleybus Depot, Cobham Road, Ipswich, IP3 9JD, or ring 01473 715666.

Last year organisers had to turn away dozens of entries because the two-mile prom will only hold so many vehicles.

Those taking part included two steam cars and a number of three wheelers, Rolls Royces, loveable Morris Minors, many family favourites from the 1960s, and Felixstowe furnisher Bloomfield's oldest delivery van.

"Entries are limited to 500. The number will be reached in the next few days so potential entrants should hurry," said Mr Norfolk.

He said the Ipswich Transport Museum had had close relations with Ipswich Buses for many years and was very pleased to have the support of the company for this year's run.

Council-owned Ipswich Buses celebrates its centenary this year having started electric tram services in the Town in 1903.

WEBLINK: www.ipswichtransportmuseum.co.uk