Veterans@Heritage: Best of British Families Day

The Mission Motorsport community came together at Bicester Motion for our Veterans@Heritage: Best of British Families Day on Friday 14 August 2026, for a day of cars, driving, family fun and, most importantly, time spent together.

There was plenty happening from the moment families arrived. Our youngest visitors could take the wheel of our special split-control Lightning McQueen, with an adult operating the pedals, while those aged 10 and over had the opportunity to get behind the wheel and pedals of our dual-control MX-5.

For those aged 16 and over, there was the chance to experience the Bicester Motion test circuit from the passenger seat. A fantastic selection of British-built cars took to the circuit throughout the day, including a Jaguar XJ220, Noble M400 and Lotus Exige Sport 350.

With such a brilliant collection of cars on site, we couldn’t resist making the most of lunchtime with a couple of parade laps. The passenger seats were filled with some very excited children, and the huge grins on their faces said it all as they enjoyed a few laps around the circuit.

One attendee summed up the day perfectly:

“It was a brilliant day. It was great to bring the family along and have something that everyone could enjoy. The kids loved the driving, and we really enjoyed the passenger laps.”

Away from the circuit, there was just as much going on. Families enjoyed lawn games and remote-control cars, while the static displays gave car enthusiasts plenty to explore. There was also, of course, plenty of tea, cake and time to sit down and catch up.

The static display featured some particularly special cars. Hedley Studios brought along the stunning Bentley Blower, the University of Birmingham Formula Student team showcased their UBR29, and Prodrive brought an incredible piece of motorsport history in the form of the Aston Martin Vantage GTE – the car that won the 2020 24 Hours of Le Mans.

The passenger laps were made possible thanks to the Jaguar Enthusiasts’ Club Oxfordshire and Bedfordshire Regions, Hellfire Motor Vehicle Club and a number of individual volunteer drivers, who brought along their cars and gave up their time to make the experience possible.

And, as always, our volunteers were at the heart of the day. From helping things run smoothly behind the scenes to welcoming families and keeping the activities moving, their support made the whole event possible.

While the cars and driving provide the reason to come along, it is the opportunity to spend time together that makes Veterans@Heritage so special. Familiar faces catching up, new friendships being made and families enjoying a shared experience are exactly what these events are about.

A huge thank you to everyone who came along, volunteered, brought a car, supported the activities or helped make the day happen.

It was a brilliant day of cars and motorsport, but more importantly, a brilliant day of community.

Images from the event are available here