Costello Gatherings
Since the creation of the Costello community in 2008, it was always a desire to gather together as many of the remaining Costello cars as possible. So with much anticipation, an impressive collection of 11 surviving Costello GTs and Roadsters gathered in Surrey, UK in September 2009 - the first official meeting of its kind and one which Ken Costello was able to attend. This informal event stimulated interest in meeting more often, now with regular meetings in Europe and UK each year. Click on each supporting image to see more pictures and a short report of each event.
Kimber Bay Run
Yorkshire England.
September 2019
Eight Costellos gathered from Germany and UK and enjoyed some thrilling roads across the North Yorkshire Moors, as well as some of the best fish and chips in the land!
Alpes Marcelle
Normandy
France
September 2015
A burble of eight Costellos, one Swallow Doretti and a Ferrari rumbled across Northern France to meet near Alencon. Wonderful food, historic chateaux, tasty cider, syrupy calvados and open, fast sweeping deserted roads kept the throng entertained and happy for a lovely weekend.
Eifel Mountains
Germany & Belgium 2014
Several Costello GTs and Roadsters are gathering in Frankfurt in May 2013 to enjoy the open roads of the nearby Black Forest region, taking in visits to the old—now disused—Solitude Ring F1 circuit, a tour of the Porsche and Daimler Museums, and ample sustenance is various biergartens and luncheon stops.
Le Mans Classic
France
2012
Three Costellos (two French GTs and one British Roadster) attended the biennial Le Mans Classic event, with—for the first time at any event— their own reserved marquee club parking on the infield of the legendary La Sarthe circuit. As part of the show cars, the three proud owners enjoyed a spirited four lap drive of the circuit in damp and slippery conditions. Following the event, organizer and local Costello man Pierre Damirongenerously provided a fabulous lunch at his home nearby, shared with his friends and cars from the Swallow Doretti Owner’s Club. More pictures in the Gallery.
Ardennes & Spa
Belgium
2011
The forests and sweeping roads of the Belgian Ardennes attracted 9 Costellos (and two further owners) this year with most of the cars enjoying an exciting blast around the fabulous Spa Francorchamps F1 circuit. A dedicated Costello stand there at the inaugural Spa Classic event was a first for us owners and shows how far our community has developed in such short time, as have the friendships forged within.
Heather Run
Yorkshire
2010
Beautiful sunshine, stunning scenery and meticulous organisiation made this Gathering a great success. Some 6 Costellos (3 GTs and 3 Roadsters) made to the event with a further Roadster joining us on the Sunday. Based in picturesque Runswick Bay the group drove across the North Yorkshire Moors taking in James Herriot country and finally parking (or posing) on a dedicated Costello stand at an MGCC event at Sledmere House, Driffield.
Champagne
France
2010
Beautiful sunshine and the empty open roads of the Champagne region of France hosted this relaxing meeting of 6 Costellos (4 GTs and 2 Roadsters). Based in Epernay the group drove some 100 miles together exploring the Route Touristique du Champagne, finally visiting the crumbling old Reims motor-racing circuit for some great photographs.
Bicester Heritage
Oxfordshire
2018
A fabulous up and coming venue served as a fabulous opportunity for a handful of local Costellos to showcase Ken's engineering.
Buxton & The Dales
UK
June 2015
Nine Costellos including several form across the Channel enjoyed some fine motoring and dining for a weekend of mixed weather in the beautiful British Derbyshire Dales. The group included a return to the roads of Roger Cook's 5-litre GT.
Black Forest
Germany
2013
Several Costello GTs and Roadsters are gathering in Frankfurt in May 2013 to enjoy the open roads of the nearby Black Forest region, taking in visits to the old—now disused—Solitude Ring F1 circuit, a tour of the Porsche and Daimler Museums, and ample sustenance is various biergartens and luncheon stops.
Brands Hatch Circuit
Kent, UK
2012
The famous race track of Brands Hatch played host to this, the seventh Costello Gathering, with the proud Ken Costello as guest of honour. The track management permitted the Costellos in attendance to enjoy some laps of the legendary circuit - the venue where Ken won the British Touring Car Championship in 1967.
Rutland
UK
2011
Blessed with unseasonably mild and sunny weather, the Rutland Gathering saw the clan Costello tour the pretty villages around Rutland Water. Rutland is Britain's smallest county and the well-planned route enabled us to admire much of it as we circled the reservoir. Proceedings started with a relaxing cruise on the Rutland Belle. Relatively modern it may be, but the reservoir looks as if it has always been there, nestled among the warm sandstone villages where we stopped to meet up for afternoon tea. A convivial evening meal was enjoyed at the Coach House Inn at South Luffenham.
Octane Photoshoot
Avon, UK
2010
This was not an official Costello Gathering but warrants a mention here. Cars belonging toRoger Cook (Mk III GT), Andrew Johnson (C GT) and Lawrence Wood (Mk I Roadster) met in the Wiltshire village of Box with the editor of Octane magazine (David Lillywhite) and with Ken Costello for a series of interviews and a professional photo shoot. The resulting feature article, which includes an excellent profile of Ken, appeared in the March 2011 issue of the magazine and is reproduced in Articles. An exclusive selection of photos from the day can be found in the Miscellaneous section of the Gallery. All photographs are copyright Tom Wood.
Inaugural Gathering Surrey, UK
2009
An impressive collection of 11 Costello GTs and Roadsters gathered by the village green of Tilford, Surrey on the 5th September 2009. All gleaming in the late summer sunshine, they represented the largest gathering of Costellos ever, more than were ever in the Costello Engineering workshops at one time. Guest of honour was Ken Costello himself.