Blast from the past for dads

The iconic talking Pontiac Trans-Am from the 1980s’ hit television series Knight Rider offered a weekly dose of souped-up wonder.

Fans of the show will have chance to see one of its replicas for the first time in five years at this year’s The Yorkshire Post Motor Show and Classic Car Rally at Castle Howard on Father’s Day.

Rob Ormondroyd bought his version of KITT (Knight Industries Two Thousand), a 1982 Pontiac Trans-Am, 15 years ago and created his own dashboard.

“It’s something you bring from your childhood,” said Mr Ormondroyd, a designer who produces sci-fi comic convention Ultra Con at Doncaster Racecourse. “It was an event to watch something like this, it was once a week, you would look forward to it. It was always about the car.”

Actor David Hasselhoff, who played Michael Knight in the show, ‘met’ this version of his co-star in 2011 in Castleford.

Five years ago Mr Ormondroyd, who co-produced Knight Rider convention Knightcon, ripped out the dashboard to tweak it but was too busy to finish the job.

Now a desire to take his five-year-old daughter to the Yorkshire Post Motor Show and Classic Car Rally is driving him to complete the rebuild.

“The Yorkshire Post Motor Show was always my favourite show,” said Mr Ormondroyd, 44. “My son Brandon, who is 13 now, came to the show lots. He loved standing up out of the T-top roof when the cars were displayed in the arena. For the last 18 months my daughter Alexa has mentioned wanting to do the car show so she can wave to the crowds. I decided to do the car for her.

“When you are in this car the world is a happy place because everyone is smiling. People stop and double take all the time.”

The car will join hundreds of classic and vintage vehicles at the family show on June 19.

Visitors can also enjoy a packed programme of entertainment with a World War Two Spitfire topping the bill.

Lisa Bradbury, Yorkshire Post Newspapers events manager, said: “Visitors will be mesmerised. It is a spectacle not to be missed and a fantastic way to celebrate Father’s Day with your dads and grandads.”

Attractions include a mobile farm, vintage fairground rides and stilt walkers as well as a hearty offering of food and drink; from a tea garden to fish and chips.

Among the cars on show will be a 1969 Dodge Charger - a version of the iconic General Lee from the television series The Dukes of Hazzard. Others include a 1928 Rolls Royce 20HP Open Tourer which was used in the filming of the small screen version of Brideshead Revisited and a rare WSM-bodied Austin Healey Sprite.

For tickets to The Yorkshire Post Motor Show and Classic Car Rally visit www.castlehoward.co.uk/motorshow.