DeLorean 30th anniversary festival in Northern Ireland
- Published
Lord Mayor Pat Convery poses with one of the iconic vehicles at Belfast City Hall
Sports car enthusiasts from all over the world will be arriving in Northern Ireland this week to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the DeLorean.
The Eurofest 2011 festival runs from 26 until 29 May, and will feature 80 DeLorean models from 21 different countries.
Thousands are expected to attend the various events, which include a time trial race and a special exhibition of DeLorean memorabilia.
The DeLorean, which began production in Dunmurry in 1981, shot to fame as a sports car time machine in the film franchise Back to the Future.
However, by that time the company had already gone bankrupt, just one year after beginning production.
About 9,000 vehicles were sold between 1981 and 1983, and the DeLorean Motor Company employed about 2,500 people.
'Titanic importance'
Robert Lamrock, a director of the DeLorean Owners' Association, gives the car pride of place in the pantheon of Northern Irish industrial products.
"It's every bit as important as the Titanic to the history of Northern Ireland," he said.
"There hasn't been a car like it. It was way ahead of its time."
The car is best known as the pet project of mad scientist Doc Brown in the Back to the Future films.
The Doc invents time travel by attaching a plutonium-powered 'flux capacitor' to the car, enabling it to transport main character Marty McFly back to the year 1955.
However, Mr Lamrock believes that the car is singular enough in its appeal, regardless of its Hollywood standing.
"The car, when you're driving it along today, even without the flux capacitor, still turns heads," he said.
The four-day event is supported by the Department for Social Development. It will include a time trial race event at the Odyssey, an exhibition of memorabilia at the Europa Hotel, and a trip to the north coast with the 80 DeLorean cars in convoy.
Organisers are expecting thousands of local people to join the 220 enthusiasts from around the world who are already attending the event.
Lord Mayor of Belfast Pat Convery said: "DeLorean is an iconic image which represents the ambition and innovation which for centuries made Belfast famous.
"I hope the people of Northern Ireland take the opportunity to attend one of the events and join with us in celebrating DeLorean."