Not even intermittent rain could spoil it; the Classic Car and Bike Show in the grounds of gracious Timour Hall in Plumstead, Cape Town on Sunday.
As always, the proceeds went to charity but, worthy as it was, that wasn't why we were there.
It was a gathering of the clans, of marque clubs and associations, a festival for like-minded enthusiasts of all shapes, genders, ages and backgrounds - fine engineeering knows no boundaries.
I listened to a young friend discussing a 1965 Ford Mustang in great detail with its owner - although the car was older than the two of them put together!
The "Classic" is about the machinery; it's about bikes and cars built by people who were passionate about what they put their names on - whether it was made yesterday or 100 years ago.
It's about wheels lovingly restored or ridden hard - or both! - cars that come out only on summer Sundays and bikes that work every day, every machine in its own way rare or special.
There were Vincents and Scotts and an Ariel square four, MVs and Ducatis and 1950s Vespas, a couple of modern-era Harleys looking a little out of place and whole row of contemporary Italian sports bikes that were classics the day they were made.
Just as passionate are the custodians of these gorgeous machines; some will go to great lengths for an original indicator lens, others constantly modify and update their bikes to make tham go as well as they are capable of and look great into the bargain.
They were there to socialise, to enjoy time spent with people who really understand why the bikes and cars represented there are so special.
I spent a long time wandering about, listening to snippets of conversations about carbs and cams, took dozens of photos and came away deeply grateful that there are people like that, who spend most of their free time fettling machines up to a century old, for which there were no spare parts even when they were made, just so you and I can ooh and aah and leave sticky fingerprints all over them once a year.
Enjoy the galleries.