Thousands gathered along Front Street today to appreciate the artistry and culture behind motor vehicles.

The Scooter Mart Motor Fest, organised by 2B Motorsports, had its eighth annual event, showcasing vintage and customised cars and motorcycles.

Billy Dunn, the organiser of this year’s event, described the atmosphere as “electric” from the moment it started.

He said: “Everybody’s buzzing and looking at the cars and bikes and stuff, so it’s been really good.”

The event featured cars and motorcycles on display, alongside several races, stalls and exhibitions.

American stuntman Clutch-Up Corey captivated audiences at the start with a stunt show for the second time in a row.

The festival coincided with an annual powerboat race, which was disrupted after a serious boating incident.

Mr Dunn said motorsports had deep roots in Bermudian culture and events such as Motor Fest highlighted this.

He added that many people enjoyed seeing the custom work and classic cars.

Mr Dunn explained: “For some people, it takes them back to their youth, while some of the newer kids seeing what guys are doing with some of the cars and the bikes aspired to do that.”

He added: “This is Bermuda culture. We all grew up customising our bikes in our own way, from pushbikes to motorbikes and then cars.

“Everybody wants to put their personal unique touch on everything, so for us there’s always been a little bit of the culture for years.

“That’s why I think a lot of people come out, because this is what our people do.”

Mr Dunn said Motor Fest was appreciated by everyone from vehicle enthusiasts to former racers and even artists.

He added that the festival had grown significantly in its eight-year run and that he expected it to continue to grow.

Tai-Quan Ottley spent the event freehand painting a design onto a car — a design he said he had had since middle school.

The 34-year-old said: “Just recently I was looking through my scrapbook and said, ‘Hold up, that design looks like it’s on my car’.

“I thought, ‘I want to put my car on Motor Fest, so why not have a live painting on a car?’

“I’ve never seen that, so I wanted to try something different.”

Mr Ottley, from St George’s, said he developed an interest in art and cars around the same time and had been drawing for as long as he could remember.

Now a full-time artist, Mr Ottley said he wanted to try his hand at an old idea he had kept around for decades.

He said he bought a second-hand car that looked exactly like his for the demonstration and that it would be displayed at the Bacardi headquarters on Pitts Bay Road later this week.

Mr Ottley added: “I just wanted to show the youth that anything’s possible.

“I’d dreamt of doing something like this when I was smaller and I didn’t think I’d be doing something like this live.”

Mary Ann Wales, 25, said she was a massive fan of cars and took the opportunity to leave her family’s stall, Wales Accessories, to see the sights.

She said: “I love it. You get to see cars that you don’t get to see every day on Bermuda’s roads, so it’s very nice to come out and see the displays.”

Ms Wales, from St George’s, said she had been coming to Motor Fest for two years in a row and always had a good time.

She said she had been fascinated by cars from a young age and appreciated the artistry.

“There’s something about the sound of the engine,” she added. “Something about the sound, the engine, the revving. It’s just amazing.”

Ms Wales also said: “It’s nice seeing people coming together and displaying what they have and showcasing their talents.”