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A selection of cars outside the AV8 Restaurant

FRIDAY 27TH JUNE 2008

We each have a story about how we got to the rally, but as its my website, here is mine................

Friday's weather did not start well. It threw it down here in St. Albans. Little did I know that this would be the only rain to blot our weekend. By 11.00am it had stopped sufficiently for me to take the roof down on the Drophead and set off across country to Cirencester. 

My plan A was to get as far as I could under very threatening skies, where upon, I would stop at the next pub, purely to seek cover you understand, and wait for the rain to pass. Plan B was to stay in the pub if it didn't stop!

However, as it transpires - it never rained again. I saw lots of wet roads as I pushed the 12 through Hemel Hempstead and up the A41 to Aylesbury and Bicester. The traffic is light for a Friday. From there its a minor road through Bladon, skirting Blenhiem Palace then through Long Hanborough and Witney and onto the A40 towards Burford. Lots of pubs are passed but I am still dry on the inside and the Standard is still dry on the outside. 

The last leg is is a B road through Bibury and Barnsley, where Elizabeth Hurley lives. She wasn't waving so with 90 miles clocked up the Standard purred happily up the long drive at the Royal Agricultural College, near to 2.00pm, I shall call it the RAC from now on. Lynda, who was following behind in her "modern", intending to catch me up, never did so, the Standard obviously being too fast for her. If fact it transpires she did a short tour of the Cotswolds until rescued by her Satnav.

The rally site in front of the RAC was already lively, with cars arriving every few minutes. The Rally Control Marquee had already been erected and supplied with power. Darrel's house next door was just awaiting power to be installed

We checked into the Porters lodge where we were given the keys to our room and Security badges to wear on site. The most important use of these was a meal ticket for the breakfasts.

Steve O'Hara had placed out a number of signs indicating where Club Members should gather prior to the evening run.

Photos of cars awaiting the start of the Road run to AV8

(click on any thumbprint to see an enlargement)

Amongst the early arrivals were John and Sharon Kennewell in their Avon from Dinnington near Sheffield and ever-presents Mr and Mrs Wilson,   Those who say its too far should follow the example set by this couple, who automatically book into every rally and travel there from Sheffield in their Satnav equipped Standard 10.

Around 6-15pm, the cars were set off on the first of the two roadruns this weekend. The route started through Cirencester then headed across country in leafy lanes. Following at 30 second intervals about 50 cars made an impressive sight. Their destination was Kemble Airfield where the site Restaurant, appropriately called AV8 had been reserved for our use. A lot of people chose to sit outside on the deck to capture what turned out to be a sunny evening.

The photos  show participants socialising during the evening meal.

(click on any thumbprint to see an enlargement)

Here are more of the cars at AV8

Returning via a very direct route, it was just 4 mikes back to the RAC, which was accomplished before nightfall. At this point  most retired to the Student bar and relived their college days, even if the price of beer has gone up somewhat!

Photos and report by Phil Homer

If you would like your photos of the rally to appear here, just send them to webmaster@standardmotorclub.org.uk