Run to the Standard International Rally 2010 - by the Devon and Cornwall Group

The following text was sent to me by Linda Bowden and describes their 600 mile run from Devon and back in the postwar Standard 8. Linda doesn't have any supporting photos, so I have added photos from Graham Lockley. 

The Saturday Roadrun, passed through this Ford in the village of Sutton

Scenic runs to Wyboston and back

With promises of good weather for the weekend, we set off on Thursday from Exeter, meeting up with Ray and Julie Horne in their Moggie Minor, (alternative vehicle) as their newly commissioned and acquired Standard 1938 Flying 10 hadn’t really had chance to prove itself yet, for what we were planning. This was going to be more about the journey than just getting there.

The plan was to drive the old roads through Taunton, Stroud, Cirencester and Bicester, avoiding the party goers to Glastonbury and make our way to our first bed and breakfast stop just near Oxford. Lunch stops proved few and far between when we decided to have a break, but we did fetch up beside a national trust property outside of the pretty village of Coleshill and in typical british style pulled out the chairs and had ourselves a roadside lunch.

Everything went to plan, although a quick stop to regroup and look at the map, gave us a fleeting glimpse of Denise and Shelia Brown who flew past the end of the road, before we had a chance to catch their eye. Little did we know they were on their to their own bed and breakfast stop ( in the very next village to ours) with Steve Smeltzer and Bob and Val Richardson (note to self – check were everyone is staying next year so we can meet up sooner!!).

Before leaving we had talked about calling into the village where Ray and Julie had lived. Skirting Northampton and Wellingborough we rolled into Hargrave around mid afternoon and a pleasant walk around the village, whilst Julie and Ray reminisced about their time living there. On chatting to a friendly resident out walking their dog we established that one old work colleague (from the garage in Kimbolton, where Ray had worked) and his wife were still in residence. Julie and Ray went off to renew their acquaintance and to our delight we were all invited in for a cup of tea and probably the best ever tasting lemon drizzle cake. Unfortunately Ron, Ray’s old friend was now very forgetful but his wife brought Ray and Julie up to speed with all the gossip in the village (even the scandalous bits!!).

After enjoying their hospitality we all made our way out to the cars, parked just across the road, just as Steve O’Hara flew past the bottom of the drive (what a day for coincidences!!) and came to a very quick stop, when he recognized the Standard 8 we were driving. Was Steve glad to see us, he had been diverted due to road works and was very grateful for the drink we were able to offer. We waved him off to complete his duties of signposting the way into the site and set off ourselves at a more leisurely pace.

We had also seen the diversion signs, but little did we know how difficult it was going to prove to avoid going back on to the A1. During another stop to look at our alternative route options, a kindly cyclist stopped to give advice and after setting off, high tailed it back to our group to give us even clearer directions for the last bit to Wyboston.

Well finally we arrived on site and what a greeting we had, straight away the tone for the weekend was set, by the organizers. Lynda and Phil Homer’s warm welcome and invitation to enjoy free hot and cold drinks even before rally control opened and it only got better after that.

The rooms and food were excellent, Friday nights run was well organized and the Saturday run was very pretty. The museum we visited although in need of some (any) sort of air conditioning, was very welcoming, although I suspect there was more of interest in the overcrowded car park, than inside! Chris had managed to pick up an eye infection whilst we were away (no I didn’t hit him honest) which proved very painful so we were grateful when Ray took the wheel on the return journey on the Saturday run. Steve and Karen Lovegrove trailered their lovely Standard 10 (winner of this years master class) up in time to join us all for the Friday and Saturday runs, returning home to Plymouth on Sunday evening, just as a few of us were sitting down to enjoy a final evening meal together at the pub over the road.

The return journey was uneventful, we had chosen a different route home so this felt like another mini holiday in itself, stopping this time beside the Kennet and Avon canal in Devizes, arriving home to Tiverton and Exeter respectively Tuesday lunchtime.

Myself and Chris would like to thank everyone involved in the organisation of the weekend, it was well worth the 597mile round trip, well planned, friendly and in a wonderful well appointed venue. Although I hope this will not mean the event has to be bigger and better every year (those early years with rally control in a tent in a field were just as much fun) the price was just right for what facilities we had to enjoy. Congratulations on another successful International and we will no doubt be planning our route to the next one shortly.

Report by Linda and Chris Bowden

Photos by Graham Lockley

(July 2010)