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Isle of Wight
Classic Car Show
The three cars on Newport
Quay
Having attended the Isle of Wight Classic Car Show last year I decided to return this year, again with Mike Lewis as navigator (he can spot a pub from miles away), and managed to rope in John & Rachel Maxwell in their fine Flying 12, and Len Barr & Bob James in Len's 1935 Ten, to accompany us.
| We had an easy run from Bristol to Lymington, mainly in bright sunshine, meeting up with John & Rachel at the ferry terminal. After a quick crossing and a short drive we were in our first pub on the island. Suitably refreshed, we headed for our hotel in Ryde, via the Cowes chain ferry. Unfortunately on entering Ryde we got caught in the Friday afternoon traffic queues, but once we reached the sea front it cleared and we just had stop and ask directions to the hotel. On arrival at the hotel we found it was an impressive former manor house and school with views over the Solent to Portsmouth. After checking in Mike and myself went for a walk to a real ale pub that we were recommended to. After walking about a mile we found the establishment and were disappointed to find only one real ale available, so after a few we headed back to the hotel to join John and Rachel in the bar of the attached pub. Len & Bob soon caught up with us having caught a later ferry. |
Click on any photo to
see an enlargement:
Following the Flying 12 onto the Cowes Chain
Ferry
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Peter and Janet Darby's 12 is a regular on the Isle of Wight
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On Saturday morning the rally assembles at Newport Quay, so off we headed from Ryde following a diversion sign from our intended route. Unfortunately there were no more signs telling us where to go so we made it up as we went along. In Newport town centre we asked a vicar the way while waiting for the traffic lights to change, and were treated to a long sermon about the Standard his father used to own. On arrival at the Quay we found many classics assembled including Peter & Janet Darbys Flying 12. After a refreshing cup of tea the day was spent with a visit to the Isle of Wight Bus Museum and the Classic Boat Museum. The return run to Ryde was substantially shorter than the morning even after we all circumnavigated a large traffic island in Newport more than once.
On Sunday we just had to roll down the hill to Ryde Esplanade to find many cars already assembled and after a while managed to get parked together. Bob and Len soon headed off on a former London Underground train to visit the Isle of Wight Steam Railway. |
| The rest of us wandered along the pier watching the hovercraft arriving and drinking tea in the sunshine. lunch and a wander around the cars it was time for Mike & myself and Len & Bob to depart for Yarmouth for our return ferry, leaving John & Rachel to enjoy a few more days on the island. |
On disembarking at Lymington we enjoyed a spirited run trying to get to our overnight accommodation near Salisbury before dark. As the darkness and a large traffic jam on the A303 beat us, we elected to eat while the traffic cleared before finding our hotel. We found our accommodation at the second attempt after my car was nearly squashed by an idiotic lorry driver who was not looking where he was going.
On Monday morning, after a hearty breakfast and an impromptu photo session for the proprietors website, we went our separate ways with Mike and myself having a pleasant run, again in sunshine, over Salisbury Plain to Warminster. From there we took to the A36 to Bristol, running out of petrol in exactly the same place as I had on the way back from the International Rally at Bovingdon five years ago. I even stopped in the same farm track to utilise the petrol in the running board can. On arrival home I removed my front axle to get some king pins made- a job which I have been putting off ever since I bought the car. |
A distinguished admirer
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We had an excellent weekend and plan to return next year. If you are interested in more information or would like to join us then, please contact me
here
Steve Smeltzer
Bristol Group
(December 2010)
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