A mixed morning weatherwise, as the Standards assembled around the hotel car park for the off on the day’s tour. We were in the Drophead Coupé which we don’t like driving with the hood up, so we set off with it down in the hope that the rain would keep off.
It wouldn’t! So we pulled up under a bridge to wait for the worst to pass. Then we set off again, trying to keep up a reasonable speed, that forces the rain against the windscreen and up over our heads – provided we can keep moving – which we could do, more or less. By the time we arrived at the Army Flying museum, the sun had come out and the cars were parked up, together with an outing from another local Classic Car Club,
The museum proved to be interesting, as a previous visit had proven, with a useful Café for lunch or snacks (didn’t need much after the hotel breakfast) There were a couple of aircraft exhibits in the car park which provided interesting photo opportunities and Robin Wade took a nice photo of our Drophead Flying 12 outside the entrance
Flying 12 DHC with Phil and Lynda
The run to the next venue was through some of the most “Chocolate Box” villages in Hampshire, and took us t to the splendid gardens at Longstock Water Gardens, which incorporated a great nearby Café. We commented on the fact that this club is fuelled largely by Tea and Cakes, and probably would not function correctly without both of them. The extensive Gardens, are little-known, but deservedly popular, and an offshoot of the John Lewis Partnership, so owned and magnificently cared for by their employees.
The short guided run back to the Hotel allowed time for cars to be lined up for photograph opportunities whilst many participants took the time to use the Spa and Swimming pool that was available to them in their hotel package.
The evening Gala Dinner was designed to celebrate half a century since the Club’s formation. One participant, Len Barr, was present at that inaugural meeting, 50 years ago and spoke briefly about the event, where he remembers his father signed up for his first yearly subscription of just £1.
The Dinner was followed by a short tribute to Members that we had lost through the year and then a presentation from our Guest Speaker for the evening, Steph Hoy. Steph runs the Youtube Channel “I Drive a Classic” and spoke lucidly about our hobby. Concerned about the decrease in popularity of Classic Cars due to our aging demography, Steph was keen that we should not accept that this was inevitable and that each one of us should promote our cars to “outsiders”.
If each of us just attracted one new enthusiast, that would ensure that the level of interest would remain the same. If however, she emphasised, we could each attract just 2 new enthusiasts, say by encouraging them and letting them drive our cars, that simple achievement would Double the interest in Classic Motoring as a hobby! A simple message that we should all take on board and actively persue.
SEND US YOUR CARS STORY
Don’t be shy – why not tell us the story behind YOUR Standard and include some Photos? Please fill in this form HERE.
The feature will be preserved here forever.
Phil Homer
Historian
Standard Motor Club
LINE OF C
Comments