Monday 27 August 2012

Return to Beaulieu - Supercar Showdown

After our trip in March, I didn't think we'd be back at the National Motor Museum anytime soon. But a text on sunday from ours friends Fiona & Phil asking if we were busy on Bank Holiday Monday meant once more we were heading for the New Forest. It was Supercar Showdown, a gathering of some very cool cars in the arena. Phil hadn't been for years and was keen to see the Bond in Motion exhibition too. After a relaxing ride down we grabbed coffee and a cake before heading in. Lily was in full on car spotting mood and wanted to be everywhere.

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It was good to look around all the Bond vehicles again, some bikes from the new Skyfall film were added to those we had already seen.

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This Shell forecourt was new this year, we spotted it in March but didn't really take it all in.

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Also open this time was Wheels, a ride through motoring history. Its cheesy and parts haven't changed since the early 1980s, but Lily was enthralled as she sat between us and gliding along the timeline.

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Back outside at lunchtime and we found a spot behind a 12 plate Morgan and alongside and F40 & F50 to eat our picnic.

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We then had a walk around the supercar paddock, lots of fairly regular cars, but a few rarities hidden between them.

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Yes thats a Transit van and yes that is a stonking great engine in the back! It was a former F1 Cosworth lump, but thats been swapped out for a bit.

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Back inside the museum we finished off the last of the Bond cars and the rest of the ground floor.

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Before heading outside to watch the supercar run up the short track, we positioned ourselves with ice creams and beer by the end of the run.

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Before joining the vast queue for the monorail, a far cry from the personalised Prior family run in March when it was three of us and the driver!

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I spy from my monorail, something beginning with F50

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We ended our day with a quick tour of the Top Gear challenge cars.

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Theres so much we didn't see or get a chance to look at for that long, but it was a warm and dry bank holiday and the last one before Christmas. I'm glad we made the most of it. More snaps can be found here

Steve.

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