Birthday trip to Beaulieu

The last few years we've stayed local for my birthday and gone shopping in town. This year we were up and out just after 9am heading towards the New Forest and Beaulieu, the National Motor Museum. I've been many times, the first when I was about 5 and the last about in 2007 when I took the Camper for a spin following some servicing. Coming back today as a family was fun as it gave Lily a chance to run around and see loads of CARS!





First up was the new Top Gear display featuring lots of the old stunts cars from the series. The car boats, the Reliant Shuttle and the Campers were all in various states of decay following a bashing on the show.







Then it was round into the main museum. The place seems to rearrange itself to stay fresh. A lot of the same cars are in there but shuffled about to mix it up. Its difficult to pick a favourite but these are some of the highlights.







The biggest change since my last visit is the vast Bond in Motion display that dominates the middle of the museum now. Its new for this year and is the biggest gathering of old James Bond film cars, bikes, gadgets and props. Again I have seen a fair few before but there were still some nice surprises within.





The Spy Who Loved Me, Lotus submarine is as old as me!








With lunchtime fast approaching we took a break for fish & chips in the Brabazon restaurant, also a chance to rest weary feet before part two. Suitably refreshed we headed back inside for the rest of the Bond in Motion display.









One of the best bits about Beaulieu has always been their Land Speed Record collection. Some of it has been relocated during the Bond exhibition to different museums or elsewhere on site but the Bluebirds and GoldenRod still remain. I just love the vast sleek CN7 with its tall fin.





We wandered round the rest of the area looking at the racing cars at the far end.



I have a photo taken when I was about 5 of me in a similar position. A quiet word with the staff helped to recreate it.





And that was it. But Beaulieu is far more than cars, the grounds stretch off to the river nearby and you can wander round freely. The house and ruins are also open but not really Lily friendly, we can wait a bit before attempting them! But what we could do was ride the monorail, still that familiar bright green fibreglass train that glides along on its rail from the station near the entrance, through the museum at high level and down to the house, swinging round and through the gardens before returning home. Being mid week we had the place to ourselves a lot of the time and the monorail became our personal transport for the whole ride. Lily loved every minute of it.





We then walked the same route taking in the ruins and the front of the house and the stunning spring flowers that were poking through.







Our final port of call was the kiddies play area, still a little big for Lily we shared a ride instead.



And then via the shop it was time to head home. A brilliant day blessed with glorious weather. The rest of the photos can be found here

Steve.

Share

Race Retro

2009 was the last time I was up at the Race Retro show, so it was time to get back there once more. With Porsche as one of the featured marques and the added bonus of the Historic Endurance Rallying Organisation (HERO) offering arrive & drive sessions it was too good an opportunity to turn down. My brother was up for a day out as was fellow Dub owner Malcs, armed with cameras we headed to the Midlands at 7:30am on a sunny saturday morning. We made good time so grabbed a coffee in the cafe and waited for the gates to open. Into Hall 1 and the rally cars.





MG was celebrating 50 years of the B with a selection of them around the hall.



The Group B display was amazing as ever with the usual selection as well as a couple of new cars for me. A Mazda RX7 and the awesome Lancia S4





PopBang art were busy "painting" the S4. They use old RC cars to drive the paint around. It creates a vivid depiction of the car as this Rothmans Porsche shows.



With time ticking away we had a date out side on the HERO stand. We had paid £20 each to sample a couple of historic rally cars on a short course. Having signed on we had to chose our two mounts for the runs from a selection of six. Malcolm being a good BMW employee picked the 1602 and the MGB.









Mr brother opted for the same MGB and the 60s Mini Cooper S









and I went for the Mini and the brutal Alfa Romeo GTV. The course consisted of straights with slaloms and gates and a few cones to rotate around. With a selection of cameras at the ready we took it in turns to film each other, goading and joshing as the times were revealed. I bagged FTD in the Mini at 56 seconds, but we were all within a couple of second of each other.



The GTV was very heavy on the steering but the engine noise was fantastic with the roarty 1750 lump sucking hard on a pair of Weber 40s.





The Mini on the other hand was a go-cart, light steering and nippy but with a lack of brakes.









The driving added a new dimension to the day and had us discussing it over a welcome lunch from the Fire Engine bar and 50s Diner. Suitably refreshed we headed round Hall 3 & 4, the Bikes club cars and autojumble.





In the barn at the far end the rally cars were being prepped for the stage runs later in the day.





We hot footed it over to Hall 2, the sportscar area and home of the cars I really wanted to see, the 30 year old 962.



You wait ages to see a 908 and two come along at once.





You wait ages to see a 962 and three come along at once.







Single seaters were well represented too.







With the rally stage runs minutes away we headed for the paddock outside. Several rows of gleaming rides were parked up. Escorts, Metros, Porsches and more.







Jay Kay's 914-6 was driven by Bjorn Waldegard who campaigned it in the 1970s, it sounded glorious.





We moved around the perimeter of the stage stopping to grab some shots as the dust flew and the cars slid.



















All too soon the stage was over and the cars parked up for the evening. We took one last look around and grabbed a couple of bargains and some shots before heading off. The 914-6 was sitting quietly in the corner. Its one of my cars of the day.



The are loads more photos here

Steve.

Share