A Sunday Drive in the Country

A few years ago the Federation of British Historic Vehicle Clubs introduced an annual drive it day when it encourages owners of classic cars to get out together. Their aim is to demonstrate how rarely classics are actually seen on the road under normal circumstances so that legislation that might limit their use should not be in any way necessary. Whether you agree or not with the political motivation it is a good excuse to gather with friends and have an old fashioned roam around the countryside.

The weather this year was perfect and I joined a number of Cambridge-Oxford Owners Club members for a run through the Bedfordshire countryside. The start was a pub (of course!), that had opened early specifically for the group with food and drinks for those that wanted. Once everyone had gathered, most but not all in sixties BMC saloons, route directions were handed out and we set off in convoy, for the most part sticking together. Numerous other classics were seen heading in various directions and more than you would normally expect to see so perhaps the FBHVC stance is correct.

After a short stop to re-group we continued on small, quiet, winding roads passing through typical picture-book English countryside and villages until reaching the final destination - the Stondon Transport Museum.

This is an astonishing collection of vehicles that was first opened to the public in 1994 and has grown significantly since. All manner of cars are represented, many in well used rather than pristine restored condition. This, and the seemingly quite haphazard order in which there are displayed, simply adds to the charm of the place and you never know what you are going to find around the next corner or tucked away behind other cars.

Having spent some time looking around it became apparent that other classic owners and groups had decided that it was a good venue to visit so the car park was suddenly inundated with a mass of Triumph Stags, a couple of interesting Citroens and a beautiful, early Volvo 122S.

Check out the RSM Flickr gallery to see more photos of the museums random stock.