I concur for one simple reason. The venue divided neatly with support vehicles to a camp site, with a dedicated parking area beyond. So there was no need for the perimeter of the area for the Show part of the rally to be populated with vehicles that were not meant to be there. Sadly some people still felt walking about 50 yards was to irksome and polluted the area, but short of the organisers chasing out the ignorant, what can you do,
My journey was 3 hours up from Oxford area. For a weekend, no big deal. For the day, an early start and empty roads. As it happened I chose not to follow the expectation of the published map, and head to Shrewsbury (expectation that you have a camper/caravan unsuited to smaller roads, of course). Instead I headed to Whitchuch on the first road north of the M54. I challenged my bump of locality navigation against the idea of putting in a sat nav reference to find Lorton. With no map I actually only made one error on turning left to cross country to gain the more westerly position of the rally. We did a bit of a dogleg, but correctly picked out the crucial turning over a low ridge. This delightful road took us to a cliff steep wold, through some stunningly beautiful countryside devoid of traffic. Low and behold, with Root remembering the name of a Park, we took a few guessed turnings to approach the rally site from the 'wrong' direction. Had I done this route in a micro, or classic, it would have been an integral part of the rally experience, and possibly much of it the route taken the day before to access Cosford. So though my leg was not working to max efficiency, my brain still functions as it had, I can still scoff at the sat nav.
Good to meet old chums, but only a few of the boys from the wastelands of no club membership appeared. Hopefully I helped those asking for help. A few folk were a bit surprised when I deflected offers to buy caches of parts by introducing them to local enthusiasts who might achieve a simpler deal. I am serious about reducing the amount of stuff here, remember that comment for later. Not a big turn out from the South. But the far South West had made an effort, so maybe Bath was sacrificed on the altar of the National this year. Jason impressed with driving a Bond 875 up from Devon. He admitted it was a bit of a hairy driver.
I have no idea if there were more, or less, cars. Would have said a few more. But last years event probably bolstered this years and the feeling on the field was good. Root created the only negative vibes I noticed, which I think might have been slightly calculated on his part. Though his Safari leaving half its rear body on the ground, as he sped round the rows of cars, added to the effect. As did a lot of folk shouting about this, or his velocity, to no effect, as with the engine on, little hearing becomes no hearing. Root expressed surprise that his speed could be greater than 8 miles an hour - the stated limit of the Safari. Well Ray Dilks is still pretty fit, and he could not catch up to tick our budding Paddy Hopkirk off for his antics, till he had stopped. All a bit 'Magnificent Men', only missing a cry of 'Look out, there's another Germam'! Immensely amusing, I thought.
But additionally there were negative comments as to why a pavement carriage was part of a Microcar Rally. Am interesting factor, as one could ask why certain other things were, or were not, on the field of play. There is a never ending debate, if you ever wanted one. For myself I have never been against an area for guest machinery of pretty much any kind to turn up, provided it does not dominate the event. So could the complaints be from folk who's cars demonstrably did not work, being miffed by a beyond the pale device. that did, by dint of the family washing line as throttle, and various other rudimentary temporary repairs? Such was our thinking in the cause of chaos! It livened up a very static day of Show.
The return trip was a reverse route, and of the same time. I previously said to Grant at one point, this shows the Nationals traditional support now being up country. My central position toward the south is a reasonable trip, but along with fewer of those who attend from the south, rather predicts the National remaining further north, than it was in the habit of doing 20 years ago. I met Bob Parry and he, of course, organised some of the best rallies of the lot, at Weston Park, what, some 20 miles south of Wem, at that time. We have reached a point where like the Northerners, who for many years did the hard miles, the Southerners now have to organise and innervate an event or two to prove their point or do the hard miles. The only minus of this is it takes the event further from the ports and reduces the chance of our continental chums coming over to join in. I really miss that. But a few made it, and I hope they were spoiled for the effort by those on the ground.
This venue offers several years worth of trips out. Anderton lift. Canal museum. Ellsmere, Llongollen and railway/canal aqueduct, and I am sure there is more.
On getting home its clear that a running microcar is needed, a refresh of the camping equipment, and I can regain my hobby, while retreating from full time microcar activity. Might sound daft, but there you are. That means getting rid of more stuff. So the laugh was in, and the affor mentioned comment look stupid, as on my email collected while I was out was a treat to go and clear 6 Messerschmitts, in differing conditions, for cash, out of a property being redeveloped. Of course its rude to say no, but its like the cold war. I agree to less arms by treaty, to buy some more surreptitiously. If the deal fruits, I will not be keeping them. But it will have been a busy year 'clearing' this place, by empting both this new place and Oddingley, but I am not complaining.