2.900 kms of happy motoring in the topless and faultless Mk IV (though a bit low-riding for fast blows over Irish country roads, leaving a few scars in the tarmac) made Max (son of one of my best friends), my copilot for the occasion, and myself enjoy once more ownership of an AC through this year's International.
Well organized by Hayden Lisles, (many thanks to him) whom I got to know as one of these ACers driving in shorts while I carry long underwear :-), he especially deserves an applause for having arranged the excellent weather during this 5 day w/e. We found out that he is obviously well acquainted with the local authorities in Skibbereen, and apparently over there matters are discussed at best with a Guiness in hand.
Truly international it was, as the party was attended by owners from Sweden, France, the UK, Germany and Luxembourg, and Ireland of course. I was happy to see old friends back. As usual, time is too short to exchange with all past experiences since last meeting with them, usually a year or two before on a previous International. It was my 8th since I joined the ACOC in 2002 when we went down to Vernasca. Not having missed out on one, I had to go to Ireland, although with a delay of one day due to professional reasons.
Our trip started on Friday night leaving home at 7:30 pm for a fast blow over Belgian and French motorways to Calais where we spent the night to take an early train to Folkestone on the Saturday morning. Hence we arrived at Brooklands at a quarter past nine, drove past the open gate (ignored the « Stop here » sign) and were gently told by a Brooklands heritage member that they only open at 10:00. Max had not been there yet, so it was the occasion to show him a bit of British industrial and motoring history. We had plenty of time to spare for the day, as I had booked a ferry for 2:45 am on the Sunday morning, for crossing the Irish channel on its shortest distance from Fishguard to Rosslare. So we cruised from Brooklands to Windsor, slowly moving up over High Street past Castle Hill, to allow Max to shoot some photos and get a first impression about the greatness of the place. From there we headed past Ascot southwest to Stonehenge, another cultural stop on our trip. Further on through Bath onto the M4 and over the Severn River Bridge into Wales. Then all the way up to the end of the M4, blowing past Swansea from where most of the other attendees to this year’s International had departed the night before by ferry to Cork. With plenty of time ahead of our schedule, we decided to push to the Pembroke Coast National Park and have a look at St. Govan’s chapel. Then past Pembroke Castle, heading north over the Cleddeau Bridge towards the A40 that brings us to the small port of Fishguard. Arrived there at 10:00 pm, to find out that check-in for the ferry will only begin past midnight. Covered the time by taking fresh air and having a ride through the old port, where only some youngsters were feasting in front of a local pub. The night was short after boarding the ferry that only needs 3 ¾ hours to cross. And the sun was again greeting us in the morning when we arrived at Rosslare docks.
An easy ride on the N25 past New Ross, driving into Waterford where Max shot photos for his younger sister who will be making the place her home this year during a 3 months student’s exchange program, then heading south-west on the remaining of our 300 kms Sunday morning journey to Skibbereen where Hayden had arranged for HQ of the International. All ACs were like waiting for us in the dedicated and guarded car park at the back of the nice West Cork Hotel and it was the usual « hello dear.. how nice to see you again ... » after we found our parking slot amongst the 20 or so other ACs attending : a large variety of AC models – I would be much sollicited to explain a bit of their evolution through AC’s history to Max during the next days. Having unpacked and received the beautiful poloshirt made up for the occasion, we started with a visit to the local heritage center discovering that the region definitely had not always been blessed in the past, better understanding that many an Irish family had to make a decision in the mid 19th century to « starve or sail » - to the New World that is. Hence we eased down to Baltimore (the original one) on Sunday afternoon, for a stroll at the port, tasting the local fish and chips and watching a former world champion endurance speed boat squad coming in.
Evening arrangements took us by bus to a nearby pub where we savoured Guiness and local typical « drinking » musik, before a surprisingly excellent dinner in the bar on the opposite side of the street, sharing a four seater table among six with Ursula and Jürgen Wahn and Alex and Nick Eden. Happy small talk accompanied our excellent food, excellent not only by the quality but also by the efficiency of the bar’s staff. The bus then brought us to another place were we could listen to more Irish folk music before bringing us all safely home to the hotel.
... to be followed-up
Brooklands 12.6.2010
Ken Rudd's Ace
Windsor
Stonehenge 12.6.2010
Pembrook coast 12.6.2010
St.Govan's Chapel 12.6.2010
Pembrook Coast line
Sunrise in Rosslare 13.6.2010
West Cork Hotel
Old railway bridge
Dedicated car park
AC model mix
Ace 2.6 Ruddsport
Ace Bristol
Aces with racing history
Chairman's Ace
Acecas
Max ready to ride to Baltimore 13.6.2010
Baltimore pleasure harbour
Monday morning sunrise over Skibbereen indicated another sunny day arranged for this year’s International by Hayden and his local friends. Following one of the suggested scenic routes, we teamed up with French Ace Bristols driven by Florence Leriche Picard and Peter Come alternating at the wheel and Gregory Noblet with Antoine Prunet as passenger, under the lead of the Lightweight Mk IV of the Wahn’s. As one of the cars stopped for petrol, I decided to fill my tank up too, but that definitely proved to be the wrong decision for the day. 30 litres additionally on the back end of my mount had the effect that the suspension was much sollicited particularly going uphill (flat under-boot tank), the car bottoming out in a number of the ever present road dips. First time I stopped for checking the underbody of the beast after having ribbed the tarmac with the right side little metal loop welded to the chassis tubes that prevents the latter to touch ground, friends ahead were immediately calling up to see if all was OK and Nick Eden stopped behind. All still in the green zone though, we took up the journey until a few kms further the car bottomed out again. Was it solely due to the filled tank or did we eat too much of the excellent strawberry desert last night? Stopped to see if the exhaust was still hanging solidly where it is supposed to, here come Rodney and Maggy Thomas in their yellow Mk IV CRS. They experience similar problems, so we decide to let the faster going Aces and the LW with better under chassis clearance go and we follow in a slower pace. On the uphill ride on Healy Pass, formerly used as a special stage on some international rallies, we encounter sheep and cattle grazing alongside the road. From the summit of the pass, the scenic view down into the valley and to the sea in the distance is true majestic. A motorbiking couple shoots pics of our mounts before we engage the downslope. Managed to get Antoine on the phone, to indicate us the place chosen for a midday break. What a gorgeous little restaurant, down in the valley, overlooking the lake. As it was quite warm we set outside with the French and German teams who were already happily tasting red wine. After a good bite, parties resumed their way, all went upwards the Healy Pass whereas we decided to take the longer road along the coast. Back at the hotel, we tried to lift the car a bit by means of the adjustable spring/damper units, but lacking the C-spanners it was a job impossible to do.
The evening program had a barbecue at the hotel that proved excellent, particularly the deserts and the accompanying live band playing popular Irish folk songs. We discover the hidden musical talents of the Mayor of Skibbereen who ensures us that they do have a say over the weather but not over road conditions. We shared a table with Swedish friends Albert and Fabrizia Sollevi. They had made it to Ireland in their beautiful AM DB2, unfortunately suffering a broken suspension as toll of the ride on uneven Irish roads through West Cork that they had travelled on the Saturday. This kept Albert and his faithful friend Peter Jay busy sorting out the broken cast aluminum piece against which the spring pushes. Replacement was ordered but did not arrive until Tuesday afternoon, so in anticipation they had decided to have the broken piece welded at a local garage, and ultimately refitted it to the car, whereas the new piece only arrived a bit before it was time to depart on Tuesday. After having given a hand to Peter to refit the piece, Max and I pushed the Mk IV down south, aiming for Crookhaven on the southern end of the peninsula. Little village with an untypical blue water in their harbour. Had a bite at O’Sullivans bar on the harbour wall with a view on the bay with its two armoured towers overlooking the entrance from the sea. Mid afternoon we jumped into our mount again for moving up north following Hayden’s suggested route alongside the coast towards Cork, discovering numerous beaches and sea tongues on low tide. While fueling up a last time on cheap Irish petrol, another customer stopped and said: “Nice car! if only you had a Blonde in the passenger seat ! “ Would have been rather dark haired, but he could not know.
Road works in the middle of Carrigaline made us rely on the GPS pushing us on a southeast circular loop over narrow agricultural roads. They became smaller and narrower, winding through deep woods and passing an occasional few houses. With faith in the system we finally ended up on the R612 Coast Road that brought us back north and soon found the Ringaskiddy ferry terminal shortly after 7:00 pm, most other ACs already waiting in line for check-in. After boarding on the lower deck of the 440 cars / 40 trucks / 1500 passengers capacity MV Julia, we walked up to the sun deck next to the giant chimney, to overlook the harbour activities as the ship slowly passed Cork on its way out to Swansea. The coloured houses looked like miniature in the evening sunset. The overnight trip was then started with a good dinner shared with Ursula and Jürgen, ending up at the bar with French speaking Ace drivers, before berthing to get a solid few hours of sleep. Tomorrow would be another long journey to home.
.. to be continued
morning tide seen from West Cork Hotel
Monday morning ride, pursued by Aces
refuelling
typical village
heading towards Healy Pass
at the bottom of Healy Pass
CRS on Healey Pass soouth slope uphill going north
encounter on Healy Pass
top of Healy Pass
scenic view north west at summit of Healey Pass
Happy bunch l.t.r. Peter, Gregory, Ursula, Florence, Antoine, Jürgen, Max
View from restaurant
narrow roads off Healey Pass
three legged AM
working man Peter
village street
on our way down south.. burial ground as uneven as the roads
Crookhaven
Crookhaven house facing sea
Crookhaven chapel
Crookhaven
Crookhaven ctd...
O'Sullivan's bar
Irish heritage Castle Low
Meelmane
Laherne Hill Beach
Laherne Hill rest
check-in for MV Julia
monster AC keeps our check-in line free
Cork water front looks like miniature city
And another sunny day announced itself on Wednesday as our ferry landed at Swansea. Driving off through the docks, Max pointing his camera on the MV Julia, he was gently told by a security guard (or was it a border patrol officer?) that this was a restricted area and that he could not take photos of everything. What was to be hidden? Waving goodbye to other fellow AC drivers and co-pilots, we headed south-east towards Cardiff and the Severn Bridge (no toll this time). As traffic became denser around Bristol, and with some time to spare as I had booked a 5 pm train from Folkestone, we decided to quit the M4 at Chippenham and drive in a southern loop through the country. This proved a good decision as we were off the traffic and managed to see quite a few nice spots on our way. Such as Sandy Lane, with its old time sandstone houses, throwing us back into 18th or so century feeling. Through Devizes we followed the A342 to Upavon, then direction of Andover and then south to Winchester. From there eastbound again on the A272 via Petersfield to Midhurst and then south to Singleton. Neither of us had seen the next famous spot on our trip. The Charlton Road and Knigths Hill brought us to the Goodwood horse race course first, where we stopped for a photo or two. Then down Kennel Hill to Goodwood House. Though marked that it was closed for the day, we made the Mk IV engage into the road through the golf course, to discover soon that preparations were very well engaged for the upcoming Festival of Speed. So we turned around at the grandstands already in place, and headed further south, finding the entrance to the Goodwood motor racing circuit at the bottom of the valley. We turned in, had a look at the main start and finish straight, were a bit surprised by how narrow the track is here, and ended up in the circuit shop. Bought a book (as I usually do when going somewhere) and planned in my head to be back for this year’s AC sprint day. Leaving the Goodwood estate by the south side of the horse race course we moved east on Selhurstpark Road, finally ending up at Duncton, where we stopped at the village entrance to have a bite at “The Cricketers”. Excellent pub with a large variety of home cooked dishes. Time caught up and we pressed on eastbound to Washington then aiming for the seaside at Bexhill. Hastings…. Rye… the winding A2070 to catch the M20 shortly before going off to the Eurotunnel where we literally drove into the train without stopping. The rest of our journey from Calais to home was covered in a quick blast on empty motorways and we arrived safely at home. Just past midnight I dropped Max at their house and had another 20 minutes to go to my home. Was glad to see my bed for another short night, as the alarm clock would wake me up at 6 for going to work. Short week though with only 2 days before the w/e.
Thanks Hayden and crew for having organized this year’s International. We enjoyed it.
Constant / Mk IV Luxembourg
off to the M4 from Swansea docks
great place
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