| Devon Classic Tour - September 6th/7th |
 |
The Devon Classic Tour is an event
for cars and car derived vans, which are more than 20 years old, newer
classics are entitled to enter. This well established annual charity
event, which is organised by Exeter, North Devon & Plymouth Motor
Clubs, is open to the general public not just club members. There are
no special requirements - just the car, its driver and a relative or
friend to read the simple route instructions.
The event is not a competition, although prizes are awarded for the
best turned-out cars in categories based on age, plus the Tony Drayton
Cup, which is presented to the 'overall best' car on the day.
This year it was the 11th running running of the event and the 4th year
since it was made into a 2 day tour. The object is to follow a defined
route which visit places of interest on the way and enjoy the cars of
our yesterdays' with like mined people.
This year's optional two-day route was centred in North Devon, it is
in this area every 3 years. Next year it will be around the Exeter region
and then the following year it will be based around Plymouth before
returning here in 2006.
This years event started at the Blackcock Inn, Molland. The route wound
its way over Exmoor in glorious sunshine where fantastic clear views
of Wales could be experienced. A stop was made at the Lynton & Barnstaple
Railway at Woody Bay Station to talk to the enthusiasts and look at
the retoration carried out so far. The 'Classic crews' then continued
to the Barnstaple Hotel where an evening meal and an overnight stop
were enjoyed
.
Sunday morning and it was off again stopping at Chittlehampton to admire
this pretty Devon village, then it was onto the Kathleen and May at
Bideford to have a look at this restored vessel while The Royal Hotel
opposite supplied tea and coffee for the mid-morning break. A visit
to Monkleigh Pottery followed before stopping at Dartington Crystal
in Torrington for the lunch halt. Here the public had a chance to see
all the 42 cars lined up together.
After the crews had satisfied their appetites it was off to Higher Tamar
Lake before continuing through Morwenstow to the finish at Hartland
Abbey. All participants had enough time to look around the Abbey and
have a cream tea before the presentations of the awards.
The Saturday event also had a fun quiz which one could solve whilst
enjoying the tour, this was won by Anthony and Janice Bates from Axbridge
in their Mercedes 500 SL.
The 'Best Car of the Tour' went to Malcolm and Alyssa Worby's beautiful
Austin Healy 3000. This vehicle is left hand drive having starting its
life in New Mexico. It was purchased in 2000 from Kansas but now lives
in Barnstaple.
Class awards:-
Pre 1960. 1936 Morris Eight Tourer owned by Julian and Sue Smith from
Paignton.
1960's 1969 Fiat 850 Sport Coupe owned by Peter Lott of Exeter.
1970's 1978 Opel Kadette owned by Ray and Ruth Moon of Landkey, Barnstaple
Post 1980 1987 Ford Capri 2.8i Special owned by Nick Bollans from Trull,
Taunton.
The organisers of this event always donate the surplus money from the
event to charity. This year's benefactor is to be Highfield House Child
Development Centre in Barnstaple.
John Barthram