National Rally 2008

It seems odd now to talk about good summers, but if you cast your mind back to 2006 it was such a year. However, our National Rally at Belvoir Castle (pronounced ‘Beaver, Castle) had the three vital ingredients for disaster. It was cold, blowing a force 8 gale and what can only be described as monsoon rain. Andrew Greenwood, whose rally we were piggybacking, took one look at it and went home, leaving the vast field and a set of loos just for us. In spite of all this the rally was a success, thanks largely to the endurance of our long suffering members. Last year the constant rain of summer reduced our rally field to a sodden morass, but once more our members, this time ably assisted by members of the Sunbeam Alpine Owners Club, resisted the temptation to quit and made a success of the event. So it was with trepidation that Tim Sutton set about organising the 2008 rally. As you are by now well aware, the event should have taken place at Silverstone in July, a special event that took place on the two days of summer that we had this year. However, it was not to be and a hurried rearrangement became necessary. Fear and trepidation took hold as Tim and his faithful band of helpers finalised the plans for another piggyback at an Andrew Greenwood rally, this time at beautiful Blenheim, the scene of some super events of the past. August had broken the all-time record for the least amount of sunshine and the first two weeks of September had continued the saga with widespread flooding. With bated breath we saw the sun again with a week to go, and all that week it got better and better, until on the day of the rally, 21st September, the sun rose through the autumnal mists and stayed there all day to give nigh on perfect conditions - and how grand the Rapiers looked in the bright light.

Of recent years we have enjoyed the journalistic wizardry of Chris Lee covering our events, but this year Chris was working abroad (some of us do have to earn an honest crust) so our reports have to be cut down to size and we will be leaning heavily on the photographic talents of Anne Atherton, with other pictures as acknowledged in the captions.

Forty-two cars graced the Rapier stand and no less than five Series IIs were there – four coupes and a convertible. You can read elsewhere who the award winners were but so impressed with our appearance were the Greenwood organisers that they awarded the SROC with Best Club Stand at their show, illustrated by a special display of Rapiers in their arena towards the end of the day. I’m sure that Tim won’t mind my saying, but this was a low-key rally for us, and all the better for it because everyone seemed to be having a great time. Once again a strong contingency came from the Western region and carried off a big haul of awards, Malcolm Fletcher taking the Series Masterclass for his magnificent car. Peter Wormald’s H120 took the Masterclass trophy for the Fastback class, an award that he has almost made his own over the years. All the judging was very tight though because there were so many really good cars there. The standard is really getting better these days. For instance, Steven Street’s H120 won the class award over Peter’s H120 so you can see how close it all was. This is not to say that you would not be very welcome bringing a car of lesser quality. These shows are all about folks meeting with others of like minds and if you can get there with a tatty old wreck you might not win an award but I’m sure that you will enjoy the day.

In spite of the disappointing attendance the rally was a marked success and our gratitude must go to Tim, Glen Mason, Lorraine Kirby, Derek Athey and the helpers on the day for their efforts.

Now the planning starts for one of our traditional National Rallies for 2009. It is to be at Ragley Hall on 17th and 18th July and if you can spare a little time to help us to set this one up, or to help over the weekend please let any of the Committee members know. This could be one of our best to date so make a note of it in your diaries and pray for the kind of weather that we enjoyed at BLENHEIM 2008.

Ron Atherton.