The Fairford Classic Car Club

The 2009 St Georges Day Run

View the photo album of the event.

Thick fog enveloped the start of the event this year. This must be the first time in the seven years of the event that the weather has been problem. Still the welcome we received at the ‘Highwayman’ made up for that and by the time the first car was away things had cleared a little and one could see the signposts.

A good entry of 28 cars made the start which included all the old regulars and some of our more recent joined members. A few guests joined us and made for a very full house. In all we had 64 people driving, co driving or just passengers admiring the scenery.

Entrants ranged from Richard in his Bentley and a guest Tom in the Cadillac to Mike in the Porsche and Tony in the Hotchkiss. In between were the Alfa of Robert, Jaguar of Chris, Morgan of Brian, Mazda of Bill plus many others. Altogether a class turnout.

The run started with probably one of the narrowest sections of road in the Cotswolds, down to Brimpsfield and then onto Birdlip. This is an exceedingly pretty run into an area no much visited.

We shall forget the run around the north of Gloucester on the A40 but unfortunately if you want to get to the Forest of Dean you do not have much option. Our first real taste was in the loop from Blaisdon to Littledean past the huge church in the back of nowhere. It is a steep sided valley mostly covered in beech trees and a carpet of wood anemones and other wild flowers to form a background.

By this time the sun was bright and the fog had rolled away exposing those long views that make the forest what it is.

From Littledean we took the old road down to Soudley and then south to the junction at Blackpool bridge where the roman road appears. This stretch is perhaps the most photogenic of the whole run. It is the place to visit at any time of the year but particularly now for its beauty is special in the spring.

A few drivers had deviations in this area but in the end all found their way back on route. From here the run visited Speech house and Parkend through much of our industrial past. As the route went south Sling was past and then onto St Brevials coming out of the main forest and on to the area of Offa’s dyke...

A final run through that pretty road of Boughspring to the A48 and then on to lunch at the Chepstow Hotel to complete the first 55 miles of the run. A very ample buffet had been prepared by the hotel which was attacked with gusto by our members.

The after lunch the run took drivers over the A48 bridge and then through to Thornbury. From here we had that different kind of scenery of South Gloucestershire, a deep valley with the western escarpment. The County Highways made things difficult with a last minute road closure but a reroute around the Leyhill prison and down to Damery made an even better run...

Now up to North Nibley and Wootton under Edge to tackle the steep hairpin hill towards Tetbury and inally to the ‘Vale of the White Horse’ where Jamie laid on the early dinner. We are pleased to say everybody finished the run before dinner started.

Now look forward to next year when the accusations of making it too easy will be addressed!!!!

My thanks to all who took part and especially to Ann, Len and Walter who organised the start and midday halt. Thanks also to Nick Cragg who photographed the event.

Bunny

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