Thursday 2nd June 2016

MSA Spring Classic: PH Blog

PH tags along on the MSA Spring Classic to come up with ideas for a new PH driving event - what did we learn?

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Despite being of an age at which I can recall watching VHS tapes, playing with Gameboys and wearing tie-dye T-shirts, I still think of myself as registering on the youthful end of the spectrum. So when we got the invitation to participate in the MSA Spring Classic road rally, a two-day tour predominantly held across Wales and the Cotswolds, I was slightly apprehensive.

My perception of classic car events was one of retirees in slippers, more into smoking pipes than smoking tyres. Those who have ever gone above 70mph with an elderly parent in the passenger seat will understand how this impression was formed! Yet we accepted, and decided to embark on the adventure with an open mind.

Why was PH invited on the Spring Classic though? Simply put, we've had a chat with the MSA as we want to organise our own driving event in a very similar format. And we saw it as a perfect opportunity to learn from the pros. Not only would we be taking in some fantastic roads and a spell on Castle Combe, but it was all done navigating in the manner of a rally co-driver with tulip style directions. We quite like that sort of thing.

Arriving at the starting point at the Celtic Manor Resort in a Morgan Plus 4 Roadster on loan from our friends in Malvern, it was clear we couldn't have chosen a better car for the occasion. While a brand new Morgan Roadster is far from a classic, its roots and appearance hark back to over a century ago, so we were quite content. It sat perfectly within the sea of drop tops and wire wheels that flooded the hotel car park, and not a single cushion or box of tissues on a parcel shelf to be seen. So far, so good! We were also joined by PHer jeremyc in his stunning 1971 Lotus Elan, allowing us to rotate around the cars and not get bored of one another.

At the break of dawn on the first morning, the car park was a buzz with activity as each of the 103 cars fired up and final preparations for the rally were made. We were handed our entry pack, which included the route map, car number, and passes and weighed the same as my final dissertation at university - although on inspection it was considerably more concise. With the glorious sunshine already beaming down, we made the last minute decision to remove the door cards and made our way to the start line.

It was only as we lined up that I noticed a few cars from my youth I would still love to own today including a Peugeot 205 GTI, Ford Sierra Cosworth and a Ferrari F355 Spider. As we waited patiently in line, the cars being dispatched at short intervals, I couldn't help a feeling of excitement creeping up inside me, and I found myself starting to take things seriously. Timer, set. Route, checked. Ready!

The first checkpoint, at Weston's Cider Farm, was the first time we actually got to meet our fellow drivers, and it was immediately evident that my preconceptions were mistaken - there were people young, old and every age in between participating. Conversations centred around the route we'd just taken and how well, or not, the cars were running. And the thrill-seeking glint I suspected to have faded was clear in many an eye.

As each day progressed, we had around 60-70 miles between each leg, which worked out perfectly as we meandered along the narrow country roads of the Welsh borders. Being part of such a magical convoy across the sun-bleached countryside was a fantastic experience. Hats off the local motor clubs too that had been engaged to run each checkpoint, they did a fantastic job.

The camaraderie that was displayed between participants over the course of the event helped to make the event what it was, and watching the smiles appear on the faces of onlookers as we passed by and they waved us on made me proud to be part of something, which had such a special feel. In hindsight, I couldn't have been more wrong in my initial assessment of the classic car community. The character and charm of everyone on the rally matched that of their stunning cars. I even found myself donning a pair driving gloves for the final sections. Well, in for a penny and all that.

Now that's over, the only questions left are what do we do for our own PH driving event? Let the ideas roll in below, but not before you've read the account of our man Jeremy in his 'new' Lotus Elan.

Photos: Ben Lowden

[Dan Trent]

Here is the view of PHer JeremyC on the event from the wheel of his 'new' Lotus Elan...

Dan

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MSA Spring Classic with PistonHeads by Jeremy Copp
It was something of a baptism of fire for both me and the car as I had my first experience of a classic car tour. Having proudly taken ownership of the Lotus Elan Sprint as my first classic, it seemed too good an opportunity to miss spending a weekend piloting it around the best roads that Wales, Herefordshire, Gloucestershire and the Cotswolds had to offer, not to mention a cheeky lap or two of Castle Combe.

In typical fashion I had set myself a significant challenge in only wanting a drophead Elan Sprint, and only in Pistachio Lime Green. When a friend tipped me off about this example it almost sold itself: a one owner from new, original and unrestored car with only 27,000 miles under it's wheels. Of course the downside is that it hadn't covered many miles over the past 10 years or so - I'll wager it was 25 miles to the MoT centre as an explanation of the 50-mile annual mileage for the last few years. With a full service and gentle recommissioning before I picked it up I set about travelling ever increasing distances in preparation for the MSA Spring Classic and building my confidence in the car's ability to survive the event.

But survive it did, and with some panache and aplomb! It was the perfect vehicle to enjoy the two days of sunshine and fantastic roads: an opportunity to explore it's nimble handling and exemplary ride whilst digging into the deeper realms of bonding with the driving experience.

The event itself was also brilliant. The variety and quality of cars was mouthwatering, and the participants genuine friendly, enthusiastic car nuts. The organisation was perfection personified, and the route the ideal mix of scenic vistas and great driving roads. Having three different navigators through the weekend also proved the value of the detailed route book, each of them getting to grips with the tulip diagram instructions even if directions were delivered to the driver in very different styles!

[jeremyc]

Some of the slightly racier action from the weekend.

[L100NYY]

Look like a fab event and one I may well do next year

[Richair]

Sounds like fun, I do a (admittedly much smaller) local charity classic rally every year and it's always enjoyable. Will certainly look in to this for next year and would be interested in a similar PH event

[giveitfish]

Sounds a great idea. A few of us did the Knowledale Mini Miglia tour a few years ago ( http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a... ) and it was fun. Untimed and non-competitive so no licences etc required, any car could attend too.

Driving was certainly more about making progress in good company and not scenic touring, the map reading adding a new dimension and so did the fords, narrow bridges and even a road I didn't know existed which ran right up the middle of the M6 between the carriageways!

[Jasper Gilder]

Come and join in with Superdeportivos Cantabria next year, meals out, drive outs and a Saturday drive out where the police close all the road junctions for us and encourage us to get out of the way fast, speed cameras appear to be switched off