KILBRONEY VINTAGE VEHICLE RALLY - 18TH JUNE 2011

This show takes place annually in the beautiful Kilbroney Forest Park, in Rostrevor on the banks of Carlingford Lough.  As in previous years The Classic Rover Club (NI) had a club stand booked, however this was our SD1's first outing to this show.  

We packed the car up with our cool boxes, seats, raincoats and wellies as the forecast was for heavy rain and thunder.  We left home at 8am and head off to Sprucefield where we were due to meet some of the other member.  When we arrived Sprucefield, 2 other club members were already there, while we waited for the others to arrive we had a bite to eat to set us up for the day.  The other 3 members arrived just before 9am.   The convoy consisting of a Rover P6 3500, a Rover convertible, a Rover 25 Impression, a Rover P5 B 3500, a Rover P6B and our SD1 we set off towards Kilbroney, we travelled the 37 miles in convoy, arriving in Kilbroney around 10.00am.

As we entered the park we were given our numbers, a souvenir programme and complimentary bottle of water.  Once we had parked up a few of the members set buffing and polishing their cars, during which time more members arrived including a P4 100 and a P5B.    In total there were 10 cars on the stand, a good turn out for the club.

CARS THAT WERE ON THE CLASSIC ROVER CLUB (NI) STAND

After the cars were cleaned up it was time to have a walk around, we opted to beginning with a walk around the bric-a-brac stalls for a spot of bargain hunting.  There were so many stalls that by the time we'd seen them all it was time for a bite to eat.   We opted to have chips and wait until later to light the barbecue.  There were so many stalls selling food that it was difficult to choose which one to buy from. 

By now it was almost 1.00pm and the fire brigade where going to give a demonstration on the sort of things that they do when they are called to a road traffic accident.  We decided to hang around and watch for the demonstration.   

My husband was horrified when he realised that they were going to cut up a pretty decent Rover 400.  He jokingly made a comment about all the good parts going to waste.  One of the firemen overheard him and asked him if there was anything he wanted of it.  My husband quickly replied the front grille (to add to his collection of grilles on his garage wall). 

By now my legs and feet were sore, I decided along with one of the other wives that it was time for a rest, so we headed back to the car, leaving the men to keep looking around the stalls.  Here's a few vehicles and displays that caught my eye on the way back.

Cadillac

VINTAGE THRESHING MACHINE IN FULL WORKING ORDER

VINTAGE HORSE DRAWN CARAVANS

A SMALL PART OF THE CROWD AND A SMALL SELECTION OF THE VEHICLES ON DISPLAY

We arrived back at the Classic Rover stand in time for the end of the barbecue, a bunch of the other members had fired up the barbie and had already eaten.  We contemplated cooking our food but decided to wait for our husbands to return before doing so.  Shortly after we arrived back at the car, it began to cloud over and we had a heavy shower of rain, but thankfully it only lasted a short time.

FROG EYED SPRITE DRIPPING WET AFTER THE RAIN

When it dried up I set about chamoising our SD1.  Whilst I was doing so my husband and the other men arrived back.  I think my husband just about had a heart attack when he saw me drying off the car, this is the first time I chamoised a car in the 20 years that we've been married.


Now that they were back it was time to fire up the barbecue again and get our food cooked up.  Given my obsession about food cooked on the barbecue I decided to do the cooking.  When I cooked up our food one of the other member asked me to cook some burgers for him and I'm pleased to say that he said it was delicious.


After we had filled our bellies and had a bit of banter it was time to take a walk around the cars.  The following pictures are of cars that caught my eye as we walked around.

VOLKSWAGEN CAMPER VANS

METRO POLICE CAR

SELECTION OF VAUXHALLS

A COUPLE OF VOLKSWAGEN BEETLES

PORCHE

VINTAGE AUSTIN CLUB STAND

MORRIS MINOR CLUB STAND

Having seen the cars we made our way back to the car and chatted for a while with the other club members.  A few had decided to call it a day, but we along with 3 other members decided to hang around for a bit longer because there were long queues of cars leaving the park.  The now traditional trashy gifts were exchanged which as always resulted in great laughter and teasing.

Soon it began to cloud over, before long the heavens had opened and it was pouring down.  Looking at the dark clouds, we decided that the rain was on for the evening and that it was time to leave.  We headed of in our SD1 behind the P6 with the 25 behind us. 

Traffic was heavy leaving the park and until we left Rostrevor.  We made our way through Kilkeel and Annalong with out much traffic.  As we approached Newcastle the traffic was slowing and soon we were at a standstill.  Going was very slow through Newcastle, it took us about 45 minutes to do a few miles.  The rest of the journey was uneventful and we were home around 8.00pm. 

This was a massive (the largest one that we've been to this year) show with something for everyone, held in the a truely stunning park with stunning views over Carlingford Lough. 

Another great day out with the Classic Rover guys and girls.