MOUNT DRUID 10TH ANNUAL VINTAGE VEHICLE SHOW - 9TH JUNE 2012

It was arranged that we would meet at Drumadoon Restaurant, Cloughmills at 9.00am, this meant a very early start for everyone.  

We left home at 8.15am in our SD1, slightly behind schedule due to a last minute oil and water check showing that we needed to top up the oil, in the rain.  Only real enthusiasts or mad men would have made the trip to the Antrim coast in the rain!

When we arrived at Drumadoon at ten past nine, some members were already there in the following cars -

• a P4 100
• a P6 
• a P6B
• a 400
• a 25

ROVER P4 100

ROVER 400

This was the first time that the P4 and the 600 had turned out to one of our events and the first time that I had met the owners.   The P4 drew a lot of attention.   

Shortly after we headed into the restaurant another one of our members arrived in his Rover 100 and a member of the MG ZT club arrived in his Rover 75.  

BREAKFAST IN DRUMADOON

Breakfast was served and plates were practically licked clean. With our bellies filled, we head off to towards Ballintoy in the fine drizzle.   When we arrived we didn't bother washing or polishing the cars, there was no point given the conditions.

We weren’t going to let the wind and rain dampen our spirits or enthusiasm, so we headed off up the field.  We registered, had a walk around the stalls - (a few of the model collectors amongst us purchased a model cars to add to our growing collections) and we bought raffle tickets and watched a guy carving sculptures with a chainsaw.

CREATING  A TEDDY BEAR SCULPTURE
USING A CHAINSAW

Lunch time - we headed to the tea tent to avail of the complimentary lunch of stew, sandwiches, buns and a drink.  Where some people put all the food I’ll never know!

By now, the rain had stopped, although it was still chilly in the sea breeze.  I spent a large part of the afternoon resting in our car as my hips were exceptionally sore while the others viewed the vehicles on display and chatting amongst themselves and with other exhibitors.

CLASSIC ROVER CLUB (NI) CARS ON
DISPLAY AT BALLINTOY

For me, four cars stood out, a Vauxhall Viva, a Ford Capri, a Morgan and a Morris Cowley

VAUHALL VIVA 

FORD CAPRI

MORGAN

MORRIS COWLEY

AUSTIN HEALEY DISPLAY

At 3pm we collected our finishers award and gathered by the live band for the drawing of the ballot, sadly none of us won a prize.  Shortly afterwards the tractors set of on the cavalcade; this signalled the end of the show.

Although the weather was poor and the number of exhibitors and stalls were down on last year (a sign of the economic climate and the poor weather) we didn't let this spoil our day.   

Instead of heading home, most of us went to Ballintoy Harbour for a barbecue.  Sheltered between the cars and a wall and huddled around the barbecue for heat, we enjoyed the food and the craic.


After the barbecue four cars headed of on a sightseeing tour of the Antrim Coast.  Our tour guide set of in his Rover 100 with the rest of us falling in behind him.  Our first pit stop was The Vanishing Lake just outside Ballycastle.  

From here we travelled towards Cushendun, through Glendun (one of the nine Glens of Antrim) pausing at the Glendun Viaduct for photos.

In Cushendun, we dropped down to 3 cars on tour, as one of the drivers opted to call it a day and head home.  The 3 of us stopped to see the "Johann", a goat sculpture, on the banks of the River Dun.  

From Cushendun we headed into Cushendall, where I took our tour guide to the ruins of Layd Church and graveyard, a place that he didn't know about.  

From here we travelled to Garron Tower, my husband went to school here, we showed the others the school and then went to a tiny graveyard nearby.  

From here we travelled into Larne where we watched a ship sail into port and viewed the mounments that stand on the lough shore. 

By this time we were all starting to show signs of fatigue, it was time to call it a day as we still had an hours drive ahead of us.

We arrived home at just after 10.30pm – an exceptionally long but thoroughly enjoyable day.