Twenty eight old cars gathered together recently to enjoy the lanes of Rutland, Britain's smallest county, for that is where The Automobile magazine held their annual Oily Rag Run. Drivers and navigators assembled on the banks of Rutland Water ( with its semi-submerged church) and mingled amongst each others' cars sharing stories of their beloved motors. The start time was punctutated by the sound of two cars- Frazer Sloan disappearing in his family-filled Trojan leaving a signature 2-stroke haze and Matthew Parkin arriving with a throaty roar in his Vauxhall 30-98 Special full of laughing passengers.
Ron and Joan Birkett set out in their Humber 9/29 saloon hardly needing to read the excellent route map beacause they had prepared it and this was their neck of the woods. The remaining cars followed - Austin 18, Austin 16, Riley 9, Singer Nine, Morris Eight, Austin 7 - a wonderful variety of vehicles all joined by the common thread of enjoying regular use and chosen for their original condition.
The route took us through empty roads lined with interesting architecture and rolling rural countryside to the lunch stop at the Stonehurst Family Farm and Motor Museum where we had plenty of time to enjoy a delicious lunch, wander around the museum and offer assistance to those fettling their motors.
John Brydon was seen trying to stem the flow of water from beneath his Austin 16 and our host looked at the water pump, came back 30 seconds later with the correct size C spanner and tightened the nut which stopped the leak. We immediately liked this man and enjoyed a tour of his collection which includes an Austin 7 Ulster, a cut-away Austin 7 engine, two vauxhall 30-98s, and a rare Bullnose Morris saloon, but he stopped at his 1911 Wolseley and lingered with a special fondness. "I always regretted missing this car at the Sharpe Collection auction in 2005," he said. " But it's with me now and we were out in it the other day when there was a BANG from the back of the car. A tyre had burst, so for the first time I fitted the stepney wheel and we gently wobbled home safe and sound."
Following cars in the afternoon produced occasional pleasures with the glorious sound of Quentin Chases' Twin Cam Sunbeam saloon, and the bizarre wrap-around rear window of the latest addition to The Automobile's Oily Rag collection - a 1950 Studebaker Commander Starlight.
As we pulled in to the tea stop, we found a beautiful Bentley bearing a plaque naming Earl Howe as a previous owner. The local owner had come to say Hello and meet old friends. Tea, scones, jam and cream rounded the day of nicely and for two lucky winners, a bottle of vintage champagne. Matthew Parkin received one for 'the most Feral car' and the other went to Roger and Jackie Caunt for 'the car we would most like to take home' - their most rare Panhard - engined DB HBR5 complete with sporting memorabilia on the back shelf and appropriate registration.
Read the full story in the latest issue of The Automobile and enjoy some pictures of the event HERE.
(Text/pictures Robin Batchelor)