OPO 7M

This year we were pleased to have professional photographer Tony Large on board, please visit his website to view his superb selection of pictures.

Tony Large website link
(click on the 'rallying' link)

Sticking to its previously tried format, this year's Classic Harvest Tour presented a non-competitive guided tour through the delightful scenery of the Thames Valley, with some optional rally-like features thrown in for those who wanted to get a taste of what classic car rallying can be like. The one notable exception being speed, since, unlike a rally, this event did not require cars to go quickly.

The first rally-like feature (and this one not optional) was a quick vehicle safety check, and many crews were surprised at how thorough this was. However, all cars successfully passed eventually, and their crews could tuck in to the bacon butties provided in order to build up the inner man (or woman) in preparation for the day ahead.

At 09.30 crews began to set off for a gentle run across the bridges at Pangbourne, Henley and Marlow, the first being one of the few privately owned toll bridges left in the country. In addition to running alongside the stretch of the Thames where the Henley regatta is held, this leg took in some spectacular views across the valley and, more importantly gave crews a chance to get used to the Harvest Tour's detailed road book.

A short coffee break was taken in the clubhouse of the busy Booker Airfield before the second leg took crews back towards Pangbourne through the southern edge of the Chilterns. On this leg, crews were introduced to the idea of manned controls where navigational handouts were presented, showing the route to be taken through complicated junctions, although those who chose to ignore them could choose their own route without getting themselves lost.

The first handout introduced the concept of grid references, after which accurate distance reading was needed to find the correct route through a lay-by before another handout gave numbered grid lines to cross, and a third used points of the compass to define the correct route across Rotherfield Peppard common.

Route controls were placed at strategic points to make sure that any crews who were completely confused, could be put back on route. However, the location of one of these attracted crews straight to it, rather than completing a two mile loop before getting to it.

A one and a half hour break at Basildon House gave people an opportunity for some lunch, and look around the cars before starting on the last leg. This took to the lanes of West Berkshire, where the roads can be very twisty, and some of the junctions are extremely tight, so for a while the emphasis was on driving rather than navigating. Never the less accuracy was still required to ensure the correct loops were taken, even though the route was designed such that a mistake would not result in the crew getting lost.

The last few miles used some tight bumpy lanes to bring cars back to the start hotel where afternoon tea was enjoyed whilst souvenir awards were presented to every crew.

Happy Rallying.
...and remember, to finish first, first you have to finish.

Terry Schraider

Some 25+ years ago whilst at Art College in Taunton, Somerset, I drove a grey and black D registration 1966 Sunbeam Rapier Series V, so it was fitting that my first event as a driver (I've done a few as a navigator) should be with the Rapier Owners Club.

My Rapier belonged to my Grandfather and he had donated IT to his grandchildren to learn to drive in when his eyesight began to fail in his late 60s. I remember that 1725cc engine being a bit of a beast for an 18 year old - and thirsty too, even in 1979 it used to cost me almost a £1 to run just over 15 miles a day, although the carburettor was a bit tricky to set up and I never managed to perfect it.

It was a great car and I have many fond memories spending summer holidays visiting scrap yards all over Somerset getting cheap parts and Smiths dials to keep her in one piece and to pass that dreaded annual MOT. My brother fitted an 8 Track machine and one of the few cartridges we owned was Sheer Heart Attack by Queen...sadly it was rust that got the Rapier in the end.

A couple of friends suggested Julian and I come along to this year's Classic Harvest Tour. As a first time driver along with novice navigator Julian Marsh we were going to use Julian's brother-in-laws Mercedes 230Sl, but alas the body shop still had the car on the Friday so had to come in my Ford Focus instead.

We arrived at the Comfort Inn bright and early and had a quick look around at some of the competitors - followed by the days briefing by Terry Schraider and bacon butty and too many cups of coffee. This was the perfect start for the morning ahead. One early tip I should pass on, just have one cup as you won't have time to stop for the next couple of hours.

I had neglected giving the car the once over the day before and the eagle eyed scrutineer found my off side front tyre was borderline, just legal but wouldn't pass an MOT, it was a close call but we were allowed to continue. It was even more embarrassing for me as my navigator Julian Marsh works for the Met.

As we turned up in a modern car we were relegated to the rear of the pack, car 10 was now running 38th. We had plenty of time at the Comfort Inn to watch everyone go off and were looking forward to the morning ahead.

Robin Shackleton and Ralph Lodge had given us a few tips hot on the heels of a recent 4th place in the Isle of Bute Rally in their Ford Anglia. For the Harvest Tour Ralph was joined by his daughter Rebekah as navigator and were using his H120 Rapier, Robin and his son George had blagged an immaculate TR4 for the whole weekend, rumoured to be worth almost £40,000, I think Robin had convinced the owner he needed an extended test drive so went to the Goodwood Revival on Saturday, followed by the Harvest Tour on Sunday.

Anyone new to classic car events will be a little confused by the Tulip map, basically you travel straight ahead unless directed to do otherwise. In addition, we chose to synchronise times given on the route map to the miles travelled to keep up an average speed recommended by the organisers, sounds simple, well I can assure you it's not. Just when you start to get a little confident you overshoot a junction or end up going too fast or too slow. It was good practice for the real thing, and I understand that even experienced crews were caught out a few times on this Harvest Tour.

We realised that the check points placed to keep us on course would probably only be manned for half an hour or so after all the cars had passed so, as the last car out we couldn't afford to get lost too badly otherwise they'd have packed up and moved on.

It didn't take us long before we got lost in Henley, through getting into the wrong lane, but having realised our mistake, we followed some good advice and retraced our steps to the last known position and tried again (slowly), eventually we realised the error of our ways but by then the total timing and miles were completely out, we then decided to click the trip at every junction and keep on going, we arrived late but at least learnt an early lesson, don't sight see and don't go too fast!

The afternoon saw us settle in and possibly get a little over confident, those tricky little turns marked up 0.16 / 0.03 can really mess things up, I should have taken Robin's advice and got Julian to mark them ahead with a highlighter pen (if we'd had one), they won't get overlooked next time.

Onto Basildon Park - having an extra half hour here gave us the chance to walk around and chat to other competitors and have a closer look at some of the cars all parked up outside the front of house.

The final section of the day ran through the Pang Valley, its all of a blur a day or so later but I remember forests, stud farms and a few tight corners, probably put in for the Rapiers benefit, if I remember the turning circle was quite good, it would have been good to have video'd the cars on one junction as it was almost a 3 point turn - I bet Terry Powell's E-Type had a few problems!

By the end of the day we realised that we'd missed quite a few POP (proof of passage) signs during the Tour but particularly enjoyed the final leg arriving back at the Comfort Inn for a well earned tea and sandwich!

I'd like to take the opportunity to thank Terry and his team at the Sunbeam Rapier Owners Club for organising such an enjoyable day out. Its the ideal introduction to classic car rallying. For anyone out there who ever thought shall I have a go, book up for next years Tour now, you'll love it. Its also worth remembering the whole day out is not a lot more than an average restaurant meal for 2!

Gary Bigwood First event as driver
Julian Marsh Navigator (first time out)

The Sunbeam Rapier Owners Club Competition Department organised the 2nd Classic Harvest Tour on Sunday September 18th 2005. 35 cars including 11 Rapiers had entered the event. My usual Rally Car is the H120 Rapier owned by Ralph Lodge only on this event he had forsaken me to let his daughter take the navigators seat for the 2nd time ever. So without a car or a navigator I arranged to borrow the immaculate Replica Works Triumph TR4 that Clive Manvers had built [Manvers Triumph.01359 244417] and my son George would take the navigators seat. We have been busy during the year in the HRCR Clubman's Challenge so we expected this to be a breeze.

Then came some sneaky junctions, long way around triangles and code boards carefully placed to lead us off the route. This combined with optional handouts through the window making use of Compass Points, Map References and Grid Lines kept the navigators busy working out the right direction whilst the drivers were eagle eyed for the code boards.

We were doing well and the lunch halt at Basildon Park was marvelous. The new Pride and Prejudice movie was filmed here although there were no Mr. Darcys in evidence. The cars lined up outside the front of the House an original Mini Cooper, a beautiful and rare Series 1 Rapier, an Austin A40, Ford Escorts. MGB's, more Rapiers and a growling Rover P6. Many of these cars had their own Rally pedigree created in the 1960's and 70's.

After lunch it was time to tackle the Pang Valley with its twisty lanes over the chalk downlands, heathland and rolling farmland interspersed with ancient woodlands, Disaster struck we were talking, minds off the event and around the corner we stumbled straight into a control early.....I had not listened to Terry to remember NO PENALTIES FOR LATENESS, my natural instinct to make up time had taken over again. We proceeded along demoralised by such a stupid mistake when in the window came handout No 5...it looked very strange and it took some time to realise that the instructions were back to front.. at last it made sense. The route proceeded to Yattendon where the inter distances suddenly disappeared and were on our old favorite, tulips with no distances. Around the final corner and we were back at the start for a sandwich and coffee.

The TR4 had run beautifully, most cars had completed the route and several had done really well even though they had limited experience. This event is a wonderful introduction to Historic Rallying, if you chose to try the navigation it is certainly not easy, but does give a wide spread of the types of navigation one can come across. The route book is straightforward, thorough and comprehensive. Terry and Helen have put a lot of effort into this event and the very helpful team of marshals need a mention as their cheery smiles never make one feel quite such an idiot when one is told others have made the same mistake. On behalf of all the participants I would like to say a big Thank You to Terry and all his team. Next Year on Sunday 17th September 2006 dust off your car, it does not have to be a Rapier and come and join the fun. I am looking for a car already as the improvement Ralph made with his daughter may mean that I am sacked again next year.....

Driver: Robin Shackleton
Navigator: George Shackleton