|
|
|
|
Once again the Classic Harvest Tour was blessed with glorious sunshine throughout the day, and a great success it was with everyone enjoying a fabulous tour of the Berkshire countryside. We were also pleased to have professional photographer Tony Large with us, Tony Large website link (click on the 'rallying' link) Our 2009 page is now complete with reports from Terry and both the experienced and novice crews, a selection of pictures taken on the day, and pictures of every car on the tour. I hope that you enjoy reading the reports and viewing all the pictures, another great event. tony beale | webmaster | contact Plans are already underway for 2010 and we are taking reserve entries now, webpage coming soon. |
Classic Harvest Tour Entry list
Picture Gallery
Classic Harvest Tour - The Organisers view
| Over the last few years of the Classic Harvest Tour we have tried to produce an event that would not only give classic car owners the opportunity to drive their cars on quite country roads through beautiful scenery, but would also give those who are interested, the chance to try some aspects of classic rallying in a non-competitive, non-pressurised environment. To do this we like to place marshals along the route because there is nothing better than seeing a marshal at the side of the road to confirm that you are on the right route, and to break up the driving. This format has proven to be very popular to the extent that this year we had our biggest ever entry. However, more entrants tend to create the need for more marshals and this year many of our regular marshals had other commitments. |  |
Despite advertising in the Historic Rally Car Register's magazine, Old Stager, and many panic phone calls, with one week to go to the event we were still having difficulty finding enough marshals. Then just when we thought the entrant's enjoyment of the event would be compromised, some people who could not enter volunteered to marshal as did some people who just wanted to help, and much to my relief we had enough people on the day to man all of the planned posts. Thanks to all of the marshals, your presence makes the event for the entrants. Each year we try to vary the territory we visit, and this year we decided to head southeast from our start near Reading, crossing into Hampshire and touching the edge of the North Downs before turning west to pass south of Basingstoke and then North to return to the start venue. |
 |
After a bacon sandwich breakfast cars left the start in bright sunshine for a fairly short drive using mainly wide country roads to the coffee halt at Bramshill House. This 17th Century mansion is set in magnificent parkland and the trip from the gatehouse up to the mansion was one of the high points of the event. The estate is now owned by the Home Office, and is used as a training college for senior police officers. The National Police Improvement Agency who run the college were kind enough to allow our visit, and to lay on coffee and biscuits for our entrants. After Bramshill the roads became somewhat tighter and crews were given the option of trying various navigational handouts. This all added to the fun, particularly as marshals were on hand to point out where people made mistakes. |
There was some confusion near Odiham where a farm was having an open day and the farmer had turned the single-track roads around the farm into a one-way system - the wrong way for our route! However, this was soon resolved and nobody was inconvenienced. The lunch break was at the fabulous Milestones Museum on the Basingstoke Leisure Park. Here there are a number of food outlets to suite all tastes although a large number of entrants seemed to opt for picnicking by their cars in the bright sunshine whilst watching the steam engines on show, trundle up and down the car park. The final section, from lunch back to the start/finish, was the longest of the day and included a trip over Watership Down for some fabulous views, and a drive around the impressive Roman walls at Calleva, near Silchester. Once again people had the opportunity to try out various navigational techniques which some did with varying degrees of success, others simply enjoyed the drive in some of the best weather of the year. |
Cars began arriving at the finish around four o-clock for an afternoon snack and a well-earned cup of tea, and when everyone was back all crews were given finishers awards as a memento of their day out on the Classic Harvest Tour. As organisers, my wife Helen and I were very pleased with the way that the day had gone and were particularly gratified to have so many people thank us personally for the day out they had enjoyed. Now, where shall we go next year? Terry & Helen Schraider |
 |
The Classic Harvest Tour - 2009 Entrants reports
An experienced rallyist view - John Barton and Janice Brown
Yet another successful Classic Harvest Tour is now complete and thanks must be offered to Terry and Helen for organizing this, also the marshals without whom there would be no event. The morning of the 27th started with cloud that was burnt off by the sun leaving a bright day for the event, which started as usual at the Comfort Hotel on the A4 South West of Reading. The entrants gathered for a pre event breakfast at about 8am and a cursory scrutineering was done, for those who arrived on Sunday, from 7.45 to 8 45. We were the first car away and the section being subtitled Two Counties meant that we are taken from Berkshire to Hampshire over a distance of 28 miles, |
 |
the course circumnavigating Basingstoke clockwise, the first section taking us to Bramshill House for coffee. The tulip road book
is easy to use, however having an odometer that is at variance with the road book
makes for difficult judgment of distances between the tulips so we got lost a
couple of times during the event and tended to occasionally overshoot junctions.
However the open roads of this first section meant that we arrived at the coffee
break in good time to relax a little. |
 |
From Bramshill the orbit of Basingstoke continued and we set off on the North Downs section. This section was 39 miles and took us through the single track lanes and small villages of Hampshire to the South of Basingstoke, this section was less relaxed as the narrow roads demanded greater concentration. The views on this part were very fine and the day sunny, which was to the advantage of the marshals who were stationed along the route to ensure we were still on track. Villages that were driven through included Upton Grey, Farleigh Wallop and Dummer, the usual strange names found in Southern England, the section ended in Oakley to the West of Basingstoke just a short drive from Milestones Museum for lunch where again we had plenty of time to relax. |
The afternoon,
Roman Roads section was 46 miles in length and completed the orbit of Basingstoke,
taking us back to the Comfort Inn. The route passed through Kingsclere, Ashford
Hill, Baughurst, Mortimer and Ufton Nervet. The final control being just round
the corner from the Inn where we arrived at about 4pm. |
The day was completed with a light supper and the presenting of a memento to all those taking part. My thanks again to Terry, Helen and all the marshals for a splendid day. John Barton Car number 1 |
 |
A novice’s view – Ken Sparkes and Trevor Page
With an interest in historic rallying and being a member of the Sunbeam Rapier Owners Club I booked a place on the Classic Harvest Tour initially for my Sunbeam Rapier which, on the day, was not ready so instead we used my 1953 Sunbeam Alpine having just returned from France two weeks previously covering the old rally routes and driving nearly 3000 miles. I wasn't sure what to expect as a novice because driving a classic here is different to what we had experienced in France and this seemed a good prelude to something more serious planned for the future in historic rallying here or on the continent. Trevor Page my navigator had competed in the past but not for a few years and we were able to test both our skills. Nevertheless, we both felt a theme that ran through the event was the smooth operation and careful planning by the organisers and officials which has made this event the success it is. |
 |
The start this year was from the Comfort Hotel near Reading where breakfast and hot drinks was laid on for the crews whilst the car was scrutineered and checked in. As car number 12 our start position was early on and we soon settled into the event, road safety and limits have to be observed, careful observation and a steady pace with reference to the excellent road book is the key. |
 |
At several points we were handed detailed instructions for the particular section. These were optional but, if you accepted the challenge, made for a lot of fun if a little head scratching. One of our biggest challenges was with the car as, due to a gearbox modification, its milometer is inaccurate but a conversion table helped our quest. A break was arranged with tea and coffee at Bramshill police training college, which we had privileged access to and the drive up is very grand and impressive. After refreshment we tackled the next section with its finish for lunch at Milestones museum near Basingstoke, we travelled on very narrow but spectacular routes helped by the excellent weather, then, at Milestones we checked in and all the cars were on display together and made an interesting mix of ages and makes and models, obviously most were examples that were rallied in their heyday. |
After lunch we
left at our allotted slot for the last section of the day back to the finish and
the start of the tour, this was another enjoyable run off the beaten track on
quiet roads, which felt relaxing. Arriving back we checked in and handed in the
route card after which we sampled the sandwiches and drinks again laid on for
us, and all crews who had completed the received a finishers award. |
I felt we had done well considering it was my first event and it gave me an insight into what is expected perhaps in more serious events but it is for fun and if you just want a relaxing drive with no extra challenges it is very enjoyable too. Of course fine weather helps but the organisation and general cheerfulness with all involved made for a very excellent event. Ken Sparkes Car number 12 |
 |
