Mendip Vintage and Classic Tour
Bigger and better than ever – and more drivers enjoy a tour of Somerset
’It’s very well organised and everyone is so friendly’
The Mendip Vintage & Classic Tour returned bigger and even better than before on Sunday, 14 May with the Classic & Historic Motor Club hosting a total of 164 enthusiasts this year.
This major classic social event features a lovely mix of pre- and post-war vehicles and even a variety of modern classics.
The Mendip Hills provide an almost Italian infused British driving experience for any classic enthusiast as the limestone gorges channel you down through this popular area of outstanding natural beauty.
This year’s entry list accommodated vehicles as early as a 1915 Model T Ford, a 1935 Rolls Royce Phantom II and as modern as a 1990 Mazda MX-5 and a 1996 993-series Porsche 911 Targa. Participants arrived early in the morning to sign into the social drive and assign their vehicles to their allocated slots.
Starting from Puxton Park, classic owners navigated through a well-organised route featuring Burrington Combe, an idyllic Somerset village called Priddy and the popular summer driving spot at Cheddar Gorge; stopping briefly at Webbington Hotel and Spa in Loxton for lunch, with fantastic views across the Mendip Hills. The tourers subsequently arrived on the green at Wells Cathedral.
An assortment of ‘Best of ’ awards were presented at the finish, including one for the ‘Best Dressed Ensemble’.
Bob Denning and Brenda Clarke, who won the ‘Best Family Car’ award says: ‘The Mendip Tour is one of our favourite classic car events. It’s very well organised and everyone’s so friendly. We haven’t owned our Wolseley 16-60 for long – this was the first event we’ve done in it – so we’ve over the moon to have won an award.’