VW Beetle 1200
David’s Beetle emerges from hiding for a sociable spin
1972 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE 1200
One of the aspects of ‘normal’ life that I’ve missed the most in this strange lockdown year has been the local classic car evening meets.
It is just five miles to my nearest regular venue for these monthly treats that last from teatime to dusk and enable me to catch up with friends and their vehicles. When Mark Fishpool from Peterborough – who organises three of the meets around here – tested the water about the possibility of holding a get-together, the response he received was so overwhelming that he had to put the idea on hold for a while because it wouldn’t have been safe to go ahead at that time.
However, an alternative idea was to invite a few classics out for an evening drive, taking in some of the splendidly scenic back-roads in these parts.
So, one peaceful weekday evening I set off in my orange Beetle on a 56-mile round-trip that dipped in and out of four different counties.
I only have to cross the River Welland near my home village in Lincolnshire to enter Cambridgeshire. Head along any road south-west of here and there are railway level crossings to contend with, and we paused at Maxey Road crossing as two passenger trains and a freight sped on their way. From there it was along the winding lane across Helpston Heath, before dropping down to the village of Ailsworth, where I parked up waiting for the contingency from Peterborough to arrive via Castor.
I didn’t have to wait long before Mark and Sharon Fishpool came into view in their 1999 BMW Z3, with further interesting vehicles following. Tucking in behind the Beemer, my rear mirror was taken up with a 1975 Buick Estate Wagon, a big car with a soundtrack to match thanks to its 7.5-litre V8 powerplant. At more than 18ft in length, it is longer than my VW Type 2 camper, but has been stripped of some of its original 2.5 tonnes. It certainly dwarfed the next vehicles, a 1965 MG 1100 and a 1971 Minor 1000 Traveller. In contrast to the MG saloon, the line-up was also joined by the sporty presence of a 1968 MGC and a 1974 MGB.
Turning off the A47 at the pretty little riverside village of Wansford, we entered our next picturesque county – Northamptonshire. We then explored several interesting byways, with cyclists who have had these lanes to themselves in recent months now having to share the roads with us. Attractive villages with honey-coloured stone cottages – several with thatched roofs – substantial churches and narrow bridges crossing the River Nene, were all features of this lovely stretch. The one and only ford crossing along our route was thankfully bone dry on this particular occasion.
Briefly joining the A43, we soon turned right by Deene Park, where we paused for a photo opportunity. Another brief stop was made to pay our respects at the RAF/USAAF Spanhoe Memorial, close to the former military base where part of the airfield continues in commercial use today.
On again, we passed twice beneath the magnificent Harringworth railway viaduct before entering the fourth and final county of the run, Rutland, where we enjoyed some refreshments on Barrowden village green. Following conversations and snacks (socially distanced, of course), we headed off to our respective homes.
It was great to get out and about again and I was delighted to show off the recent work on the Beetle that now has four new hubcaps fitted, as well as its missing piece of trim now in situ on the driver’s side door (a fiddly job that required some nerve and a steady hand to get it firmly in place).
While it may hopefully be possible for larger meets to take place safely soon, in the meantime carefully observed group outings like this make a welcome change from planning trips while sitting in an armchair at home.
Where’s next, I wonder?