From classic to downright quirky
Cars, bikes and tractors turn up for informal meet at The Bell, Aldworth
FROM Rolls Royces, old tractors, Land Rovers, classic collectable cars and motorbikes, a speedboat that can be driven on the road, to a little Czech farm curiosity, traffic of yesteryear turned into and out of the field behind The Bell in Aldworth for several hours from noon last Sunday.
Chat was lively as enthusiasts exchanged stories at the third informal meet of the summer and the queue of visitors waiting to order beer and the award-winning pub’s famous rolls at the bar was nonstop until after 3pm, prompting one regular to comment: “It’s like the old days. Packed.
“Everyone polite and patient queuing for service. Such a lovely place at The Bell Inn.”
Hampstead Norreys collector of curiosities Ray Prior can be relied on to bring along a conversation piece – this time a 1963 ezeta – “basically a Czechoslovakian trike for farmers to use to carry veg”.
All in its original condition, he’s had the scooter for around six years.
“You can see one farmer cut a chunk out for his wife to sit,” he said. “Then the next one didn’t need it and covered it with tin!”
Among the considerable number of classic motorbikes, Mike Kowalczuk bought his 1942 WLA Harley-Davidson (produced to US Army specifications, with a 750 side value design and reverse gear) 10 years ago and rebuilt most of the engine, rewired it and “made it go properly”.
And with the pub surrounded by agricultural land, old tractors were very much at home.
Reading brothers Simon and Christopher Beasley’s 1938 Fordson N has been passed down the family from their great uncle and was fully rebuilt along time ago, although “it could do with a touch up now” and Tutts Clump Cider’s father and daughter drivers Tim and Lucy Wale thundered down Bell Lane with his 1949 Fordson E27N which he bought “in a heap of bits three years ago and rebuilt” and her Fordson Super Major 1961, which she’s had for two years, refurbished by its previous owner of 20 years. “We go to all the local rallies,” she said, “and I’d like to do some ploughing matches this year.”
Captain Jean-Luc Picard may be more familiar with the controls of the starship Enterprise, but Philip Gent displayed a photo of Stirling Moss and the Star Trek actor Patrick Stewart, who had both driven his 1938 Austin 7 Opel Tourer which he has owned for 50 years.
Rolls Royces and Bentleys, Triumph TRs and Stags, Porsches, a Maserati and Corvette all took their places among the classics. How many more gems are hidden in local barns awaiting restoration?
The event was organised by George Simmons from Compton.