Saturday Morning Car Show, Aldershot, England

[2002#3]

When packing to return from spending September in Cornwall, England, my wife, Lynn, and I happened to look out the window of our room (above a pub in Aldershot, England) and saw the local car enthusiasts setting up a Saturday morning car show.  We were leaving for LHR in 15 minutes.  Damn!  I had only a few minutes to take some photographs.  I hustled out and over, talked to a few owners, took some photos, and departed with strong regrets we (she loves cool cars, too) could not spend the day admiring the ~100 cars expected to be proudly displayed.  Interesting:  a few muscle cars, a couple of huge Caddy-boats, several WWII vehicles, and only 1, count 'em, one, BMW. Maybe more showed up later).  Far, far and away the sweetest ride there was the superb Mexican Ford Escort rally car.  Well, I thought so.  

     

Our rental car was a MB A Class 116d - a small hatchback diesel that I don't think is available in the U.S. (last photo).  Superb car.  55 mpg.  Same rental price as a Ford Focus!

 

Larry

 

 

 

[ingramlee]

A lot of cool cars. I always wonder how I would do driving in a country with the steering wheel on the right side. I've never driven on that side of the road, at least not sober!... Just kidding folks. ?

[Tommy]

Done it once and I can tell you - it's not easy. Most terrified were the roundabouts, and there's plenty of those in UK.

18 minutes ago, ingramlee said:

A lot of cool cars. I always wonder how I would do driving in a country with the steering wheel on the right side. I've never driven on that side of the road, at least not sober!... Just kidding folks. ?

 

[02Les]

Thanks for sharing. I miss not seeing the old cars from my Homeland. May not have set the World on fire but I grew up with them.

Those 6 digit licence plates are worth more £££ than some of our cars!

[2002iii]

I'll take the Duck (military car/boat) ultimate survival vehicle lol

[PaulTWinterton]

Nice pictorial.  Thanks.

 

Driving on the wrong side of the road doesn't take TOO long to master, imo, but shifting with your left hand takes awhile.

[2002#3]

Driving in England is an adventure you shouldn't miss.  Driving is the only way to get to, see, and experience the wonders, history, warm, and welcoming people of Britain.  That trip was our 7th to Eng, Ire, and Scot.  Drove 1,000 miles this time.  Much driving experience there and I have become only relatively comfortable doing so, the key word being relatively.  I still do much better if someone is in the passenger seat watching out for me, keeping me from drifting, making sure I stay on the L after a turn, and reminding me to look RIGHT when entering a roundabout.  I still have to be reminded.  You will get used to the roundabouts which are everywhere and keep traffic moving.  For the most part, Brits are extremely accommodating on the road, yield a lot, and wave to show appreciation when you yield.  Best part:  they DO NOT poke along in the fast lanes - they get over!.

 

You'll probably do OK if you follow these suggestions: 

1. HAVE A  PASSENGER. 
2. If in doubt, YIELD!. 
3. Do not turn on the radio.  You need ALL of your attention for driving.  
4. Always look RIGHT and YIELD as you enter a roundabout. 
5. If in doubt, YIELD!
6. Always have MANY of 1-pound coins for parking - almost everywhere. 
7. Do not drive in London.  Small towns OK when you feel relatively comfortable.
8. Rent the smallest car.
9. In rural areas, be prepared for many narrow, 1-lane roads on which you often have to back up to allow others to pass and which often have 15-ft-high hedgerows which rub your RV mirrors and over which you cannot see.
10. Buy the complete package of ins offered by the rental company.  ALL of it.  It might be as much as the rental price but it is a real bargain, repeat, a real bargain.  If you have an accident and have to settle with the rental company, MasterCharge, and your ins company you'll learn your lesson.  Besides you might easily whack a RV mirror of scrape the car sides along a hedgerow.  Ask me how I know.  Complete ins coverage covers all that stuff.  You just walk away.  On England roads, think, peace of mind.
11. If in doubt, YIELD!

[2002#3]

Paul is correct.  You'll get the hang of it quickly and do well.  Oh, #12.  Rent wheels with an automatic transmission.

[Mike Self]

7 hours ago, 2002#3 said:

Oh, #12.  Rent wheels with an automatic transmission.

Shoot, that takes all the fun out of it!  Some years ago we picked up a stick shift Austin in downtown London (on a Friday afternoon) and drove it all over SE England.  Great fun, even shifting left handed.  An even more interesting experience is driving in the US Virgin Islands:  There you drive on the left--with left hand drive cars.  Now that's a challenge!

 

Loved the blue/black Fiat Topolino (can you e-mail me a picture, Gary?).  That's a RHD prewar Topo that was assembled in England.  the semaphore turn signals down in the body behind the doors is the giveaway.  Italian Topos had 'em on the windshield posts.  Some other very unusual cars there too--at least unusual here in the States.

 

Thanks for sharing.

 

mike