IT
Ian Quarry
I grew up surrounded by British Leyland cars, seemingly long hot Summers escaping at every opportunity.
Some of my earliest memories are staying with family in a trailer tent for weeks at a time. From there we graduated to a Rapido Exportmatic. Lots of space for a family of 4, especially with the awning up. Always learnt new words as we were assembling it! Around that time we progressed to a MkII Cavalier. Not as stylish as the Maxi.
We seemed to go everywhere, trying to avoid people as far as possible. Always trying to pitch on a CL out of the way. Two weeks of the year heading North, and then long weekends more local.
The Rapido was replaced by a Britt Camargue folding caravan, a definite reduction in space, but much easier to put up. I should have seen the writing on the wall - The first move towards camping for 2!
I still didn't take the hint when I turned 17 and dad bought a new tow car. Back to BL with an MGB GT, technically a 2+2, but no hope at all. I was always happy to follow along in my Mini, with a tent - Anything for a cheap holiday. A few years followed of camping at shows as much as time and finances allowed.
From there I became sensible for a while, but have, thankfully turned the corner, or possibly just reverted to type.
A few years ago I realised that I could exhibit the cars I already had and, rather than paying to go to shows, have a day out for free, other than fuel.
I now have a selection of tents, the newest is about 20 years old, so not Retro yet, including a large and small military tent, for when the occasion demands. A year ago I found a trailer tent that was too cheap to leave behind. It turned out to be much better than I feared, so have spent over a month in it over the course of the Summer.
I also have the embarrassment - A 1973 Thomson MiniGlen. I bought it knowing it needed work, and I promise to get it out again next year. I may have said that for the last three....
I have a selection of cars to choose from - A pair of Minis, one of which has a towbar, an A60 Austin Cambridge, am determined to get it back on the road next year (see comment ref. MiniGlen.) Because I'm lazy, and it works, I've been seen most this year in my Land Rover Minerva. Something a bit different for shows and it will happily tow anything just slowly, but a Belgian military 4X4 doesn't quite suit the Retro image!
I've also got a variety of motorcycles to choose from, and I was the first person to attend an RCC rally on a motorbike, with a tent! Looking forward to getting my Dnepr combi running properly. I can pack a big tent in the sidecar then. I wonder if there will ever be a rally close enough to home to use my Ariel 3?...
During the Summer I am away most weekends, occasionally with the local Military Vehicle Trust, but normally happy to show by myself, meeting familiar faces. It's nice to be a part of the Retro Camping Club, as it is an easy community, all sharing a common interest. I got welcomed from the outset, despite having a rather different unit!
I think that rambling sums up where I've come from & where I currently am. Apologies for the picture, but I look much better like that...
