2009 Exmoor Rut

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2009ExmoorRut

Brian Cumming (Devon County Chairman of the Royal British Legion) flags away the first car from the Buckfastleigh Station Start point driven by Peter French (Vice-Chairman of the Healey Drivers Club) from Penryn in his 1960 Mk.I Austin-Healey 3000.

Some 76 cars took part in which over a third of the entry were Austin-Healeys, Jensen-Healeys and Sebrings—probably one of the largest gatherings seen in the SW for sometime. Chairmen from the South West & Midland Centres of the Austin-Healey Club also took part in this annual Autumn Run.

For the attention of Mr. David Davis, Royal British Legion (Ivybridge Branch).

“Following your successful collection of £274-29 for the Poppy Appeal at Buckfastleigh Station on Sunday 11th October in conjunction with the Classic Car Run — The 8th Exmoor Rut — The Healey Drivers Club would like to round up this figure to total £500 and herewith enclose a cheque for £225-71.”

For and on behalf of the Healey Drivers Club,

The 8th Exmoor Rut, Sunday 11th October 2009.

Although this is only our 4th time, mainly because it has clashed with our annual holiday, we have found it another special experience.

The event has a somewhat bad reputation, weather wise, and this one was no exception. I suppose we have to be prepared, when driving through Exmoor in October, just the same as Dartmoor.

Colin Lennox-Jones and his wife Hazel were waiting to greet us all at South Devon Railways, Buckfastleigh Station as usual. You can always rely on a warm and friendly welcome from the Healey Drivers Club, whose special event this is.

Some 80 vehicles took part again, so the station buffet was buzzing with many familiar faces from 08.30 -- Tea, Coffee and Bacon baps being in great demand. This year their club featured the Poppy Appeal and collectors were there in force. People were very generous and plenty of paper money was donated.

The weather was kind until mid-morning with a good forecast. Cars were flagged off at intervals from 09.30 so the whole event was relaxed and orderly. We met up with our friends, Alan and Allison, at the start but did not see them again for the rest of the day, which is not at all unusual on these trips unless you make definite plans.

Irene and I settled into the run via Ashburton and the old Exeter A38 through the city, past St Davids station towards Tiverton. A great deal of effort always goes into these routes to make sure they are both scenic and interesting and this one was no exception.

To describe the run in detail would easily fill the club magazine. I always keep the route sheets as you never know when you might like to use one again. To me they are collectables.

By the time we were the other side of Tiverton and into the Exe Valley the weather stayed true to form and was rather damp to say the least. The V8 purred, burbled and roared as required and we both felt rather pleased that firstly we hadn’t opened the sun roof and secondly hadn’t bothered with a picnic. The picturesque village of Winsford has a delightful pub called the Royal Oak, where we stopped soon after noon for a delicious Sunday roast beef lunch. We got it right here as well, as soon after we were served a large number of horse riders arrived and almost filled the place. Apparently it is a very popular watering hole.

On to Porlock Hill and down to the Quay. The weather wasn’t getting any better and although the Weir is a truly delightful spot, photography wasn’t an option.

After this we took the optional diversion after passing the now famous AA box “not many of them left chaps”-- which took us over Robbers Bridge (extremely narrow) through the hamlet of Oare and the church featured in Lorna Doon. On passing Lorna Doon Farm and eventually returning onto the A39 down the long Countisbury Hill and into lovely Lynmouth for another pit stop. We enjoyed a complimentary tour of a very interesting hotel, Shelleys. Shelley the 19c English romantic poet (Percy Bysshe Shelley) where he had his first honeymoon, together with an additional entourage of more women, right next to the gorge, water display and museum commemorating the 1952 flood disaster.

It was then time for the cream tea rendezvous at Highbullen Hotel, Golf and Country Club. This took us over Exmoor, through Simonsbath and the route is spectacular, when you can see it! Our safe speed for much of the time was around 25 mph, as the driving rain and the mist left a lot to be desired regarding visability.

After sorting ourselves out through South Molton and onto Clapworthy Mill, we finally arrived as did most of the others.

Was it a good day? Yes of course it was. Colin Lennox-Jones and Hazel were ready to receive us again and the whole event was warm and inviting. The Healey Drivers Club Chairman announced the sad death of John Healey, youngest son of Donald, who passed away this June. Apart from that it was a fun occasion, with a truly memorable collection of Healeys, MG’s and other interesting classic cars.

Gerald Williamson.

(MG B GT V8 owner)