BMW CAR CLUB (GB)
SOUTH EAST REGION
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THE BIGG RUN
THE BIGG RUN - Brooklands to Bluebell Railway
In aid of The Hospice in the Weald, Sunday 23rd May 2004
As it cost approximately £2.8 million per annum to run the various services provided by Hospice in the Weald, and the support at this event by BMW Car Club members is greatly appreciated
The Bluebell Railway is a preserved all steam railway, with around 30 steam locomotives. As we walk into the station, the smell of coal,oil and steam take us on a nostalic trip to the by-gone age of steam trains. Waiting on the platform is a Tank engine named the Golden Arrow. The Brown and Cream Pullman carriages were full of people having a fine lunch as they waited for the next 18 mile trian journey. We took time to look around the Train sheds, where work was being undertaken on the assortment locomotives. At 4pm it was time to make our way for the prize giving. After which it was time to make our way home after another great day with club members.
This year’s run in aid of The Hospice in the Weald is named THE BIGG RUN in memory of Graham Bigg (1934-2003), past President of The High Performance Club, who sadly died last year in the Hospice.
There was supposed to be 72 cars scheduled to be leaving Brooklands Museum, but unfortunately one car did not make it, and to our shame it was a BMW. It was Spokey Wheeler's Z1, which Tony Calvert explained had gearbox trouble. The other eight BMW's made the event. The BMW's models were, Patricia Fortin's Z3, Tony Calvert's ZM, Gary Hutchins 850i, Douglas Bryan's 635csi, John Payne's M3 GT, Glen Wells E30 convertible, Selwyn Frostick's 730i ( his beloved 2002Tii Touring was still having work completed on it), and my E36 coupe. So we had 71 cars assembled in the Paddock, at the famous Brooklands Museum in Weybridge, Surrey.
BMW Car Club SE region team ready for the off !
More BMWs on the Bigg Run
The cars which ranged from a 1926 Hupmobile Eight series E to a 2004 Audi TT. Also included : 4x Jaguar E-Types, 1x SS100, 2x XK8, 1x XJS,1x MK11. 3x Aston Martin's, DB5,DB6,DB7. 2x MG TD, TF, MG midget, MGB. Austin Healey 3000 mk11, Austin Healey 100. Ferrari 328 GTB and a Mondial. Morgan Plus 8 and a Lotus Elan S3 to name just a few of the wonderful automobiles. After breakfast the cars started to leave around 9.30am. With the in-car video set, we follow a Austin Healey to the start line. At the drop of the flag, I lead off our four car group, with Rob Parkin as my navagator. We follow the 56 clear instructions in the route book to complete the 57.2 miles to Hever Castle, which is our lunch stop over, with a stop on the way at the top of Box Hill to admire the view. On arrival we were marshalled to our parking area and given directions where to pick up our pre-ordered delicious picnic hamper.
Just some of the excellent cars on the run : Hupmobile Eight Series E, Alvis R/50,
MG / MG TD, Jaguar E-Type Roadster , Ferrari, Aston Martins DB5 , DB6, DB7
The lunchtime stop Hever Castle, Kent, the childhood home of Anne Boleyn. The beautiful gardens were created between 1904 and 1908 by the Astor family, and you can stroll through the formal gardens including the majestic Italian Garden, the Tudor Gardens and the magnificent Rose Garden. We had our lunch by the lakeside.
Lunch stop at Hever Castle
Selwyn keeps up in his 7 series
Having rested and feeling refreshed, and reset the in-car video camera to record out the rear window, we set off on the second leg of the journey to the Bluebell Railway at Sheffield Park, West Sussex.
This was a short 23.7mile trip with just 18 directions in the route book. With Selwyn and the rest off our group following close behind we arrive around 3pm and again are marshalled into our designated car park for a concours d’ elegance.
Finish of run at Bluebell Railway Station
