Classic Car Road Trip

Classic Car Road Trip to the IMM in Bristol

 A 1974 Mini Authi on a road trip from the Netherlands to England to attend the 60th anniversary celebrations of the Mini at the International Mini Meeting (IMM) in Bristol. The IMM was held at Washingpool Farm in Easter Compton, a small village situated about 15 km north of Bristol. A special guest at the IMM 2019 was Paddy Hopkirk (1933–2022); he is most famous for winning the 1964 Monte Carlo Rally in a Mini Cooper S.

Within a few hours, we drove from the Netherlands to Dunkirk in northern France. We crossed the English Channel on the Dunkirk to Dover ferry. From Dover, we drove along the south coast of England to explore Stonehenge and Avebury, before heading to the village of West Lulworth to visit the Jurassic Coast and Durdle Door, one of the most iconic landmarks in Dorset. On our way from West Lulworth to Easter Compton, we visited the city of Bath. The city is known for its Roman baths and well-preserved Georgian and Victorian houses.

On 8 August, we arrived at the IMM in Easter Compton and stayed there for a long weekend. During this weekend, heavy rain showers and a severe storm passed over the IMM campsite. The paths on the site turned into mud baths; we had to drive through the mud to reach our tent. Many tents did not survive the storm. For safety reasons, the huge festival tents were closed or dismantled, including the tent containing the original Mini of Mr Bean. Despite the rain, we went on a day trip to Bristol and crossed the Clifton Suspension Bridge; we also drove through the Cheddar Gorge, a breathtakingly steep and narrow valley in the Mendip Hills. 

After the IMM, we spent some time in the Cotswolds to visit the gardens of Blenheim Palace in Woodstock and some villages in the area. After visiting several picturesque villages in the Cotswolds, we drove to Dover and took the ferry to Dunkirk. In northern France, we ended up in a long traffic jam. Near Antwerp, we drove straight into a severe rain shower. Although the dynamo stopped charging due to the extreme wet weather in the preceding days, we returned home safely. Despite the rain, we had a great IMM and a nice road trip through the south of England.

➔

➔

1. 

   A Classic Car Road Trip to the IMM in Bristol: Our own Mini Authi on board the Dunkirk to Dover ferry. The Classic Mini made the crossing parked on a steep slope on the car deck. Fortunately, the parking brake of this 1974 Mini works brilliantly and a set of wooden wheel chocks was used as well to keep it firmly in place. After a very rough crossing, the Mini arrived in Dover without a scratch.

2. 

   From Dover, in our Classic Mini, we travelled around the southern outskirts of London to the unique Avebury stone circles, one of the most impressive megalithic sites in Europe. This mystic site consists of two inner stone circles and a larger outer stone circle. This outer circle is the largest known stone circle in the world. Its diameter is even greater than that of the much more famous Stonehenge. It was fascinating to walk among these stone circles at this mystical site,  and to realise that they are estimated to be around 5,000 years old.

3. 

   On our way to West Lulworth to visit Durdle Door, we made a stop at Stonehenge, where we witnessed a beautiful sunset. Stonehenge is probably the most famous megalithic monument on earth. The oldest part of Stonehenge was erected in 3000 BC. Stonehenge is located on the vast grassland of Salisbury Plain in the historic county of Wiltshire, England. Wiltshire is widely renowned for its many prehistoric monuments. We were deeply impressed by this enormous, mythical monument.

4. 

   From Stonehenge, we drove down to the south coast of England, arriving at the picturesque village of West Lulworth to visit the Jurassic Coast and Durdle Door. After the long drive in our Mini Authi and pitching the tent, we took an evening walk along a stretch of the South West Coast Path from West Lulworth to Durdle Door. The Jurassic Coast is the popular name given to the Dorset and East Devon Coastline. The evening sky above the landscape was enchanting.

5. 

   Durdle Door is one of the most iconic landmarks of the Jurassic Coast in Dorset. This renowned natural limestone arch is situated close to the small village of West Lulworth. The Jurassic Coast stretches from Exmouth in Devon to Swanage in Dorset. A great number of fossils were and still are being found along this stretch of the coastline. Exploring this prehistoric landscape in our Classic Mini turned our road trip to the IMM in Bristol into an unforgettable travel adventure.

6. 

   We visited the city of Bath on our road trip to the IMM in Easter Compton. We even cruised in our own classic Mini past the renowned Royal Crescent, one of the finest examples of Georgian architecture in the UK. The semi-circular row of townhouses was built between 1767 and 1774 around a sweeping lawn. It was the first crescent of terraced houses in England. A few of them were for sale on the market for nearly a million pounds.

7. 

   The Roman Baths in the city of Bath were one of the destinations during our road trip to the IMM in Bristol. Bath is located in Somerset and is a beautiful city to explore on foot. Fortunately, we found a parking spot for our Mini not far from the city center. The King's Bath is one of the Roman Baths that was rebuilt in the 12th century; the Grand Pump Room can be seen in the background. The Romans used the water from the nearby natural hot water springs to fill the huge water basins.

8. 

   The 18th-century Grand Pump Room is adjacent to the Roman Baths and is now a restaurant. Here, you can also find the famous fountain with warm spring water. The renowned novelist Jane Austen used the Grand Pump Room as a romantic setting in two of her novels. After visiting the imposing Roman Baths, we enjoyed our afternoon tea at the historic Grand Pump Room, accompanied by live music.

9. 

   The Classic Mini of Mr. Bean and his teddy bear at the IMM in Bristol. Three Minis were used during the making of the TV series Mr. Bean, and another two for stunt work. These Classic Minis were painted Austin Citron Green with a matte black bonnet. Another Mini of Mr. Bean (STE 952R), used in the TV series, is exhibited at the National Motor Museum in Beaulieu.

10. 

    The Mini of Mr. Bean exhibited at the IMM in Bristol. This 1977 Classic Mini 1000 was used in the making of the famous TV series Mr. Bean, from the episode 'The Curse of Mr. Bean' until 'Back to School, Mr. Bean'. In real life, Mr. Bean, Rowan Atkinson, enjoys racing in historic motor cars.

11. 

    Our 1974 Mini Authi on the grounds of Washingpool Farm in Easter Compton, a small village situated about 15 km north of the city of Bristol in England. From all over Europe, thousands of Mini owners came to IMM Bristol in their iconic Classic Mini or New MINI to attend the car's 60th anniversary celebrations. 

12. 

    IMM Bristol: Paddy Hopkirk and his co-driver Henry Liddon won the 1964 Monte Carlo Rally in a Morris Mini Cooper S, known as 33 EJB. This Mini is an exact replica once owned by Paddy Hopkirk himself. The original 33 EJB remains on display at the British Motor Museum in the English village of Gaydon. Hopkirk was one of the legendary figures who made the Classic Mini famous.

13. 

    IMM Bristol: A special guest at the IMM was Paddy Hopkirk (wearing a baseball cap). Paddy Hopkirk remains a true legend, most famous for winning the 1964 Monte Carlo Rally in a Mini. Paddy Hopkirk and his co-driver Henry Liddon started from Minsk, the capital of Belarus, and crossed the European continent to the finish line in Monte Carlo. 

14. 

    In our unique Mini Authi, we drove through the vast hedgerow landscape of Somerset during a heavy rain shower. Hedgerows are characteristic of the English countryside, with some of these hedges planted hundreds of years ago. Some are now more than four metres tall and are more than two metres thick. The hedges are a true haven for wildlife and a habitat for plants.

15. 

    A line of Classic Minis at the IMM in Bristol. After a severe storm and several heavy rain showers, the paths and some parts of the campsite in Easter Compton were transformed into a muddy mess. Most of the Mini drivers could only reach their spot on the campsite by skidding through a layer of mud, which at times created a dangerous situation.

16. 

    Our Mini Authi next to the toll gate at the eastern end of the Clifton Suspension Bridge. Since the opening of the bridge in 1864, it has always been a toll bridge. In August each year, over a hundred hot air balloons float over the Clifton Suspension Bridge during the world-renowned Bristol International Balloon Fiesta.

17. 

    From the IMM at Washingpool Farm in Easter Compton, we went on a day trip to Bristol and crossed the Clifton Suspension Bridge in our Mini Authi during a heavy rain shower. The huge towers are made of stone, while the chains and suspension rods are made of wrought iron. The total length of the bridge is 412 metres, with the bridge deck sitting about 101 metres above the water level.

18. 

    The Clifton Suspension Bridge spans the River Avon and its gorge. Opened in 1864, the bridge is a true symbol of the city of Bristol. It is frequently depicted on postcards, in advertisements and other promotional material. The iconic suspension bridge was also featured on the stickers of the IMM Bristol.

19. 

    IMM Bristol: After heavy rainfall and a severe storm, the unpaved tracks on the campsite turned into a mud bath. The IMM organisers covered the slippery tracks with straw. In addition, many tents were damaged or totally destroyed by the storm and a large number of Mini owners left the IMM before the meeting had even ended.

20. 

    IMM Bristol: After a severe storm and heavy rainfall, a magnificent rainbow appeared over the campsite at Washingpool Farm in Easter Compton. Once the weather cleared, our tent was still standing, but many others did not survive the gale.

21. 

    IMM Bristol: One of the many piles of destroyed tents, featuring badly torn canvas and a tangle of broken poles. Many tents were blown down, while others were damaged or even completely destroyed by the severe storm that swept over the IMM campsite. For safety reasons, the large festival tents were closed or dismantled.

22. 

    During our road trip, we drove in our Mini Authi through Cheddar Gorge, the deepest natural gorge in England. The spectacular Cliff Road, which runs from the village of Cheddar to the villages of Oakhill and Green Ore, winds through the gorge with some breathtaking curves. The imposing limestone cliffs rise almost 150 metres from the floor of the gorge.

23. 

    IMM Bristol: The exact replicas of the five Classic Mini Coopers which participated in and won the Monte Carlo Rally between 1964 and 1967. These outstanding replicas were created by Mini Sport in Padiham. In the background, a long queue of people can be seen in front of the festival tent, waiting to meet the legendary rally driver Paddy Hopkirk himself and to receive his signed photo.

24. 

    Our Mini Authi in front of Broadway Tower, a folly on Broadway Hill in the village of  Broadway. The twenty-metre-high tower was built at the second-highest point of the Cotswolds between 1798 and 1799. Nearby is a memorial to the crew of an RAF bomber that crashed here in June 1943. A Cold War nuclear bunker is also situated close to the tower. 

25. 

    Driving through the Cotswolds in our iconic lavender blue Classic Mini, with Upper Slaughter Manor in the background. The gardens features a lake, a rose garden and a reconstructed 18th-century folly. The manor house is closed to the public as it is a private residence. The house and gardens are surrounded by the beautiful scenery of the Cotswolds.

26. 

    Horses in the River Eye, with the Old Mill in Lower Slaughter in the background. In the 14th century, the mill became known as Slaughter Mill; it is now a museum. Lower Slaughter is a tiny village in the heart of the Cotswolds. The River Eye flows through the village, where a number of tiny stone footbridges serve as crossing points.

27. 

    Horses in the River Eye by the Old Mill in Lower Slaughter, with our Classic Mini in the foreground. The name 'Slaughter' is derived from the Anglo-Saxon word 'slothre', which means 'muddy' or 'wet place', meaning the village's name 'Slaughter' has nothing to do with a cruel event or bloodshed. Today, the historic Old Mill of Lower Slaughter houses a shop, tea room and museum.

28. 

    During our classic car road trip, we drove in our Mini Authi through the ford on the River Eye in Upper Slaughter. The village is built on both banks of the river. As there are only footbridges for pedestrians over the river, cars and other vehicles have to drive straight through the water. A ford is a road crossing that runs through a shallow stream.

29. 

    A New Mini and our 1974 Mini Authi aboard the ferry. After visiting England and the town of Bristol to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Mini, we took the ferry from Dover to Dunkirk in France. After a smooth crossing of the English Channel, which took about two hours, we arrived on the continent. On our way back home, we cruised through France and Belgium.

30. 

    Classic Car Road Trip with a Mini Authi: On our way home, we were overtaken by heavy rain showers. In France, we ended up in a long traffic jam, and near Antwerp, we drove straight into a severe cloudburst. The motorway was flooded with several centimetres of rainwater. Although the dynamo of the Mini Authi stopped charging due to the extremely wet weather over the preceding days, we returned home safely just before dark.