A Cavalier (or Chevette) is for Life, Not just for Show                       

A short version of Colin and Marilyn Scott’s epic journey with Charlie the Cavalier from Inverness to Billing and back, via the Lake District and North Wales, has appeared in the Club’s Newsletter.  Not very many pictures could be used in that article, so to make up for this, here’s another take on the story, using some of the excellent shots of Cavaliers in action that can now be shown in colour.

Charlie was prepared carefully for his journey and set off, loaded to the Plimsoll Line with camping equipment on Saturday 25^th June.  He called at Moffat Show in the Scottish Borders on the way south, and met up with a couple of distant relatives…

Moving on from Moffat, he crossed the border heading south on the M6, and headed on into the Lake District.

Charlie is not one to shirk a challenge – the famous passes of the Lake District held no terrors for him, loaded or not.

After all that, not even an overnight rest before heading on south and west into North Wales by Monday, where Club Members have special discounted rates on a luxury static caravan.

(Editor Note.  The Opel Ascona B pictured above right was recently on TV in a program set in the early 1980's in Scotland).

The taste for adventure and fresh worlds for Charlie to conquer was not yet satisfied, so on the Tuesday 29^th of June, Charlie set out again following his new friend Donald the 2000 Cavalier on a voyage of discovery to the Cambrian Coast via the lonely moorland road through Yspyty Ifan.  They took Club members Colin and Marilyn, Jean & Jane Miller and Marie Wilcox along with them for the ride.

The party paused in the car park overlooking the lovely Vale of Ffestiniog to admire the views.

Then it was on down the steep pass towards the coast, where the road hugs the mountainside that comes almost to the shore on the road to Harlech.

Before heading down to the beach itself, it seemed like a good idea to climb up again  into the foothills and look north along the magnificent sweep of Harlech Bay.

Boy, was it hot in the sun!  The car park by the beach café just seemed to radiate heat, but the human section of the party went for a nice cool off along the beach … Charlie and Donald stayed behind in the car park, as the salt on beaches is not good for their complexions.

It was time to head back, and since the road we’d come in on was under repair, we decided to return via the Harlech Toll Bridge and through Blaenau Ffestiniog over the Crimea Pass.  No pictures for this, as the weather unfortunately closed in and spoiled the views,  But by the time we all got back to Cerrig-y-drudion, the sun was out, and so was OMY (Charlie’s girlfriend), with all her beauty treatment done ready for Billing.  Of course the three of them had to have a line-up together before Donald went home to Cheshire.

Those who were Billing-bound had a bit of a rest and a wash and brushup before leaving for Billing on the Thursday.  Ever the gentleman, Charlie let OMY go in front of him and set the pace.

Arrival at Billing meant socialising for both Charlie and his humans.  Of course, Charlie and OMY were inseparable, but he still found time to admire the ultra-rare Opel Commodore “A” belonging to Simon Downs (presumably this car is known to its friends as “Fritz” …), which went on to win its section in the Chairman’s Cup.

Came the big day on Sunday, and Charlie, as the oldest participating Cavalier, had the honour of leading the whole parade into the ring.  Marilyn had thoughtfully provided herself with a matching outfit to wear for this.  His crowning moment of the whole show came in the Club’s own judging section afterwards, when he was awarded the Bob Watt Memorial Trophy for “Furthest Travelled Car Attending the Event”.

By Sunday evening, it was time to say a fond Goodbye to all Cavalier, Chevette and Opel friends, and to set off back to North Wales.

Most cars would have been satisfied with this, especially knowing that there was still the long journey home to Inverness ahead of them.  Charlie was keen for more, and badgered his humans into taking him to the Horseshoe Pass on the Monday after Billing.  He wanted to be pictured at the spot where other Club cars had taken part in the White Griffin Run back in May.

Enough was, finally, enough even for Charlie, and on the next day (Tuesday), he was finally parted from OMY and set off north to his distant home.

Charlie arrived home at 7pm on Tuesday 5^th July.  Altogether, he had covered 1310 miles in 11 days.

The moral of this photo-story is really to show what a good all-round car one of our Club cars can be.  Ken and Eileen Cooke have already demonstrated this with their famous series of “Cooke’s Tours” around Europe in their original Chevette.  Follow these examples and take your car out and enjoy driving it! There’s so much more to owning one of these cars than just classic car shows.  Yes, shows are fun, but it’s not what they were built to do – they were built to be driven.  Go on, have a go – you don’t have to do over a thousand miles, just a good run out in the country will put a smile on your face!