2012 PWMN Rally - Pre-war Minor Network

www.newforestnpa.gov.uk

11-06-10 PWMN Rally 03 KenMartinPic ed rally

A scene from the 2011 Rally in Bedfordshire with 2012 rally hosts Linda and Toby Sears leading a lengthy procession that includes a 1934 Aston Martin Le Mans! (Ken Martin)

The Venue...

After successful rallies in Suffolk and Bedfordshire the 2012 event is to be centred upon the New Forest, a very special part of the English landscape which was awarded National Park status as recently as 2005. Our rally weekend could not have been better timed as the area is to be seen at its best in the late springtime and early summer. Located in South West Hampshire it has a rich mixture of habitats within its boundaries, ranging from heathland, to broad leafed woodland while nestling alongside a beautiful stretch of unspoilt coastline bordering The Solent and the English Channel. The area is criss-crossed by a number of leafy lanes as well as the main through roads, but it's primarily the byeways that we will be taking to during the course of the rally weekend. The region is of course famous for its free roaming New Forest pony population and also as a home to the rare Dartford Warbler - often heard but difficult to spot amongst the gorse bushes on the vast expanses of open heathland. So don't forget to bring along your binoculars and long lenses for your camera.

What to expect...(Friday)

The tried and trusted weekend format commences on the evening of Friday 15th with an informal pub gathering at the Plough Inn, Tiptoe. Here, those that have travelled to Hampshire during the day can take the opportunity to relax in convivial surroundings and meet up with fellow rallyists. By all accounts the pub serves excellent food but it's wise to book beforehand if it is your intention to eat here. The pub website and contact details can be accessed through the Blue Button link below, which together with a Google map at the foot of the page will help pinpoint the location of the pub and the areas other attractions.

Saturday's 'New Forester' Tour.

Sammy Miller's Motorcycle Museum car park is the starting point for Saturday's 'New Forester' Tour. An early(ish) 9:30 AM start is required to enable us to comfortably complete the approximately 75 mile tour (full route instructions provided), which in addition to taking in the New Forest also includes along its route parts of Hampshire's beautiful Test Valley. A lunch stop at Stockbridge has been planned, the town being famous for its single wide street and River Test angling connections, while the route also includes a meander through Harewood Forest. Other points of interest included on the itinery are the Peterson's Tower in Sway, Danebury Hill Fort and the Chilbolton Observatory. If that wasn't enough a stop could also be made to examine the Rufus Stone, which marks the spot where William II was fatally wounded when out hunting in the Forest in 1100AD. In total contrast, a visit to the Leckford Estate Nursery, part of the home to the John Lewis Partnership, may tempt some shoppers amongst the rallyists. The tour will conclude with a customary cream tea to be served at the Station House Tea Rooms, Holmsley close to our base where their special 'Porters Tea' will be available. This venue has many historic connections and a visit to their website is recommended. Plenty of time has been allowed for weary Minorists to wend their way back to their accommodation in order to prepare themselves for the up-coming evening's festivities.

Plough Inn

Saturday Evening...

The venue for our Rally dinner is the Shorefield Park Bistro. The Park is a New Forest holiday home centre but the Bistro has been reserved exclusively for our use throughout the course of Saturday evening. Beers, wines and spirits are available over the bar and at our tables as the premises are fully licenced. Ample safe car parking is also available and rallyists will be asked to assemble at 7:00 for 7:30PM. Following our dinner the only formality of the weekend wil be to present the PWMN Harry Edwards Trophy to the 2012 recipient following its inauguration at the 2011 event.

With the longest day of the year just five days hence, travelling back to hotels and B&B's in Minors and M Types after our rally dinner should not unduly tax our six volt lighting systems. Menu details can be found on the Rally Booking Form (see below)

Sunday's Tour...

Assembling once again at the Sammy Miller Motorcycle Museum, the Sunday morning tour is another 35 mile leisurely amble which has been planned to take in some of the coastal roads to ensure that the beautiful vistas of the Hampshire coastline can be 'snapped' and recorded on camera memory cards and our own built-in hard drives! Included will be a visit to Milford-on-sea and a drive past (or stop if preferred) of Westover Hall, a one time thirties residence of Sir William and Lady Morris. They didn't stay in residence for very long long as the 'locals' were less than welcoming. His former home is now a popular hotel and rallyists who wish to immerse themselves in its history can also book their rally weekend accommodation here.

The Sunday tour is also planned to conclude at the Sammy Miller Motorcycle Museum at Bashley. Here 400 vintage and classic motorcycles are on display, including an AJS Porcupine and the six cylinder Honda 250 cc bike that Mike Hailwood rode to TT success on the Isle-of-Man in the sixties. The museum www.sammymiller.co.uk has its own tea-rooms where lunches and snacks are also served, while entry to the museum itself is a very reasonable £6.90 per head.

Sunday morning Rally Tourists will be provided with a detailed route card with easy to follow instructions which should enable the cars occupants to take in the scenery at their leisure as no time restrictions apply. (Other than those demanded by stomachs). No further rally activities are planned for Sunday afternoon, this to allow rallyists to take to the Forest or coastal roads without the restriction of a set route to follow and sample the national treasure that is the New Forest for themselves.

Farewell...

For those of us that are taking the opportunity to extend our stay in the New Forest for a further night before journeying home, there will be a 'farewell' pub meet back at The Plough Inn, Tiptoe. This is usually the occassion when tales are first told of unexpected 'diversions', slight disagreements between driver and navigator and mechanical horror stories resolved only by the ingenius skill of the chief mechanic/driver! In other words a good evenings entertainment. Definitely worth staying on for.