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2015 Crossley Register UK National Rally

Crossley cars at the 2015 UK national rally
Crossley cars at the 2015 UK national rally
Crossley cars at the 2015 UK national rally
In the Dragon Hotel car park on Saturday morning.
Crossley cars on the 2015 rally
Crossley cars on the 2015 rally
The line up in front of the hall at Attingham Park.
Crossley cars on the 2015 rally
Crossley Register 2015 UK Rally
Saturday morning coffee stop at Attingham Park
2015 Crossley Register rally
Advice being given to Richard Donovan in the hope of improving his 14hp van's rather stately progress.
2015 Crossley Register rally
The official leaving time from Attingham was 12.30.
Crossley Register 2015 rally
Saturday lunch stop - the Valley Hotel, Ironbridge.
Crossley Register 2015 rally
Crossley Register 2015 rally
It looks like we haven't eaten for hours.
Crossley Register 2015 rally
It's Sunday morning, we've done the ironmonger's treasure hunt (sorry I didn't think to take any photos) and we are off again.
Crossley Register2015 rally
No, it wasn't a navigation error, the route really did take us across a field.
Crossley Register2015 rally
And finally, the car park at the Horseshoes just before the heavens opened.

Photos - Malcolm Asquith

For the 2015 excursion the Crossley Register was pointed back to the Welsh borders, centred again on Montgomery and the Dragon Hotel with organisation by Adrian Donnelly and Nick Over.  We had used the same hotel for our 2006 outing. Our visit coincided with Montgomery's annual fair taking over the Market Place outside the hotel.

Saturday's run with the usual tulip diagram to guide our navigation took us through the Shropshire countryside to Attingham Park, a National Trust property near Shrewsbury where we were allowed to park on the grass in front of the house. Time was limited so there was no opportunity to visit the house but the coffee shop provided welcome refreshments. We were under strict instructions to be away by 12.30 so most people had left by 1.00 and then it was on to the Valley Hotel at Ironbridge for lunch. After lunch there was a chance for a brief visit to one of the museums followed by a scenic run back to Montgomery. The complete route was 84 miles if no "navigational detours" were taken

As the dining room at the Dragon was not large enough for us the annual dinner and prize giving on Saturday evening was at the Lakeside Golf Course where we were made very welcome. To save driving a minibus shuttle was laid on.

On Sunday we always have a quiz and this year for a change Adrian had arranged for Bunners, the local ironmongers, to open specially for us and a sheet of questions about the shop and its contents was the challenge. The shop is a complete Aladdin's cave arranged over several floors with doors and rooms in every direction. Several members purchased selections of old nuts and bolts and bottles of ancient liquids which seem necessary to keep a Crossley running. Adrian chased us out at 11.15 for another excursion along narrower and narrower roads until they gave out altogether and we had to drive across a field; yes it was the correct route. Lunch was at the Horseshoes pub at the wonderfully named village of Ratlinghope. For those wanting more there was an option to drive on to the Acton Scott farm museum in the afternoon but as the promised rain had set in most either set off on their way home or returned to Montgomery and a chance to explore the town or retire to the hotel bar.