8th
International
MeetingAnnual Meeting Arnham |
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Having brought up the possibility of such a trip at the 1981 AGM enquiries were
made and a plan formulated at the committee meeting held in February, 19S1 as
to the best way of getting a reasonable number of club members and car to the
seventh meeting of the Borgward interessengemeinschaft at Arnhelm Holland.
I was fortunate in working opposite John Plank Travel Agency, to who, I own
much thanks for their co-operation in making possible
The story that I am about to unfold where 13 club members and friends, four
Borgwards, one Ford Grauada and a Bedford van made their way to Holland.
I left Poole at 10.00 a.m. on Thursday the 26th August; in blazing sunshine.
My car had earlier gone a thorough check over, new oil, level checks and a tweak-up
of the lighting system (for more details see Fred Hovell's useful article on
the same - believe Me everything hesays is true....) I took a leisurely run
up to Horsham whereI visited the Reid emporium to find young Reld (our assistant
news editor) putting an engine, gearbox and front axle into his brother's TS,
the said vehicle being suspended some three or four feet aloft and looking to
say the least precarious.
The weather by now had become exceedingly hot necessitating the other half of
the fan being restored to its rightful place to aid the cooling of my car.
left Nick Reid's house at approximately 3.45 and high tailed It towards Maidstone
where I was to meet Fred and Joan Hovell, George and Vera Crowder who were staying
at Fred's daughter's house.
We had a meal of fresh trout and a super salad after which we had an early night
being woken at 2.00 a.m. in order that we could start off towards Dover where
we were to catch the boat. Unfortunately we were enveloped in thick fog which
made the 111 mile journey seem an eternity and instead of having got there comfortably
within an hour, as the result of roadwork’s and the fog it meant that
Fred and Co., in Combi and myself in TS made the boat by the skin of our teeth
so much that I had no sooner switched off my engine than up came the gangplank
and we were off. The crossing was calm more than can be said for my nerves at
the time).
Fortunately we met up with Derek Atkinson and his wife Cathy and daughter Julie
who in their Granada, the coupe being too small for three of them and luggage,
and Nick Driscoll and Matt Carter who had come in Nick's Coupe and from whom
learnt that at 3.00 the previous morning he was still rebuilding his braking
system to produce a pedal that activated the brakes from a position n quarter
of an Inch from the top rather than quarter of an inch from the floorboards!
When we all had breakfast at 5.00 in the morning, I can assure you that bacon,
egg and sausage with lashings of fried bread and strong coffee was a most welcome
mode of refreshment and it was plain we were all off' to a very good start.
We disembarked at approximately 5.15 Just as the dawn was rising and the French
Customs were a littlie puzzled to see three Borgwards going out on to French
soil. We ran down the road for a mile or so gathering In a lay-by so that everybody
could get themselves organized and also to give Fred the opportunity of giving
us a briefing as to the route which was to take us to Dunkirk, gent round the
Peripherique at Antwerp them to Nimegen through Arnhem to Ede where we had booked
in for our first night. Having got under way it was apparent that the sea mist
was still with us which made the journey rather slow and quite hair-raising
because French drivers were completely oblivious to the fact that they could
not see beyond the end of their noses and kept haring past us in places where
I felt they could not have seen even if the road had been clear and there had
been no fog. However, no harm came to anybody more by good luck than judgment
I think.
Time passed on and we got into Belgium and eventually stopped for Derek to pick
up some petrol and thereafter we stopped off for a cup of coffee and some refreshments.
The sun was high and the weather was very warm and the three cars parked in
the car park looked a very pretty sight indeed.
Compared with the driving in France and Belgium, Holland was a blessed relief
motoring on at between 55 and 60 miles per hour, which was our useful cruising
speed/ giving me Lime to reflect back to when I was in Holland before and reminded
me of the touring around northern Holland that my wife and I undertook with
friends and where we stayed in this super little chalet in a pine forest near
Dalfsen. Holland as you all know is as flat as a pancake and the Dutch are past
masters at keeping water out of their country. They are also very masterful
in the art of irrigation and they use a device that looks like an overgrown
garden sprinkler through which water is pumped from streams that run down either
side of the roads their tractors having been fitted with a mechanical pump for
the purpose. The way they milked their cows is also interesting in that they
don't have cowsheds like we do over here, but they use a portable milking machine
which they tow around with a vehicle, the milking machine unit being driven
from a power take off attached to the towing machine, this means that they can
milk the cows in the field without having to bring them inside.
The tree life in Holland is sporadic, but many trees are planted as wind brakes
because there is precious little else around to do that job. I referred to Antwerp
Peripherique earlier and this is a large motorway complex with about 8 lanes
all going to different places and it is imperative that you get in the right
lane and stay there. Nick Driscoll who was having a rest from driving (Matt
Carter having taken the wheel) was somewhat stunned by this complex and provided
lane discipline is strictly adhered to, there is no case for concern.
Little else of any note occurred on the outward journey which finished at Ede
at approximately 2.45 p.m. and we booked into the hotel De Passberg which proved
to be a quiet and reasonable hostelry, the hotelier speaking reasonable English
as did his gray parrot, but not perhaps his large SC. Bernard dog. We enjoyed
a wash and brush-up and one or two of us had an hour or so's sleep after which
a welcome evening meal followed leading up to n walk around the highlights of
the town ending up drinking beer at a chic little place In the main street run
by a bud who was Holland's answer to Basil Fawlty - he was amazing, I quite
expected Manuel to scuttle around the corner with a frying pan full of burning
fat!
Next morning saw a refreshed party raring to go. Nick Driscoll, however, had
complained of a rumbling in the rear end or his Coupe' and he investigated the
cause and found one of his wheel weights had parted company with the wheel and
he changed the said wheel and the problem seemed to sort itself out.
We took off for the Krooger Mulier Museum boasting Van Gogh modern art, which
was not everybody's cap of tea, but before looking around this we had an early
lunch and during this time David Stride and his friend John appeared on the
scene having motored over from Sheerness and I think spent the night in Eindhoven.
It should be noted , folks, that David Stride's Coupe was all one colour, i.e.
white, hitherto we have only seen It in a variety or colours ranging from bonder
primer red, white and at one time green - it should he emphasized that the car
Is particularly nice for those who have not seen his photo album relating to
his "on the hoof " rebuild, should do so - it is an amazing feat or
enthusiasm and dedication.
After our meal we made our way in search of the wildlife park, hut this seemed
to allude as all afternoon and those who wanted to, ended tip hiring pushbikes
and riding off around the park killing time until we were able to make our way
to the Papendal just outside Arnhem where the Borgward treffan was to he held,
we were booked in for 6.00 and as time drew near, we departed towards Arnhem
and it was during this trip that Martin Carter became our roving cameraman using
my cine camera and Filming the journey standing in the seat of DavId Atkinson's
Granada, Matt himself poking out through the sun roof.
Our arrival at the Papendal was greeted by a number
or German enthusiasts who had already arrived and there an array of Borgwards
parked in the car park, one of which was a superb black Coupe, obviously very
carefully restored. Also parked was a B552 fire truck converted into a motor
caravan and which looked absolutely superb with Its red and white coach painted
body.
Sadly, there was a hitch in the accommodation resulting in more people than
there were beds to put them in culminating in myself, Derek Atkinson, his wife
and daughter having to be taken to Arnhem where we stayed at the hotel Hendriques
which was to say at the least was rather grotty and it was the only place I
have ever slept in where by putting a door at each end of the passage they created
extra bedrooms on the basis that such bedrooms can be used as a fire escape
in the event of fire. When we first went there because the hotel consisted or
a lot of passages in a warren like, Derek Atkinson unfortunately, so he says,
stumbled Into a bedroom which turned out to belong to a young lady who at the
time of Derek's clandestine entry was walking around her room stark naked -
Derek beat a hasty retreat mumbling profuse apologies.
Saturday morning dawned and I was up bright and early because I wanted to go
and see the famous bridge in Arnhem about which so much has been said and written
and upon which so many people became heroes - there is a fine new bridge there
now which perhaps lessens the affect and helps to dull the memory of the tragedies
of World War 2.
Derek, myself and the two girls motored back to the Papendal and parked the
cars together with the other Borgwards which were starting to arrive in copious
numbers ranging from the big four wheel drive H2000 personnel carriers to the
little Lloyd 4 and 600 c.c. saloons, but the model that was the most plentiful
was obviously the Isabella Borgward of which there was an example of every model
produced including the rather splendid Cabriolet versions of the saloon and
the Coupe, neither of which I personally have ever seen before. By the time
all the participants to the meeting had arrived, the organizers counted no less
than 153 Borgward vehicles (more than / personally have ever seen in my Life).
There were a variety of activities during the Saturday afternoon, ranging from
the auto jumble stalls (this was somewhat disappointing compared with what I
thought I was going to see). There was a flower-arranging contest, a musical
chairs contest for the ladies In which Joan Hovel! took part and thoroughly
enjoyed herself, there was a driving test for the boys and Indeed some girls
took part in this as well and it is pleasing to note that Nick Driscoll and
David Stride between them took first and second prize In this event.
The meeting was truly international, we had cars from Spain, Italy, Holland,
United Kingdom, Sweden, Finland, Switzerland and of course, Germany. Our right
hand drive examples caused quite a stir because our handbrake and gear change
selection system is totally different from left hand drive versions and it must
have taken the German company some time to work oat the best method of coping
with the problem when the cars were first introduced to the United Kingdom.
The rain showers were short lived and soon we were enjoying glorious sunshine.
In fact, the sun was very very warm so mach so Chat I personally got a burnt
neck and it was only that evening that 1 realized how red it had become.
The afternoon was not without Its formal side, our having a speech given to
as by the Mayor of Arnhem which took approximately 20 minutes, the Mayor himself
reminding me of the late Carl F. W. Borgward himself. Of the other entertainments
the Darrel. Organ proved to be one of the main at and al though it was trailed
to the event, the jockey wheel was powered by a small petrol motor enabling
the machine to be maneuvered around the place.
As the evening drew in we adjourned to get changed for the barbeque which was
he Ed the other side of the sports center near the camp site and the meal consisted
of steaks, beef, potato salad and everything that one would expect to find at
a barbeque, all properly cooked, very enjoyable indeed. The meal was plentiful
and as we did not have to drive it didn't really matter. The hand lived up to
its expectations being not too noisy and there was a raffle and prize giving
and in addition to the prizes Chat Nick Driscoll and Dave Stride obtained for
their driving in the driving test, the club as a whole was given a beautiful
clog which was engraved with words to the effect that the German club welcomed
the British club Co their meeting and hoped that such meetings with the English
club were one or many.
In the shadows caused by the artificial Light one could see various
Borgwards attracting the dew of the cooling evening and a white Big 6 parked
behind. A nicety preserved Isabella 60, of 1959 vintage would have made the
late Car! F. W. Borgward a very proud man If he had been alive to see it and
I thought then as 1 have se many occasions - how could any person or institution
have let such good product go by default?
As the evening drew to a close, a large Volvo coach took us to the hotel whilst
the campers had very little distance to go to their camp site not 50 yards away,
the rest one way or another Found their way hack to the residential quarters
in the Papendal.
Sunday was a bright and cheerful, day marred only by the fact that
Helmut Loges having had his car broken Into and money, Borgward regalia and
other bits and pieces removed from it. I was concerned for our party that we
might have been included in the burglars travels. However, it was a relief to
find that nothing had been toached. The day progressed with a cavalcade of Borgward
officianados and vehicles from the papendal into Arnhem around the centre and
back to Papendal. Our intrepid cameraman, Matt, handled the cine as the front
seat passenger in my car and Derek Atkinson and his family also came with me
so that everybody could at least be in a Borgward for this rather splendid cavalcade.
All the traffic was stopped in the centre of Arnhem and we were expected to
go over the lights when they were red and there were police flying about all
over the place making sure that the cavalcade was not interrupted. I think many
people were late for church that morning!
From where we were, at the back of the queue, there were Borgwards stretched
for as far as the eye could see and it made a very splendid spectacle indeed
and one which I hope I shall be able to enjoy once more as and when the club
goes aboard again (there is talk of Bremen, Western Germany for 1982).
Once returned to the Papendal, it was time for many of the Germans to leave
for home hearing in mind that as far as they were concerned, the visit was only
a long week-end unlike our club members who had taken several days off work
to be able to come along to the event.
As we said our good-byes, which ranged from an actual handshake or the tooling
of car horns as people drove away, it left us all without exception, feeling
flat. The time seemed to go so very quickly 1 suppose because we had all been
involved in a period
of intense activity and enjoyment. I myself, felt it particularly so as I had
been involved In the organization from the travel point of view as far back
as February this year, but t was not alone because on talking to the others
they felt just the same as I did.
The quietness of the then empty Papendal began to grip us as by then other visitors
not connected with the Borgward Club had also left, i.e. the Dutch week-enders,
the visiting Australian basketball team, all gone to other places.
However, one should always look forward and not back and our stomachs were beginning
to rumble to the extent that it was decided that we go down to the restaurant
at the end of the road for an evening meal. It was a fine little restaurant
which is more than can be said for its service because we waited and waited
and waited and by the time the meal did, in fact, arrive many of as had gone
past the stage of wanting it - a great shame really because it would be a fine
way of rounding off what had been a most enjoyable
day. That evening enabled us all to be housed at the Papendal residential complex,
l, for one was extremely tired and very glad to he able to sleep on a pillow
which did not feel like a bag of cement. Monday arrived In a blaze or sunlight
and was a day which was to be an extremely long one bearing in mind that we
were due to return to Calais which would mean a 200 mile or so drive. It was
planned that in the morning we would visit a local zoo in Arnhem and in the
afternoon visiting Arnhem itself so that some shopping could be undertaken for
the purposes of buying mementos of the occasions and thereafter at about 6.00
having a good meal prior to leaving for Calais. The day went as planned and
the safari was most I interesting although Fred Hove 11 admitted that he did
not particularly enjoy having to stop his car to let a lion walk across In Front
of him and it made him feel most unconformable. The zoo Itself had a wide variety
of animals, my favorites being the Vietnamese pigs who were completely oblivious
of the onlookers and snored contentedly In the hot sunlight without apparently
a care In the world. The afternoon walk around Arnhem was n very leisurely affair
and nil those who wanted to managed to obtain their mementoes for Friends and
loved ones.
The evening meal was n very much more successful affair with speedy service
and good Food. Nick Driscoll and Matt Carter, for reasons best known to themselves
decided to indulge in a pizza inferno which had a kick like a mule and I think
a taste that lasted in their mouths for about the next three days.
The journey back to Calias was as uneventful as it was peaceful resulting in
n nice steady drive with only one slight mistake In the map rending near Dunkirk,
but by the grace of God an man in an Opel Rekord stopped and gave us direction
enabling the journey to be completed. We made Calias Is in plenty of time which
was just as well judging from the queue of traffic that had already gathered.
Once on board we all indulged in breakfast hearing in mind that the moment of
departure was 4.00 in the morning and we ail had quite a long way to drive at
the other end.
At the Dover end Fred Hovell and co. departed towards Maidstone where he was
Co spend approximately a week with his daughter prior to returning to Padworth.
Myself, Nick Driscoll, Derek Atkinson trundled off towards Mnidstone but unfortunately
this particular part of the journey was not without incident so far as I was
concerned In that My car for some unknown reason suddenly decided to develop
an appetite for spring washers, one of which unfortunately fell Into number
2 cylinder cruising rather an ominous knocking noise. Fortunately this happened
at tick over speed and at thought at the time we were not cure what the cause
was, it was generally considered that no real damage would have been done. I
am pleased to say that I. am a member of the RAC Recovery Service and after
about three hours they came and rescued me and took myself and my ailing Borgward
all the way back to Poole in Dorset and I must say that I was very grateful
to Derek Atkinson, Nick Driscoll and Matt Carter for staying with me during
my hour of need. I am pleased to say that no real damage was, In fact done to
my car and whilst it was in pieces I have, in fact, removed the engine, gearbox,
and front axle with a view to checking for wear and tear, etc., replacing the
clutch and generally titivating the Front end .... but more anon.
Overall, a most enjoyable five days, a trip that I would undertake at any time
notwithstanding the disaster that befell my own motor car and furthermore I
hope that those of you who did not Join us in ORV will feel Inclined to do so
in 1982
Robert Richmond-Jones