Train, Boats and Planes–VR’s first UK Tour

Participants on the first VR UK Tour “Trains, Boats and Planes” gathered on the platform of the Buckinghamshire Railway Centre, at Quainton Station, for a photo-call in front of the Great Western Railway 4-6-0 Castle Class “Red Dragon” locomotive, prior to alighting their cars and being flagged away at one-minute intervals by 1988 Le Mans winner Andy Wallace (pictured above). The entry list boasted an eclectic mix of cars including an MGA, MGBs, E-Type Jaguar, Triumph, Rover, Mercedes, Porsche 911, Alfa Romeo, Ford Escort Mexico, even a Fiat Panda and a handful of post-2000 vehicles. The field was led away by the 1937 Chevy Coupe that won the gruelling 7,610-mile 2013 Peking to Paris Rally ably crewed by Phil Garratt and Kieron Brown. VR’s Tour obviously wasn’t anywhere near as challenging as the Peking to Paris Rally, but did have sections over its 122-mile distance that proved to be a little demanding for some drivers whose experience ranged from novice to experienced rally competitor.

The first leg of the tour (59 miles) took drivers through typical Buckinghamshire and Northamptonshire rural villages and hamlets containing many traditional stone and thatched cottages, then making their way to Braunston in Northamptonshire, which lies at the junction of the Grand Union and Oxford canals.  Historically, Braunston has always been associated with the canal boat trade, although in the 21st century it is better known for leisure activities rather than the haulage of goods. After a rest, the tour continued to Sywell Aerodrome, opened in 1928 as RAF Sywell and used as a training base and a repair facility for Wellington bombers during WWII. Like Braunston, today Sywell is a center for leisure flying, although commercial activities play a great part. We were thankful to the Sywell Aviation Museum who opened up just for those on the tour, so during the break participants could look at the history of the former RAF establishment.