matthewsons

[robert regan]

if you cant beat them join them, my one and only close encounter with a Renault 2cv was on the George Simpson Rally in Scotland in 1978 , along with my young wife Jenny and our two boys Robbie was nine and Shaine was Seven , we strapped a tent and two cases to the spare wheel of our 1934 opal two seater and of we went. A week was spent meandering through Wales and England taking in the lake district then the big climb north from there and on to Scotland for the Rally. at this point I had better say that our boys were quite small for their age and the way we travelled was with both seats as far forward as possible and they could drop off to sleep in the space in the back with a couple of blankets any way I digress from the 2cv story . We were on a campsite and there was a lot of interest in our car and in the next tent to us were two lads over from France in a brand new Citroen 2cv and when we were on the campsite it rained every day and things were getting very damp ,and one morning the 2cv would not start so we promptly tied a rope to the2cv and there we were in the rain the old towing the new around the campsite and we got it started , we did go on and won a cup for the best in every day transport section its the only one we ever had and its still here with us now I think I might go and give it a quick polish going out in the cabriolet latter so best all and keep going for as long as you can Rob and jenny both still kicking.

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Just realised I did not explain what the George Simpson rally was all about it was the fiftieth anniversary Rally for when they took a 1928 chummy to the top of Ben Nevis , If anyone involved in the archive is interested we still have a booklet signed by George Simpson at the event we would gladly donate please let me know , and by the way there is photo of George in the gallery section and he is sitting in the chummy they took to the top of Ben Nevis it had been fitted with a special set of gears for the attempt although it was so rough up there they carried it over the big stuff with a small team of men thanks again Rob.