Swansea to Carmarthen Coracle Run 2015

[Andrew 2.8i]

Hi,
Last month I participated in a 50 mile classic car run from Bracelet Bay in Swansea to Carmarthen Town centre, where the cars were displayed for the public to see. There weren't that many nice cars there, which is why I didn't post the photos earlier. Despite that, I still enjoyed the day.
Educational lesson:
A coracle is a traditional one-man boat used by fishermen, as modelled by these gentlemen.



Here are some of my highlights of the day. Some of the photos were taken at the start point, and some others were taken when the cars were on display at the final destination.

Firstly, the Escorts.
One of the best colours for an RS2000.






One of my all-time favourites.


Lovely old Mercedes 250SL.


This '60 Cadillac Fleetwood is American excess at it's best.



This Razor looks like a snug fit for a 2 seater.


Marcos Mantara Spyder V8.


Stunning colour for this 911 Carrera.


Early Austin Mini Cooper S. Part of the self-preservation society?


Here is a later rally replica.


Vanden Plas 1500, the posh man's Austin Allegro.


Pontiac Firebird Trans-Am and Kenworth W-900.


1935 Bentley 3.5, and earlier Darracq in the background.


Rare MG ZT-T, not exactly my cup of tea but as it has a bit of Ford flavour, I thought I'd post the photo. These were fitted with Ford 4.6 litre V8 engines.


I'm not a huge fan of the MGB GT, but this one is the way it should be, with the 3.5 litre V8.


Some likely looking lads on scooters.




There were vintage trucks participating on the run, like this restored AEC Monarch.


And this Guy Big J4.


This is a much more recent, and very eye-catching ERF EC14.


An old AEC Routemaster bus.


And finally, one of my car parked in front of one of the most recognisable landmarks in Carmarthen, the old gaol, which was previously part of Carmarthen castle. There you go, another lesson!

I also (half) made it onto the Carmarthen Journal website, in this photo:


Well, that's it. I hope that you enjoyed looking at the photos.

All the best,
Andrew.

[Caprifan Rob]

Cheers for posting Andrew, looked like a great run. The yellow RS2000 looks great with vinyl roof, wouldn't have chosen a yellow 911 with red interior but I liked the look of it. What an eclectic group of vehicles, must have been a spectacle on the road, from pink Cadillac to road master bus & just about anything in between. Runs look more fun than shows.
Cheers,
Rob

[Andrew 2.8i]

Hi Rob,

looked like a great run.....Runs look more fun than shows.

Yes, great fun, if you like that kind of thing. As I've said before, most shows are great, but they can drag on if there is not much to see. The Coracle run was possibly the best of both worlds. We congregated at 09:00, left Bracelet Bay at 10:00, went on a 50 ish mile road trip via Ammanford and Llandeilo, seeing the extreme end of the Brecons, then onto to Carmarthen arriving at around 12:30ish. The cars were parked all over the town centre, on a Saturday, and remained there until 15:30. As the setting was in the town centre on a Saturday, there were probably the biggest number of visitors to a show I've ever seen. Great fun and well worth going, if you're around next year.
The run was quite well organised, and it must have been well publicised as there were waving crowds and photographers all along the route. The only downside was that there was a triathlon organised on the same day in The Mumbles. It took over 30 minutes just to get from Bracelet Bay to Swansea centre!

wouldn't have chosen a yellow 911 with red interior but I liked the look of it.

You and me both. Exterior colour was beautiful, but I would have had a black interior to go with it.

All the best,
Andrew.

[andyd]

Hi Andrew,
From another wonderful Summers Day in Devon

Looks like it was a good day, with the best of both worlds.
Our XR Branch have talked about doing that sort of thing, but that's as far as its got....

[Andrew 2.8i]

Our XR Branch have talked about doing that sort of thing, but that's as far as its got....

Hi Andy,
What's stopping them? Do it!
If it's merely an unofficial convoy it won"t take much organising. Something on this scale will take a lot of planning.

Terrific day out, highly recommended. There's a longer 100 miler organised for September, but it clashes with another event so I'm undecided on that one.

All the best,
Andrew.

[andyd]

Our XR Branch have talked about doing that sort of thing, but that's as far as its got....

Hi Andy,
What's stopping them? Do it!
If it's merely an unofficial convoy it won"t take much organising. Something on this scale will take a lot of planning.

Terrific day out, highly recommended. There's a longer 100 miler organised for September, but it clashes with another event so I'm undecided on that one.

All the best,
Andrew.

Its like everything else in Clubs, at the start of season people have great ideas but as the season progresses people suddenly have something else on and you are lucky to get 4 cars at a show

[Andrew 2.8i]

Its like everything else in Clubs, at the start of season people have great ideas but as the season progresses people suddenly have something else on and you are lucky to get 4 cars at a show

Hi Andy,
That's a shame, if people are members of a club they should put a little effort in!

Is the XR club an informal club, or is it one of those with newsletters and a monthly meeting with a proper agenda and the like?

I see that they have a Facebook page, but not their own proper website, by the look of it.

Andrew.

[andyd]

Its like everything else in Clubs, at the start of season people have great ideas but as the season progresses people suddenly have something else on and you are lucky to get 4 cars at a show

Hi Andy,
That's a shame, if people are members of a club they should put a little effort in!

Is the XR club an informal club, or is it one of those with newsletters and a monthly meeting with a proper agenda and the like?

I see that they have a Facebook page, but not their own proper website, by the look of it.

Andrew.

Hi Andrew,
Yes it is a proper Club with paid up Members with quarterly Magazines, Merchandise etc and its own Forum/Bulletin Board.
http://www.xroc.co.uk/
Although too many members/non members use the Facebook side of it but the Forum is where 90% of it should happen IMO.

People have private lives but you can tell when the Wife is putting the pressure on

[Andrew 2.8i]

you can tell when the Wife is putting the pressure on

Easily solved!

[andyd]

you can tell when the Wife is putting the pressure on

Easily solved!

My Mrs prefers me to be doing shows as its better than me being home complaining

[Fordoholic Nick]

Hi Andrew.

What superb photos. Nice one fella !

Mate that yellow RS2000 is simply divine...although a lovely set of machined 4 spokes with black insets would just be perfect but think I am being over fussy on this one

Me and John were only saying last week how an RS2000 would def be on our "dream cars to own other than Capri" list. And yep it would have to be yellow for me

Andrew as ever your 2.8i looks absolutely lovely. You must have got lots of attention ! And what a superb photo in front of the gaol too...nice one.

Sounds like it was a cracking day out what with the 50 mile convoy too. I hope you did not flash your fingers at the waving crowds again Andrew. It's easy to fall back into old habits

Seriously though really enjoyed looking through your photos and with the sea in background too...lucky you !

All the best mate

Nick

[Andrew 2.8i]

Hi Nick,

Sounds like it was a cracking day out what with the 50 mile convoy too. I hope you did not flash your fingers at the waving crowds again Andrew. It's easy to fall back into old habits

Yes, great day, I can't wait to do it all again next year. I thought I'd give "Andrew's fingers" a rest this time. I'll wait until there is a lairy-looking bunch of bikers chasing me again!

Me and John were only saying last week how an RS2000 would def be on our "dream cars to own other than Capri" list. And yep it would have to be yellow for me

I agree, an RS2000 would be near the top of my realistic dream list. I will take one in yellow or black.....or orange.....or red....

Andrew as ever your 2.8i looks absolutely lovely. You must have got lots of attention ! And what a superb photo in front of the gaol too...nice one

Thanks Nick, very kind of you to say so. To be honest, I don't know if my car attracts attention or not as I'm always too busy looking around at other cars....and taking photos of course!
The last show I went to at the Gwili steam railway was the first time for ages that I stayed with the car for a lot of the day. Quite a few people came up to chat and I did receive a few compliments. Although unexpected, I was quite pleased with that.

All the best,
Andrew.

[sheff]

Hi Andrew,
Looks like a good mix of vehicles on that run. I nearly switched off when you said there weren't many good cars there. Then you start with an RS2000, a Harrier, MK1 Escort and an Audi Quattro! And finish with a great 2.8 Injection, that's my idea of a good selection of cars
Love the idea of all those vehicles driving down the Welsh roads together. That must have been a real treat for any onlookers along the route.

Looking forward to my car run with Brooky Mark this Saturday, when we head up to The Old Smoke for the Ace Cafe Capri meet. Probably clocking up over 200 miles on this round trip. On the way back we are planning a detour through the Hindhead Tunnel, which will be a real treat for anyone who's traveling through the tunnel at the same time

All the best
Neil

[Andrew 2.8i]

Hi Neil,
Thanks for your comments. I do think that the quality of cars around here is nowhere near the quality of the cars at the recent Uxbridge show, for example. At least my car made it onto the Carmarthen Journal website!

Looking forward to my car run with Brooky Mark this Saturday, when we head up to The Old Smoke for the Ace Cafe Capri meet. Probably clocking up over 200 miles on this round trip.

That sounds like a fantastic run, which will end at a terrific meet. I hope the weather gods are good to you both on the day.
The trip through the tunnel with four Janspeed pipes playing a tune is going to be awsome! Are you planning on recording that somehow? Maybe with a dashcam. I've attempted recording a tunnel blast through the Brynglas tunnels on the M4 myself. Unfortunately, I had the window wound down to try to increase the effect, but this meant that the camera picked up too much wind noise.

Andrew.

[sheff]

The trip through the tunnel with four Janspeed pipes playing a tune is going to be awsome! Are you planning on recording that somehow? Maybe with a dashcam. I've attempted recording a tunnel blast through the Brynglas tunnels on the M4 myself. Unfortunately, I had the window wound down to try to increase the effect, but this meant that the camera picked up too much wind noise.

Andrew.

Hi Andrew,
I haven't got a dashcam unfortunately, possibly Mark might have one. Perhaps I might be able to capture something on my camera. It would certainly be worth giving a try for the benefit of the Capri community

All the best
Neil

[andyd]

The trip through the tunnel with four Janspeed pipes playing a tune is going to be awsome! Are you planning on recording that somehow? Maybe with a dashcam. I've attempted recording a tunnel blast through the Brynglas tunnels on the M4 myself. Unfortunately, I had the window wound down to try to increase the effect, but this meant that the camera picked up too much wind noise.

Andrew.

It would certainly be worth giving a try for the benefit of the Capri community

All the best
Neil

We Insist

[Andrew 2.8i]

It would certainly be worth giving a try for the benefit of the Capri community

We Insist

I agree. The whole trip would make a good video, but the tunnel blast would be a highlight. Definitely worth trying to capture it somehow, as it will sound awesome.
I notice that there is a junction more or less either side of the tunnel, just in case you have to turn around and have another go.....and another....and another....

Andrew.

[sheff]

It would certainly be worth giving a try for the benefit of the Capri community

We Insist

I agree. The whole trip would make a good video, but the tunnel blast would be a highlight. Definitely worth trying to capture it somehow, as it will sound awesome.
I notice that there is a junction more or less either side of the tunnel, just in case you have to turn around and have another go.....and another....and another....

Andrew.

Lets see if this comes through in time then http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00MVNEOYC/r ... 71_TE_item?
Not sure how good the quality will be but could be a bit of fun

[Andrew 2.8i]

Lets see if this comes through in time then..Not sure how good the quality will be but could be a bit of fun

Hi Neil,
Can't argue at that price. It's HD quality, so it should record clearly.
As well as recording all the fun parts of the trip, the camera does add an element of reassurance in the event of an incident.

Let's hope it arrives by Saturday.

All the best,
Andrew.

[Andrew 2.8i]

Not sure how good the quality will be but could be a bit of fun

Hi Neil,
Spotted this, I thought you might find it interesting.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IlRh0g2MyDA
No organised "tunnel runs". Spoilsports!
There a few good videos of the tunnel on Youtube, to give you a taster.

Andrew.