Classic Car Road Trip

Three classic Minis on a six-day road trip from the Netherlands to Longbridge in England to attend the Mini 50th anniversary celebrations at the International Mini Meeting (IMM) 2009. From the Netherlands, we drove through Belgium to Dunkirk in France. We took the Dunkirk to Dover ferry across the English Channel. We stayed overnight in the small town of Chertsey, 30 km southwest of London. From there, we continued our journey to Longbridge, a rural area in southwest Birmingham. The IMM camping area at Longbridge was also an ideal base for a few day trips. We visited the birth house of the renowned English playwright and poet William Shakespeare in Stratford-upon-Avon and the birth house of his wife, Anne Hathaway. From Longbridge, we drove in our classic Mini to the Iron Bridge, situated about 30 km northwest of Birmingham. The bridge was constructed in 1779-1781 and is one of the most iconic images of Great Britain. We also visited the Chirk Aqueduct, the Chirk Railway Viaduct and the famous Pontcysyllte Aqueduct, all three of them designed by Thomas Telford in the beginning of the 19th century. After the IMM, we visited Blenheim Palace, an impressive and large monumental building, situated in Woodstock, Oxfordshire. Our last stop in England was Canterbury, where we visited the Canterbury Cathedral, St. Martin's Church and St. Augustine's Abbey. After visiting Canterbury, we took the Dover to Dunkerque ferry and after reaching France we drove back to the Netherlands. Over the years, we visited England many times, but this was the first time in a classic Mini. After an almost 2000 km journey, we arrived home safely.

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1. 

   Classic Car Road Trip: Somewhere in Belgium on our six-day road trip from the Netherlands to Longbridge near Birmingham in England. Three classic Minis on a road trip to attend the Mini 50th anniversary celebrations at the International Mini Meeting (IMM) 2009. We drove from the Netherlands through Belgium to Dunkirk in France to cross the English Channel by ferry.

2. 

   Classic Car Road Trip: Our own Mini Monza at the Dunkirk to Dover ferry, ready to board the ship. After several traffic jams in Belgium, we arrived just in time to board the ferry. We were looking forward to seeing again the coast of England and the white cliffs of Dover from the English Channel.

3. 

   Classic Car Road Trip: The three classic Minis belonging to our own family on board of the car ferry from Dunkirk to Dover. Several other classic Minis and their owners were also on board the ferry on their way to Longbridge. The crossing of the English Channel took about two hours. When we arrived in England, we drove to the village of Chertsey for an overnight stay.

4. 

   Classic Car Road Trip: FIve classic Minis from the Netherlands at the IMM camping at Cofton Park in Longbridge, a district south-west of the city of Birmingham in England. Longbridge is probably the most important location in the history of the Mini, because the first Mini was manufactured in the Longbridge car plant in 1959.

5. 

   Classic Car Road Trip: The Mini Heritage Run 2009 from the British Motor Museum at Gaydon in Warwickshire to the IMM at Longbridge, 50 Minis of various ages took the road to celebrate the 50th birthday of the Mini. The oldest Mini was manufactured in 1959. In the photo, the arrival of the classic Minis at the IMM at Longbridge.

6. 

   Classic Car Road Trip: A Mini Wildgoose campervan, built in the 1960s, shown here at the IMM 2009 in Longbridge, England. For a Mini Wildgoose camper a Mini van and a conversion kit were needed. The Mini Wildgoose conversion kits were produced in limited numbers by a company at Worthing in Sussex, England. Today, only twelve Mini Wildgoose campervans are known to exist.

7. 

   Classic Car Road Trip: On our six-day road trip through England, we visited the Shakespeare House, the birth house of the famous English playwright and poet William Shakespeare. The 16th century half-timbered house is situated in Stratford-upon-Avon, a town in Warwickshire. William Shakespearee was born here in 1564 and spent his childhood years in this house.

8. 

   Classic Car Road Trip: The Anne Hathaway's Cottage in the village of Shottery, about 1.6 km west of Stratford-upon-Avon. The 15th century thatched roofed cottage is the birth house of Anne Hathaway, the wife of William Shakespeare, she was born here in 1556. William Shakespeare and Anne Hathaway were married in 1582, when he was 18 years old and she was 26 years old.

9. 

   Classic Car Road Trip: The  white cliffs of Dover from the English Channel (IMM) 2009 was organised by the Birmingham Mini Owners Club. From all over Europe, over 6000 Classic Minis and New MINIs and their owners had gathered on the grounds of Cofton Park at Longbridge in England to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Mini.

10. 

    Classic Car Road Trip: From Longbridge, we drove in our own classic Mini to the Iron Bridge, situated about 30 km northwest of Birmingham near the border between England and Wales. The bridge is situated in the narrow Severn Valley. The bridge was constructed across the river Severn in the period 1779-1781. Nowadays, the Iron Bridge is accessible on foot only.

11. 

    Classic Car Road Trip in a Mini Monza: The Iron Bridge, one of the most iconic images of Great Britain. The Iron Bridge is the world's first bridge constructed of cast-iron. The iconic Iron Bridge is spanning the River Severn near the small town of Ironbridge in Shropshire, England. The Iron Bridge is considered a symbol of the Industrial Revolution.

12. 

    Classic Car Road Trip: Classic Minis at the IMM camping area at Cofton Park in Longbridge, Birmingham. Longbridge is the home of the Mini. The classic Mini is considered an important icon of the 1960s. In 1999, the Mini was voted the second-most influential car of the 20th century, after the Ford Model T.

13. 

    Classic Car Road Trip: A narrowboat on the Llangollen Canal, carried by the Chirk Aqueduct, the railway viaduct behind it. In our own Mini Monza, we drove to the Chirk Aqueduct and Railway Viaduct near the town of Chirk on the border between England and Wales. The Chirk Aqueduct and Railway Viaduct were designed by Thomas Telford, the construction was completed in 1801.

14. 

    Classic Car Road Trip: The Chirk Aqueduct, behind the aqueduct lies the Chirk Railway Viaduct. The Chirk Aqueduct carries the Llangollen Canal across the Ceiriog Valley. The Chirk Aqueduct is 220 meters long and 21 meters high. The Llangollen Canal is 73, 5 km long. The Llangollen Canal and the narrowboats on the canal are major tourist attractions in Great Britain.

15. 

    Classic Car Road Trip: The Pontcysyllte Aqueduct seen from the Dee Valley, the aqueduct was designed by civil engineer Thomas Telford and was opened in 1805. The Pontcysyllte Aqueduct is the longest and highest cast-iron aqueduct in Great-Britain. The Pontcysyllte Aqueduct carries the Llangollen Canal across the River Dee, it towers 38 meters above the river.

16. 

    Classic Car Road Trip: Our own classic Mini Monza in the parking space of the employees of Blenheim Palace, one of the largest country houses in England. As visitors to Blenheim Palace and its beautiful gardens, by exception we were allowed to park our classic Mini in the 'staff only' parking space.

17. 

    Classic Car Road Trip: On our six-day road trip through England in a Mini Monza, we visited Blenheim Palace, a large and monumental building, situated in Woodstock, Oxfordshire. Blenheim Palace is the birthplace of the famous English army officer and politician Winston Churchill. There is a permanent Churchill Exhibition in the Great Hall of Blenheim Palace.

18. 

    Classic Car Road Trip: Our own classic Mini in front of the Woodstock Gate, one of the gates of Blenheim Palace. On the left-hand side the St. Mary Magdalene, an Anglican parish church in Woodstock. The Woodstock Gate is also known as the Triumphal Arch. The Woodstock Gate is situated in the centre of Woodstock, a small town 13 km northwest of Oxford in England.

19. 

    Classic Car Road Trip in a Mini Monza: The Queen's Pool and the Grand Bridge at Blenheim Palace, the water from the Queen's Pool flows under the bridge to join up with the Great Lake. Blenheim Palace is situated in a large landscape park with woodlands and formal gardens, a great stop to stretch the legs during this road trip.

20. 

    Classic Car Road Trip in a Mini Monza: Our last stop on this road trip in England was Canterbury. We visited Canterbury Cathedral and the spot where Archbishop Thomas Becket was originally interred, marked with an eternal burning candle. Archbishop Thomas Becket was brutally murdered in Canterbury Cathedral in 1170.

21. 

    Classic Car Road Trip: Canterbury Cathedral, the Tomb of the Black Prince, one of the most notable tombs in Canterbury Cathedral. The Black Prince, Edward of Woodstock, Prince of Wales, was the eldest son of King Edward III of England. The Black Prince was one of the greatest warriors of medieval England.

22. 

    Classic Car Road Trip: Three classic Minis waiting in line at the Port of Dover ferry terminal, waiting to cross the English Channel from England to the Port of Dunkirk in France. Standing in front of the queue is our own Tahiti Blue coloured Mini Monza, a limited edition built in 1997 for export to Germany and the Netherlands.

23. 

    Classic Car Road Trip: The classic Mini of our youngest son, a Flame Red coloured mini 1000 HLE, constructed in 1989, at the ferry terminal in Dover, ready to board the ship for the two-hour crossing of the English Channel to France, the famous white Cliffs of Dover are situated in the background. The white Cliffs of Dover are considered a symbol of Britain.

24. 

    Classic Car Road Trip: The classic Mini of our eldest son, a Denim Blue coloured Mini 1000 HLE built in 1983, waiting in line at the ferry terminal in Dover. We made this six-day road trip through England in three classic Minis, the travel party consisted of five members of the same family and a college friend.

25. 

    Classic Car Road Trip: After visiting England, we took the ferry from Dover to Dunkerque in France. After reaching France we drove back to the Netherlands. Over the years, we visited England many times, but this was the first time in a classic Mini. After an almost 2000 km journey, we arrived home safely.