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CCC cars gathered outside Neil Crook's place near Warsaw. Foreground is the superb Triumph TR 6 owned by Paul Ayre. Middle row Lt. to Rt. Iain Batty's fine Jaguar XJ Supersport, Blazej Zulawski's Series 1 E-Type convertible, Iain Booth's E Type Series 11 2+2 coupe. Just visible at the back is the blue Ford Mustang belonging to Michael (or Jan) Motz and Michael Moran's black 1949 MG TC and the tip of a red Fiat Maluch
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At last a Sunday of perfect weather for the CCC when something had been arranged!
We have had far too many disappointments this season so far. We decided to meet for a general 'Natter' (without the 'Noggin' - Polish rules on driving with alcohol in the bloodstream being severe these days - an irrelevance for many drivers in this anti-authoritarian country who ignore rules at our peril). So it was bacon butties (bacon and eggs in a bun) with much tea and sympathy, classic car owners being the masochists they are.
One of our members Neil Crook lives at picturesque Sulejowek about 35 kms from the centre of Warsaw. Nearby he has an attractive converted barn with various classic cars in various stages of restoration .
The drive from Warsaw is through a very lovely heavily forested area with particularly friendly and uninhibited local people as I found when I got lost on a Polish detour centered on railway crossing works. A Polish detour or Objazd is like no other on the planet generally re-routing one through Dresden or Minsk. Members took their classics and I in some trepidation took the 1949 MG TC. The solid prewar designed cart suspension, turbocharged Polish drivers and road surfaces are a challenge both to one's back anatomy, stomach and ability to control uncontrollable panic.
Neil generously played the part of 'Mine Host' and chef particularly well although the BBC were not present on this occasion for the TV series. The conversation veered from the comparative microscopic costs of repairs in Poland compared to the UK (although from some some reports Polish mechanics are fast learning the tricks of another variety of CCC namely Classic Car Capitalism), bringing a Lotus Elan to Poland, driving Ferraris in Brittany, beautiful Bentleys transformed by dodgy dealers into monster toys and of course that staple of men when gathered convivially together, what make of car best attracts the ladies and why.
It is some time since I thought about that subject and looking in the mirror of a morning I notice drawbacks vastly more significant than the marque of my car. I must say though driving home after this event, beautiful Polish girls cycling with the long tanned legs of late summer, nether regions sort of sheathed in tiny shorts (a wonderful, welcome and common sight in Poland in summer), shouted appreciative remarks to the old geezer in the TC. Well we all need our dreams. 'Polish women - the best legs in Europe!' a journalist once enthusiastically commented to me at a diplomatic function.
As ever, here are some photos of what turned out to be a very pleasant morning and afternoon with important car information exchanged.
Click on photos to enlarge - far superior rendition
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| CCC members in animated conversation gathered around the bacon buttie tea table |
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| Our host Neil Crook skeptically hearing news of available Ferraris at rock-bottom prices. The high technology implements of his breakfast trade at back left |
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| Paul Ayre (TR 6) and Ian Booth (E-Type) arrive at the barn |
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| The Motz 1969 Ford Mustang |
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CCC members admiring some exotica within...a bottle of champagne is the prize for accurate identification of all visible cars
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| The Maserati Indy America - a runner and star of the show |
A very pleasant day of car natter for the CCC, common ground where Poles and Englishmen can meet and chat about a subject mercifully detached from party politics, religious extremism, property prices, health and hospitals.....refreshing I must say.
If you own a classic car or are simply a classic car enthusiast, live in Poland and would like to join our Warsaw Club you can email me as the Chairman: Michael Moran mjcmoran@wp.pl
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| Goodbye! A typical Polish bicycle girl on a rather typical Polish pavement |
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