The trip to the Nurburgring in August had always been one of the highlights in the Car club calendar in previous years and when Uli & Peter told us they were planning a trip with the German club and invited us along I knew it would be a trip to remember. After advertising the trip, places were soon snapped up and the list was closed. Keeping in close contact with Uli & Peter throughout the months prior to the event and being updated frequently as to the plans, the day of departure could not come quick enough.
Our member/contact Steve Moore of South Quay Travel helped me find suitable accommodation for all of us, in Bruges on the way out and in Leuven on the way back and dealt with the booking for me for the hotels. Both stopovers were a huge success and I hope Steve does not mind me saying this but if any one is planning a trip and needs help or advice I can thoroughly recommend his company. The hotels were ideally located had secure parking and were very good value for money.
On the way out with the majority of us going Dover Dunkirk and one or two choosing alternative routes we had a good crossing and our stopover just outside Bruges was a good start to the holiday. A mini bus was soon organized to take us into the centre of Bruges where the drivers with local knowledge soon had us seated in a very nice restaurant where everyone enjoyed a hearty meal before being transported back to the hotel. Breakfast was soon consumed bags packed and loaded and we set off on our journey to Leiwen where we were to stay for the next week with our friends from the German Club.
The trip was uneventful and the cars behaved well and I got to drive Lynne’s Lima so I was happy, as although the Deville is very comfortable, I do enjoy the sound of the engine and the fun of driving in convoy. I sometimes think I should have been a boy.!!! After a long but enjoyable drive we were all pleased to arrive at Hotel Zummethof where we were warmly greeted by Uli & Peter and the rest of the German Group with Peter Pfeffer, who seemed to be the resident photographer, taking lots of pictures. I have to say at this point how nice it was to meet up with some of our old friends from past years and Charlie who I always remember for his permanent jovial manner was still smiling and had not changed a bit. Uli & Peter had put so much effort into making us all welcome and part of the group,that we were soon all mixing and enjoying what had been laid on. The necklaces of little name plaques and Villroy Bosch flower bells for the ladies and necklaces made up of a spanner nuts and bolts for the boys were brilliant and well received. The game that followed was hilarious and I cannot put all the pictures I have of every one taking part but they show just how much everyone was enjoying the start of what turned out to be a very memorable week with our German Panther Friends. I do not feel I need to write more about the weeks event as Uli & Peter wrote such a good account of the trip and their pictures depict the total beauty of where and what we did. Friday came all too soon and it was time to pack our bags and prepare for our journey via Leuven to Dunkirk, some others heading back to Calais.
Uli & Peter put so much hard work into getting everything just right and it showed every step of the way. Every thing was so well thought out with all the little extras they managed to lay on for us one could not help but enjoy oneself. So a big thanks to Uli & Peter for making it such an enjoyable week and to all the German participants for making us so welcome. From our own camp I must mention Steve Johnson who soon became the resident mechanic on the trip making emergency repairs on Lynne’s Lima, fitting a replacement fuel pump on Ray’s Deville, doing the fuses on Terry’s car to allow him to set off early on the day of departure to name just a few of the repairs he turned his hand to. Also to Jim Dempster who allowed us to join in the celebrations of his 60th Birthday. “Keep yodeling Jim”. Uli & Peter have just been in touch and plans for next year are already in hand so watch this space for details of next year’s adventure. Finally I would like to add to those who had to cancel at the last minute we missed you and hope next year you will be back in the convoy!!!!

Val Bridges