Beamish Run back on home turf in style (From Durham Times)

Beamish Run back on home turf in style

11:23am Friday 26th June 2009

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MORE than 140 veteran vehicles trundled along the region’s country roads on Sunday, as the annual Beamish Run returned for another test of motoring reliability and endurance.

An array of stunning and much-loved cars lined up for the 39th rally and, with the sun shining along much of the route for most of the day, spectators enjoyed waving the drivers past and marking off their race cards.

Organiser George Jolley said: “I think it’s gone very well. The weather’s been pretty kind.”

The runners and riders thankfully had no problems crossing the notoriously deceptive Stanhope Ford, in Weardale, with many choosing the alternative bridge route and those who braved the River Wear emerging unscathed.

Following an 11-year gap, the run, which is open to vehicles built before 1956, once again began and ended at Beamish Museum.

Museum director Richard Evans took part as a passenger in a 1930 Ford model A driven by Dave Knotts, of Ryton, near Gateshead.

He said: “It was fantastic. It was great to see lots of people out marking off their cards.

“The run is a great link between the museum and the community and I think, going forward, it’s very important that we support it.”

Mr Jolley said: “We’re so pleased to be back at Beamish Museum. There was bags of room and we felt very welcome again.”

However, there was disappointment for Michael Fergus Bowes-Lyon, the Earl of Strathmore and the Queen’s first cousin – whose 1953 Bentley R-Type was unable to start the route.

Mr Jolley said: “He made it, but the exhaust pipe cracked so he couldn’t start. He was disappointed and I was so sad for him because he was mad keen to go.

“He’s a very pleasant chap and he took it very philosophically.”

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