Northern Europe has been spoilt with a stunning summer this year – unless of course you happen to be a farmer – but we’re now in mid November and it’s undeniably all over. Winter is coming! But enjoying your classic car out on your favourite backroads doesn’t have to be over quite yet…
Much as I appreciate warm and sunny summer days with bright evenings which seem to go on forever, my very favourite time of year for driving my classic has to be during autumn. Those autumn colours are just astonishing with warm shades of amber, ochre, tangerine and burnt red splashed across my favourite landscapes as if Van Gogh himself had been let loose in a frenzy with his oil paint. The low set sun shining its last rays through the branches which are desperately hanging on to a few patches of green is the perfect finishing touch.
Just last Friday I grabbed the opportunity. A quick check of all fluids on NullZwei, slipped on my favourite old driving gloves, choke three quarters out and the usual three dabs of the throttle. Then a light twist of the key and the trusty old M10 engine immediately sprang into life. The wooden gear knob helped me slot it into first gear and off we went. No destination. No time schedule. No planned route. Just pure quality driving time. Me, classic car and that fabulous sea of earth colours.
There was a light drizzle falling on the windshield for the majority of the drive. Didn’t bother me the slightest though. Was I about to miss out on all of this just because of a bit of rain. Not a chance! The twisty backroads of the Peak District were largely deserted – not like during the summer when every Joe and his dog seemed to be out here. No cyclists either. Mmmmm, pure bliss. It’s like NullZwei practically knew the way and guided me along the Snake Pass, past the reservoirs and then hooked a left up towards Strines Inn. One of my very favourite roads. Constantly twisty and undulating with proper hairpins, lovely cambers and plenty of topographical variations to keep things interesting, as it works its way through forrest areas, along old drystone walls and over narrow stone bridges.
I could wax on lyrically about every bend and every hilltop crest we left behind us. But there’s no need to. I’m sure all of our ViaRETRO readers already know perfectly well what I’m talking about. It’s a truly magical feeling. One of total inner calmness and relaxation. Besides, the pictures from last Friday no doubt tell the story much better than I can…
Don’t let yourself fall into that winter depression just yet! You don’t need twenty plus degrees and a sun beating down on you. Hurry – grab the keys for your classic car and your driving gloves, and get out there and get lost in that beautiful myriad of autumn colours…
