Thames Valley Tour – 2023
Nine TRs were entered in this year’s Thames Valley Tour but sadly two dropped out, including the TR2 that was seeded as car number one, so it was the 1956 TR3 of Christophe Della Vedova that led the 28 starters away from the start in Hook.
Almost the whole field missed the first difficult turn off the A30 but after that everybody found the first section of the route twisty and narrow but easy to follow and, about an hour later the cars arrived at Lasham Airfield where people could watch gliders taking off and landing whilst they enjoyed a cup of coffee.
The roads in the second section were smoother and wider than those in the first section so crews could enjoy the rolling Hampshire countryside whilst looking for road names they needed to complete a raffle ticket they had been given. Correctly completed tickets would go into a draw at the finish.
A lunch stop was made at the Norton Park Hotel and Spa where a hot and cold buffet was provided and despite almost everyone visiting the buffet at least twice there was still lots of food left when crews left to tackle the final 45 mile section of the route. This included one short piece of road that was so narrow and overgrown that the long grass brushed both sides of even the narrowest cars.
Back at the start/finish venue in Hook correctly completed raffle tickets collected and the winning ticket was drawn. The winners being Dave and Linda Eaton who won a half price entry for next year’s tour. This will take place on the 21st July 2024 so put it in the diary.
