Review European Event 2005

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European Event of the Year – 27^th June to 3^rd July 2005
(Organised by MG Car Club Holland)

On the afternoon of Sunday 26^th June, Janice and I in our 1977 MGB joined up, on the M62, with David & Carol in their 1996 RV8 and Jack & Barbara in their 1972 MGB. We all parked, overlooking the Humber, at the ferry terminal in Hull for the traditional departure photoshoot. We were soon on board the Pride of Hull for the overnight crossing to Europort. We were off the ferry just in time to encounter the Rotterdam morning rush hour but were soon clear and heading across the flat land that was to be our home for the next week.

By late morning Monday, we had arrived at Center Parcs at De Eemhof on the Flevoland polder, parked our cars and had a leisurely lunch. At 3 O’clock we made our way to the Business Centre where we booked in for the event and received our comprehensive documentation package in its own zip-up bag plus our event body-warmers. While there, we also picked-up the keys for our waterside villas.

On Tuesday morning we secured our rally plate to the car and set off with a couple hundred MGs on our first run, the Hanzerit, following the tulip diagrams in the comprehensive Tourbook. Our first stop was the Nationaal Luchtvaart-Themapark Aviodrome www.aviodrome.nl near Lelystad. This is the Dutch national aviation museum with indoor and outdoor displays including the relocated terminal building from the original Amsterdam Airport. Our route then took us to Elburg where we dined at a pavement café and then explored this old harbour town. We then made our way back to De Eemhof with a little navigational assistance from a local resident.

Wednesday morning saw us setting off towards Lelystad and then onto the 28 km (18 mile) long dyke separating the IJsselmeer and Markermeer inland seas, stopping part way along for refreshments at the Checkpoint Charlie café. This led us to Enkhuizen and the Zuiderzeemuseum www.zuiderzeemuseum.nl. This extensive outdoor museum features boats, a traditional windmill, and numerous buildings brought from elsewhere and re-erected on site. Also in attendance were staff in traditional dress demonstrating local crafts and ways of life. After the visit we weaved our way through the back streets of Enkhuizen before returning across the dyke. On returning to Flevoland, we stopped to view the replica ship Batavia at the Nationaal Scheepshistorisch Centrum in Lelystad. After a slight navigational problem, we drove along the lonely coastal dyke to Almere Harbour and where we dined aboard a floating restaurant.

On Thursday we set off across the Gooimeer waters and through traditional villages of the “het Gooi”. We stopped for tea and coffee at the palatial Kasteel De Hooge Vuursche hotel www.hotel-kasteel-de-hooge-vuursche. We then travelled to Bunschoten-Spakenburg for lunch and a stroll around its quaint old harbour. At this point we were only about a mile over the water from De Eemhof but the further leisurely drive there was to be much further, such is the topography of this area of the world.

Friday was to be picnic day and we set off in light rain under ominous skies. The weather steadily worsened as we drove along but eased off as we approached the Motley Garden and stopped as we prepared for the picnic. After a pleasant afternoon, we made our way along the return route to our holiday home. In the evening we were off to the Business Centre for the barbeque – plenty of choice and as much as you can eat – it looked like a South Yorkshire natter dream. During the evening several hot air balloons drifted over, each with several club members waving down at us on the ground.

Saturday was the day for the Octarun. The system for this is that each car drives to a designated start point – one of six – and then travels an “octagonal” route (clockwise or counterclockwise) through each of the other start points plus two other points and then back to its start point and home. The tourbook has a comprehensive route and is to be stamped at each of these points. This results in each car meeting about half the other cars as it progresses around the route – waving at 250 cars can get a bit tiring! That evening we were back to the Business Centre for the party evening with a buffet dinner. An unexpected event was the singing of an MG song, to a well known tune, by a choir of Dutch members. In reply a British choir presented their own MG song. The highlight of the evening for the organising committee was receiving the Nuffield Cup in recognition of their outstanding efforts. Dancing to the band continued till late.

We were up for an early start on Sunday and a huge number of MGs lined up for a record attempt – to have the longest procession of MGs ever. The 500 or so MGs wended their way across the flat open countryside to the Midland Circuit near Lelystad. The spectacle was impressive enough from the car, so the local populace must have been astonished at the sight. At the circuit, we parked in the register parking and spent the afternoon browsing the stalls, viewing the cars, socialising and attending the closing ceremony.

On Monday morning, we squeezed our belongings into the car and set off, in our little three car convoy, for the ferry, stopping in the old small riverside town of Moordrrecht for lunch. Once on board the Pride of Rotterdam, we dined in the buffet restaurant and then moved to the Skylounge on Deck 12. From there we had stunning views of the area as we left our dock and made our way downstream. The next morning it was off the ferry and back to the car park next to the Humber. Here our three cars were joined by Alistair and Cathy Clarke with their C Type Special which they had brought all the way from Australia. After taking a few more photos, we said our goodbyes and made our way to the M62 and home.