Birmabright Weekend 2007, Kutna Hora, Czech Republic
As a second installment of this meeting of Series Land-Rover owners, I had great hopes of the number of participants this year – at one time the number seemed to be close to or even over fifteen, which would be double that of last year.
In the end, although a number of people did not show up for various reasons, 11 motors showed up including a Series One and a 101 GS. Hopes of an international meeting proved to be not wholly in vain, as a Ford van with a crew of two Poles showed up just prior to the meeting (but left before anyone else came), surveying the campsite and the programme so that they could come next year. Eventually, two expected members of a British crew also arrived, but without the Land-Rover, as their gearbox sadly passed away just after they disembarked from the ferry at Rotterdam.
Friday evening, despite a very heavy shower just before the first participants arrived, was spent in the campsite’s bar, testing the beer and sausage supplies of that establishment, with some pizzas ordered later that night. Five Series motors, including a Bug-Eye SIIA and a Marshall ambulance showed up.
The night was spent without any rain, which was encouraging – indeed, Saturday morning was full of sunshine, which lasted till just before the greenlaning started, at which time the sky changed to uneasy, uncertain shades of grey. Being overly optimistic, I decided to ride out with the ragtop off, neatly folded in the rear tub.
The drive through the town was a bit of a nightmare, with the participants driving in the rear getting permanently stuck at crossroads and roundabouts, however, we managed to get out of Kutna Hora without losing anyone. The route took us along the countryside around Kutna Hora, between fields, through woods and a ford, which proved to be the most spectacular part of the journey, as the standard, “boring” flat-earth greenlaning was not challenging enough for some.
All motors except an SI and an SIIA got safely through the ford, failing to generate the splash but driving out of the ford using all cylinders properly. The 101 GS, despite throwing the water to the highest point and generating the biggest waves, got out of the ford safely, having still enough cylinders (not more than 6) to pull herself out of the touble. Just before I went through the ford, I had to put the ragtop back on as it started raining. Our pet Jack Russell Terrier was fortunately smart enough to hide under the dash while I was away organizing a photo shoot of the cars splashing through the river.
The tradition of the group photo under the observation tower on the Vysoka hill was maintained, with two rows this year – by that time we found out a twelfth motor arrived to the campsite (an SI 107” STW), but on a trailer (the car hadn’t been registered yet). The hill we were on could not be reached by anything towing a car trailer, therefore we continued on with taking the group photo and decided to return as soon as possible to Kutna Hora. The reason for this hasty departure was not the weather, but hungry participants. The greenlaning part beyond this point proved to be the most exciting, as it included one participant throwing his SIIA over the roof and ending up on the side, with his forehead cut, his daughter bruised and his motor crumpled and bent – all on basically level ground. Fortunately the injuries were not serious and everyone could continue, even if some (including several other participants) were badly shaken.
The return to the campsite was followed by a quick visit to the hospital, where the driver of the SIIA was stitched up and X-rayed as his ribs were beginning to tell that not everything was in order.
A visit to two of the town’s very good restaurants followed, with an evening’s worth of informal banter, a dinner and a lot of beer and spirits. It was reported later that some members were present at the closing time of more than three restaurants. All participants were happy to meet new friends as the forums we use are a bit faceless communication channels.
The planned gymkhana on Sunday morning unfortunately had to be cancelled due to the miserable rain that ensued just after breakfast and continued throughout the day. James and Keith, our British friends, made the wise decision of packing up and leaving within that morning – they still had a lot to do with the broken-down truck on the wrong side of the Channel and a journey across half of Europe in a rental Opel. The prizes for the gymkhana were distributed to the shaken crew of the beaten-up SIIA, who apparently showed feats which could be hardly reproduced by anyone else.
All in all, the meeting was a success. It has since been recognized as a very relaxed opportunity for owners of all Series motors to meet, chat and do some greenlaning without much fear of damaging anything, similarly to the workshop meets of Ivan & Jakub Plachy. Of course a more demanding route would be more appropriate for the abilities of Series Land-Rovers, but not all needs and wants can be satisfied.
Many thanks to all who joined us for the meeting, the greenlaning trip and the chat in the restaurants – it was again a splendid view in the rear mirrors, with clouds of dust and silhouettes of Series motors in a great column winding through the fields and woods. |
