Lands End to John-O-Groats rally comes through Porlock. I expected to see the famed 25% hill in use but the toll road is now used instead. However a private estate road that caravans use to by-pass Porlock is used instead for the trial. No longer a real test or spectator sport.
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Sunrise at the top of Porlock |
My way up here by moonlight was a goose chase due to reliance upon the GPS which led me a merry dance and a wrong turn at the Black Cat junction. Not knowing at this stage what time the climb was due to start I made haste to Minehead for fuel where Tesco has it at 1.19p per litre.
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From here are views across the Bristol Channel |
At Porlock the first person I asked fished out a newspaper cutting from his pocket and it read 3.15pm start so I had a long wait. To use this opportunity to its best I explored Brendon. Approached from the Watersmeet Road this proved to be a really steep, narrow climb and more of a challenge than Porlock. The Exmoor Classic Car museum at Porlock soon opened and I was fortunate to meet the enthusiastic proprietor who was pleased to show me around.
The vintage motor right at the back of the workshop was being worked on and the engine sported some long forgotten engineering quirks ; like the vacuum fuel pump which sucked its petrol up into a chamber complete with internal float and non return valves. (See caption below)
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A new day in the life of the 4/4 |
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A public car park on a private estate |
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Looking down Porlock A39 and the original route not used by Le Jog |
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Yes - keep in a low gear is sound advice |
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Last of the wooden boats in Lynmouth harbour |
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Watersmeet |
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Doverhay Garage today |
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A place of nostalgia |
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The wheels are pressed sheet steel welded halves to form hollow spokes |
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Many man hours of work - A labour of love |
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Steps lead down into the inspection pit |
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Before the contents were sold in 2012 |
The original owner had sold up his collection a few years ago but what remains is interesting and to see vintage vehicles in various stages of renovation is well worth the call.
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The large can top - left is the vacuum fuel pump |
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Le Jog 2014 |
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This Porsche wags its tail out of the hairpin on wet leaves |
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